Novel News

2009-12-27T19:54:00.000-08:00

What do a very obedient dog, a blind cat and a barking parrot have in common?

Why, all three are beloved pets that are the focus of the books I'm here to tell you about. So pull up a chair, cuddle with your furry (or feathery) friend and check these out...

Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine and a Miracle

by Major Brian Dennis, Kirby Larson and Mary Nethery

Major Dennis discovered Nubs, a mongrel with hacked-off ears, at a border fort in Iraq while serving there in the Marine Corps. Although he visited the fort infrequently and stayed only a few days at a time, Dennis and the feral dog bonded as the soldier shared his food and bed with the loyal animal. Often they even stood guard duty together. One winter day, when the Marines traveled 70 miles north across the frigid desert to headquarters, Nubs followed, arriving there, thin and footsore, two days later. Determined not to leave him behind again, the Marines adopted him, and eventually Dennis raised the money to have Nubs shipped back to America. Few will not be moved by the concluding photograph. Told in brief text augmented by Dennis's facsimile e-mails and illustrated with clear color photos, this story presents a view of the Iraq war that makes it accessible to very young gradeschoolers, a welcome addition to collections serving that audience and especially useful for children of soldiers deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Kirkus Review

Homer's Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale,
or How I Learned About Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat
by Gwen Cooper

Cooper had every intention of saying "no" to the veterinarian who asked her if she was interested in adopting a four-week-old stray kitten with a "particular handicap." She was fresh off a bad breakup, working a low-paying job and living rent-free in a friend's bedroom-plus she was worried about the social implications of adding one cat to the two she had already adopted: "The neighborhood kids will... say things like 'That's where Old Widow Cooper, the cat lady, lives.' " But as soon as she picked up the tiny kitten and he started to purr, she caved. She settled on a name and brought Homer home. His intrepid explorations of his new environs quickly challenged Cooper's expectations of a blind cat. And through 12 years, six moves, several boyfriends and a showdown with a burglar, this tender and affecting book reveals Homer's lessons about love and acceptance-and how he transformed Cooper into the woman she had always wanted to be.

Publisher's Weekly

The Parrot Who Thought She Was a Dog
by Nancy Davis-Bell

Ellis-Bell, a California-based literary agent with a proven track record for helping rescue animals, adopted a one-footed, foul-mouthed blue-and-gold macaw with a propensity for biting. Here, this self-described woman who loves animals too much touchingly chronicles her daily adventures with Sarah and a menagerie of "sweet babies" (birds, dogs, cats, and visiting raccoons). What begins as a cautionary tale of avian domination and destruction (replete with jealous tirades, physical attacks, and earsplitting screams) develops into a story of "Icarus reclaimed," freedom and flight. Ellis-Bell shares amusing anecdotes about the one-bird demolition derby, cage-free domesticity, Sarah's curious diet (consisting of kibble, nuts, and the occasional gin and tonic), the bird's prolific climbing achievements, affectionate mannerisms, and profound sense of play ("Sarah saw dirt as kindergarten"). This winsome book will surely delight animal rescuers and avid fans of Animal Planet. Listings of general bird-rescue organizations are included.

Library Journal Review

All three were great reads and I hope you enjoy. See you in the New Year!

Mi Nei's picks!

2009-10-16T11:09:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! MiNei has shared what she is reading right now.

"I'm reading two books for people who like romance. This is new for me (not romance but reading about it).
1- The Montana Creeds by Linda Lael Miller- Good, entertaining especially if you like westerns.
2- The Favored Child by Phillipa Gregory- She is a bit repetitive but the book has very good historical references especially how women were perceived during that era.

Thanks Mi Nei for sharing!

Favorite book for the moment

2009-10-01T10:38:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love historical fiction. I want to live in historical fiction books. My favorite book of all time is probably Gone With the Wind. It changes depending on what I start reading, but that one is always on top of my list. But Robert Hicks wrote one of the best Civil War related books I have ever read, and recently came out with a new one. A Separate Country. It's sitting at home waiting.
So, my pick for today is Widow of the South.

This was actually suggested to me by Allyson through her Reader's Advisory interview questions a looong time ago. One reason why I like this book so much is it is based on a real widow, a real battle, and real existing graves. Carrie McGavok's home was turned into a hospital while her yard was a battlefield, and this story follows the Battle of Franklin and how she had some of the soldiers buried in her private cemetery. They detail in the story is what made me love it so much, since points of view were from Confederate and Union soldiers, Carrie's story, and even the stories of people helping in the hospital and on the battlefield. It was a great read and stuck with me for a long time. www.widowofthesouth.com

Shades Of Dark by Linnea Sinclair

2009-09-30T21:03:00.001-07:00

Linnea Sinclair’s Shades Of Dark is a space opera, but with strong romantic elements as well. Chaz, a former Fleet captain, has been unfairly stripped of her rank and is now a fugitive from the toppling Empire. She is brought out from hiding when her brother is falsely arrested. There is a lot of adventure as Chaz and Scully fight to save her brother, and keep the Empire from unleashing jukors into the general populace. What are jukors you ask? Monsters with razor sharp claws that rip anyone who comes to close to them to shreds, painfully. My imagination went wild with the description Sinclair gives of these abominations.
Chaz and Scully are already established as lovers when the novel begins. Sinclair does a marvelous job in the character development; you’ll find yourself rooting for the couple, even if romance isn’t your thing. You’ll learn (immediately) that Scully is a human Stolorth, a powerful psychic despised for his ability to read minds, even with an unwilling subject. I loved the space opera adventure storyline far more than the romance, and the romance was great. This should appeal to science fiction readers, romance readers, and adventure fans. Enjoy!

Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann

2009-09-02T19:41:00.001-07:00

Describing this book as a German mystery novel with a quirky sense of humor does not do it enough justice. Three Bags Full by Lenoie Swann follows a flock of sheep as they try to solve the murder of their beloved shepherd. This novel differs from other mysteries with animals acting as detectives in that the sheep act like sheep, and not miniature humans. They get distracted by the smell of sweet grass, their memories are short, and humans can be very confusing, especially the “God” human.
The shepherd had names for all nineteen sheep but there were some who stood out more than the others. Miss Maple is considered the smartest, Mopple The Whale is the one with the best memory, Sir Ritchfield is the lead ram, and his brother Melmoth who has recently reappeared after a mysterious disappearance. I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery which had me guessing until the very end. A funny, endearing read that amused me greatly – I highly recommend this book.

Favorite Series for Adult Readers

2009-09-01T12:27:00.000-07:00

So the series I've been reading lately that I just cannot get enough of is the
Millenium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson. The books are originally published in Swedish. The first book is: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and book two is: The Girl Who Played with Fire.

Both books are currently avaiable in the U.S. with the third book: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest coming out in the U.K. in October. I'm so obssessed with this series that I've purchased the book via Amazon UK so I can have it before the U.S. publishers release it.

The books include action-packed investigations, violent behavior, adult language, sex, and sexual violence. There are several scenes that may be uncomfortable for the average reader, but if you enjoy thrillers, mysteries, and a lot of suspense, these books will knock your socks off!!!

"A spellbinding amalgam of murder mystery, family saga, love story, and financial intrigue.It’s about the disappearance forty years ago of Harriet Vanger, a young scion of one of the wealthiest families in Sweden . . . and about her octogenarian uncle, Henrik, determined to know the truth about what he believes was her murder.And it’s about Mikael Blomkvist, a crusading journalist recently at the wrong end of a libel case, hired by Henrik to get to the bottom of Harriet’s disappearance . . . and about Lisbeth Salander, a twenty-four-year-old, pierced, tattooed genius hacker, possessed of the hard-earned wisdom of someone twice her age—and a terrifying capacity for ruthlessness—who assists Blomkvist with the investigation. This unlikely team discovers a vein of nearly unfathomable iniquity running through the Vanger family, an astonishing corruption at the highest echelon of Swedish industrialism—and a surprising connection between themselves.A contagiously exciting, stunningly intelligent novel about society at its most hidden, and about the intimate lives of a brilliantly realized cast of characters, all of whom must face the darker aspects of their world and of their own lives."

"Mikael Blomkvist—crusading journalist and publisher of the magazine Millennium—has decided to publish a story exposing an extensive sex trafficking operation between Eastern Europe and Sweden, implicating well-known and highly placed members of Swedish society, business, and government.On the eve of publication, the two reporters responsible for the story are brutally murdered. But perhaps more shocking for Blomkvist: the fingerprints found on the murder weapon belong to Lisbeth Salander. Now, as Blomkvist—alone in his belief in her innocence—plunges into his own investigation of the slayings, Salander is drawn into a murderous hunt in which she is the prey, and which compels her to revisit her dark past in an effort to settle with it once and for all."

The above descriptions come from the publishers of the U.S. release.

Happy Reading!!!

My Favorite Book: Lord of the Rings

2009-09-01T12:14:00.000-07:00

When Elizabeth asked us a while back to think about our favorite book to write about, a few different ones came to mind: there's the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling (good - but the last two/three books weren't as GREAT as the first ones), Ruled Britannia by Harry Turtledove (alt-history asking what if the Spanish Armada had beaten back England), The Freedom Writers Diary and Teach With Your Heart by Erin Gruwell (a great, recent read)... but then I thought to the world of Middle-earth that I have loved for the past couple of years.

I was a bit late in my discovery of Professor J.R.R. Tolkien's works. It was after the first movie came out that I cracked open FOTR. It took a few tries for me to get into Fellowship, but once I got to the Council of Elrond, I was set. After gobbling up TT and RotK, I wanted more and there was more to be had: The Silmarillion! Being a history and mythology junkie, it was neat seeing the story of Arda from the creation all the way to the Third Age. After that I went to The Hobbit, which I didn't enjoy quite as much, as it was a bit more juvenile.

Favorite Character: Gandalf the Grey/White ("You... shall... not... pass!")
Favorite Location: Minas Tirith (Imagine the library there...)
Favorite Quote: `Take now this Ring," he said; "for thy labours and thy cares will be heavy, but in all it will support thee and defend thee from weariness. For this is the Ring of Fire, and herewith, maybe, thou shalt rekindle hearts to the valour of old in a world that grows chill."` (Círdan the Shipwright to Gandalf, The Silmarillion)

I'll leave you all with a picture of the Shire, homeland of the hobbits, from Turbine's Lord of the Rings Online.

"Do you remember the Shire, Mr. Frodo? It'll be spring soon. And the orchards will be in blossom. And the birds will be nesting in the hazel thicket. And they'll be sowing the summer barley in the lower fields... and eating the first of the strawberries with cream. Do you remember the taste of strawberries?"

Story of the Little Mole Who Went In Search of Who Dunit

2009-07-28T16:16:00.000-07:00

I know this is technically not a novel, but it is an awesome story, very fast read, and one of my personal favorites!

Anyway, this is a story of a mole who comes out of his hole one morning and discovers he has a new "hat" on the top of his head. He is very upset with his new "hat" and is unsure who put it there! Mr. Mole then takes up a mission to discover who gave him the mysterious "hat" You might think that having a hat is very cool, but after you discover what kind of "hat" it is and how it smells/looks you too would be upset. But don't worry in the end Mr. Mole gets his revenge! =)

Hannah's Dream

2009-07-09T15:11:00.000-07:00

I don't know if everyone knows this about me, but I absolutely love elephants. So my coworkers have the habit of pulling gnay donated or advanced reader books that say anything about elephants or have them on the cover. I got this book last summer I think and have yet to read it. Last weekend I picked it up and finished it in three days!

Hannah's Dream by Diane Hammond was not only about a sweet, loving, and solo elephant in a zoo, but all the family she gains in human form. The elephant, Hannah has spent most of her life with Sam, her keeper and as his health declines from diabetes he worries about what will happen to her. She is a little worried herself about things around her and being left in the barn alone at night. So Sam and his wife do everything they can to show their love for Hannah. There are a few side stories in Hannah's Dream that explain why Sam loves the elephant so much and why others do too.

The characters are great in this book, and of course there are some that may get on your nerves at first, but everyone has two sides. When Sam decides Hannah needs a home where she can stay out all the time and other elephants can keep her company, his friends get together a plan to transport her away from the Seattle Zoo to a sanctuary in California. I won't say more, because it has a great ending. It was a touching story, and a quick read, so I really recommend it if you like animal books. Or elephants!

Running From Strangers by C.C. Harrison

2009-06-10T15:08:00.000-07:00

I picked up this book since one of the reviews said this author would appeal to fans of Nora Roberts' Romantic Suspense novels. There are some key characteristics to the two authors. Both authors develop their characters to be more than two dimensional stereotypes. Nora Roberts develops her secondary characters more. C.C. Harrison develops the secondary characters a little, but you are left wondering what their motivations might be. Well, this is with the exception of one female "villian" - she is developed fully and I would have liked to have read more about her.
One of my issues with this novel was that I felt as if the novel was originally a lot longer than the 301 pages it turns out to be. There are some parts where it seems there is not enough background, or something in the main characters' lives happened that affects the story.. but the reader doesn't get to read it. My uneducated guess is that perhaps the author was told to cut the story; well-known authors' readers might welcome 400 pages. Newer authors do not have the luxury.
Anyway, I did enjoy this novel and I would read another one by her... provided it was longer. The suspense had a good pace; the storyline was believable; and I did like the main characters. There is a lot to the storyline as far as corruption, bribery, somewhat violent action (not gory, not too descriptive). The "bad things" that the enemy is doing are bad, but that too is not in grisly detail, which I appreciate. Sometimes Allie Hudson (female main character) annoyed me because I wanted her to be more forthcoming with the male lead.
I would recommend it, I would read it again, and I will definitely take a look at her next title.

Not Becoming My Mother

2009-06-05T10:31:00.000-07:00

Not Becoming My Mother & other things she taught me along the way by Ruth Reichl

Many have said at one time or another “I don’t want to be like my mother.” But have we ever really investigated who our mothers really were or are? What they dreamed about or the battles that they fought?

On what would have been her mother’s 100th birthday, Reichl embarks on a painful, but yet eye-opening journey into who her mother really was. Through reading her mother's diaries and letters, Reichl can see her mother's sacrifices and struggles and all the lessons she hoped her daughter would learn from her life.

Readers may walk away asking themselves "did/do I really know my mother and what did I learn from her? An engaging quick read, two thumbs up!

DIGGING TO AMERICA by Anne Tyler

2009-05-28T10:01:00.000-07:00

In my attempt to read books from different genres and authors, I stumbled upon this paperback in our collection. The story opens with two young families waiting for the arrival of their newly adopted babies coming from South Korea. Bitsy and Brad Dickinson-Donaldson are the stereotypical loud, affluent, and overconfident young "American" couple. Sami and Ziba Yazdan are a young Iranian American couple. I don't feel the author takes a lot of time to develop her characters - her focus is more on the relationship issues that come up between the different characters. The only character fully developed was Sami's mother Maryam who immigrated from Iran as a young bride. Bitsy's confidence in her child-rearing ways seems more of a mask - towards the end of the book you see that underneath it is a mask for her uncertainty of who and what she is. She makes strong efforts to preserve her child's Korean heritage by dressing her in traditional costume every year on Arrival Day. Her insistence on celebrating Arrival Day, the day the babies arrived to the United States, is indicative of this. Although birthdays are celebrated, they are overshadowed by the girls' arrival to the United States, as if this is much more important. Ziba, on the other side of the coin, is content to have her child assimilate directly into her Iranian American culture. She does not emphasize the differences between her and her child.
What was most interesting in this book was how cultures can differ. You see the differences between Ziba and Bitsy, between Bitsy and her father, between Sami and his mother Maryam, and even in Maryam and her relatives back in Iran. The assimilation of other cultures into the "American" culture is fascinating. Maryam no longer feels as if she belongs in Iran, although she still feels like a foreigner in the United States 40 years after her arrival. Her feelings of alienation intensify after 9/11 where any person of any Middle East heritage is suspect, regardless of the current political situation.
Maryam is the only shining star in this novel - although I did not always sympathize with her. Her fear of losing her Iranian heritage leads to stubborness, especially when it comes to her relationship with Bitsy's father. SPOILER: The author shows Maryam misinterpreting his motives - assuming that he is disrespectful of her heritage although he tries to integrate it into his marriage proposal. This is where you start to realize that the differences in the culture can cause so much discomfort and pain, although there is no intention of doing so.
Anne Tyler's strength lies in her development of the issues. This book started examining what it means to claim yourself as an American but it was not long enough to come to any conclusion. Fans of Richard Russo or Anna Quindlen will enjoy the everyday characters dealing with everyday issues of their lives. It was not a terrible book, or even a bad book. I didn't enjoy it, mostly because I had trouble identifying or sympathizing with most of the characters.

Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

2009-05-27T11:34:00.000-07:00

Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott
September 2, 2008

This book captivates the reader but engages the soul. You cannot stop reading; a nightmare awakened with eyes wide open. The story takes us into the point of view of the "too old" teen reflecting from the eyes of abuse. "Alice" was taken at the age of ten and now at fifteen she shares her story with us as we are put aside to witness, to view the pain, the loss, the sadness enraged by this monster who infected his sickness into the world. I was told I would not be able to put this book down, I will go another step saying that even after page 170 and the book is closed, the end reached....its haunting words leave a shadow, an essence imprinted on your soul...you do not forget how she won her freedom.

