Bruji

In Table view there is a narrow first column -- what is it? A couple of my book entries have what looks like a paperclip, or maybe a microphone, can't tell for sure, in that column. Can anyone give me a clue what that column is and what that icon means?

That's the status column. It gives you a little more information about an entry basically. The little icons mean the following:
paperclip - the entry has a link of some sort,
yellow star - the entry is in your wish list collection,
red cross (or photo*) - the entry is in your borrowed collection,
Quicktime Q (DVDpedia only) - the entry has a movie linked,
blue O - the entry is listed for sale,
dollar sign - the entry has been sold.


* If you use that feature of your Address Book.