Running With Books

MWF Seeking BFF

2012-01-30T12:37:00.070-06:00

As I've gotten older, many of my close friendships from high school, college, or even the first years out of college, have either faded completely or are barely hanging on. People become immersed in their careers, marriage, and children, and become too busy to devote time to friendships. I've also found that as I've gotten older, it becomes harder to make new friends. As someone who lives in the suburbs and doesn't have children, there aren't a whole lot of places to meet new friends. So, when I saw Rachel Bertsche's new book MWF Seeking BFF: My Yearlong Search for a New Best Friend, I was intrigued. Could it be that I'm not the only one that has had difficulty finding new friends?

In her late 20s, married but no children, Rachel recently moved to Chicago. Although she knows a few people, she hasn't made any close friends. Despite living in a large city, she has had difficulty meeting people. Rachel decides to take on a year-long quest to make new friends, promising to go on 52 "friend dates" by the end of the year. She tries everything from being set up by her spouse, coworkers, and family, joining new classes, publishing an online ad, joining Meetup groups, attending speed friending, matchmaking services, and even renting a friend.

What results is an entertaining account of her experiences and a thoughtful look at the concept of friendship. She finds that despite her worries, she is not alone in her difficulty finding friends. She worries that the only people she will meet at these events will be losers, but it turns out that most of the women she meets are smart, professional, fun women who are also having trouble making connections. Rachel has done her homework for this book. She frequently references research that explores the concept of friendship, different types of friendship, and the need for friendships in our lives. She also addresses an interesting point about the stigma of loneliness in America. We see ads for matchmaking services all the time. It's perfectly acceptable to shout from the rooftops that you want a romantic relationship, but tell anyone that you are looking for a friendship and people automatically think you must be a loser. Rachel quickly learns that you don't need to be embarrassed about looking for new friendships, because chances are, others are too. And judging by the wait list for this book at the library, she is right.

The Hunger Games

2012-01-27T14:57:00.000-06:00

I have to admit that I am totally psyched about "The Hunger Games" coming to the big screen on March 23rd! I knew the film was coming out and all the hype was very positive. I decided I would take the plunge and read the book before the film came out. There is a lot of talk these days about YA literature and the crossover appeal of this particular book. All I can say is that this middle aged man loved it. I found "The Hunger Games" to be a fascinating mix of fantasy and science fiction and furthermore I was surprised that it was well written as well. Several years ago I read another YA title that was huge and also was made into a series of movies. I was amazed how poorly written that particular book was, so it was a pleasure to read "The Hunger Games" after that bad experience.

I very purposely didn't watch any of the trailers for the movie before I finished the book. I didn't want to read the book with any preconceptions. The night I finished the book I went over to the computer and found the official trailer and watched it. I have to admit that after seeing the trailer I was even more excited about the movie. Many of the images and scenes looked almost exactly as I imagined them. The main characters seemed to be perfectly cast. Katniss in particular looked exactly as I imagined she would look. I've read that the movie is supposed to very closely follow the plot of the book. If this is the case I don't see how this movie won't be a huge hit that will appeal to audiences of all ages.

You still have two months to go. So there is still plenty of time to get a copy of "The Hunger Games" and read it for yourself. Once you do I think you'll understand why so many people are looking forward to the movie coming out.

If you've read the book already are you also excited about watching "The Hunger Games" on the big screen?

It's here!

2012-01-27T12:29:00.006-06:00

Ok, so it's not the Academy Awards but it may as well be for anyone who reads Teen lit. The Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in YA Literature is for Teen titles what that ridiculously heavy gold statue is for film. As announced this last Monday John Corey Whaley's "Where Things Come Back" was given the honor and (gasp!) I haven't read it yet. In fact, this book was nowhere near my radar for possible choices for this year's Printz award. I like this fact because A. I enjoy surprises and B. This keeps me on my toes and humbles my assumptions about the crazy world of Teen reading. I will definitely be checking this book out soon but in the meantime here are a list of this year's Printz Award honorees.