The Adventures of Slim and Howdy

2009-05-26T09:14:00.001-07:00

The Adventures of Slim and Howdy

by Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn

A couple of Tuesdays ago, I was out browsing the stacks before I started work and happened to find this book sitting on the shelves of the Green Valley Library. I had just recently given up on Artemis Fowl and the Lost Colony (good series up to this book, written by Eoin Colfer... still recommend it, but just to warn you that it gets a bit sleepy there.) and several books that I had on hold were either on their way over or I was on the waiting list for them.

Being a country music fan, I was immediately interested to see that Brooks and Dunn of "My Maria", "Only in America", and "Play Something Country" fame had put together a book. I'd been to one of their concerts when I was younger and enjoyed them and they're not too bad when it comes to writing a book either!

The book is the story of two cowboys who run into each other and decide to hit the road. They both happen to be singers, so they go to a few bars and perform nightly. One of the bars' owners is a friend of both of theirs gets kidnapped and the fun continues from there. I actually found the climax of the book to be a bit of a bore and prefered the chemistry that went on between the Slim and Howdy characters (Slim is Ronnie and Howdy is Kix).

All in all, not a bad read, but not something I'd nominate for book of the year. Plus, there's a music disc in the back with a pretty good song! Just as long as they keep to their day jobs, they'll be fine...

Quiet, Please: Dispatches from a Public Librarian

2009-04-28T17:11:00.001-07:00

Quiet, Please: Dispatches from a Public Librarian
by Scott Douglas

So, I stumbled upon this book a while ago and placed a request for it through our nifty inter-library loan system and received it, and finished it quickly, last week. Little did I know that one of the new Green Valley Library staff members was featured in it...

Scott Douglas started out as a library shelver/page in a small Anaheim, California library and this book is a tale of his experiences through shelverdom through library school and his time with an MLS (Master's in Library Science). The chapters are all uniquely started with a "book title" and Dewey Decimal Number, ranging from people wanting to kill him to finding the love of his life. Throughout this time, you learn to enjoy the cast of library regulars, ranging from the crazies to the kind old ladies who give you treats whenever they come in.

Overall, it's a great read and quite insightful. Quiet, Please definitely trumps the earlier published Freaks, Geeks, and Oddballs by Don Borchert... and I'm not just saying that because I know someone who knows the author. Oh right, you probably want to know the mysterious Green Valley staffer who worked side by side with Mr. Douglas, don't you? You'll have to make an educated guess. :)

The Alchemyst

2009-04-21T19:28:00.000-07:00

The Alchemyst: Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel
by Michael Scott

I read a lot of YA/J and that's because I love the fantasy genre. With a lot of "adult" fantasy books, they're huge tomes and remind me too much of the classics, but when they're written for the younger crowd, the authors pump out some great stuff and this is a perfect example of that.

Sophie and Josh, fraternal twins, are spending their summer in California while their parents are on an archaeological dig in Montana, I think. Sophie finds a job at a coffee shop and Josh goes to work for an elderly couple that own a bookstore: Nick and Perry Fleming. Everything goes swimmingly until one afternoon, a mysterious man enters the bookstore and nothing ever remains the same for them.

We soon discover that Nick and Perry are a bit older than they look. They're actually about 500 years old, being Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel. Nicholas is an alchemyst and has been keeping himself and his wife alive by creating doses of an immortality potion. That's only the beginning of this adventure though.

I don't want to reveal too much more about this first volume of a proposed nine-book series, two of which are already out and the third one is due in May. If you enjoy history or mythology at all, or even if you like a quick-paced read, I suggest you to give this one a shot. Highly recommended!

Tess of the D'Urbervilles

2009-04-08T10:30:00.000-07:00

So, I love to read classics every now and then and have never read Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Ubervilles. One day Seth and I happened to turn to PBS and were caught up in the middle of this awesome Masterpiece Theater movie. And I had to figure out what it was. As soon as I found out it was a book I had to turn it off. When I tried to read the book though, I had so much going on I couldn't get into it. BUT! Our great Overdrive audio books has had some books added it looks like and there it was.

I honestly really loved this book. It was one of the few that I purposely did more cleaning just so I had an excuse to listen to. It was narrated by Ralph Cosham and I really enjoyed his voice and storytelling. He also has narrated Four Feathers which looks like it was recently added to Overdrive too!

The story seems modern enough to have kept my interest, and Tess through all her hardships was easy to relate to, and feel bad for. I spent the entire story rooting for her and hoping she gets what she wants. The end was so unexpected from other stories involving a loving couple, and was not the sort of happy eneding you may find in books written at this time period. Hardy's moral conclusion was actually what should have happened, even though it left me wanting more of the story!

"sTORI Telling" -- Guilty Pleasure at Its Best

2008-03-26T11:22:00.000-07:00

Ok, I know I am admitting here on this public forum, that I, a Librarian, have read the biography of Tori Spelling and thoroughly enjoyed it. Do I feel guilty about it? You bet. I know I should be reading the greats – Tolstoy, Austen, Dickens. They are heavy meals worthy of consumption. But then there are times when you just want to scarf down a dozen donuts – that’s what reading sTORI Telling was for me without all the nasty calories and only a little guilt.

On the remote chance you don’t know who Tori Spelling is allow me to enlighten you. She is the daughter of the late great television producer Aaron Spelling and played virginal Donna Martin in the television drama Beverly Hills 90210. Ok, I’ll admit it. I have seen every episode of 90210 – that’s 10 years of episodes! She’s gone on to do other things, especially made-for-TV movies (that even I wouldn’t watch!), but she’ll always be known as the daughter of Aaron Spelling who was on his show 90210 and who has been tabloid fodder ever since (I never read tabloids! Really!).

Though the book is touted as revealing all of the secrets of the goings-on on the set of 90210 and in her private life, it really is a book that reads like a conversation with a close girlfriend. It starts with Tori’s early years with the over-the-top birthday parties and Halloween costumes through the years where she had to struggle to overcome having such a famous name. Just to give you some insight into the book, there are chapters called, “They Hated Me at Hello”, “Strings Attached (or Why I Didn’t Notice That I Shouldn’t Be Getting Married” and my favorite “Is That a Knife in Your Purse or Are You Just Glad to See Me?”. You learn through reading the book, which some could see as just another “Poor Little Rich Girl” tale, that Tori’s a regular person with a really interesting life. She’s had problems with money and with her mother and with irrational fears. It was humanizing to read about her struggle with ODC. She loves her dogs and her second husband and, just like all of us, wants to be successful on her own without help from her parents.

I find the interactions between her and her mother especially intriguing. When Tori was 12 and all dressed up for a family portrait, she asked her mother, “Am I pretty?” Her mother responded with “You will be when we get your nose done.” Throughout the book there are plenty of other examples of her mother’s “sweetness”. To anyone that has watched 90210 with any regularity, you will know that Tori’s character on the program also had an uneasy relationship with her mother. Though Tori doesn’t say so in the book, it does leave you wondering if her real mother was the pattern the writers for the show followed. It is also notable that her father on the show was very sympathetic – did the fact that the producer of the show was Tori’s father have any bearing on this too?

I am in no way saying read this book and forget all about the Dostoevskys and James Joyces out there. But every now and then it’s nice to put aside the Lobster Newburg and opt for a donut with pink icing. That’s this book.

Chasing the Rising Sun: The Journey of an American Song by Ted Anthony

2008-02-02T14:32:00.000-08:00

When I was a kid I remember poking around the 700's in the reading room of the old Carnegie library in Lafayette, Indiana. While there I found a book of sheet music with a red library binding that had the lyrics of "The House of the Rising Sun" in it. I knew the song. It was such a mysterious reflective song, about a life done gone wrong in New Orleans, and I wondered at that young age just what The House of the Rising Sun was. Later in life I pretty much had it nailed down that it was a brothel in Storyville, perhaps one with a round window under the eaves that looked like a rising sun ... but now I find out that no one really knows what "the House" refers to. The author of the book Chasing the Rising Sun examines the origins and meaning of the song. He's pretty obsessive about it. He collects recorded versions of it, and travels around searching for pretty much any reference of it. We find out that perhaps the "House" is a bar in England, or a long gone hotel/brothel in New Orleans, and that the author really doesn't really find the meaning of the House of the Rising Sun in the end. What he does find is the soul of America -- of who we are and how we got here. Which is stuff like families coming together to make music and eat BBQ with Pepsi poured over it, or an old guy who loves early American recorded music so much that he's got a better collection of 78's than the Library of Congress in his New Jersey basement, which is the same library that sent a guy and his wife out in the 1930's with a special vehicle fitted out to make recordings of the local folks making music in the hills of Appalachia, who just so happened to record a little girl singing the song the way we know it, which ultimately gave us the Animals version that we are familiar with.

Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life

2008-01-30T12:45:00.000-08:00

"In a sense, this book is not an autobiography but a biography, because I am writing about someone I used to know. Yes, these events are true, yet sometimes they seemed to have happened to someone else, and I often felt like a curious onlooker or someone trying to remember a dream. I ignored my stand-up career for twenty-five years, but now, having finished this memoir, I view this time with surprising warmth. One can have, it turns out, an affection for the war years."

-- Steve Martin in "Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life"

Though the name of our blog is Novel News, I am guessing that a non-novel would be ok. "Born Standing Up" is the candid autobiography of comedian/author Steve Martin that showcases his early years as a stand-up comic. The book reveals the fascinating journey of a kid who once sold guidebooks at Disneyland and later worked in the magic shop there and then went on to command audiences in stadiums that comedians had never seen before him.

As a big fan of Martin's published works, "Shopgirl" and my favorite, "The Pleasure of My Company", it was no surprise to me that Martin's story would be written beautifully and with humor. But the book also reads kind of sad -- the kind of sadness that comes when you look back at your long gone "salad days" before life made you jaded. So while you enjoy the ridiculous photos of Martin that are interspersed throughout the book (instead of having all of the photos crammed into the center of the book like most biographies) as a hippy-wanne-be or with ballons on his head, you also feel the sober whimsy behind the photos as you read about his loneliness and estrangement from his parents and sister (though he did eventually reconcile with them). You get the sense that being a comedic avant-garde genius isn't all that it's cracked up to be and that to get to the top took a lot of struggle not to mention fine-tuning of an act that often people didn't quite get.

On a more personal note, as I read this story I couldn't help thinking of my brother, also named Steve, who like Martin got his start in entertainment at a Disney property and went on to become a professional juggler. I felt compelled to share this book with him and just as I hoped he found a lot in the book that felt familiar, especially dealing with audiences who don't quite appreciate what you do. Just as a juggler has to qualify a trick (doing the trick without a drop a certain amount of reps), so Martin had to qualify his act through hard work, repitition and fine-tuning. The message of the book was not a blueprint for fame -- at time the regret that's implied in the book would be a discouragement to would be comedians. I found it more of a cautionary, "be careful for what you wish for" tale. In the end, fame would cause Martin to lose his desire to do stand-up but the struggle for the fame would make him a comedic juggernaut for years to come.

Ask The Dust by John Fante

2008-01-16T18:47:00.001-08:00

One night I was sitting on the bed in my hotel room on Bunker Hill, down in
the very middle of Los Angeles. It was an important night in my life,
because I had to make a decision about the hotel. Either I paid up or I
got out: that was what the note said, the note the landlady had put under my
door. A great problem, deserving acute attention. I solved it by
turning out the lights and going to bed.”

So reads the first paragraph of John Fante’s novel Ask the Dust. When I first read this in the preface of Brett Easton Ellis’s The Informers, I was immediately drawn to the simplicity, the frankness, and the desperate nonchalance that even a few sentences brought out. So I said to myself, “Who is this John Fante, and where can I get a hold of his book Ask the Dust? It wasn’t anywhere. I couldn’t even buy it locally.

Eventually, I found a copy and read it. It was written in first person. The situations were real. There was both a human and animal element to it. The story was about a young displaced writer in 1930’s L.A., facing poverty and unrequited love while trying to make a name for himself in a rented room. Actually, the story wasn’t necessary. You see, when I had finished reading it, I barely remembered the plot. It didn’t matter. The author had opened up the private thoughts of the human mind. He had not spared embarrassing, awkward situations, and had written about the details of life. This was what most impressed me -- that a guy could be this honest about himself, and that he could truly know himself this well to put it all down on paper.

So after that, I read everything by Fante I could get my hands on. It was more of the same. Situations more honest than before – even his domestic writing that was done in the 1950’s like Full of Life, a story about the birth of his son, had that edge. Well, come to find out that Ask the Dust was heavily influenced by another called Hunger by Knut Hamsun. I picked that up too, and started reading it. It was even more desperate, and more spiritual. I sort of felt gyped -- like Fante had simply popped himself into Hamsun’s book and taken out some of the more desperate elements. But I’m still glad he wrote it, they say he is the father of the L.A. novel, and probably one of the more underappreciated writer’s of American Literature. Fante eventually ended up making big bucks writing for the movies, and he always said it finished him as a novelist.

Fante would have pretty much been lost as a writer, had he not been rediscovered in the early 1980’s by Charles Bukowski. Bukowski had a huge following and called Fante “his god” after having discovered him the reading room of the L.A. Public Library. While Fante’s stuff is more toned down than Bukowski’s, you can still see the influence there. That wonderful raw edge of humanity.

Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis

2007-12-22T11:41:00.000-08:00

When the 20's were bursting out all over, we find the antithesis of the Fitzgeraldian hero, a 40 something, unoriginal humpty dumpty, but groomed sort of fellow called Babbitt. Babbitt's secret desire is to live again, not in the suburban sense, but in a wild and colorful way, and he supresses it until he finally erupts and makes a complete hind end of himself. He throws away his Boosterism, his faithful but bland wife, and converges on his quiet midwestern city of Zenith with a fervor that will rock the tabloids and fuel the gossips until the second coming. Realizing that the futility of his efforts will not free him from the dyed in the wool masses, Babbitt submits to becoming a cog in the machine and finally realizes his ambitions through his offspring in a sarcastic salute to Zenith and to the world. Hurray for all the Chicken Croquets and Lettuce Sandwiches that are consumed in this book, and a toast to Sinclair Lewis who has had entirely to many already.

The Year of Living Biblically

2007-10-11T14:11:00.000-07:00

A.J. Jacobs likes to pull stunts, get book deals, and write about them. In addition to being a regular writer for Esquire magazine, he's written a book called The Know-It-All, where he told about his adventures reading the entire Encyclopedia Britannica. This time, he vows to adhere as literally as possible to all the laws in the Old and New Testaments.

I found this book entertaining and intriguing. Jacobs is thoughtful and funny. His adherance to the laws is most obviously manifested as he grows out his beard and wears white clothes with tassels on the end. One particularly hilarious episode is in the beginning, when he cannot touch his wife for 7 days, or sit anywhere that she has sat, because she might be unclean. His wife, being a modern woman, is a little resentful about what this particular law implies. She retaliates by sitting in every chair in their apartment, thereby making it impossible for him to sit down anywhere.

Jacobs is an agnostic with a Jewish background. He comments freely about his fluctuating viewpoints on God and religion. He examines carefully the impact of doing good deeds and following rules...all the rules...and what effect this has on his inner thoughts. The reader also gets to follow Jacobs and his wife through their quest to have another child...which works out a little differently than planned.

Jacob performs a stunt, but it is one that he carries through thoroughly as he can, and his modern-day thoughts and humor make this a book for anyone, regardless of spiritual choice.

Snowflower and the Secret Fan

2007-10-10T12:46:00.000-07:00

I have had Snowflower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See on my "to read" list forever, and saw the library owns it on audio through Overdrive, so I thought that was a better way for me to catch up on my reading list. I really enjoyed this book, especially because it focused on so many cultural and historical practices of China. I had never studied in depth any of these like foot binding, and arranged marriages, but See was able to make the facts and stories so interesting that it was a very quick listen. I really felt drawn to the characters with the unbelievable trials they went through as the novel described two friends over many decades of their lives. The traditions and the pain and joy they went through seemed so real. I also thought it was a great book to listen to because it was such good storytelling.

Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

2007-08-18T15:13:00.000-07:00

Devil in the White City came to me highly recommended, but I can't say I was overly thrilled. I was under a time constraint and so was forced to listen to it on audio, which, truth be told, is not my favorite way to read a book, though I feel very efficient.

Perhaps I wasn't intrigued with the serial killer, Holmes. Larson wrote about Holmes childhood with a little too much bias, in my opinion. I felt myself thinking in frustration, "He (Larson) can't KNOW that!" There are several incidents were Larson makes conjectures about Holmes reaction to stressful events or his attitude toward animals. Since there doesn't seem to be any proof of his reaction or attitude in either situation, I would have preferred that Larson kept his account a little more objective, at least during this portion of the tale.

