My trip to North Carolina and Atlanta had a properly bookish feel. Last Friday we got to visit Malaprop's Bookstore/Cafe in Asheville where we quickly learned why people love to visit this store --- great staff, terrific book recommendations and a wide selection that ensured that we each found a book to buy. Wednesday we went to Coffee Buy the Book in Roswell where I caught up with Dana, one of the owners who told me that she has been conducting radio interviews with authors for a local Altanta radio station.

Hope you had a Firecracker 4th! We spent the 4th in the mountains of North Carolina with my sister and her children. We had a great picnic at the house, saw great fireworks and built a really nice bonfire where we tossed a lot of sparklers to cap off the evening. My niece is an avid reader, and thus I brought her a few "books that girls love." I love giving her books that I know will not get raves from my sons. My nephew is not a reader, but I can see my younger son burying his nose in a book to try to convert him!

When I say Harry, what do you think of? For your grandparents, Harry meant Harry Truman or Harry Houdini. For your parents, they may think Harry Connick, Jr. But for you, there's only one Harry and his last name is Potter. This month is all about him and his lightning bolt scar and signature glasses. He's the character who made wearing glasses cool for kids, and I have to wonder if J.K. Rowling was thinking of that when she wrote those specs into the storyline.

When I say Harry, what do you think of? For your grandparents, Harry meant Harry Truman or Harry Houdini. For us, we may think Harry Connick, Jr. But for children, there's only one Harry and his last name is Potter. This month is all about him and his lightning bolt scar and signature glasses. He's the character who made wearing glasses cool for kids, and I have to wonder if J.K. Rowling was thinking of that when she wrote those specs into the storyline.