A perhaps lesser known (but just as significant) award given each year is the Alex Award, which honors 10 titles written for adults but which have special appeal for Teens. This award blurs the line between traditional "Adult" fic and "Teen" fic, which makes the titles below some of my favorite recommendations of the year. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Big Girl Small

In Zanesville

The Lover's Dictionary

The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt

The Talk Funny Girl

The Winner is...

2012-01-25T17:59:00.000-06:00

With awards season upon us for movies and televsion, I was heartened to see that during the Golden Globes telecast there were several references to books and authors. It seems that in the past few years more and more books are being turned into screenplays.

On the red carpet, Brad Pitt made mention of the book Moneyball and of how he was blessed with such a great story.

In their acceptance speech for Best Motion Picture-Drama, producer Jim Burke and director Alexander Payne of The Descendants sent a shout out and thank you to acclaimed author Kaui Hart Hemmings on whose book the movie was based.

Accepting his Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in television’s A Game of Thrones, Peter Dinklage mentioned first and foremost (after his wife) author George RR Martin for his imagination. Martin, in turn, was reported to say how pleased he has been with how faithful the producers have been to his work and that the goal was to take his story and translate it to a different medium such as television. “No TV show or movie is ever going to be 100 percent faithful to a book but I think people who love the books will love the TV show and that will continue to be true,” he added. How true!

Not all of our beloved books make the red carpet. Here are just a few of the books turned into movies this past year: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly, Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen, Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin, One Day by David Nicholl's, The Help by Kathryn Stockett, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson and Too Big to Fail (TV movie) by Andrew Ross Sorkin, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See, Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay, Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling.

Up next is the Screen Actors Guild Awards on January 29th and on February 26th we have the 84th Academy Awards.

Rules of Civility

2012-01-23T16:06:00.000-06:00

Did you ever have a year when the decisions you made--almost without thinking--affected the course of the rest of your life?

Amor Towles' book Rules of Civility begins in a jazz club in New York City on New Year's Eve 1937. Katey Kontent and Eve Ross are spending their carefully budgeted nickels on martinis, when they meet Tinker Grey. Wealthy and handsome, Tinker Grey enjoys exploring their haunts even as he offers Katey and Eve access to the fine dining, expensive parties, and beautiful homes of the elite upper class. Until an accident changes the course of their relationships.

The book is beautifully written with great dialogue and it offers a terrific exploration of social structure at the end of the depression. Katey narrates the book; she's witty, grounded, has a strong sense of self, and she takes chances. Even the minor characters in the book are well-drawn. And Amor Towles has compiled a jazz play list for the book, including Billie Holiday, Benny Goodman and Charlie Parker. So put on some music, mix up a shaker of martinis and step into 1938...

In Which Everyone Seems to be Coming of Age...

2012-01-18T19:52:00.000-06:00

Going into the holiday season I selected a very large stackof books from our shelves and brought them home for a month long bingeread. There was no rhyme or reason tothe pile, really. Some were novels I’dhad on my “to read” list forever, some were random things I picked up based onone best of list or another, but, as I read them, a very strange trend began toemerge…

Somehow –and I swear I didn’t see this coming – I wound upreading roughly a million coming of age stories, several of which incorporated weirdrelationships with stunted, inappropriate adults. I mean, I lovea good teenage bildungsroman, so maybe I should have anticipated this, butSERIOUSLY GUYS, I HAVE READ SO MANY OFTHESE THIS MONTH. What’s with all the crazyfictional elders?

Anyhow, I've decided to go with the trend and make a short list of a few of the more recently published of my winter literaryencounters with these tales of self-discovery in questionable climates, of adolescentswho want to desperately to grow up and of adults who can’t seem to master the process.