Perhaps I wasn't intrigued by the development of the World's Fair in Chicago. It seemed that Larson went over every painstaking detail 10 times - the committees, the architecture, the bad weather plaguing it all. There were moments during this portion that captured my interest - particuarly when it was revealed (finally) what the structure was that would "out-Eiffel Eiffel." I also enjoyed the moments that involved Frederick Law Olmsted, who was also developing the grounds for the Biltmore House in North Carolina, which is a place I've visited three times. His view of landscape architecture and his ability to plan 40 years in advance were very impressive. I just couldn't get a sense of the buildings somehow.

I'm in the minority on this one. Others I've talked to find this book one of the best non-fiction books they've ever read. I just found it too slow and detailed - and I'm not usually one to shy away from detail. Perhaps I just don't respond to being read to. On this one, it might be best to NOT take my word for it.

One Thousand Secret Suns

2007-07-02T11:35:00.000-07:00

One Thousand Secret Suns by Khaled Hosseini is one of those books that, when people ask me how I liked it, I have trouble answering. I want to say I loved it, but how can you love a book that deals with so much pain? And yet, several of the characters are true-to-life, multi-dimensional, and ultimately triumphant.

Like Kite Runner, One Thousand Secret Suns is set over several decades in Afghanistan beginning in the 1970s. We are introducted to Mariam at age 15 , who longs for her father and ultimately feels responsible for her mother's death. We see Mariam become involved in an arranged marriage with a man 30 years her senior, Rasheed. Initially, things are not actually too bad, though her new husband makes her wear a burqa. Our Western sensibilities are horrified at the idea, but Mariam actually feels cherished and able to observe her world without reserve behind her burqa. Her situation quickly deteriorates when it becomes evident that she cannot bear children.

We then meet Laila, who is eventually orphaned by war. She becomes Rasheed's second wife, which is rather timely since she has become pregnant just before she is orphaned. Laila is Rasheed's adored second wife, but eventually her rebelliousness results in beatings, just as they have for Mariam. In the meantime, Laila and Mariam build a bond together against Rasheed, and Mariam is finally able to experience love.

Although the end of the tale is a little too neat for my taste, and there is a plot twist at the end that seemed a little formulaic, Mariam is a truly heroic character to me. She has done what her mother said that all women must do: endure. How she does this is subtle and real, with no histrionics. She is just a woman who continues day after day, and does what she can for those she loves.

Set This House in Order

2007-06-05T15:04:00.000-07:00

How do you write a book about 20 characters when you only have 2 physical bodies with which to work? Have the two main characters be people who suffer from MPD (multiple personality disorder). Step back, and enjoy the ride...

The reader is immediately introduced to Andrew Gage, who is a very well-adjusted, aware, multiple. Andrew has even developed some good jokes about being multiple - for instance, he will always win in a vote because he always has everyone else outnumbered. Andrew has worked with a psychologist for several years, and has chosen to keep all his personalities separate. Andrew is in control of the body, but is aware of the existence of his other personalities, and often has running relationships with many of them. The scene where they all eat breakfast is one of the most entertaining and illuminating of the novel.

Andrew is introduced to Penny, who also has MPD, but is not aware of it. She is currently living a tumultuous existence where she loses time frequently. She has several personalities, but is unaware of them, and therefore has no say in who has control over the body at any given time.

Andrew reluctantly agrees to reveal Penny's disorder to her. This results in Andrew further addressing facts about his past that even he or any other of his personalities knows about. Andrew and Penny go on a rolicking road trip and find that some of their respective personalities become kindred spirits.

Ruff describes the process of dealing with MPD with such sympathy and accuracy, it is difficult to believe that he is not a multiple himself. Characters who shouldn't be sympathetic become quite endearing in their own way, and somehow one can empathize with Andrew and Penny and what it would be like to deal with all their personalities.

Set This House in Order must be read slowly, but it is thoroughly engaging and one of the most unusual book premises that's been explored in a long time.

Dickens World

2007-05-25T09:04:00.001-07:00

Not a formal review but I have to say I am exceedingly excited about a new theme-attraction I heard about yesterday on NPR that opens today. It is Dickens World, that's right...an exciting journey all about the world of 19th century England centered on the works of Charles Dickens. Located in Chatham, it features Scrooge's haunted house, Fagin's Den, the dockside, streets and alleys...all the sights and smells (I don't know if I'm too enthused about smelling the dockside, I think they were still using the Thames as a sewer in Dicken's time). The Dickens World web site doesn't have too many pictures, just a time lapse streaming video of the construction site. NPR Marketplace has an inside construction view and the picture towards to bottom of the article features the London sewer boat ride (very Our Mutual Friend). So the next time you happen to be near England, stop by and step into another era!

Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell

2007-04-30T09:10:00.000-07:00

Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell is a great book to read when it's 98 degrees outside because it inexplicably made me feel cold through and through.

This short novel is set in the Ozarks in an unspecified time period. Although there are hints at modernity - headphones, New Age sound tapes, and meth labs are mentioned throughout - the pervasive feel is that it takes place in the early 20th century.

Woodrell tells the story of a week in the life of Ree Dolly, a 16-year-old who is hardened far beyond her years. Her father, who cooks meth, has disappeared and her mother has some sort of mental illness. Ree takes care of her two younger brothers and worries about their future. At the beginning of the novel, we learn that Ree's father has a court date for which he put up his house and land as bail. If he doesn't make his court date, their house and land will be repossessed. During this week, Ree must find her father in order to save their home.

This book depicts lives that are cold and dark. I got the feeling that the sun never shines where Ree lives. Ree's family is hardened and callous, but a few of them - Ree, her best friend, and Ree's Uncle Teardrop - have glimmers of morality and steadfastness that make them highly sympathetic. Ree herself is smart, responsible and realistic, and one cannot help but hope that she can figure out a way to save her family and herself.

Pulitzer, anyone?

2007-04-17T09:58:00.000-07:00

Are you up to date on your Pulitzers? They were just announced yesterday and the winner of the fiction category was Cormac McCarthy's The Road. Everyone's raving about it seeing how it is an Oprah book selection and she provides author info, reading guides and all that other good stuff on her website. Malcolm Library Book Chat also had this as their book club book earlier this year so we do have multiple copies. Other winners include The Race Beat by Gene Roberts and Hank Klibanoff (about the civil rights movement) for best history, The Most Famous Man in America by Debby Applegate (about Henry Ward Beecher) for best biography and The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright (about Al-Qaeda and 9/11) for best general nonfiction. Check the Pulitzer website for a complete listing of all their winners.

NonFiction – Big-Box Swindle: The True Cost of Mega-Retailers and the Fight for America’s Independent Business by Stacy Mitchell

2007-03-20T09:32:00.000-07:00

This is a very interesting in depth look at the impact of large chain stores with in the United States. Mitchell, head of the American Independent Business Alliance, is very convincing and illustrates many of the negatives that can come about when a large chain retail store opens in a community. Many of the arguments against the expansion of large chains are quite obvious while others are more subtle but still convincing. For example, she spends a good deal of time discussing job loss and creation. Often a community or local government will embrace a large chain by stating how many jobs it will bring to the community. However, as large chain stores open and grow local small businesses, lacking the resource to compete, close over time. Therefore, a community experiences more job loss than job gain over a period of a few years, but since this is subtle it goes unnoticed. One issue I did have with the book was that the author did not discuss any benefits a chain store brings to a community as I am sure there are some. Mitchell concludes with the argument that it is time for governments and communities to step in and level the playing field so that small business can compete against large retail chains. Only time will tell if this will happen.

Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn

2007-03-07T10:27:00.000-08:00

I was completely misled in thinking this novel by Deanna Raybourn was a typical historical romance offering simply because I knew that the publisher, Mira, is an imprint of Harlequin. But I was completely enthralled in this mystery debut. At their own dinner party, Lady Julia Grey’s husband, Edward, dies a sudden and not so unexpected death. A weakening heart condition had Lady Grey prepared for the eventuality of his death but not for the doubts of a private inquiry agent, Nicholas Brisbane. It is only after a year’s worth of accumulating suspicion that Lady Grey engages the services of Mr. Brisbane into the possible murder of her husband. The year has given Julia time to emerge from her repressive marriage and slowly grow stronger in self sense of self and she is determined to assist Nicholas. They are at constant odds with each other leading to a tremendous amount of romantic tension. But, instead of romance being the focus of the story, the search for Edward’s killer takes center stage leading Julia into a sordid and dark world. The historical detail, strong characters and at times, the almost gothic overtones proved to make for a strong storyline. I shall definitely put Deanna Raybourn on my author watch list!

NonFiction - Cold Burial By Clive Powell-Williams

2007-02-13T14:52:00.000-08:00

The story of Jack Hornby, Canadian frontiersman, and his young cousin Edgar Christian and friend Harold Adlard is a tale of inspiration. The author, Clive Powell-Williams, tells the story relying upon the diary and letters from the party as they travel across Canada to their winter home on the Thelon River in 1926. We soon discover that Jack, though notorious for exploits on the Canadian frontier, is not an accomplished frontiersman. His decisions as he leads the two young greenhorns into the tundra end up costing the lives of all three men (due to starvation). Most of the story is told from the diary that Edgar (only 18 at the time) kept. Edgar’s diary reflects how all three stayed positive and fought to the very end before succumbing to death. In fact, during World War II the Nazi party printed this story in German as an mandatory read for young recruits illustrating the importance of duty and a never give up attitude. Overall this is well written as Clive often includes excerpts from Edgar’s diary to give an insight to what all three were experiencing as they tried to survive on the Thelon.

The Nanny Diaries

2007-01-26T09:55:00.000-08:00

I recently finished The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus in an easy two days. I was pleasantly surprised by this book and enjoyed it all the way through. The good and the bad are well presented in this novel, and I think the two authors’ experience as nannies helped make this book funny, but also tender hearted in the end. A conveniently named Nan, is a young college student who nannies part time. She seems experienced in her stories of interviewing for jobs, getting jobs and keeping jobs. But this story is focused on one four year old Grayer. He is sometimes sweet, sometimes rotten, but completely cute and in need of his parents. Nan goes through school as well as finding a new boyfriend while working for the Xs. They ask her to do the impossible, she misses important events, and she is talked down to. The things that Nan and other Nannies go through are almost unbelievable. She is frustrated with her position, yet she finds the time to become emotionally attached to Grayer, and has a hard time telling the Xs “no.” I picked it up because I heard about the movie coming out (in April) and wanted to read it before seeing it. I hope it is as great as the book!

Edgar Award Nominees 2007

2007-01-21T00:08:00.001-08:00

Due to some shuffling around of positions at work, I haven’t had a chance to read much of anything or find the time to report on the novels I have had a chance finish but all that aside…the Edgar Award nominations have been announced for all those mystery lovers out there. The awards for books published in 2006 will be given out April 26, 2007 in NYC. So, out of the nominees for hardback books, I have read four. For the Best Novel Nominees … you can read back to my post on The Virgin of the Small Plains by Nancy Pickard. Gentlemen and Players by Joanne Harris dealt with life in an uppercrust Brit prep school and the child of the school’s caretaker, flash forward to about 20 years later (if I remember right) and we revisit the school as someone with a vendetta takes on the school and its faculty one by one, in a mystery way, not a horror way and very good with an ending to which I never saw coming (but then again, I’m one of those reader’s that do NOT try to figure out who-done-it, I just go along for the ride!) I also have to mention that The Janissary Tree by Kevin Goodwin is sitting, right this moment, on my bookshelf and I keep looking at it knowing I have to read that (and a million other things) soon. Out of the Best First Novel by an American Author… Sharp Objects was very psychologically intriguing and I normally don’t go reading about people with the afflictions this young reporter had but by the time I realized what was going on, I was already sucked into the story and it was too late to stop, also loaded with tons of dysfunctional family life. And I have commented on another post about Holmes on the Range by Steve Hockensmith but let me reiterate, if you want a super fun Holmesian western mystery out with the cowboys, this is definitely the book for you. I eagerly await the second installment of the adventures of the Amlingmeyer brothers in their second book, On the Wrong Track, due out March 6th. And of course, A Faithful Spy by Alex Berenson and A Field of Darkness by Cornelia Read are sitting on that same bookshelf by The Jannisary Tree (need to get to those soon!) Anyway, check the partial list and see you see anything to put on your “to read” list and for more categories (like the Best Motion Picture Screen Play category to go on your “to watch” list…go to the Mystery Writers of America complete nominees list)

Best Novel Nominees

The Pale Blue Eye by Louis Bayard (HarperCollins)
The Janissary Tree by Jason Goodwin (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
Gentleman and Players by Joanne Harris (HarperCollins - William Morrow)
The Dead Hour by Denise Mina (Hachette Book Group - Little, Brown and Company)
The Virgin of Small Plains by Nancy Pickard (Random House - Ballantine Books)
The Liberation Movements by Olen Steinhauer (St. Martin's Minotaur)

Best First Novel By An American Author

The Faithful Spy by Alex Berenson (Random House)
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn (Crown - Shaye Areheart Books)
King of Lies by John Hart (St. Martin's Minotaur - Thomas Dunne Books)
Holmes on the Range by Steve Hockensmith (St. Martin's Minotaur)
A Field of Darkness by Cornelia Read (Warner Books - Mysterious Press)

Not-So-Grown-Up January Book

2007-01-03T11:29:00.000-08:00

This month's book club read is A Long Way Down By Nick Hornby.
Here is a brief summary from the book jacket:

"In his eagerly awaited fourth novel, New York Times-bestselling author Nick Hornby mines the hearts and psyches of four lost souls who connect just when they've reached the end of the line. Meet Martin, JJ, Jess, and Maureen. Four people who come together on New Year's Eve: a former TV talk show host, a musician, a teenage girl, and a mother. Three are British, one is American. They encounter one another on the roof of Topper's House, a London destination famous as the last stop for those ready to end their lives. In four distinct and riveting first-person voices, Nick Hornby tells a story of four individuals confronting the limits of choice, circumstance, and their own mortality. This is a tale of connections made and missed, punishing regrets, and the grace of second chances. Intense, hilarious, provocative, and moving, A Long Way Down is a novel about suicide that is, surprisingly, full of life."

We will discuss this book at the next meeting. It will be held on February 1st, 2007 @ 6:00pm

If you're interested in joining the Not-So-Grown-Up Book Club please visit the James I. Gibson Library or contact us at 564-9261.

1635: The Cannon Law by Eric Flint and Andrew Dennis

2006-12-28T10:23:00.000-08:00

It is always difficult to pigeon hole the genre of these types of works. Is it fiction, science fiction or an alternate history? Since the opening volume, 1632, I would say the answer to the question is all three. How is that for a definitive answer?

1635: The Cannon Law continues the saga of the Grantsville Americans thrown back in time by the Ring of Fire. For those who are students of history, this series and this book in particular are entertaining reads. Just imagine trying to overlay a modern American value system across Europe during the Spanish Inquisition. As one might assume, there are a variety of conflicts as our 20th/ 21st century heroes try to enact reforms several centuries before their time. While Pope Urban VIII sees value in some of the American's views, the nemesis, Spanish inquisitor, Cardinal Borja views the Pope as weak and unfit in light of Spain's supremacy in the world.

The Cardinal begins to ferment trouble throughout Rome with a number of paid malcontents sent out to create discontent in the Roman populace through a variety of rabble rousing endeavors. Of course the American embassy in Rome is a target of the Cardinal's plots as is the fledgling Committee of Correspondence run by Frank Stone and his Italian wife Giovanna. As the ambassador to Rome from the United States of Europe, Sharon Nichols must make some difficult decisions and play a few political games of her own to try and offset the Cardinal's plans. Her fiance, the strong, humorous and often deadly Castilian Ruy Sanchez supports the entire American entourage in Rome with his political and military savvy.

Ultimately Cardinal Borja attempts the military conquest of Rome, providing considerable concern for his Spanish monarch but endless possibilities for the political realist among the King's men. The work builds to an interesting end and to an intriguing continuation of the series as the "uptime" Americans continue in their efforts to thwart the Spanish Inquisition.

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

2006-12-11T16:00:00.000-08:00

Neverwhere is not a book I expected to enjoy. However, it was the selection for December for the Not So Grown Up Bookclub, and because Neil Gaiman's name pops frequently, I decided to read it.

The premise is this: Richard Mayhew, an ordinary man with a good job and an overbearing, beautiful fiancee, lives in London. One day, on the brink of yet another screw-up with his fiancee, he rescues a girl who appears from nowhere and is hurt. The girl, Door, returns from whence she came, but Richard wakes up the next day to find that he has essentially ceased to exist in London Above. He makes his way unknowingly to London Below, which exists in the subways and sewers of London and is populated by those who have fallen through the cracks of society.

London Below is a land where rats are revered and is filled with murderers, Hunters, and angel, a Beast, people with magical powers, and a various assortment of other characters. The story details Richard's efforts to return in full to London Above and regain his life, and his conclusions when he does get his life back, even better than before.

Unlike other fantasy worlds which are close enough to our own but with no relation to anything that actually exists in the world we know now, Neverwhere exists half in our known world, and half below. There are frequent references to things we're all familiar with: the Thames, the Underground and it's various stations, St. Paul's Cathedral. The references to things known makes references to things unknown infinitely more possible.

