Remembering Betty & Veronica . . . And An April Fool!

Years ago, when Marash Girl was in her early teens, Cousin G.  (name omitted to protect the innocent . . . or not so innocent) arrived in the United States of America from his home in Paris.  Visiting Marash Girl and her family in their living room for the first time, Cousin G. spotted a then current issue of Betty & Veronica . . .  (not the copy shown below!) In shock, he asked what they (Marash Girl and her sister) were doing reading such “trash” . . . although, as he asked the question, he never once took his eyes off of Betty’s breasts!  

N.B. This is April Fool's Day, is it not?  And who, Marash Girl asks, was the April Fool?

                                                                                                                                                                      Photo By MarashGirl©2022                                                                                                   

GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE: POWERING THE WORLD

The editors of William R. Huber's recently published volume, GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE: POWERING THE WORLD, were in contact with Marash Girl while the publication of this volume  was still in the process of completion.  Why were they in contact with Marash Girl?  Because Marash Girl's father used to sell Westinghouse products at his shop, Newtonville Electrical Co., Inc., in Newtonville, Massachusetts?  No.  Because her father was favored by the Westinghouse Company to repair their products that others found impossible to repair?  All true, but, "No."

The editors of GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE: POWERING THE WORLD were in contact with Marash Girl to ask permission to use her photograph of the plaque commemorating Manhattan's Pearl Street Station, a photograph which appeared in her Marash Girl blog, because, apparently it was the only photograph on the internet of said plaque.  

What was Marash Girl going to say?  "No?"

Nope.  

Marash Girl, of course, was honored to say, "Yes!" And last week, as a thank you for Marash Girl's largesse, the publishers sent Marash Girl a brand new copy of William R. Huber's newly published book, GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE: POWERING THE WORLD.  

 

Should you decide to acquire a copy of the above pictured book, check out the photograph of the plaque commemorating the Pearl Street Station in Manhattan, the photograph published on page 107 of  Huber's GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE: POWERING THE WORLD, the photograph taken one day in Manhattan by Marash Girl!

Risking Her Life Selling Books In Kabul!

Who knew that selling books could be so risky? And writing those books? Perhaps even riskier! https://www.facebook.com/nd/?dw.stories%2Fposts%2F4649199755191726&work_newsfeed_token=S%3A_I183239561787790%3A4649199755191726&aref=1642930716914940&medium=email&mid=5d63c542fb22aG451937b8G5d63c9dc5b4fcG96&bcode=2.1642959519.AbxNMVJ0PoVRq9kiGZg&n_m=bethelcharkoudian%40gmail.com&lloc=media_attachement&rms=v2 With thanks to Garo Derounian for the heads up!

On Visiting A Book Store In Bermuda

Photo by Nisha©2021

FOR THE LOVE OF BOOKS . . .

Marash Girl woke up this morning remembering Jimmy, the man who used to work in (or was the head of) the used book department at the Salvation Army Store on Boylston Street, Boston, all those many years ago. Jimmy loved books so much that he actually had to move from the apartment he was renting in Boston, to an apartment twice the size in order to make room for the loves of his life . . . his books!

FIRST GENERATION was placed on the Mass Book Awards "Must Read" LIST

Congratulations to Krikor Der Hohannesian, whose latest book of poetry, FIRST GENERATION, was placed on the Mass Book Awards Must Read List. Published by Dos Madres Press in 2020, FIRST GENERATION is a collection of essays dealing with the author's experience of being first-born in the United States of America to survivors of the Armenian genocide. Der Hohannesian writes, "The essays were written with the intent to give voice to the silences the author never understood as a child - the seeming erasure of something too painful to put into words. The essays also represent his quest to rectify history and, concomitantly, to break down the resistance to acknowledgement of what transpired now over a century ago. On a more general level, both directly and indirectly, Der Hohannesian's poems attempt to describe the immigrant experience in its many forms, the experience of disparate groups in the United States of America. It is the author’s wish to explore and underscore commonalities that transcend particular ethnicities." N.B. Anyone interested in purchasing a copy may contact the author directly by emailing him at krikorndh@verizon.net

Meeting Sue Grafton at a Book Store in Manhattan

Such a surprise met Marash Girl years ago, when she walked into a bookstore in Manhattan only to notice that her favorite author of mysteries -- Sue Grafton (May she rest in peace) -- was signing books in preparation for a booksigning soon to occur later that afternoon. So gracious was Ms. Grafton, that she cheerily chatted away with Marash Girl (someone Ms. Grafton had never met before) as Ms. Grafton continued signing the books that the author knew would fly out of the store later that afternoon . . . as soon as her booksigning talk was over. The connection was so real that Ms. Grafton and Marash Girl continued communicating by email for years . . . That meeting is of Marash Girl's favorite memories . . . and Sue Grafton is and always will be one of Marash Girl's favorite authors. Such sorrow when Marash Girl recently learned that Ms. Grafton had passed away several years ago May the Lord welcome Ms. Grafton into the Kingdom of Heaven!

