Dr Karl

We have our own buster of myths Down Under, and his name is Dr Karl Kruszelenicki, aka for obvious reasons, Dr Karl. He's famous for being really clever, writing more than two dozen books, wearing super-loud shirts and being on the radio often. He's got degrees in maths, biomedical engineering, surgery and medicine (according to Wikipedia). He's our go-to-geek.

So I recently read his book, Dis Information and Other Wikked Myths, which is not his most recent. Here he debunks ideas that I thought were truths. Some of them have been life changing for me. For example, did you know that it's ok to have a drink while on antibiotics? Dr Karl explains the birth and growth of this 'dis information', and I have already put this knowledge to use. Who said science doesn't help us in everyday life?

He explains that Cleopatra was not beautiful, Columbus never put foot in America, germs are not spread by aeroplane air conditioners, and Galileo didn't invent the telescope. Dr Karl also sets the record straight on shark cartilage, cats' purring, vitamin C for colds, the great stock market crash of 1929 and lie detectors. He discusses the Roswell 'autopsy' and early puberty in girls (is it really caused by hormones in chicken?).

This book crosses all geographical boundaries, and has a fair bit of American content. It's a great read for anyone with an enquiring mind, or a good gift for a mind you'd like to be a little more enquiring.

Parading at Holland Hall Book Fair...

Did the Cozy Book Nook family shirk work and play at the book fair? If you voted for shirking work, then you win! Really, was the outcome ever in doubt?

Actually, it was touch and go for a bit. No gory details but I had a bout of sick Friday night... crazy passing out food poisoning sick. So disappointed, as I expected to be out of commission for a jaunt to the book fair, but miraculously I rallied. Guess you just can't keep a bookworm down!

Even though we didn't arrive till 1:00, there were still plenty of books to peruse. The entire gym floor was covered with utility tables and most were still loaded with books: All neatly organized into more categories than I've ever seen at a book fair. Very nice!

First though, I popped into the rare book room. A couple of books caught my eye but neither were appealing enough to go through the bidding process while in a weakened state.

Second, we checked out the children's room located in a small auditorium. There were only 1 or 2 boxes of books left per table. Oh well, the lady on tv did say to be there by 8 a.m. because the games and kids books go quick.

Overall, the Holland Hall Book Fair resembles any other book fair except on an incredibly massive scale. Many newish book and lots of outdated dull books but also quite a few old charmers that make the treasure hunt worthwhile.


The only drawback was the overpricing but maybe that is normal for a big city book fair. I'm used to paperbacks being .10 to .25 and hardbacks being $1 to $3. Here most paperbacks were $1 and hardbacks ranged between $3 and $10. An inequity of pricing was very apparent among the books I purchased. Must be difficult to coordinate pricing between the many volunteers who prep the book fair.

Fab Finds

Found this hardback in the kids room. Fair price and great condition to boot.

Beautiful photos of unusual animals from downunder. Fascinating for my four year old and my students. Perfect for language stimulation (adjectives ect).
Plus, the text is ideal for my 4th-6th graders to practice their target sounds while reading aloud.

Cute little board book with flaps but in very worn condition. See what I mean about price inequity. Ten cents would have been a fair price... and the large hardback was seventy five cents. Go figure?! I still like it though and so does my little one and so will my early childhood students.


Beaucoup books on the language table! DeLynne, my linguist co-blogger, would have been in hog heaven!
Lots of French language learning books. I even spotted a couple of editions of 501 French Verbs that she recommended for advanced students.
DeLynne's Language Learning Resources

Aren't old books lovely? Hope DeLynne thinks so because this one is hers.



It is a 1961 edition and, of course, I couldn't resist the name and address written on the inside cover.

DeLynne is well beyond this book but maybe some of her advanced students might find it beneficial.

Not only do I adore food, I adore reading about food! Doesn't matter that this book reviews Parisian restaurants that may not even exist anymore: It is still amusing.




Note the prices. Aren't they a hoot?

By the way , this is a 1971 Gourmet Magazine publication. Makes me sad that an esteemed magazine such as Gourmet was discontinued after sixty eight years.