The book is at times funny, and at times repulsive (vegetarians beware of the diet of Mr. Vandemar!), but always engaging. I feel the urge to re-read it to get all the allusions more clearly the second time around...and that's always a sign of a worthy read for me. Plus, I'll be looking out when I next ride the London Underground.

NonFiction - Strapped: Why America's 20 and 30 somethings can't get ahead

2006-12-11T14:17:00.000-08:00

Strapped by Tamara Draut is a very interesting examination of the financial situation of young adults from their early 20s to their mid 30s. The author has done extensive research in comparing the situations currently faced by young adults with those of the baby boomers. Her research is supported by real life experiences of young adults who have struggled as they have tried to attain the same success in society as past generations. I initially thought that many of the young folks who have struggled to become adults were based largely upon poor decisions, lack of effort, etc. But I was surprised to find that was not the entire case. Draut focuses much of her blame on, rising college costs, student loan debt, unaffordable housing, lack of support of child rearing (including time away from work and child care), credit card debt, and paycheck paralysis. She spends a substantial amount of time on each of these topics making her arguments for each. However, it should be noted that while making her case she does dive into politics (which is probably unavoidable). Whether you agree with her arguments will ultimately depend upon your political point of view. The last two chapters are solutions that she thinks will help the situation. Her ideas are solidly researched and well thought out but call for a less capitalistic approach. Do these solutions have the ability to take root in this country? Maybe, but it will be a difficult sell to the American people.

New Books for December 2006

2006-12-06T13:17:00.000-08:00

A little late this month…due to that fact that I’ve got so many holiday projects going, I completely forgot!! Here are the new books coming in for December so take a break (like I plan to do) and read until the stress melts away…

December 5
The Bolelyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory
From the "New York Times" bestselling author of "The Queen's Fool, The Virgin's Lover, The Constant Princess" and "The Other Boleyn Girl" comes a tempestuous Tudor tale about two queens, Anne of Cleves and Catherine Parr, and the woman who destroys them both.
Hannibal Rising by Thomas Harris
HE IS ONE OF THE MOST HAUNTING CHARACTERS IN ALL OF LITERATURE. AT LAST THE EVOLUTION OF HIS EVIL IS REVEALED. Hannibal Lecter emerges from the nightmare of the Eastern Front, a boy in the snow, mute, with a chain around his neck.He seems utterly alone, but he has brought his demons with him. Hannibal’s uncle, a noted painter, finds him in a Soviet orphanage and brings him to France, where Hannibal will live with his uncle and his uncle’s beautiful and exotic wife, Lady Murasaki. Lady Murasaki helps Hannibal to heal. With her help he flourishes, becoming the youngest person ever admitted to medical school in France. But Hannibal’s demons visit him and torment him. When he is old enough, he visits them in turn. He discovers he has gifts beyond the academic, and in that epiphany, Hannibal Lecter becomes death’s prodigy.

December 12
Mistral’s Kiss by Laurell K. Hamilton
Time for Meredith Gentry to give up detective work and conceive an heir to the Faerie world's Unseelie Court. Too bad her magic is off, even as dark curses are starting to do their stuff.
True Evil by Greg Iles
"New York Times" bestselling author Greg Iles returns with this smart and atmospheric work. Dr. Chris Shepard, a busy young doctor in Natchez, Mississippi, has never seen his new patient Alex Morse before. But the attractive young woman with the scarred face has come to Dr. Shepard's office on a mission to rip his idyllic life inside out.

December 26
Stalemate by Iris Johansen
Atlanta-based forensic sculptor Eve Duncan is lured to the Colombian compound of a notorious criminal to identify a skull he has found. Eve has agreed to a devil's bargain to save an innocent family, but also for another reason. The man in the jungle has promised to give Eve the key to unlocking the darkest and most painful mystery of her past in this latest thriller by "New York Times" bestselling author Johansen.
The Ravenscar Dynasty by Barbara Bradford
The first novel in a sweeping new epic series from Barbara Taylor Bradford, set in the early 20th century, features a powerful family whose lives are filled with drama, intrigue, and revenge.
More Twisted by Jeffrey Deaver
Diverse, provocative, eerie, and twisted, this collection of Jeffery Deaver's best stories exhibits amazing range and the signature plot twists that have made him a perennial bestseller.

December 28
The Perfect Fake by Barbara Parker
In "New York Times" bestselling author Barbara Parker's brilliant new stand-alone novel, the forgery of a rare 500-year-old map sparks a thrilling chase from Miami to London and the Italian Alps in a remarkable tale of international intrigue.
Find Me by Carol O’Connell
From one of the most acclaimed crime writers in America comes her most astonishing novel: a story of love, loss, death, and discovery. Kathy Mallory will find herself hunting a killer like none she has ever known, and will undergo a series of revelations not only of stunning intensity, but stunning effect.
Annotations from Baker & Taylor , Barnes & Noble and Books-a-Million.

Measure of a Lady

2006-11-28T14:55:00.000-08:00

The Measure of a Lady by Deanne Gist was just as great as her first novel. The combination of a clean read, with the same romantic implications as a romance novel, makes it very enjoyable. The story is based on Rachel Van Buren’s trials in a very rowdy San Francisco. The historical part of the story is based on the difficulties in being one of the very few women in an undeveloped gold rush town. Rachel has a younger brother and sister to take care of; beginning with a place to stay, income and the basic necessities. The stress that goes into this is apparent immediately as she finds no proper hotels, and no proper church to ask for assistance. The story of course includes a romantic interest for Rachel, in the form of a gambling hall owner. She struggles with his choice of profession, and her love for him. It all is combined very well in the storytelling, and you really feel for Rachel throughout her struggles and accomplishments. Great, quick, inspirational read!

In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming

2006-11-27T14:23:00.000-08:00

I love when I come across a series that is new to me and I get to play catch up on all the rest of the books. Our mystery bookclub chose to read Julia Spencer-Fleming’s In a Bleak Midwinter for December. The first in a series, this award-winning novel is set near to the New York Adirondacks in the little town of Miller’s Kill. A “kill” is actually the Dutch word for creek and isn’t it clever to use that as a town name for a setting of a mystery novel. In this small town on a bitter winter night, the newly hired Episcopalian priest, Clare Fergusson finds an abandoned baby at the doorway to her church. Promptly involving the proper authorities, Clare is now committed to the well-being of this infant. Despite the note left with the baby, asking it be given to a couple in the parish, Police chief Russ Van Alstyne is charged with the task of finding the true parents. The need quickly escalates as the body of a young female college freshman and possible mother to the infant is discovered murdered by the river just outside of town. As the leads keep pointing in different members of the community Clare and Russ must work together to find the killer. As they work together, their attraction for one another grows beyond friendship, slightly problematic since Russ is married. The quick pace, the remote setting and the intricate plot compliments each other very well. I only jumped ahead once to make everyone would be okay and it was towards the end of the book (I know, very bad habit of mine but I can’t stand the suspense). I look forward to discussing the novel at our next meeting and reading the rest of the series. Her fifth one in this series, All Mortal Flesh, just came out just this past October.

Vegas: One Cop's Journey by Kim Thomas

2006-11-20T13:55:00.000-08:00

The November selection for our Mystery Bookclub was by a local author, Las Vegas Metro police detective Kim Thomas. Vegas: One Cop's Journey is set in current day Vegas with a new recruit, Cam Madden, dealing with the pressures of his job the police department. As Cam advances through the department, he must find the right balance of work and home life. The novel reads almost like a true crime novel as we go through Cam’s daily work life and the addition of his home life, dating paramedic Karrie Mae, seemed to be a bit thin. To me, being a Las Vegas native, I was visualizing almost all the locations (like I do on the television show CSI) and I would find myself thinking “…oh, I know where that street corner is with that panhandler!” Definitely made the novel more fun to read and I thought it was an alright novel and looked forward to listening to his talk.

Let me tell you, I was very impressed by Detective Thomas. He did not go up there and limit his talk to cop stories. He spoke of the writing process and how he came to write this novel. I was even more impressed by the fact that in addition to working a full time job with Metro, he got an MFA in creative writing with UNLV and this novel was his MFA project, which got published! After hearing this, I could forgive the small discrepancies, especially since he knows his own weaker writing aspects. And what a great speaker…sometimes, authors are not the best speakers (they must be saving themselves for the written page) but he spoke for a good hour and fifteen minutes. And we did get a couple of additional cop stories out of it as well! We had to stop him for the book signing portion but I believe he could have gone on. For more info on Detective Thomas and his book, check his website (which includes an interview he did with KNPR) at http://www.vegasonecopsjourney.com/index.html

New Books for November 2006

2006-10-31T09:38:00.000-08:00

November 1
Ines of My Soul by Isabel Allende From the "New York Times" bestselling author of "Portrait in Sepia" comes a captivating new novel that chronicles the brave deeds and passionate loves of Ins Surez, a spirited woman who journeys to the New World and helps establish the nation of Chile.
The Shape Shifter by Tony Hillerman
Legendary Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn is back in this latest tale of murder and mystery from "New York Times" bestselling author Tony Hillerman. With Jim Chee and Bernie Manuelito on their honeymoon, Joe's left on his own to pick up the threads of a crime he thought impossible to solve.

November 6
Wild Fire by Nelson DeMille
From #1 "New York Times" bestselling author Nelson DeMille comes a suspenseful new novel featuring Detective John Corey and an all-too-plausible conspiracy to detonate a nuclear bomb in two major cities.

November 7
Born in Death by J.D. Robb
Lt. Eve Dallas struggles with the end-and the beginning-of life, in the #1 New York Times-bestselling series set in 2060 New York City.
A Christmas Secret by Anne Perry
With this brand-new volume, "New York Times" bestselling author Anne Perry continues what is now her annual tradition--a seasonal stand-alone mystery that reunites readers with Dominic and Clarice Corde, who are charged with solving the brutal murder of the local vicar.
The Gods of Newport by John Jakes
Jakes, "the godfather of the historical novel" ("Los Angeles Times"), leaves the South to travel north for an epic tale of scandalous doings in one of the world's most famous resorts.
The Godfather’s Revenge by Mark Winegardner
The third and final installment in Puzo's epic chronicle of the Corleone crime family achieves a stunning crescendo with a story that imagines the role of the Mafia in the assassination of a young, charismatic president.
The Handmaid and the Carpenter by Elizabeth Berg In this wonderful novel about love and trust, hope and belief, Berg, the bestselling author of "We Are All Welcome Here" and "The Year of Pleasures," transports readers to Nazareth in biblical times to reimagine the events of the classic Christmas story.
The Rising Tide: A Novel of World War II by Jeff Shaara The "New York Times" bestselling author of "Gods and Generals" embarks on his most ambitious undertaking to date with this first novel in a staggering trilogy that portrays the momentous and increasingly dramatic events that pulled America into the vortex of World War II.
The Shepherd, the Angel, and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog by Dave Barry
From the Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist and bestselling author comes a delightful Christmas story for all ages that will touch the heart and make readers laugh out loud.

November 13
Cross by James Patterson
The bestselling author returns with the pinnacle of all Alex Cross thrillers: the chance at last to capture the psychopath who murdered Alex's wife, Maria. Patterson also goes back in time to answer the questions fans have been asking since the first Alex Cross appearance in "Along Came A Spider."

November 14
The Long Night of Winchell Dear by Robert James Waller The beloved storyteller and author of the international bestseller "The Bridges of Madison County" returns with a classic tale of greed, corruption, and redemption in the American West.
Santa Cruise by Mary Higgins Clark
America's queen of suspense, Mary Higgins Clark, joins forces with her daughter, Carol, bestselling author off the Regan Reilly mysteries, for this fast-paced novel set on a holiday mystery cruise.

November 21
John’s Story: The Last Eyewitness by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins
The first in a series, John's Story: The Last Eyewitness is a remarkable and thrilling account of the life of the Man who came to fulfill the prophecies of the Old Testament and to save all of mankind. To bring deeper understanding to the story, each of the four books include the text of the corresponding gospel as an appendix. John's Story illuminates the times of Jesus, His life, and His messages like never before. Using cutting-edge historical and academic research, as well as biblically based themes, they are first and foremost page-turning novels that could come only from the pens of Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins.

November 28
Brother Odd by Dean Koontz
Koontz's beloved hero, who triumphed in two "New York Times" bestsellers, leaves the small desert town of Pico Mundo for the solitude and peace of an isolated monastery as he tries to find a way to live fully again. But Odd Thomas has a knack for finding trouble and must confront an enemy who eclipses any he has yet encountered.
Empire by Orson Scott Card
Orson Scott Card is a master storyteller who has earned millions of fans for his science fiction and fantasy novels. Now he steps a little closer to the present day with this chilling look at a near-future scenario of a new American Civil War.
Next by Michael Crichton
In his brilliant new blockbuster, Michael Crichton takes the reader into the realm of genetics: fast, furious and out of control. Prepare to enter a world where nothing is as it seems and a new set of possibilities is opening up at every turn. NEXT challenges your sense of what is happening, what is true and what is ethical. NEXT will overturn your assumptions of what you thought you knew. Provocative yet playful, dark and disturbing, NEXT is Michael Crichton as you've never seen him before.
Temperatures Rising by Sandra Brown
From the blockbuster "New York Times" bestselling author of "A Whole New Light" comes a sizzling tale of a love that bridges two different worlds.
Treasure of Khan by Clive Cussler and Dirk CusslerA mysterious Mongolian mogul is conducting covert deals for supplying oil to the Chinese while wreaking havoc on global oil markets. The Mongolian harbors a dream of restoring the conquests of his ancestors, and holds a dark secret about Genghis Khan that just might give him the wealth and power to make that dream come true.
Annotations from Baker & Taylor , Barnes & Noble and Books-a-Million.

Candles Burning and The Virgin of Small Plains

2006-10-16T14:35:00.000-07:00

I read two growing-up-in-a-dysfunctional family books this past summer and as the leaves are falling, am finally getting around to writing about them. The first was the suspense, The Virgin of Small Plains by Nancy Pickard. Imagine a small town in the middle of nothing Kansas where a gruesome body is found by the younger son of the sheriff while out in a blizzard. No one “knows” who she is but of course certain people know. Mitch Newquist, son of the town judge, witnesses the destruction of the frozen body by the doctor and the sheriff putting him in a very precarious situation, one calling for him to leave town and his favorite girl Abby (the aforementioned doctor’s daughter) immediately. Mitch’s sudden departure and the discovery of the dead girl leave’s all in the tiny town to wonder, especially Mitch’s closest friends, Abby and Ray. Much time passes and the prodigal son returns only his return creates all the dust to be stirred and the true past uncovered. Coming from the perspective of living in a big town all my life, life in a small town seems a bit alien to me. The family dynamics and how the families dealt with each other seem so dependent on social status and while the children of the three families are from almost equal footing, there is definite undercurrents of major power struggles. Also, there is a bit of the gothic strange happenings towards the end which seemed a bit contrived but all in all, the plot definitely held my attention.
The second book was a paranormal Southern gothic experience… Candles Burning by Tabitha King and Michael McDowell. Calley Dakin’s comes from an extreme split in the old social status divide. Her mother comes from a prominent wealthy established Alabama family and she never lets anyone forget it. Calley’s father has more humble beginnings and had to scrape and work his way up the automobile industry until he finally made his wealth only to be cut short by his gruesome murder. Calley and her mother end up in Pensacola Beach where Calley explores her second sight and she does all she can to find out who killed her father all those years ago. Now I assumed it was going to be a horror since I saw Tabitha King... wrong. It was more like a becoming of age type novel of Calley’s childhood experiences and her encounters with paranormal happenings. Side note: Tabitha King completed an unfinished manuscript Michael McDowell left after his death in 1999. I hadn’t heard of this author (famous for his gothic horrors) but he has worked on some very noticeable scripts such as Thinner, Beetlejuice and Nightmare Before Christmas. Tabitha gives an interview about completing the manuscript on her website www.tabithaking.net

The Quill Awards 2006

2006-10-12T14:17:00.000-07:00

The Quill Awards were announced a couple of days ago. It will be televised October 28th on NBC. And the winners are…..