On Giving Away An Old Book

Are you sure you want to give away that book? Was the original owner of the book a person of fame or importance? Does the book have its dustjacket? Is it (both the book and the dustjacket) in pristine condition? Have you checked the book for signatures, former owner's identification (even if only a glued return address label), inscriptions, bookmarks ($5 bills?). . . these are often worth more than the book itself . . . and if the book was originally owned by a famous person, his/her underlinings or notations would add value to your book!!!

"Why do books have to be depressing in order to be considered great?"

"Why do books have to be depressing in order to be considered great?" asked Deron when he was in junior high school. A thought-provoking question . . . .

On Reading Books Borrowed From A Library

Marash Girl loves to read in bed, and because of that, stopped borrowing books from the library . . . after all, who would want to go to bed with a book that someone else has already gone to bed with!!!!

RICHIE RICH?

President Obama commented on "Richie Rich" in a recent news telecast. Who knew that President Obama has read the Little Lulu comics? Little Lulu?

A Photo From Marash Girl's Blog!!!

Feeling a bit under the weather last week, Marash Girl was lazing around the house, until, out of a clear blue sky, as they say, (and there was a clear blue sky that day), came a phone call from a publisher who wants to use a photograph from the Marash Girl blog, the very blog you are following, in a book he is about to publish. "It was the best photo on the internet of . . ." Wow! That sure perked Marash Girl up . . . Thank you, Mr. Publisher! Marash Girl will write more on the title of the book and the photo the publisher has selected after the book is published!

Borrowing a Book from the Library

With all due credit to Benjamin Franklin, I still wonder why anyone would want to snuggle up in bed with a book that someone else has gone to bed with . . .

OVERHEARD AWAITING A BOOKSIGNING AT STELLINA'S RESTAURANT IN WATERTOWN SQUARE

Awaiting a book signing at Stellina's Restaurant in Watertown Square, Marash Girl overheard the following conversation going on behind her.

"Can't talk about religion, can't talk about politics, can't talk about sex . . . and we can't talk about the book, 'cause we haven't read it!"

A Trip to Martha's Vineyard in the Middle of a New England Winter

Bored with the long, cold winter days? Miss those summer's on Martha's Vineyard?  Grab a copy of any of Philip Craig's Martha's Vineyard Mysteries and have a ball!  Marash Girl had read all of those mysteries and therefore never thought of reading them again, but as luck would have it, she wandered into a supermarket in the south of Maine this past weekend and there on a shelf opposite the checkout counter was a first edition, signed, hardcover copy (with dust jacket) in perfect condition, a copy of Philips Craig's second mystery: The Woman Who Walked Into The Sea.  Marash Girl had purchased that book (though not that copy, of course,) many years ago during an idyllic week in Edgartown.  She had read the book, passed it on, and then read all the books that followed (as well as those that preceded).  (Philip Craig wrote over 20 novels.)  Marash Girl wishes that Philip Craig were still with us, and that there were more Martha's Vineyard Mysteries  to look forward to reading!

THE END OF AN ERA

Free books, anyone?

Today  (a sad day for Marash Girl), Marash Girl begins to empty her warehouse of 35,000 books.  Anyone interested?

Lost the Lease on my Warehouse

Today I was forced to grapple with reality.  I have lost the lease on my warehouse and must divest myself of thousands of books that have been for sale online.  Anyone interested in taking over the lot?

Lost the Lease on my Book Warehouse

Thousands of out of print books up for grabs!  Anyone interested, please leave contact info by clicking the blue comment link below.

The Soul of an Octopus

Gail has been reading "The Soul of an Octopus".

She asks, "Did you know that an octopus has a soul, consciousness, but no bones, 3 hearts, and every arm has its own brain individually.  They are smart, escape artists and can be affectionate.

"If you wanted to be a philosopher and start thinking about what a soul is and what  consciousness is, just think about an octopus."