1. The Adults by Alison Espach

Espach’s debut novel is an envious achievement; a fresh rompthrough the wilds of affluent suburban Connecticut told with the perfectly rendered voice of wry leading girl Emily Vidal. In aperfect storm of smartly framed melodramas, young Emily catches her father with theneighbor’s wife, witnesses the neighbor’s subsequent suicide, his wife’s pregnancy, the divorce of her own parents, and then begins a surprisingly lasting affair with a20-something high school teacher she immaturely calls “Mr. Basketball.” While the turmoil may sound like the workingsof a primetime soap opera, Espach has a talent for teenage dialogue and a wayof capturing, rather beautifully, the constant displaced feelings of adolescence. Everything old is new again, and its this sensibility that carries thenovel through its more expected moments.

2. Hummingbirds by Joshua Gaylord

Leo Binhammer is the only male facultymember in a female-dominated New York City school for girls. He relishes the attention he receives fromhis peers and the adoration of the girls in his care (no, no, not in that way) until his star isforced suddenly into decline by the arrival of a new, young teacher who manages what Leocannot seem to– he challenges and charms a particularly intellectual ward whoLeo fears. Hummingbirds is a sort of male-centric Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, an academic quirk fest for those stillin love with leather school satchels and the idea of a uniform sweater. When it digs in the gossipy dirt it does so with theflush of school girl crushes and chatter just as smart as it is frothy.

3. The Summer of Naked Swim Parties by Jessica Anya Blau

Blau’s 70’s-set coming of age is anadult piece of literature disguised as one of the candy-coated confections of your young adult life. Our tale follows14-year old Jamie as she battles with the pressures of growing up withexhibitionist hippie parents. A period piece if ever there was one, Jamie’ssun-soaked revelations on surfer boys, stoner friends, and her own faltering attempts to forge her own pathinto adulthood make for a read that’s surprisingly deft in its characterdevelopment without surrendering any of the cheap and cheerful entertainment.

4. The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson

While I will admit to not enjoying The Family Fang as much as some of thisblog’s other esteemed contributors, I won’t hesitate to recommend it as anengaging, fast-paced read that manages to cleverly raise questions about artand artifice while smartly articulating the damage wrought by parentaldeception. The Fangs are a quirky clanin which the performance artist parents permanently merge their innocentchildren’s lives in with their very public art. Think of it as a literary satire that blends the films of Wes Andersonwith the cartoons of Charles Addams.

5. You Deserve Nothing by Alexander Maksik

Youngish high school teacher with acult following and a casual comfort level accidentally stumbles into an affairwith a female student. Yep, heard thatone before. Maksik has been receiving plenty of press for his novel under theguise that it is our teacher’s relationship with a second student – a young man from an abusive household who developshis own sort of ‘crush’ – that truly adds a new spin on a recycled plotdevice. While the rise and fall of thisparticular educator is occasionally interesting to observe, the Parisiansetting is a lush addition, and the political tie-ins often surprising, I’d belying if I told you You Deserve Nothing addedanything at all to the nasty old student/teacher cliché. Bland, often quite indulgent, and made allthe more creepy by rumors of the inspiration being drawn from an actual affairof the author’s own.

Challenge: 420 Characters

2012-01-16T12:05:00.001-06:00

Could you write a story in 420 characters? Those of you familiar with Facebook know that the status update field is limited to 420 characters. Lou Beach has compiled a collection of mini stories from his Facebook status updates titled 420 Characters. Some are humorous and some are quite dark. His creativity is impressive, as is his ability to hook the reader in so few characters. I'm not usually a short story fan, but I enjoyed these. My favorite story is about a chicken having a nightmare in which her baby chick, a pink marshmallow Peep, is being devoured by a toddler. The chicken wakes up and says "Christ, I hate that dream."

What would you write, if you had to tell a story in 420 characters?

2012-01-13T10:00:00.000-06:00

I'll admit, I love a dash of drama thrown into my realistic fiction, and with Teen books there are no limits to the amount of it I can find. "How to Save a Life" by Sarah Zarr has that perfect combination of real life circumstance and one of a kind appeal that I'm always craving.