Book of the Year
Don’t Make a Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings: Madea’s Uninhibited Commentaries on Love and Life by Tyler Perry

Debut Author of the Year
Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen by Julie Powell

Audio Book
Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog by John Grogan

Children’s Illustrated Book
If You Give a Pig a Party by Laura Joffe Numerofff

Children’s Chapter Book/Middle Grade
The Penultimate Peril by Lemony Snicket

Young Adult/Teen
Eldest by Christopher Paolini

General Fiction
A Dirty Job: A Novel by Christopher Moore

Graphic Novel
Naruto, Volume 7 by Masashi Kishimoto

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich

Poetry
Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem by Maya Angelou

Romance
Blue Smoke by Nora Roberts

Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror
A Breath of Snow and Ashes of Diane Gabaldon

Religion/Spirituality
Mama Made the Difference by T.D. Jakes

Biography/Memoir
Marley and Me: Life and Love with the Word’s Worst Dog by Josh Grogan

Business
The Girl’s Guide to Being a Boss (Without Being a Bitch): Valuable Lessons, Smart Suggestions, and True Stories for Succeeding as the Chick-in-Charge by Caitlin Friedman

Cooking
Rachael Ray 365: No Repeats: A Year of Deliciously Different Dinners by Rachael Ray

Health/Self Improvement
It’s Not Easy Being Green: And Other Things to Consider by Jim Henson

History/Current Events/Politics
An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore

Humor
Don’t Make a Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings: Madea’s Uninhibited Commentaries on Love and Life by Tyler Perry

Sports
Get Your Own Damn Beer, I’m Watching the Game!: A Woman’s Guide to Loving Pro Football by Holly Robinson

For more information on the Quills Awards, take a look at their website http://www.thequills.org/

Book Number Two

2006-10-11T13:35:00.000-07:00

"Not long after I moved with my family to a small town in New Hampshire, I happened upon a path that vanished into a wood on the edge of town"-A Walk in the Woods, Bill Bryson

Henderson Libraries is starting October's book from the Not-So-Grown-Up Book Club. You may pick up a copy of the book at Gibson Library's Reference desk. We will be meeting on November 2nd @ 6:00pm. Here is a brief summary of the book we are currently reading:

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail By Bill Bryson

"Follwing his return to America after twenty years in Britain, Bryson decided to reacquaint himself with his native country by walking the 2,100mile Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. The AT, as it's affectionately known to thousands of hikers, offers an astonishing landscape of silent forests and sparkling lakes-and to a writer with the comic genius of Bill Bryson, it also provides endless opportunities to test his own powers of ineptitude to witness the majestic silliness of his fellow human beings.

For a start there's the gloriously out-of-shape Stephen Katz, a buddy from Iowa who accompanies the similarly unfit Bryson on the trail. Katz's modus operandi is a simple one: jettison everything from his backpack and head for the nearest town, where there are cozy restaurants filled with waitresses called Rayette. But eventually Bryson and Katz settle into their stride, and it's not long before they come across the fabulously annoying Mary Ellen, whose disappearance ruins a perfectly good slice of pie; a gang of Ralph Lauren-attired yuppies from whom Katz appropriates a key piece of equipment; and a security guard in Pennsylvania who, for no ascertainable reason, impounds Bryson's car. Mile by arduous mile these latter-day pioneers walk America, along the way surviving the threat of bear attacks, the loss of key provisions, and everything else this awe-inspiring country can throw at them.

But A Walk in the Woods is more than just a laugh-out-loud hike. Bryson's acute eye is a wise witness to this fragile and beautiful trail, and as he tells its fascinating history, he makes a moving plea for the conservation of America's last great wilderness. An adventure, a comedy, a lament, and a celebration, A walk in the Woods is destined to become a modern classic of travel literature." -BOOK JACKET

To discuss this book, come to the Gibson Library on Thursday November 2nd @ 6:00pm. For more information contact Elizabeth at 564-9261 or Nicole at 564-9287.

Awards given at Bouchercon 2006

2006-10-06T12:25:00.000-07:00

Bouchercon World Mystery Convention was this past weekend and with that came the winners of the Anthony, Shamus, Barry and Macavity awards.

Anthony Award Winners

Best Mystery Novel: Mercy Falls by William Kent Krueger
Best First Mystery: Tilt-a-Whirl by Christopher Grabenstein
Best Critical/Nonfiction: Heirs of Anthony Boucher by Marv Lachman
Best Paperback Original: The James Deans by Reed Farrel Coleman
Best Short Story: “Misdirection” by Barbara Seranella in Greatest Hits: Original Stories of Assassins, Hitmen, and Hired Guns

Barry Award Winners given out by Deadly Pleasures magazine

Best Novel: Red Leaves by Thomas Cook
Best First Novel: Cold Granite by Stuart MacBride
Best Thriller: Company Man by Joseph Finder
Best British Mystery Award: The Field of Blood by Denise Mina
Best Paperback Original: The James Deans by Reed Farrel Coleman
Best Short Story: “There is No Crime on Easter Island” by Nancy Pickard in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine Sept/Oct 2005 issue

Shamus Awards given by Private Eye Writers of America

Best Hardcover: The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly
Best First Novel: Forcing Amaryllis by Louise Ure
Best Paperback Novel: The James Deans by Reed Farrel Coleman
Best Short Story: “A Death in Ueno” by Michael Wiecek in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine Mar 2005 edition

Macavity Awards given by Mystery Readers International

Best Novel: The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly
Best First Novel: Immoral by Brian Freeman
Best Nonfiction: Girl Sleuth: Nancy Drew and the Women Who Created Her by Melanie Rehak
Best Short Story: “There is No Crime on Easter Island” by Nancy Pickard in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine Sept/Oct 2005 issue
Sue Feder Historical Mystery Award: Pardonable Lies by Jacqueline Winspear

Stephen King - Master of Horror

2006-09-27T19:15:00.000-07:00

The premise of Stephen King’s Cell is pure horror, with a vindictive streak and a great storyline. What comes to be known as the Pulse is broadcast to all cell phones on October 1. Anyone who answers their cell phone, or who is speaking on their cell phone, undergoes a disturbing transformation. The “Phoners”, as they come to be known, attack anyone in their path, often with grisly results. The closest thing they resemble would be zombies. It’s up to the “Normies” to not only survive, but to find their way to a place which has no cell phone reception. No one is sure when it will be safe to answer their telephones. The “Phoners” also start to display flocking symptoms and their pseudo-leader, tagged “Raggedy Man” by the protagonist, is able to control the actions of the “Normies”. Clay Riddell, the protagonist, is desperate to make it home to Maine to find his son. Clay’s son had been begging for a cell phone, typical behavior for any youngster in today’s world. Clay does not know whether he will find his son has turned into a “Phoner”, or if he is even alive.
Stephen King is the epitome of horror; the story ends with a lingering sense of doubt. Is everything going to be okay? Will the “Normies” prevail? Is there anything left to hope for? I admit I do not like reading stories where everything isn’t “solved” or rectified by the novel’s end. I admit that I have never been a horror fan – I scare easily – and the last Stephen King novel I read (It) had me peering in rain gutters for months afterwards. However, Stephen King is one of the best writers of this century and he proves with this novel that he has not slowed down. As for the vindictive streak, who hasn’t been upset with a rude cell phone user? Stephen King does not own a cell phone.

The Night Journal

2006-09-19T12:25:00.000-07:00

The Night Journal by Elizabeth Crook was packed full of historical stories, facts, and events, while being told from journal entries, and the journal writer’s great granddaughter. Meg is a likable character, who tells her side of the story as someone who is not interested in the history of her family. Her grandmother Bassie on the other hand, is almost obsessed with the past. Bassie published journals written by her mother Hannah, and from this has gained some fame in New Mexico. The story is based off of Meg’s struggle with the difficult Bassie, and there present lives, as well as a strange mystery that is uncovered in their families’ lives. The journal entries all tell a story of their own and are just as enjoyable as the present storyline. Crook did a great job of using history to draw the reader in, while providing incredibly accurate facts. I even went online to check out some events that happened because they were so attention-grabbing. Especially information about the famous hotels in New Mexico, the ruins, and the railroad in Pecos and Las Vegas, NM. And the mystery that culminates through an archeological dig is not only unexpected but also intriguing. Eventually Meg is able to appreciate her family and Bassie while assisting in solving the sudden secrets that come up. The Night Journal was a stirring read that had a little mystery, history and even romance. Definitely one of the best books I have read all year.

In Theaters September!

2006-09-15T10:58:00.000-07:00

I’ve got the monthly update of the books made into movies for this month…finally! I can’t believe we’re through the first part of the month… they’ve redone Lassie again for the umpteenth time and I guess I always thought that Lassie was a movie and not based on the book Lassie Come Home by Eric Knight (shows you how aware I was as a child).

The ever popular true crime mystery of the hopeful movie starlet Elizabeth Short, The Black Dahlia, opens in theaters today. The novel of the same name by James Ellsroy is quite popular in our library.

All the King’s Men will be in theaters September 22, the remake of the 1949 movie, is based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Robert Penn Warren. The story of Willie Stark (loosely based on the political rise of Governor Huey Long of Louisiana). If you click on our catalog link, we not only have copies of the book but the Cliff Notes, the ebook so you can read it online (for Henderson residents), the 1949 version and the official website for Robert Penn Warren.

And last but not least, The Last King of Scotland (and no, don’t start thinking of any Highlander scenes like I did), instead think 1970 – Uganda – Idi Amin…based on British author Giles Foden’s novel which won several awards including the Whitbread First Novel award.

I’ll be more on the ball for October’s offerings. There is a ton of movies coming soon and will prove to be an exciting month!! If you can’t wait, check the Pages2Pictures page for a list of titles.

NonFiction - White Savage

2006-09-05T16:21:00.000-07:00

White Savage by Fintan O’Toole focuses on the life of William Johnson. Johnson is a native catholic Irishman who adopts Protestantism in order to escape repression and comes to America in the mid 1740s. He is sponsored by his uncle the great Sir Peter Warren (British Naval Admiral) to settle his land on the New York frontier. Johnson quickly establishes himself as a trader with an honorable reputation and fair-mindedness when dealing with the local Iroquois in the region. O’Toole illustrates how his catholic upbringing in Ireland (Ireland was under British rule) forced him to develop skills at compromising, negotiating, and adapting. These skills allowed him to be successful on the frontier. In fact by the mid 1750s Johnson was promoted to Superintendent for Indian Affairs for the colony of New York because of his ability to bridge cultural gaps between the British, colonists, and Iroquois. Johnson was able to court many Iroquois sachems (chiefs) to support the British interests in North America by adopting Iroquois traditions and ways. O’Toole illustrates how none of this is easy even for a charismatic individual such as Johnson. There were always political forces working against his vision, especially during the two French and Indian Wars of the 1740s and 1750s. He only really achieves his power after a successful military campaign in which he was more lucky than good. Overall the book is well researched and historically accurate. O’Toole also does an excellent job of demonstrating the complexities of European social and cultural issues and the role they played throughout William’s life. Couple those with his experiences with the Iroquois people and it is easy to see how intricate life on the American frontier in mid 18th century was. The only criticism I have of this particular book was the writing style of the author. Often O’Toole jumps from one topic to the next instead of telling the story straight through. He does this to give the reader a background for the continuation of the story of William’s life. But I often found myself flipping back to previous chapters in order to refresh my memory about what role a certain person played or how a particular experience shaped his perception, etc.

Augusten Burroughs is a good listen

2006-09-01T11:03:00.000-07:00

I have been meaning to pick up Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs (http://www.augusten.com/) ever since it was published in 2002. This summer, after seeing the trailer for the movie adaptation of this memoir due out this fall, I was motivated to finally read this astonishing book. While I am not sure if listening to an audiobook actually counts as reading, I would say that listening to this particular audiobook, read by its author, was more sublime than mere page turning.

Basically, the book chronicles Augusten’s childhood in New England but don’t be expecting it to be anything like a Louisa May Alcott novel. The story is not for the faint of heart or those who are squeamish about homosexuality (though this is not the focus of the memoir, there are some passages that may be offensive and/or disturbing to some). Essentially, Augusten’s young life takes an interesting turn when his poet mother signs him over to her beyond eccentric shrink. While some memoirists may have chosen to paint this story in maudlin self-pity, Burroughs uses wit, black humor and snarky sarcasm to write his surreal coming of age story. But this isn’t just a true story based on actual events. Burroughs brings to life not only outrageous characters from his past but also the 1970’s and 1980’s.

And, again, despite the fact that Augusten’s early life was fraught with abuse (from drug to sexual abuse and lots in between), the memoir never loses its humorous tone. One offbeat anecdote details the doctor’s family’s practice of “Bible dipping”, which basically entails asking the Bible a question a la’ Magic 8 Ball and then turning to a random page, pointing to a word and trying to interpret the word as some kind of answer. Even more bizarre was the doctor’s reading of bowel movements in the same manner. The house where Augusten lived with the doctor and his family was in constant chaos. Augusten and the doctor’s youngest daughter one day decided that the kitchen needed more light so they made their own skylight by breaking through the ceiling and the roof. Rather than being enraged as most homeowner fathers would be, the doctor merely responded that the renovation let in much needed light. Obviously when it comes to this memoir, the old adage is accurate. Truth is stranger than fiction.

Once I finished the audiobook, I literally could not get enough. Lucky for me, Henderson Libraries holds Burroughs’ follow-up memoirs Dry (2003) and Possible Side Effects (2006) on audiobook, again read by the author. I am currently reading Magical Thinking (2004) and let me say that it is just not the same as listening, though I have noticed that my interior reading voice does tend to resemble Augusten’s, which is just a little unsettling.

New Fiction for September

2006-08-31T08:30:00.000-07:00

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted and my wonderful excuse is that I and my fellow colleagues have been ordering books like crazy! Here are some of the September releases that should be on the shelves soon…

September 1
The Dissident by Nell Freudenberger
Accepting an artist residency from a wealthy Beverly Hills family, a famous performance artist and political activist becomes increasingly entangled in the lives of his hosts and reveals the artistic subculture that shaped his Beijing past. A first novel.

September 5
Dark Angels by Karleen Koen
An ambitious young woman, Alice Verney risks everything for pride and status as she deals with the political intrigues, private passions, shifting alliances, and social machinations of the Restoration court of King Charles II. By the author of Through a Glass Darkly.

The Book of Fate by Brad Meltzer
When Ron Boyle, the supposed victim of an assassination, is spotted alive and well in Asia eight years after his purported death, former presidential aide Wes Holloway, permanently disfigured in the same attack, stumbles into the heart of a baffling conspiracy involving Masonic history, an enigmatic code invented by Thomas Jefferson, and the Book of Fate, a repository for disturbing secrets.

A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon
Newly retired George Hall becomes convinced his rash is cancer. His home life is going crazy with his wife having an affair and his daughter getting married for the second time. George’s son Jamie’s life becomes traumatic when his sister fails to invite his lover to the wedding. All this is to much for George, as he goes insane, in a dignified and polite manner, of course.

The Interpretation of Murder by Jed Rubenfeld
The Interpretation of Murder leads readers from the salons of Gramercy Park, through secret passages, to Chinatown --- even far below the currents of the East River where laborers are building the Manhattan Bridge. As Freud fends off a mysterious conspiracy to destroy him, Younger is drawn into an equally thrilling adventure that takes him deep into the subterfuges of the human mind.

The Devil in the Junior League by Linda Francis Lee
A member of the exclusive Junior League of Willow Creek, Texas, Fredericka Mercedes Hildebrand Ware's perfect life begins to unravel when her husband betrays her, steals her money, and vanishes, and the only way she can keep from becoming fodder in the JLWC gossip mill is to get the tacky wife of wealthy but tasteless lawyer Howard Grout into the elite society.

Dark Celebration by Christine Feehan
Despite the dangers to his lifemate Raven and their daughter Savannah, Mikhail Dubrinsky, Prince of the Carpathians, risks everything to protect his people from the extinction of their species, as Carpathians gather from around the world to take on their adversaries in an ultimate showdown.

September 12
Under Orders by Dick Francis
Sid Halley, former jockey-turned-detective, returns. Death at the races is not uncommon, but three in one day--including a winning horse and champion jockey--are more than enough to raise Halley's suspicions.

The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen
On Christmas Eve, Boston Medical Examiner Maura Isles is summoned to the scene of a brutal killing and teams up with Detective Jane Rizzoli to investigate the victim's ties to Joyce O'Donnell, a cantankerous psychologist, and to a sinister cabal called the Mephisto Club, a group devoted to a study of evil in all its malevolent forms.

September 18
Paint it Black by Janet Fitch
From the bestselling author of "White Oleander" comes a powerful story of passion, first love, and a young woman's search for a true world in the aftermath of loss.

September 19

The Mission Song by John le Carré
Working as an interpreter for British Intelligence translating intercepted phone calls, wiretaps, and voice mails, Bruno Salvador, the abandoned son of an Irish father and Congolese mother, is sent to a mysterious island to interpret a secret conference among Central African warlords, only to find himself in the middle of a dangerous conspiracy.

Imperium: A Novel of Ancient Rome by Robert Harris
Harris reimagines a lost biography of Cicero actually written by Cicero's secretary, Tiro.

Fear of the Dark by Walter Mosley
Fearless Jones and Paris Minton return in a fast-paced thriller about family and revenge.

Brothers by Da Chen
Follows the divergent lives of two brothers, sons of a powerful general and born at the height of the Chinese Cultural Revolution--Tan, born the son of the general's wife into luxury and comfort, and Shento, the child of the general's mistress, raised by an old healer and his wife after his mother's suicide--as their fates collide when they unwittingly fall for the same woman.

When Madeline Was Young by Jane Hamilton
After being left brain damaged, with the mind of a seven year old, following a bicycle accident, Madeline, Aaron Maciver's beautiful young wife, is cared for by Aaron and his second wife along with two children of their own, in an insightful novel, narrated by Aaron's son Mac, that follows the Maciver family through four decades.

