National Atlas of Korea

For reasons that seem mysterious, each Southwestern library has received two beautiful free copies of the National Atlas of Korea, published in 2009 by the government of South Korea. It’s hardcover, about 12” by 14,” 192 pages, and printed in vibrant color. While the borders between North Korea, China, and Russia are delineated with thick red lines, you have to look very closely to see the faint dashes indicating the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea.

About a third of the book’s information pertains both to North and South Korea: you can find basic maps and topographical and geographical information about both countries. You can find more in-depth information about South Korea, including gravel content in deep soil, groundwater usage, endangered amphibians, population distribution, housing construction, national monuments—you get the idea—about South Korea only, with the outline of North Korea included in the map but left white.

The books cost, as far as I can tell, the equivalent of $16 to send via seamail from Korea to the library. They were postmarked July 20 and received at Southwestern on August 31. We will keep them in the reference collection, where I am sure they will prove valuable to people doing country reports on either Korea. I plan to write a thank you letter to GeoDream, the company that sent us the books, and will report here if they respond.

‘Farewell Summer’ by Ray Bradbury

I think I may be getting too old to think about my mortality. Is this a contradiction? Maybe. What I really mean is that I’m getting to the point where aging and death is no longer interesting – just scary and depressing. Nevertheless, Ray Bradbury’s war of youth versus age is fun to read. Farewell Summer is the long anticipated follow-up to his classic Dandelion Wine. The story continues to follow Douglas and his younger brother as they interact with the elders in their town.

At some point I started getting the feeling that the aim of this book was to provide as many quotable phrases about life, age and death as could possibly be contained in 200 pages. There’s nothing wrong with this – there is definitely something to be said for being able to succinctly summarize important concepts in ways that are clever enough to be memorable. One such memorable quote:
“Life gives us everything then takes it away – youth, love, happiness, friends”
Unfortunately, I’m sure this is exactly right.

‘Sex and the Single Girl’ By Helen Gurley Brown

I want to be kind of charitable towards Brown because she wrote this book so long ago and some of the ideas and tips that she included were progressive for her time. Things that Brown has going for her:

• She gives good nutrition advice


• She encourages women to be fit and healthy


• She believes that women should have enjoyable, fulfilling careers


• She believes that women should have and enjoy sex

Unfortunately, Brown mentions all of these things relative to their importance in meeting men. In fact, even though Brown says that men aren’t necessary to the happiness of the single woman, she starts the book by giving pointers (in the form of several chapters) on assessing potential mates/husbands.

Should women be healthy and eat nutritious foods? Yes, it will help them to be more attractive to men! Should women have careers? Yes, especially if their line of work allows them to meet lots of available men (maybe you should find a new job if you aren’t meeting men). Should women participate in mutually enjoyable sexual relationships? Absolutely, but hopefully the man will buy you lots of nice things.

Do I sound bitter? If so, it’s probably because I’m not following Brown’s advice.