Jill figures she's got enough going on, what with the unexpected death of her father 10 months and the subsequent and stifling quiet that has permeated the house she shares with her mother, not to mention the fact that she's been steadily detaching herself from friends and family. Then, out of the blue, Jane's mother announces her plans to adopt a baby, but wait, it gets more complicated (cue the drama). Jill's mother decides to bring Mandy, a very pregnant 17 year old, into the house to stay until she gives birth to a baby that Jill's mother will adopt. Suddenly Jill's not only feeling ousted by the possibility of a new sibling being thrown into the mix, but she has to share her home with a quirky and intensely private girl who could be giving birth to her sister or brother. Crazy stuff, right?

However unconventional the synopsis of this story may sound, overall the sincerity of the writing and of the characters will pull you right in. Despite my thirst for all kinds of crazy drama, my favorite aspect of this book was its element of subtlety and respect for the character's situations. In no ways are the circumstances of Mandy and Jill contrived into some sort of soap opera. Instead, each girl gets her deserved spotlight in a story that intertwines characters while still making sure to set each apart from the other. I ended up loving the characters I thought I would dislike, and questioning the ones I thought I would root for. This is the kind of book that comes along every once in a while and shakes up my perception of the quick summary I read on its back cover.

So, if you do like the drama and if you don't like the drama, this book is for you! Sara Zarr's writing is eloquent, perceptive, and has that unique mix of appeal for young readers and older readers alike. Trust me, there's a reason this book was chosen by Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal as a "Best Book of 2011".

The King's Speech

2012-01-12T19:46:00.001-06:00

I love books but I also love movies. One of the things I'm constantly doing is watching the movie and then reading the book or sometimes I do it the other way around. In my experience 95% of the time the book is better than the movie. There are rare exceptions like "Field Of Dreams" which was much better than the novella it is based on, but almost always the book is better.

I recently finished reading the book "The King's Speech" and then I watched the film immediately after finishing the book. To me this was one of the very rare occasions where the book is not better than the movie. The book is very different than the movie. Both were very enjoyable in their own ways. I would call then equals. Neither is better than the other.

I was a history major in college so historical accuracy is important to me. This is perhaps where the greatest differences lie between the book and the movie. The book "The Kings Speech" is co-written by Mark Logue, the grandson of Lionel Logue who was the speech therapist who helped the future king. For the book Mark Logue did a great amount of historical research and had access to Lionel Logue personal papers, archives, and scrap books.

While the movie plays with historical facts to present more of a drama the book sticks to the real story. It was fascinating to read about the future Queen Mother and the little Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. The book also goes into fascinating detail about Edward VIII abdicating the throne.

What I found the most interesting difference between the book and the movie was how the relationship between Lionel Logue and the future King George VI is shown. In the movie Lionel Logue treats the future king as just another patient. He treats him no differently than he would treat anyone coming into his office. The movie gives the impression that Lionel Logue, as an Australian immigrant to England, doesn't have the same sort of respect for the monarchy that an Englishman might have. According to the book this is completely false. In the book Lionel Logue is awed by the presence of the future king and he goes out of his way to follow correct protocol. In the film Lionel Logue calls the future king "Bertie" when they first meet, shakes his hand, and there is physical contact. In the book Lionel Logue would never dare call the future king by his nickname and always refers to him using the proper title of "Your Majesty". In the book one of the most dramatic scenes is when Lionel Logue accidentally touches the arm of the king in excitement after one of his speeches because he is so proud of him. This was after having worked with him for over ten years. Commoners aren't supposed to touch the king. It's a big deal and Lionel Logue knows that. In the film he touches him the first time they meet.

So while the film of "The King's Speech" was very enjoyable, and certainly deserved to win the Oscars it was awarded, if you are looking for the true historical facts behind the story, read the book! You'll hopefully enjoy it just as much as the film.

Are there any other books that were made into movies that you think are equally good?