Moral Disorder: Stories by Margaret Atwood
A new collection of short fiction presents ten stories that capture important moments in the course of a life and in the lives intertwined with it, in a volume that ranges from the 1930s to the 1980s, is set in a variety of locales, and includes such works as "The Bad News,” "The Art of Cooking and Serving,” "My Last Duchess,” "The Boys at the Lab,” and the title tale.

Magic Time by Doug Marlette
Carter Ransom, a son of Mississippi, had the great fortune and terrible luck of falling in love in '64 with a New York-born civil rights worker who was killed. Carter's father presided over the first trial of the murders, but now the question, among many others, is whether the good judge was knowingly involved in a cover-up.

September 26

She Ain’t the One by Carl Weber and Mary B. Morrison
In this exciting collaboration, "New York Times" bestselling author Weber and "Essence" bestselling author Morrison bring their powerful talents together to deliver a gripping novel about the ultimate player who has finally run into the wrong woman.

For One More Day by Mitch Albom
Mitch Albom mesmerized readers around the world with his number one New York Times bestsellers, The Five People You Meet in Heaven and Tuesdays with Morrie. Now he returns with a beautiful, haunting novel about the family we love and the chances we miss. For One More Day is the story of a mother and a son, and a relationship that covers a lifetime and beyond. It explores the question: What would you do if you could spend one more day with a lost loved one?

Selected titles from Publishers Weekly and Baker & Taylor. Annotations from Baker & Taylor , Barnes & Noble and Books-a-Million.

The Martian Chronicles

2006-08-22T20:10:00.000-07:00

In honor of Ray Bradbury's birthday August 22, 1920:

The Martian Chronicles is made up of a collection of short stories written by Ray Bradbury during the 1940s along with "filler" vignettes to tie these stories together. The "novel", published in 1950, tells the future of space travel to Mars starting in 1999. The vignettes follow multiple expeditions to Mars, starting with the first expeditions to later mass colonization.
This is science fiction, speculative fiction, at its best; even if you are not a fan of science fiction, this is a very accesible book with plenty of philosophical themes thrown in.
Perhaps my favorite vignette is the one on the automatic house. This house cleans itself, prepares breakfast for the human inhabitants, and recites poetry. What the house can not realize is that the owners have been annihilated in a nuclear blast, and all that remains of them are their shadows on the outside wall.
Another favorite features Walter Gripp. Walter Gripp lived on the outskirts of a major settlement on Mars. He comes back to town to refurnish his supplies, only to find that everyone has left to return to Earth rather hastily. The streets are empty, the cash registers are full of money, and he has the whole town to himself. He's lonely as the last man on Mars, until the phone rings one day.
The short story format makes this an easy read, and a definite recommendation from me. Enjoy!

2006 Quill Book Awards nominees

2006-08-22T11:18:00.000-07:00

Okay, get your quills ready, hahahaha!! Just joking, the Quill Book Awards nominees were just named and you, yes…you, can vote on the winners. The awards ceremony is to take place October 10 and it is to be televised but vote now! You can run down to any Borders or just go Quills page gives a list of the categories

NonFiction - Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War

2006-08-21T10:23:00.000-07:00

The Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick takes an in-depth look into the history of the Pilgrims and their beginnings in the New England area. He picks up with the pilgrims in the early 1600s while they are still in England and the Netherlands and concludes with the end of the King Philips War in 1676. Unlike most history books this is easy to read and is written so that the reader is drawn into the everyday lives of both Native Americans and Pilgrims. Unlike the history of the Pilgrims we all probably learned about in school Nathaniel gives a historical accurate account of those first few decades in America. During the first 50 years or so we see the Pilgrims and Native Americans live in a fairly peaceful coexistence. However, as we move from one generation to the next we see the peace fall apart and distrust cultivate as the colony grows and the founding Pilgrims pass away. This distrust culminates with King Phillips War in 1675. As the author moves through the book he attempts to tell the true story of those years by acknowledging both short falls and successes of the Native Americans and Pilgrims. For example, Captain Miles Standish is portrayed as someone who did not trust Native Americans and even delighted in their suffering. We also come to see Benjamin Church (the great Indian fighter) as someone who reluctantly fought and treated his “enemies” with compassion. We also see Benjamin as a progressive thinker who had more humane ways of settling conflict. On the Native American side we see how the many tribes of the New England area were played off against each other and that perhaps Phillip (the instigator of King Phillips war) was not the sole responsibility for the war and was not as powerful and courageous as we have been told. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about how America truly got its beginning in the early to mid 17th Century.

The Tale of the Holly How by Susan Wittig Albert

2006-08-17T10:00:00.000-07:00

The Tale of the Holly How is the second cozy in the Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter, a sweet little mystery series combining the life of Beatrix Potter with the lives of the little animals in the sleepy little village of Sawrey. Well, maybe not too sleepy as the story opens up the Beatrix discovering the suspicious death of an old crotchety shepherd, Ben Hornby. His ill favored year started out with cows dying, a barn burning and finally his death. But as one member of the community departs, another is introduced. A new little girl has come to town. An orphan from New Zealand come to live with her cold haughty grandmother is plagued by rumors that she is an unruly child. To Beatrix, she is reminded of her own silent rigidly proper upbringing and is compelled to reach out to help only to find nefarious dealings going on in Tidmarsh Manor.
As Beatrix puzzles out the clues left at the scene, the animals are dealing with problems of their own. A badger family has disappeared and the word in the pasture is a badger baiting contest is soon to be held. The illegal human sport known as badger baiting (similar to illegal dog fighting) was outlawed in 1835 but still goes on. The woodland and domestic creatures find out and do their bit to fight back against the cruel members of the human race.
Wittig takes the bit of fantasy with animals and incorporates more into this second go around. More with the wilder creatures out in the field are described as she introduces Bosworth Badger XVII and his Brockery, a small hostel for other traveling creatures. It was definitely a cute quick read. BTW “how” is actually another name for “hill.”

New Book Club!

2006-08-10T16:57:00.000-07:00

Henderson Libraries will be starting a new book club in September. The Not-So-Grown-Up Book Club will try and encourage reading for busy college and career patrons who just want something quick to read. The first book will be handed out September 7th at 3:00 p.m. at the Gibson Library. After the first meeting, the book club will meet the first Thursday of each month at Gibson. Here’s a brief summary of the first book we will be reading:

Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
"Case One: Olivia Land, youngest and most beloved of the Land girls, goes missing in the night and is never seen again. More than thirty years later, two of her surviving sisters, each achingly lonely in her own way, reunite when their cruel and distant father dies. There, among the clutter of their childhood home, they unearth a shocking clue to Olivia's disappearance." "Case Two: All of Theo's happiness is tied to his devoted daughter Laura. He delights in her wit, her effortless beauty, and selfless love, and in the fact that she's taken a position at his prestigious law firm. But on her first day on the job, a maniac storms into the office and turns Theo's world upside down." "Case Three: Michelle looks around one day and finds herself trapped in a hell of her own making. A very needy baby and a very demanding husband make her every waking moment a reminder that somewhere, somehow, shed made a grave mistake and would spend the rest of her life paying for it - until a fit of rage creates a grisly, bloody escape." "As Private Detective Jackson Brodie investigates all three cases, startling connections and discoveries emerge. Jackson finds himself inextricably caught up in his clients' lives; their grief, their job, their desire, and their unshakable need for resolution are very much like his own."--BOOK JACKET.

To discuss this book, come to Gibson October 5th , 3:00 p.m. Contact Elizabeth at 564-9261 or Nicole at 564-9287 for more information.
Category: Mystery

The Ruins: A Novel by Scott Smith

2006-08-10T11:52:00.000-07:00

Get out your survival handbooks for a trip into the South American jungles!!! Scott Smith’s The Ruins is a taut creepy horrific foray displaying human survival skills and reactions of the desperate at its best…and worst. Four friends, Jeff, Amy, Eric and Stacey, on a break from the college life head down to the beautiful Cancún beaches for fun in the sun. A popular tourist spot, they end up meeting new friends from Greece and Germany. Matthias, the German, is worried about his brother. Henrich left with a girl to an archaeological dig in the jungles of South America and has not returned. Jeff, excited about a different type of day trip convinces everyone to go. The four friends, Matthias, and one of their new Greek acquaintances, Pablo, take a bus then a taxi to the ruins. The taxi driver warns them against visiting the ruins, the Mayan village members try and prevent them from going into the area. But the second the small party steps onto the hill heading up to the dig, the Mayan’s prevent them from leaving the area, trapping them with the threat of spears and guns. Now, faced with the prospect of surviving with dwindling supplies, the group must deal with their situation. Without giving too much away, let’s just use that clichéd old phrase and say things start to go terribly wrong.

Scott Smith’s first book, A Simple Plan (1993), was a blockbuster thriller which eventually turned into an Oscar nominated screenplay. The Ruins is heavier on the horror especially as the book nears its end. I found it interesting to view the various ways each individual coped with having to survive and how their worst traits came out. Interacting with each other seemed to get harder and harder for this group. Instead of trying to work together, the group started fragmenting. It also pointed out to me how woefully inadequate I would be trying to survive for even one day, especially first aid skills (not that I’m planning on getting lost in wild areas!). Anyway, The Ruins is a good solid summer horror read, perfect for when you are lying in the beach in Cancún!

The Wheel of Time Series - Robert Jordan

2006-08-08T10:17:00.000-07:00

Robert Jordan is the only fantasy writer I’ve ever read, except Tolkien and CS Lewis. Somehow I’m always drawn back to this story, and this time I’m determined to make it through the entire series by reading one book a month. I’m currently on a re-read of Book 4, Shadow Rising.

The series features the shepherd Rand al’Thor, who discovers he can channel, meaning that he has magical powers. Unfortunately, gosh darn, these powers are tainted for all men, and he will eventually go mad and perhaps destroy the ones he loves, and quite possibly the world as he knows it. He is also a reincarnation of Lews Therin Telamon, The Dragon, who fought The Dark One in another Age. Rand, The Dragon Reborn, must fight the Dark One again in The Last Battle, because The Dark One and his Forsaken have escaped from their prison once more.

As we come to find out, Rand is from a very powerful, though isolated, little village, The Two Rivers. His friends have special powers of their own. Mat, the Trickster, has inherited memories of battle strategy, therefore, he can and will be a great general. He is also very lucky in games of chance. Perrin, my personal favorite, is a quiet, broad-shouldered blacksmith, who can talk to wolves. He may or may not be able to keep himself from turning more animal than man.

Egwene, who Rand thought he would marry, can also channel. Women who channel are not in danger, once they learn, although channelling on their own kills one in every 4 women. Egwene is very powerful in her own right. Nynaeve, another favorite of mine, was the Village Wisdom, and is a few years older than the rest. She is a Wilder, one who taught herself to channel on her own, though she didn’t know it. She is the most powerful Aes Sedai (the name for women who can channel) in the series, but as of Book Four, she can only channel when angry. But really, don’t make her angry. She can also be extremely stubborn, to put it mildly.

The World of the Wheel of Time Series is filled with the fierce, desert-dwelling Aiel, the cryptic, manipulative Aes Sedai, their bound, powerful Warders, the elegant, vastly cruel Seanchan, the exotic, sea-faring Atha’an Miere, the gentle Ogier (but, really, don’t make them angry, either), and the honor-bound Shienarans, to name a few. It is fascinating to see these people struggle through the growth of their powers while they’re wrestling with the reasons they have the powers in the first place. Believe me, only a few of them are happy they can wield Air, Fire, Water, Earth and Spirit, or have inherited memories they can’t explain.

Beneath all the magic and the epic battle between good and evil lies a coming of age story, and a story of trust. All characters have some struggle between what they want to do, and what it is their duty to do. As the Shienarans say, “Death is lighter than a feather, and duty is heavier than a mountain.”

Jordan has completed and published Book 11 of the series. Supposedly he has promised that if Book 12 has to be 2000 pages, it will be the last in the series. We’ll see what happens. Until then, I will continue on. Perrin has just returned to The Two Rivers, with a price on his head by the Whitecloaks. Rand, Mat and Egwene are in the desert with the Aiel, and Nynaeve is hunting the Black Ajah. Where will duty take them next?

A Country Affair by Rebecca Shaw

2006-08-07T10:23:00.000-07:00

Rebecca Shaw starts a new light-hearted series of a veterinary clinic’s staff and patients of Barleybridge a village in the Yorkshire hills. Kate gets a job as an accountant/receptionist at the clinic but had secretly harbored a wish to become a vet herself. Just barely missing getting into vet school by a low chemistry score, Kate figures the next best thing is to get any kind of work she can get but her over-qualifications cause strife among the front office staff. But that is not Kate’s biggest problem. She also has Adam, an ex-boyfriend, stalking her, creating major trouble as she becomes closer to the sexy Scott, the Australian vet. Joy, the office manager, is in love with the head vet Mungo which shines clear as day, much to the consternation of Joy’s husband Duncan. Weaving around all the office shenanigans are the more memorable patients, Miss Chillingsworth and her cat, Phil the farmer and his bull as well as the weekly fight in the waiting room between Mungo’s dog Perkins and patient dog Adolph.

If you’re looking for high drama, this is not it. More towards the casual feel good read. It actually is a bit of a ramble through the town of Barleybridge and seeing its inhabitants in action (almost like if you were watching BBC’s Ballykissangel series). In fact, I can totally see this as a PBS/BBC special.

P. D. James

2006-08-03T11:23:00.000-07:00

P.D. James, one of the most famous British mystery authors celebrates her 86th birthday today! Winner of several prestigious book awards, all of her novels featuring her most well known character, Scotland Yard’s Adam Dalgliesh, has been made into television series first with actor Roy Marsdon and more recently a BBC version with actor Martin Shaw. Random House publishers has created a very flashy webpage with some fun info about P.D. James including writing tips . The British Council, Arts division page also includes a critical perspective in addition to her back ground information .

If you have missed her latest Inspector Dalgliesh novel from 2005, The Lighthouse, be ready for an Agatha Christie-esque plot when Dalgliesh must uncover a murderer on a remote island off the Cornish coast. NPR interviewed James when it came out last December speaking of her new book and how mysteries have changed over the years.

Or if you’re in the mood to watch her latest movie adaptation endeavor, The Children of Men, a futuristic story of London in 2027, is out in theaters at the end of September 2006.

NonFiction - Game of Shadows

2006-07-31T09:28:00.000-07:00

When I first picked up Game of Shadows I thought the focus was solely on Barry Bonds and his relationship with BALCO. The two authors (San Francisco Chronicle reporters Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams) not only take you into the history of BALCO, its owners and Barry Bonds but also deep into the world of Olympic athletes and coaches/trainers who aid athletes in obtaining steroids. The book itself is very easy to read as it follows a chronological timeline and reads like a true crime story. The authors do an excellent job of presenting evidence and documents of steroid abuse and illustrate how the science of steroid use has evolved beyond the ability to detect is so that athletes who take it can and do pass doping tests. The evidence also clearly points out that Barry Bonds, Marion Jones, Tim Montgomery, and other baseball, football, and track & field stars certainly did take forms of illegal steroids. The upsetting part to me is that fans and athletes put so much pressure on themselves to win and make money that they feel the need to cheat. Or, they cheat because everybody else around them is. I found it very startling when a track & field sprinter said that it was likely that in the 100m and 200m dash 9 out of the 10 competitors were likely doping and getting away with it. In the end I felt disappointed at what in my view where light sentences for athletes, coaches, trainers and BALCO executives. I also think that from now on when somebody breaks an athletic record I will wonder in the back of my mind if they used an illegal performance enhancing drug. I appreciate the work that these two reporters did to bring the world of sports doping to light. I only wish governing sports bodies would do more to prevent cheaters (especially MLB).

The Tale of Hill Top Farm by Susan Wittig Albert

2006-07-28T11:17:00.000-07:00

In honor of Beatrix Potter’s birthday today, the famed author and illustrator of the popular Peter Rabbit books, I finished reading The Tale of Hill Top Farm by Susan Wittig Albert. The first in a cozy mystery series featuring Beatrix Potter on her trip to visit the small farm she had just purchased to escape from her domineering parents. The death of Miss Tolliver has the residents of the small village of Near Sawrey speculating as to the cause. First taken as a natural death, more sinister implications are discussed as odd things keep occurring in the village. The parish register has gone missing, the school roof fund disappears and lastly, Beatrix notices that a very valuable painting has disappeared from Miss Tolliver’s empty house. As the residents of the town try to figure out what is going on, the town animals do their best as well. Incorporating the animals thinking and conversing to themselves are just another delightful aspect to the series.

This is definitely a very gentle cozy mystery and more on the cozy part than on the mystery. Not too much investigating goes on but lots of gossip amongst the townspeople. Beatrix, trying to get away from her parents and recover from the death of her fiancé, does not get the peaceful life she had expected. I wasn’t too sure about the animals but it fit very well with the storyline. Beatrix brought her two rabbits, hedgehog and mouse with her from London and they do have a small outing into the wilderness but the stars of the book are the village pets. Rascal, a Jack Russell terrier and the cats, Tabitha Twitchit, Crumpet, and Miss Felicia Frummety do their part in solving the mysteries around town. It was a cute story and definitely for those days when you want something low key to read. If you want to get some coloring pages from Beatrix Potter’s books, visit http://www.peterrabbit.com or to visit Susan Wittig Albert’s site for more on The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter or her other series, China Bayles Herbal Mysteries (the character China Bayles just started her own herbal based blog).

