The weird and the wonderful: Fundraising book sale has it all

By BY CHARLOTTE LARSON FREEMAN Kitsap News Group • August 22, 2017 10:30 am
A shopper looks for bargains at a recent book sale at the Bainbridge Public Library. Brian Kelly | The Bainbridge Review
A shopper looks for bargains at a recent book sale at the Bainbridge Public Library. Brian Kelly | The Bainbridge Review

Sometimes wise words don’t make much sense. “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” is a saying often heard, but when browsing lots of books at the Friends of the Library Book Sale, people can end up doing just that.

The cover of a book is supposed to draw the reader in, entice them. It begs the question, what does draw a reader in? Here’s a glance at some of the weird titles that were catching eyes at a recent book sale.

Ever tried ventriloquism before? No? Well, why not pick up a new hobby! There’s a man in a tux with a large-beaked puppet that can teach you in “Ventriloquism for the Total Dummy” by Dan Ritchard. For just $2.

Have a passion for ray guns? You can pick up “ZAP!” by Leslie Singer. It’s chock-full of pictures so you can recognize them instantly. Seeing as how valuable this information is, you can only expect to pay $2.50 for this.

Maybe parenting is so exhausting, grammar can go out the window. That’s probably why they made this parenting book so simple, “How to Dad” by John Boswell. It’s clear, to the point, what’s not to like? This too has pictures, for the worn out parent. Picture books don’t just have to be for the kids. It could be the best find for 75 cents.

However, if proper grammar is something that time and energy allow, you can improve yours with “Eats, Shoots &Leaves” by Lynne Truss. The importance of proper punctuation can be fascinating, when pandas are added to the process. On the cover of this book, there are two pandas, illustrating the point. You only have to pay $1, probably making up for all the impending puns inside.

If politics strike your fancy, pick up “The Year of Voting Dangerously: The Derangement of American Politics” by Maureen Dowd. If the title isn’t interesting enough, the cover sure is. It shows a cartoon of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump on an escalator, Trump strangling Clinton’s arm as she kicks him in the back. Just one dollar — if you’ve got enough stamina to read this book, you deserve a steal.

Along with all the weird reads, there are other less wacky books to be found at the sale. Adventurous readers can find out for themselves at the next one, scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22.

From these sales and other fundraisers, the Friends of the Library has raised money for the library since 1970. Most recently, the nonprofit contributed $90,000 to the library’s “Refresh” project.