This little cookbook is only 4 by 6 inches. So cute! This one is for my other linguist friend, an elderly gentleman, who speaks several languages but specializes in Russian. He is a bookworm (book snob but I like him anyway) who definitely appreciates the culinary arts. The author was born in Moscow and teaches Russian. My friend will love it!


Yippee! A copy of Mrs. Baja's book! The book with the note that I've been reading off and on at school. I enjoy it and want to finish but with 878 pages, I really really need a copy at home. This paperback is in excellent condition. The spine isn't even cracked! A terrific value at $2!

This one is purely for my pleasure. 568 pages of thriller shortstories by a multitude of authors. A few of my faves are listed: Steve Berry, Lincoln Child, James Rollins, Douglas Preston, and F. Paul Wilson. Bet I find some new authors to read as well. The last few years, I have developed quite a liking for short stories. Just perfect for anytime quickie reading and especially for between book reading.
This one doesn't appear to have ever been read. It has stiff pages with an unbroken spine.

Can't wait to read a bit... I'm shivering with anticipation!

Temptation! Holland Hall Book Fair!

What to do...What to do?

As I bustled around preparing for work this morning, the words 'book fair' on the Tulsa morning news show grabbed my attention. Instantly, I went on point! Books? A book fair? When? Where? Oh, I waited on tenterhooks for the commercial break to end. Surely, the book fair must be special... I mean, really, how many book fairs make the morning news?

Turns out that it isn't just a special book fair; it is a spectacular book fair! It is the Holland Hall 50th anniversary book fair. Here is a description from their website:
Holland Hall Book Fair
This Holland Hall tradition attracts thousands from Tulsa and the surrounding region. It features tens of thousands of used books with a huge selection of rare books, children’s books, games, puzzles, stuffed animals, CDs, videos and DVDs.

Could have knocked me over with a feather! Tens of thousands of books?! And it is an annual event that I've missed since I moved to Oklahoma 25 years ago!! Oh, the agony of missed opportunities!

Definitely a situation that needs rectifying but here is my dilemma: My family has spent the last two Saturdays in Tulsa for other events. Sundays are just not enough time to rest plus prep for the week ahead... so the homefront is in dire need of attention. My weekend projects: Cleaning, tackling a years worth of receipts for taxes, and playing with my poor neglected child. (mommy guilt). Hubby's projects: Setting up a new laptop and rousting a raccoon out of the attic... plus a few more jobs that he is as of yet unaware. ;D

Quite the conundrum, isn't it. And Mr. Cozy Book Nook is absolutely no help what so ever in keeping me on the straight and narrow. Hubby is even more easily led astray than moi and is itching to get his fingers on the CDs, DVDs and special interest books.

Just think of all the amazing treasures waiting to be discovered. Bet there are some games and picture books perfect for Little Cozy Book Nook... and cookbooks... and garden books... and bios... and fiction galore. And what could be in the rare book section? That one really has me curious.

So will we or won't we? Shall we or shan't we?

What would you do? Stay home like good little girls and boys or go play at the fair.

Tuesday Treasures! Steal Away... to Freedom

Not too much time for treasure hunting today but I spotted a gem to enjoy during lunch. Steal Away... To Freedom by Jennifer Armstrong, 1992.

The synopsis caught my interest: two 13 yr old girls escape to the north. One is African-American and the other is caucasian. The book opens with a letter written in 1928 from a Mary in Manilla to a Free in Toronto and alludes to a great friendship, mistakes, and a memoir that it is time to share with the world. Okay-- that hooked me: I do have a thing for old notes/letters.

My questions about who Mary and Free could be were soon answered. Mary is the granddaughter of the white girl (Susanna) in the synopsis and Free lives with the now elderly African-American girl (Beth).

Susanna and Beth decide it is time to share their story with the youngsters who write down every word.

Even though some bits are a bit melodramatic, the story the old women tell is compelling. Both sets of girls meet at age 13 in very different circumstances. I can't wait to find out how each set gets past the fear/distrust to become friends.