Elephants!

2006-07-27T17:01:00.000-07:00

I recently went to Greenbrier, Arkansas where there is of all things, an elephant sanctuary. One of the elephants that found a home at Riddle’s Elephant Sanctuary is Amy. Come to find out, there is a sweet, light-hearted book about her early life in captivity. The Cowboy and His Elephant by Malcolm MacPherson gives a refreshing look at a cowboy and the special pet he raises. Bob Norris, a former Marlboro Man, takes in Amy when he realizes she is unhealthy away from her mother, and could use some individual care. Amy does more than survive, but thrives and even later becomes a part of the Big Apple Circus. The story is very quick, and has some interesting facts about elephants and their life in captivity. This story focuses too much on the connection Bob feels for Amy, and also has some parts that don’t seem too factual. Otherwise, this book was just a very simple look into the life of Amy and her movement through Bob’s ranch, to the circus, and the hope of being sent to the wild. The funny stories about Amy, her pet goat, and the trouble she got into were the best. A Cowboy and His Elephant doesn’t finish Amy’s story so I will tell you what I know. Amy did not go back to Africa; she ended up at the elephant sanctuary. A couple of months ago, the sanctuary found out she was pregnant, and should have a baby in the Fall of 2008. This is a picture of her when I saw her in May.
Category: Non-Fiction

Movie news...continued

2006-07-27T15:26:00.000-07:00

Whoops, I spoke too soon. They stopped the shoot for Brick Lane (based on Monica Ali's novel, see previous post) and are looking for alternate places. See BBC online article.

Movie news...

2006-07-27T12:14:00.000-07:00

Latest news on the books-into-movies front… BBC news reports that the filming of Monica Ali’s novel Brick Lane is causing troubles in primarily Bangladeshi community of Shoreditch, London’s east end where the real Brick Lane is located. Monica Ali’s debut novel shortlisted for the 2003 Booker Prize (in addition to winning more, ie. Orange Prize for Fiction, British Books Awards, NY Times Editors Choice among others) much to the consternation of the community leaders with objections to the unrealistic views of the community and people the book portrayed. Brick Lane’s basic plot is of a Bangladeshi girl sent to London for an arranged marriage and having to learn and adapt in her new environment. I wonder if the production company picked the book just for the controversial attention it would get, free advertising you know. But it looks like the production company is going to go ahead with the filming regardless of the complaints. See the BBC article for more info.

Category : Pages to Pictures

Borrowed Time by Robert Goddard

2006-07-27T10:56:00.000-07:00

Robin Timariot, walking a hiker’s trail meets a lovely woman one summer’s eve. After chatting briefly, they part ways, Robin to finish his trail and the woman, to her murder. Causing a national scandal, the woman, Louise Paxton, wife to a royal physician, was found dead along with the body of a semi-famous artist Oscar Bantock and the man convicted of killing her might be wrongfully imprisoned. As one of the last people to see her alive, Robin finds himself reluctantly dragged into a hotbed of intrigue. The story line does move slowly and not quite a thriller in the sense that action takes place not within days but moves over the course of several years. Robin helplessly watches as the Paxton family, father Keith and daughters, Sarah and Rowena, slowly deteriorates until a tragic event blows the family apart. British crime author Robert Goddard creates a taut suspense and those readers patient enough to take the journey with Robin will be well rewarded.

This is the eighth Robert Goddard novel but only the second one I’ve read and in comparison, Borrowed Time was paced much slower than Sight Unseen…actually it is super slow and you don’t get that thrilling rush as the character rushes one fraught danger to another. I’ll think I’ll try one more just to see what the norm is…fast or slow?

Category : Crime Fiction

The Sisters Mortland by Sally Beauman

2006-07-26T16:05:00.000-07:00

Sally Beauman gives us the haunting tragic gothic story of the Mortland sisters, Julia, Finn and little Maisie in The Sisters Mortland. Told in three different perspectives, Beauman’s adept story telling first draws us into thirteen year old Maisie’s world at the ramshackle medieval Wyken Abbey in the country fields of Suffolk. Living life with her loving frail grandfather, scatterbrained mother and much older sisters, the vainglorious Julia and intelligent Finn, odd little Maisie has ghostly nuns as friends and makes lists upon lists of topics including the saints and martyrs and horticulture. Although seemingly highly intelligent, she still worries her family and friends. Lucas, an aspiring artist from Julia’s university, is commissioned to paint the sisters and is there through childhood friend and neighbor Dan, a Roma gypsy boy who eschews his family gifts and strives to be something more. Twenty years later, Dan, suffering a breakdown from the high stress life of an extremely successful advertising career, looks back on the life at Wyken Abbey and the tragic accident that occurred at the end of the summer of 1967, filling in the gaps left by Maisie’s account. The final account by Julia, although short, brings the tale into the present day. Beauman is a master of timing as she gradually reveals all that happened. Compelling and addictive, The Sisters Mortland is a tale of the many forms of passion, love, and grief.
Personal notes: Okay, I think that after the “formal” review, I’ll just add some thoughts about the book. Beauman did a spectacular job of raising the suspense and after I got through reading Maisie’s account and then Dan’s account started with little references to “the accident,” I felt almost like I was eavesdropping (I know, bad habit) and dying to find out what exactly happened. Beauman also did a great job with the characters, especially with Julia. I hated her in the beginning but actually ended up sympathizing (or at least understanding her) by the end. I almost didn’t read this book because a couple of years ago I started Beauman’s Rebecca’s Tale, a companion book of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, and I don’t even think I finished the first chapter which is an almost unheard of event…I am nothing if not an obssesive reader.

All in One Piece by Cecelia Tishy

2006-07-25T16:27:00.000-07:00

Cecelia Tishy’s All in One Piece, second in a mystery series featuring Reggie Cutler, Boston’s middle aged medium extraordinaire, again brings suspense to the streets of Boston and beyond. Reggie is just trying to recover from her bad day when blood dripping from her ceiling brings even more bad news. Stephen Damelin, her tenant has been found nail gunned to the floor and a threat marked in blood posted on her front door. As Reggie, one not to sit back and wait for fate takes to investigating his family background. Stephen’s poverty stricken background in the industrial town of Lawrence, MA and his rise to a more privileged life through the good will of his best friend’s parents is only the start to the strange and possibly crooked dealings of Stephen and the powerful Boston Vogler family. As escalating problems occur, Reggie relies on her R. K. Stark, co-owner of her dog Biscuit, for protection. Not too many medium sessions this time around, just small premonitions to prevent her from harm. Reggie’s amateur detective style requires a little bit of suspension of belief as she flits in and out of danger but this is an improvement from Tishy’s first novel, Now You See Her.

Category : Crime Fiction

NonFiction - Weather Makers: How Man Is Changing the Climate and What It Means for Life on Earth

2006-07-24T09:20:00.000-07:00

This particular book by Tim Flannery is one of many books about Climate Change. However, unlike many other books in this area Tim does an excellent job of engaging the reader to think critically about this topic while at the same time allowing the reader to form his/her own conclusions. In other words this book is not one full of blame, anger, and who did what. Instead Tim (a paleontologist by trade) takes the hard science and explains it in a way that the average reader can understand. He spends about the 3/4 of the book discussing the impact of human activity (both good and bad) and explains what substantial changes have occurred over a very short period of time. He does an excellent job of illustrating how our frame of reference regarding time must be reevaluated in order to understand the full impact of climate change. Most of the impact to climate has occurred since the 1850s with many of the negative affects already beginning to take form now and continuing during the next 100 years or so. That is a time frame of about 250 years, which seems long to us but within the context of earth's age is extremely fast. In the latter half of the book Tim presents compelling solutions that can be done by individual people and government's world wide that are realistic and attainable without very much sacrifice.

The 13 1/2 Lives Of Captain Bluebear

2006-07-19T18:55:00.000-07:00

This charmingly illustrated novel (by the author Walter Moers no less) is narrated by Captain Bluebear, who has 27 lives. However, this tale will only cover 13 1/2 of his lives, because "...a bear's got to have his secrets." Each chapter is devoted to one of his lives. He is first found floating in the vast ocean in a tiny nutshell and hauled aboard a ship by the Minipirates (pirates who excel in sailing the seas, even though most have never seen them). They regretfully have to maroon him on an island once his speedy growth threatens to sink their ship. Captain Bluebear must then continue to navigate through many adventures; learning speech from the "Babbling Billows" (what appear to be waves in a vast ocean), acting as the eyes to an aging dinosaur, and attending the Nocturnal academy. Upon his graduation, he is given a mental copy of an encyclopedia, written by Professor Nightingale. This encyclopedia will come to aid him plenty of times in his further adventures.

A cult classic across Europe, this fantasy novel predates the Harry Potter series. One wonders if J.K. Rowling was inspired by one of the last chapters which spoke about the philosopher's stone (The U.K. title for the first Harry Potter was Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone). This was a great fantasy novel with many subtle themes that made it unlike any other fantasy novel I have ever read. It comes highly recommended. Enjoy!

Calder Storm, The Silver Rose and Eligible Bachelor

2006-07-19T09:50:00.000-07:00

My recent spate of romance reading came from all different sides of the genre spectrum. For my contemporary romance, the recently released Calder Storm takes us back to the Triple C ranch where the whirlwind courtship of Chase Benteen Calder, III (aka Trey) and professional photographer Sloan Davis leads to a fast marriage and with most fast marriages, there are items of great import left untold and later revealed at the most inopportune times. Much confusion and misunderstandings, helped along with a certain evil nemesis, Max Rutledge, who determined to seek revenge on the Calder clan for the death of his son. Without giving anything away, let’s just say… Big Romance, Big Trouble and Big Action in Big Sky Country.

Miri Cheney, the youngest of the magically talented Cheney sisters returns to their beloved island in the last of Susan Carroll’s historical romance trilogy, The Silver Rose. Returning from exile is hard, but even more so when Simon Aristide, the witch hunter who drove out your family in the first place, comes back to ask for help. Simon, an older and much wiser man than the arrogant boy he once was, sees the value in Miri, not to mention the physical attraction he encounters whenever they are close. The Silver Rose, a new and even more evil villain than Catherine de Medici, is threatening France and Simon and must stop her before she takes control. Carroll wraps up her trilogy nicely and although a couple of her plotlines were really evident (and I’m one to try and not guess the plot in any book) it still was a pleasing read. I especially enjoyed the tension between Simon and Miri.

Eligible Bachelor by the U.K.’s Veronica Henry was more of a contemporary women’s fiction with romance throughout. Back from touring the world, Guy Portias is helping his mother out trying to keep Eversleigh Manor financially afloat after the death of his father. After hosting a movie shoot utilizing their house, Guy finds himself engaged to Richenda Fox, movie star. Ex-hotel manager, Honor McLean, gave up her high power life to care for her son and is now running a small catering business out of her home. When Honor takes on cooking for the Portias, Guy and Honor find their easy friendship turning into a stronger bond. Interspersed are the stories of Honor’s best friend and her travails with her family and Richenda’s own back story of her rise to stardom. Veronica Henry has penned an easy to read, relaxing story, perfect for enjoying with a cup of tea on your favorite couch.

2006 Christy Award Winners

2006-07-11T11:55:00.000-07:00

The Christy Awards for best inspirational fiction was awarded July 8 and their website was down… then up… and down again but thanks to “Kathy from FL” who got the list from a Christy Award staffer we have the winners list! And YAY, the one book I read, A Bride Most Begrudging, won!!

Contemporary : Levi’s Will by Dale Cramer
Contemporary (Series, Sequels and Novellas) The Road Home by Vanessa Del Fabbro
Historical: Whence Came a Prince by Liz Curtis Higgs
Romance: A Bride Most Begrudging by Deanne Gist
Suspense: River Rising by Athol Dickson
Visionary: Shadow Over Kiriath by Karen Hancock
First Novel: This Heavy Silence by Nicole Mazzarella

Category: Inspirational

NonFiction - The Spirit Catches You & You Fall Down

2006-07-10T19:15:00.000-07:00

This particular title by Anne Fadiman had been sitting on my to be read pile for quite sometime. This stiring story of a Hmong family living in California helps to bring into light how different cultures view and solve problems. In this paticular case a infant suffers from eplipsy and is taken to a local hospital in Merced California for treatment. Both the family and the hospital want what is best for the child but what each views as the "best" is very different. Anne goes into great detail about the history of the Hmong peoples (from Laos) and the hardships they have suffered, which from an American standpoint is almost inconceivable, especially during the time of the Vietnam war. This book certainly makes you feel for and think about the unfortunate and gruesome aspects of war and how civilians and poor people can become caught in the middle. The book reminds of us the importance of heritage and culture and the importance of respecting different peoples. Unfortunately there is not a "happy" ending to the story but it certainly does make you think. Anne also does an exceptional job of not taking sides as she tells us the story, rather she presents her ideas and thoughts in such a way that it makes the reader decide, which is probably why it was a winner of the National Book Critics Cricle Award. If you are interested in learning about different cultures here in America I highly recommend this title.

Thrillerfest

2006-07-10T12:53:00.000-07:00

The fairly newly formed International Thriller Writers association had their first awards ceremony on July 1st in Phoenix, AZ. For best novel, Christopher Reich won for The Patriot's Club and for best first novel, Adam Fawer won for Improbable. Be sure to visit the ITW website for more info and award winners.

The Pleasure of My Company

2006-06-30T00:08:00.000-07:00

I picked up "The Pleasure of My Company" by comedian Steve Martin thinking that it would be a short and funny read for the summertime. Well, it was short and was amusing in spots but mostly it was bittersweet, tender, poignant and moving. At least, I found it to be so. It's the story of Daniel, the intelligent and neurotic narrator, who invites readers into his otherwise nearly closed off world of "magic squares", curb phobia and observation. Living in San Diego and unable to hold a job, the chief objects of his attentions are a pretty real estate agent, a cute pharmacist and his student therapist. He receives occasional letters from his Granny in Texas but otherwise he appears to be completely isolated from his family. On a trip to Rite Aid to check out his favorite pharmacist, he absent-mindedly completes a 500-word essay on an entry form for a "Most Average American" contest. He wins the contest (twice), which necessitates him giving a speech. This seems to be the wedge into Daniel's life, letting in all kinds of changes. The story reduced me to tears in spots and moments later I was laughing out loud (lol). As I read the book, I must admit to hearing Martin's voice, but it was not distracting or intrusive. The book is available in the audio format with Martin reading -- I would think this would be a very "pleasant" way to read the book.

My First Audio Book

2006-06-29T15:30:00.000-07:00

I chose John Grisham's The Broker on the new available-at-your-library Playaways as my very first book in audio format. I really enjoyed listening to a book, and I really enjoyed the small size of the Playaway, but the book itself did not capture my attention. Joel Backman, a well paid lawyer in D.C. was pardoned and released after six years in a federal prison. And then he goes to Italy. That was the most information that I got from the book. I didn't connect with his character, which made it difficult to follow his steps through Italy. This is my first John Grisham book too, and I thought there should have been more intrigue and suspense instead of Italian lessons. I did enjoy the descriptions of the sights, and the food, but otherwise was not too immersed in this book. I didn't even realize it was over until another voice started talking about Harry Potter. Oh well. At least I found a hands free way to add on to my Summer Reading books!

New Fiction for July

2006-06-28T11:25:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the new titles heading to the shelves in July.

Pegasus Descending by James Lee Burke
Lights Out Tonight by Mary Jane Clark
Can't Wait to Get to Heaven by Fannie Flagg
Sleeping with Fear by Kay Hooper
Dead Wrong by J. A. Jance
Proof Positive by Phillip Margolin
Judge & Jury by James Patterson
Break No Bones by Kathy Reichs

2006 Christy Awards finalists

2006-06-28T10:22:00.000-07:00

Since our library has a fairly substantial number of patrons who love to read inspirational fiction, I’ve been trying to read more inspirational books lately. But I’m sad to say that I’ve only read one book off the 2006 Christy Awards finalists list. A Bride Most Begrudging by Deeanne Gist is a delightful historical romance set in 17th century America, when the Virginia colonies were getting set up. Lady Constance Morrow sneaks aboard a ship to rescue her uncle and then ends up trapped and sailing to America where she ends up getting sold as a tobacco bride. Drew O’Connor, owner of the small farm only needs a maid to look after his baby sister and do housework. After many trials, the two fall in love (hence the romance). I especially enjoyed Gist’s very smooth blend of history, romance and faith. Actually, the historical aspects were quite impressive for a romance!
Alright, back to the Christy’s…the following are the finalists with the winners to be announced on July 8, 2006.