Favorite Books

2012-01-11T01:00:00.000-06:00

I recently came upon the following from How to Read a Book by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles van Doren: “Reading a good book should be a conversation between you and the author. Presumably he knows more about the subject than you do; if not, you probably should not be bothering with this book. But understanding is a two-way operation; the learner has to question himself and question the teacher, once he understands what the teacher is saying. Marking a book is literally an expression of your differences or your agreements with the author. It is the highest respect that you can pay him.”

By reading others works we learn of new things, new ideas. These ideas transpose themselves in diverse ways, affecting others reading the same book in different ways. No one book says the same thing to everyone. This brings me to the following list that showed up on MSN.com just the other day. It’s a list that was created in September 2011 for National Read a Book Day of celebrities’ favorite books. After reading the list please feel free to comment on what your favorite book is, we would love to hear what YOUR favorite book is!

Ben Affleck- Shah of Shahs by Ryszard Kapuscinski

Michelle Obamba- Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

Judd Apatow- A Death in the Family by James Agee

Samantha Bee- The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

Harold Bloom- Henry IV, Part 1 by William Shakespeare

George H. W. Bush- The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Don Cheadle- If He Hollers Let Him Go by Chester Himes

Bill Clinton- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Anderson Cooper- A Death in the Family by James Agee

Mark Cuban- The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

Nora Ephron- The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing

Chris Matthews- A Thousand Days by Arthur M. Schlesinger

Barack Obama- Self Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Gwyneth Paltrow- Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Robert Pattinson- Charles Baudelaire: Complete Poems by Charles Baudelaire

Amy Poehler- I Like You by Amy Sedaris

Natalie Portman- Ministry of Special Cases by Nathan Englander

Bill Simmons- Where I'm Calling From by Raymond Carver

Jay Z- Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav

Ready?

2012-01-03T10:05:00.001-06:00

Ready for a high stakes contest with a multi-billion dollar payoff? Nostalgic tour of the 80’s? View of a future spent more on-line than IRL (in the real-world)? Geek coming-of-age/love story? David vs. Goliath battle? Puzzles?

You’ll love Ready Player One.

In the book, the reclusive video game designer James Halliday rocks the world when he dies: he offers his company and multibillion dollar fortune to the first person who can solve the puzzles and obtain the three keys hidden inside the OASIS. While life on earth in 2045 is pretty harsh, the refuge is the OASIS—Halliday’s vast virtual reality. Wade Watts grew up in the OASIS, his avatar going to school, buying goods and services, playing games, and meeting other people, well, avatars. And a huge subculture is born as millions search for Halliday’s prize. But years pass, and no one solves the first puzzle.

Wade plans to win the contest; he focuses on Halliday’s lifelong obsession with the 1980’s, and he doesn’t cut any corners researching. Films. TV episodes. Lyrics. Comic books. Video games. He stores information in his grail diary as possible clues for his quest—and then, as his avatar Parzival, he discovers the first key.

Parzival rockets to the top of Halliday’s contest scoreboard in OASIS, and the competition to win becomes fierce, even while the clues to the next puzzles become more difficult. Wade has to decide if he can go it alone--or join with other geeks--all while racing against the evil conglomerate bent on winning and subverting the OASIS to its own ends.

You don’t have to be a gamer to enjoy this book (but pass the book along to someone who is!). And you’ll definitely want to revisit your favorite 80’s TV shows and movies. I’d start with Wargames and Back to the Future, followed by the Star Wars trilogy (original, not prequel). How ‘bout you?

The House of Silk

2012-01-02T10:08:00.031-06:00

For some reason, I can't seem to get enough Sherlock Holmes. From the original Conan Doyle stories narrated on audiobook by Simon Prebble, to the latest movie version (although that might have something to do with Robert Downey Jr.), the BBC modern adaptation Sherlock, and Laurie King's mystery series featuring Holmes and Mary Russell, I seem to be on a Holmes bender.