I really should have brought this home instead of saving it for next Tuesday's lunch read. Why do Susanna and Beth have to escape? Does Susanna's male cousin start harassing the girls? What is Susanna's horrid female cousin up to? Will Beth overcome her fear of punishment and let Susanna teach her to read? In the second story line, why does Free seem to dislike Mary at first sight?

Well, guess who is going to be raring to get to work next Tuesday?!

Mrs. Baja's First Award!

Big News!

Too exciting!! Amy from The Black Sheep Dances bestowed the Honest Scrap Award onto her favorite bookblogs and Mrs. Baja's Cozy Book Nook was included in that illustrious group. What an honor.... Thank you, Amy!

To receive such an acknowledgement for a new blog left us absolutely gobsmacked... completely speechless! Well, not speechless for long. After all, DeLynne is a linguist and I am a speech pathologist... We are rarely without words or so our dear hubbies contend. Oh, the emails that whizzed to and from the Green Country of Oklahoma, USA and the Rain Forest of Queensland, OZ.

The Honest Scrap Award

In accepting this award, we are required to list 10 fascinating and/or quirky true things about ourselves then forward this award to other deserving bookblogs. How fun!

Ten Hopefully Fascinating (or at least Somewhat Interesting) but Definitely Quirky True Things about your Hosts

Not such a tough exercise with a friend you've known for 30 years. Is that considered cheating? We each remembered things about the other that we had forgotten as individuals--- and commonalities that surprised us even after all these years.

Quirks in common:

1. Neither of your hosts can whistle.

2. Neither of your hosts can fall asleep unless our ears are covered by the covers.

DeLynne:

1. I can flip my tongue upside down as well as roll it.

2. I removed my own braces with wire cutters and pliers for prom.

3. I traveled around the world with $350 spending money.

4. I arrived in Australia with $7 in my pocket and stayed.

5. I've studied 6 languages so far and speak 3 fluently. Currently, I teach Italian to teenagers, kindergartners and adults. My French night classes have been running for years.

6. I have an absolute weakness for any china that is blue and white. Our table is a psychedelic pastiche: nothing matches and I love it.

Lesa (display name Cozy Book Nook)

1. I do not have nor will I ever have pierced ears.

2. I can't hold my breath under water to save my life but I can snorkel like a wild woman! In fact, on my first snorkeling adventure, I swam with a sea turtle!

3. I always cry when I hear the Star Spangled Banner or read/watch a poignantly heroic battle scene.

4. I am a library girl and rarely buy books. Too expensive and limited storage and I don't want to be known as the 'crazy book lady' in my old age.

5. I've walked across Abbey Road and been in the Cavern Club.

6. Green thumb here! I always start 100s of seedlings for my own garden and my garden buddies' gardens. Typically, I plant at least 80 tomato plants and 40 pepper plants.

Whew! Hope we didn't exhaust your interest!

Sharing the Love

Now, the highlight: presenting the Honest Scrap Award to our favorite book/reading blogs! No stuffy, dry or pretentious literary reviews in these blogs. Our nominees are engaging, humorous, charming and clever; celebrating a love of books and reading with an unique personal flair. Nominees if you wish to participate grab your logo, confess, and pass it forward.

And The Award Goes To...

Psyched On The Prairie What a wonderfully clever and irreverent blog. If you have ever read the 'Little House' books, you must check out this blog!

OE Books: One Story At A Time RYCJ shares sentimental and amusing anecdotes and original short stories all wrapped up with a love of reading.

Books Are Like Candy Corn This enticing title leads to an irresistible blog! Elegantly and beautifully written, Rob's blog covers a variety of genres with a dash of humor.

The Life (And Lies) Of An Inanimate Flying Object This blog includes reviews, original stories and personal narratives. Haleyknitz writes with a refreshingly expressive honest voice... also sprinkled with humor.

Thank you again, Amy, for presenting this award to Mrs. Baja's Cozy Book Nook and for being so kind to the 'new kids on the block'. We are beyond flattered!