Contemporary (Stand-Alones)
Grace at Low Tide by Beth Webb Hart (WestBow Press)
Levi's Will by W. Dale Cramer (Bethany House Publishers)
Wrapped in Rain by Charles Martin (WestBow Press)
Contemporary (Series, Sequels and Novellas)
Living With Fred by Brad Whittington (Broadman & Holman)
Moment of Truth by Sally John (Harvest House Publishers)
The Road to Home by Vanessa Del Fabbro (Steeple Hill)
Historical
Glimpses of Paradise by James Scott Bell (Bethany House Publishers)
The Noble Fugitive by T. Davis & Isabella Bunn (Bethany House Publishers)
Whence Came a Prince by Liz Curtis Higgs (WaterBrook Press)
Romance
A Bride Most Begrudging by Deeanne Gist (Bethany House Publishers)
Chateau of Echoes by Siri L. Mitchell (NavPress)
In Sheep's Clothing by Susan May Warren (SteepleHill)
Suspense
Comes a Horseman by Robert Liparulo (WestBow Press)
Last Light by Terri Blackstock (Zondervan)
River Rising by Athol Dickson (Bethany House Publishers)
Visionary
Legend of the Emerald Rose by Linda Wichman (Kregel Publications)
The Presence by Bill Myers (Zondervan)
Shadow Over Kiriath by Karen Hancock (Bethany House Publishers)
First Novel
Like a Watered Garden by Patti Hill (Bethany House Publishers)
The Road to Home by Vanessa Del Fabbro (SteepleHill)
This Heavy Silence by Nicole Mazzarella (Paraclete Press)

Category: Inspirational

Summer... the perfect time to read

2006-06-27T15:11:00.000-07:00

Summer reading is here and have I been reading this weekend! A total mix of genres so here goes….First, I finished The Stolen Child by Keith Donohue. It’s based on W.B. Yeats poem called, funnily enough, “The Stolen Child” about changelings, a popular European myth of faeries stealing children leaving a “replacement child” in its place. Donohue gives us a fascinating account of the changeling and the human boy who was switched out as they adjust and live out their new lives. Drawing us in, this literary fantasy (and don’t let that scare you because it is so easy to read!) is an enthralling tale for any time of year. Setting that aside with a satisfied sigh…

I moved on to Death du Jour by Lou Jane Temple. The second in the Spice Box mysteries series, the intent of each cooking oriented mystery is to involve different characters in different eras of history but all involving the spice box in some manner. Fanny Delarue, an 18th century Pariasian cook’s assistant, is living in a dangerous time with the revolution still burbling in the air. The murder of a well known chef of a neighboring household is murdered and Fanny is the only one caring enough to try and investigate it. Then, her lover, the head chef of her household, goes missing and the maitre d’ hotel (a French butler) is murdered. This cozy mystery is problematic in the sense that the mystery happens at the beginning and then wraps up in the end. The rest was all a mini history of life and cooking and eating habits of the relatively wealthy during the French Revolution sans royal heads flying into baskets. Temple’s first mystery, The Spice Box, was by far better and I was disappointed in her second effort.

I lined up a thriller in the Jurrasic Park-ish style for some more beach reading (even though I was sitting in my very air-conditioned house!) The premise of Natural Selection by Dave Freedman is the same old story of an amusement park/zoo, Manta World, going financially under. On the brink of finding a new species of rays which no doubt will be the financial savior for the owner, he continues to fund his small team of marine biologists. As the team tracks the rays up the Pacific coast, they make the horrific discovery of a deep sea species that are smart and more lethal than sharks. The rays shrinking food source in the oceans force them to evolve swiftly and soon they are flying out of the water, literally, in their quest for their next food source…an abundant supply of land mammals, yes, including humans!!! Not only are they the perfect killing machine, they are huge. Just imagine, a giant ray with a wing span of 14 feet hovering (yes, hovering) over you as you become the entrée du jour (or Death du Jour, ha!). As ridiculous as the whole premise sounds (come on….giant flying manta rays?!), I swear I read that book straight through. I kept thinking, “Yikes, then what happens?” until I found myself closing the cover! I admit, it was cookie cutter thriller to the core but it kept me reading. Definitely perfect for some pool side reading (or very late night as it was for me).

Those were my three reads but I also listened to the unabridged cd recording of Sullivan’s Evidence by Nancy Taylor Rosenberg. The third gripping legal thriller involving Carolyn Sullivan, parole officer for Ventura Country, provides another excellent view of the legal system so different from the lawyer/cop scenario. A convicted killer, among many others, becomes free after 8 years in jail due to a technicality involving the forensic department. The ensuing slip puts Carolyn and her family in danger as she deals with a former prisoner bent on revenge. A new love interest throws additional turmoil into the mix. The culminating events and the extra end twist are very satisfying. Whew! That’s it for my weekend reads!

The Shadow of the Wind

2006-06-15T15:17:00.000-07:00

The Henderson Library Book Club discussed The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón in May.
I was excited to read this book because it's set in Barcelona, in the 1930s -1950s, in the years following their Civil War. Very dark, indeed.

Also, I couldn't resist any novel that introduces the "Cemetery of Forgotten Books" in the first chapter. This shadowy labyrinth twisted and folded in on itself, and drew me in further, much like the plot of the book itself.

The Shadow of the Wind reminds me very much of the magical realism of The House of the Spirits or Like Water for Chocolate. The characters seem essentially normal, but are somehow just slightly...off. Those who are believed to be dead are not. There are hints at ghosts, there are crypts, there are haunted houses. There is a beautiful blind woman, a psychopathic cop, a gifted writer whose books seem to choose those worthy to read them. There are star-crossed lovers whose stories end tragically as well as star-crossed lovers whose stories end blissfully.

Twisted characters live in a twisted city, and their stories intertwine throughout. I felt as though I was drawn deep into a dark maze, and when I emerged triumphant on the other side, I set the book down with a sigh of relief and satisfaction.

Category: General Fiction

Seeing Colors

2006-06-15T10:53:00.000-07:00

Just read T. Jefferson Parker’s latest, The Fallen, and learned about a psych condition I never knew occurred. Robbie Brownlaw fell from a great height which resulted in his obtaining synesthesia, a condition where the person somehow associates another sense through other means, like tasting colors. In Brownlaw’s case, he can see if a person is lying through colored shapes floating out of people’s mouths. It comes in handy when you are a cop. Parker’s stand alone thriller of political corruption in San Diego is a tense well-plotted ride with multifaceted characters and enough twists to keep you well satisfied.

Category: Crime Fiction

Welcome to the Jungle!

2006-06-09T13:55:00.000-07:00

Wild About Reading, Welcome to the Jungle has started at your Henderson Libraries! Visit any Henderson Library Branch to take part in our "wild" Summer Reading Program. Participate by reading books and turning in short book reviews to get some great prizes. There are four prize levels, including a Friend's of the Library gift certificate, a Chipotle coupon, an HDPL water bottle, and and HDPL book bag. Go to your closest Henderson Library Branch to sign up, check out some "wild" books, look into animal programs, and enjoy our services. Or visit http://www.hdpl.org/programs/srp2006_adults.html for more information. Also, check out http://www.hdpl.org/programs/srp2006_adults.html for youth services and family programs this summer. To finish off the Summer Reading Program- each level completed will place you in a Grand Prize drawing for a one night stay in Mesquite at the Eureka Hotel. There are also prizes from Best Buy, Barnes and Noble, and Claim Jumper Restaraunt. So get started on your summer reading now and earn prizes along the way!

New Fiction Title for June 2006

2006-06-01T14:08:00.000-07:00

The Traitor by Stephen Coonts
Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich
Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven by Fannie Flagg
Baby Proof by Emily Griffin
The Saboteurs: A Men at War Novel by W.E.B. Griffin
Danse Macabre by Laurell K. Hamilton
Captive of My Desires by Johanna Lindsey
The Wrong Hostage by Elizabeth Lowell
Shadow Man by Cody McFadyen
Blue Screen by Robert Parker
Lost and Found by Carolyn Parkhurst
Book of the Dead by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Coming Out by Danielle Steel
Terrorist by John Updike

Category: New Books

2006 Audie Awards

2006-05-23T12:12:00.000-07:00

The bibliomaniac in me loves audio books. This way, I can do all my hated household chores, exercise, cook, whatever and get to listen to the latest bestseller or classic novel or whatever else strikes my fancy, AT THE SAME TIME!! How is that for multitasking?! (Although I do not recommend trying to do the crosswords and listen at the same time as I end up having to listen to chapters again…) Anyway, you should give it a try…last Friday (5/19) the Audio Publishers Association announced their 2006 Audie Awards winners for tons of various categories. The complete list is available at www.audiopub.org. Some of the winning titles include:

Audiobook of the Year
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: The Tertiary Phase by Douglas Adams, read by BBC Radio
Fiction Unabridged
A Slight Trick of the Mind by Mitch Cullen, read by Simon Jones
Nonfition, Unabridged
The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman, read by Oliver Wyman
Mystery
Serpent on the Crown by Elizabeth Peters, read by Barbara Rosenblat
Romance
Origin in Death by J. D. Robb, read by Susan Ericksen

Category: Audio

Bram Stoker Award finalists announced

2006-05-18T13:26:00.000-07:00

Finalists for the Bram Stoker Awards given by the Horror Writers Association were named this past week. Fiction novel finalists include Creepers by David Morrell, Dread in the Beast by Charlee Jacob, Keepers by Gary Braunbeck, November Mourns by Tom Piccirilli, and The Hides by Kealan Patrick Burke. Visit http://www.horror.org/stokerballots.htm for more finalists in First novels, Anthologies and other categories.

Category: Horror

2006 Nebula Science Fiction Awards

2006-05-15T08:02:00.000-07:00

The Nebula Awards® was presented by the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America on
May 7, 2006. The winners included an eBook for Best Novel: Camouflage by Joe Haldeman
(eBook Fictionwise download) and the Andre Norton Award Winner went to Valiant: A Tale of Modern Faerie by Holly Black.

For more titles of winners and nominees for other categories, go to http://www.sfwa.org/awards/2006/NebWinners2005.html

2006 Pulitzer Prizes Announced

2006-04-18T07:54:00.000-07:00

FICTION
March by Geraldine Brooks
HISTORY
Polio: An American Story by David M. Oshinsky
BIOGRAPHY
American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin
POETRY
Late Wife by Claudia Emerson
GENERAL NON-FICTION
Imperial Reckoning: The Untold Story of Britain's Gulag in Kenya by Caroline Elkins

For a complete listing, go to the Pulizter Prizes website.

Mystery ...Old West Style

2006-04-17T13:43:00.000-07:00

Hop on your saddle and head out to big sky country. Meet Big Red and Old Red, two mystery solving ranch hands from Stephen Hockensmith's Holmes on the Range. Strange things are afoot at the Bar-VR ranch and the Sherlock loving Old Red drags little brother Big Red snooping around detective-style. A fun, fast paced mystery that will make you smile and conjure up images of the great Old West.

What is horror?

2006-04-08T14:00:00.000-07:00

What makes a story a horror story? From www.wikipedia.com, it is "broadly, fiction in any medium intended to scare, unsettle or horrify the reader." It has also been described as being a novel or story "that contains a monster, whether it be supernatural, human, or a metaphor for psychological torment."-Anthony Fonseca and June Pulliam, Hooked on Horror.

Some gothic novels that started horror fiction include Ann Radcliffe's The Mysteries of Udolpho (1794), Horace Walpole's The Castle of Otranto (1764), and especially Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's Frankenstein. Of course there is Bram Stoker's Dracula and The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. Some more modern titles are Stephen King's Misery, Clive Barker's Imajica, Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes, and Ira Levin's Rosemary's Baby.

Horror fiction and Gothic fiction can be interchangeable at times. Within horror fiction there are also categories like ghosts and hauntings, medical horror, psychological horror, witches, vampires, monsters, and more. Check the library catalog for the above titles and more! http://hawk.hdpl.org/catalog/ Or go to our online databases and visit Novelist to browse other categories and authors of horror fiction.

April is Jazz Apppreciation Month

2006-04-05T13:41:00.000-07:00

The Smithsonian's 2006 Jazz Appreciation Month poster highlights Duke Ellington, composer, bandleader and pianist. Learn more about Jazz Appreciation month at the Smithsonian website and explore the materials offered on the wonderful world of jazz at any one of our Henderson libraries.

Mystery Awards Alert!

2006-04-04T13:58:00.000-07:00

The 60th annual Edgar Awards will be handed out April 27th by the Mystery Writers of America. For Best Novel, the nominees are... The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly, Red Leaves by Thomas H. Cook, Vanish by Tess Gerritsen, Drama City by George Pelecanos and Citizen by Jess Walter. For Best First Novel by an American Author the nominees include Die a Little by Megan Abbott, Immoral by Brian Freeman, Run the Risk by Scott Frost, Hide Your Eyes by Alison Gaylin and Officer Down by Theresa Schwegal. Also awarded that night, will be Breaking Faith by Jo Bannister, Dark Angel by Karen Harper and Shadow Valley by Gwen Hunter...all vying for the Simon & Schuster - Mary Higgins Clark Award. For more nominees, go to Mystery Writers of America Edgar Awards 2006.

from Pages to Pictures in April

2006-04-03T09:46:00.000-07:00

Guess what's been grabbed off the bookshelves to be made into film? Read up and compare to see if the movies do the books justice!

The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield (this film has a limited release, first starting in select theaters in California then slowly making its way across the US)

The Sentinel by Gerald Petievich (thriller involving a White House Special Agent framed for murder)

New NonFiction for April 2006

2006-04-02T11:46:00.000-07:00

Biography
Barbara: The Way She Is by Christopher Andersen
Fever: The Life and Music of Miss Peggy Lee by Peter Richmond
G-man's Life; The FBI, Being "Deep Throat," and the Struggle for Honor in Washington by Mark Felt and John O'Connor
My Life in France by Julia Child with Alex Prud'homme
Send in the Idiots by Kamran Nazeer

NonFiction
The Bush Agenda; Invading the World, One Economy at a Time by Antonia Juhasz
The Caged Virgin: An Emancipation Proclamation for Women and Islam by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Cesar's Way by Cesar Millan
Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero by David Maraniss
The Collar: A Year of Striving and Faith Inside a Catholic Seminary by Jonathan Englert
The Great Deluge: Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast by Douglas Brinkley
The Jesus Papers: Exposing the Greatest Cover-Up in History by Michael Baigent
The Knowledge Deficit: Closing the Shocking Education Gap for American Children by E.D. Hirsch, Jr.
Look Great, Feel Great: 12 Keys to Enjoying a Healthy Life Now by Joyce Meyer
Notorious C.O.P.: The True Story of the NYPD "Hip-Hop Cop" Who Cracked the Case of Tupac Shakur, Biggie Smalls, and Jam Master Jay by Derrick Parker with Matt Diehl
The Only Game in Town by Fay Voncent
Parenting Young Athletes the Ripkin Way: Ensuring the Best Experience for Your Kids in Any Sport by Cal Ripken, Jr.
The Ride of Our Lives: Roadside Lessons of an American Family by Mike Leonard
A Simple Act of Murder: November 22, 1963 by Mark Fuhrman
The Weather Makers: How Man Is Changing the Climate and What It Means for Life on Earth by Tim Flannery

Inspirational Series

2006-03-31T14:15:00.000-08:00

Enjoy some Inspirational Fiction series.

Tracie Peterson:
Yukon Quest
Treasures of the North
Ashes and Ice
Rivers of Gold

Stephanie Grace Whitson
Dakota Moons
Valley of a Shadow
Edge of the Wilderness
Heart of the Sandhills

T. Davis Bunn
Heirs of Acadia
The Solitary Envoy
The Innocent Libertine
The Noble Fugitive
The Night Angel (April 2006)

Gerlad Lund
The Work and the Glory
Pillar of Light
Like a Fire is Burning
Truth Will Prevail
Thy Gold to Refine
A Season of Joy
Praise to the Man
No Unhallowed Hand
The Work and the Glory

Ted Dekker
The Circle
Black
Red
White

New General Fiction Books for April 2006

2006-03-31T07:47:00.000-08:00

Check out a few of our new general fiction titles for April.

Fiction
Baby Brother's Blues by Pearl Cleage
Black Swan Green by David Mitchell
The Circle of Quilters by Jennifer Chiaverini
Defining Moments by Jacquelin Thomas
Elements of Style by Wendy Wasserstein
Firefly Cloak by Sheri Reynolds
Fortunate Sun by Walter Mosley
Hey, Good Looking by Fern Michaels
High Lonesome: Stories, 1966-2006 by Carol Joyce Oates
How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life by Kaavya Viswanathan
Jane Austen in Scarsdale or, Love, Death, and the SATs by Paula Marantz Cohen
The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets by Eva Rice
Memoirs of a Muse by Lara Vapnyar
The Messiah of Morris Avenue by Tony Hendra
Miss Julia Stands Her Ground by Ann B. Ross
The Stolen Child by Keith Donohue
We Are All Welcome Here by Elizabeth Berg
The World Made Straight by Ron Rash

Henderson Libraries Readers Advisory

2006-03-30T12:04:00.000-08:00

With the addition of blogging as a new Henderson Libraries reader's advisory service, we hope to give our patrons current news and reviews of the latest books and multimedia our library district has acquired.