Fortunately for Holmes' fans, the Arthur Conan Doyle estate has authorized a new Sherlock Holmes novel. Anthony Horowitz, writer of the popular British television series Foyle’s War, has resurrected Sherlock Holmes and his partner, Dr. John Watson, for what could be their biggest case yet: The House of Silk. What starts out as an investigation of a burglary ends up turning into a much bigger case. Holmes and Watson discover a horrible crime that implicates members of the most esteemed families of England and the government. Horowitz delivers an intriguing mystery with realistic details of the gritty London underworld. The author also remains true to Holmes’ voice and personality, which should please die-hard fans. The audiobook is narrated by Derek Jacobi, who does a wonderful job with the various English accents.

Thanks to Noreen's suggestion, I'm moving on to A Study in Sherlock: Stories Inspired by the Holmes' Canon.

Staff Picks of 2011

2011-12-30T14:22:00.005-06:00

The staff at Deerfield Public Library has done a lot of reading this year! In order to share our love of books with you, we've compiled a list of our favorite books that we've read this year. Keep in mind, they aren't necessarily books that have been published this year. Just books that we read in 2011 and loved!

Julie

The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Noreen

The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes

Clara and Mr. Tiffany by Susan Vreeland

Definitely Not Mr. Darcy by Karen Doornebos

The Informationist by Taylor Stevens

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

Ted

In The Garden Of Beasts by Erik Larson

Life by Keith Richards

Batman: Year One by Frank Miller

Louis Riel: A Comic-Strip Biography by Chester Brown

Paying For It by Chester Brown

Moneyball by Michael Lewis

Drinking At The Movies by Julia Wertz

The Sinner’s Grand Tour: A Journey Through The Historical Underbelly of Europe by Tony Perrottet

How To Understand Israel in 60 Days Or Less by Sarah Glidden
Unbroken by Sarah Hillenbrand

Terri

The Submission by Amy Waldman

The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Keeper of Lost Causes by Adler-Olsen

The Quickening by Michelle Hoover

The Snowman by Jo Nesbo

Janet

Warmth of Other Sun by Isabel Wilkerson

Townie by Andre Dubus III

Bossypants by Tina Fey

Rules of Civility by Amor Towles

Room by Emma Donoghue

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Art of Fielding by Chad Harback

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

Emily

Freedom by Jonathan Franzen

The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

The Hunger Games series

Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer

Madeline

The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson

Little Bee by Chris Cleave

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

Flawless: Inside the Largest Diamond Heist in History by Scott Andrew Selby and Greg Campbell

Melissa

The Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalian

The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz

Bossypants by Tina Fey

Kay

Breaking Night by Liz Murray

Clara and Mr. Tiffany by Susan Vreeland

Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran

The Snowman by Jo Nesbo

The Hypnotist by Lars Keplar

Conquistadora by Esmerelda Santiago

Bossypants by Tina Fey

Jessica

1Q84 by Haruki Murakami

Chronic City by Jonathan Lethem

The Universe in Miniature in Miniature by Patrick Somerville

Chronology of Water by Lidia Yuknavitch

Rose of No Man’s Land by Michelle Tea

Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie

Submarine by Joe Dunthorne

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

Self-Help by Lorrie Moore

Everyone Loves You When You’re Dead by Neil Strauss

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

Daddy’s by Lindsay Hunter

Veronica by Mary Gaitskill

Swamplandia! By Karen Russell

Welcome to the Monkey House by Kurt Vonnegut

There are plenty more books that we loved but just didn't quite make our "favorite" lists this year so be sure to ask us for suggestions!

Speaking of AudioBooks

2011-12-29T14:01:00.000-06:00

"3 Nights In August" by Buzz Bissinger

I love working at the Deerfield Public Library. But I live in Chicago and the commutes cansometimes be pretty rough. For years mywife has told me that she enjoys listening to audio books during hercommutes. She said that it helps makethe time fly when you get into listening to a book. I finally took her advice and checked out anaudio book a few months ago. She wasright! Listening to a good audio bookwhile driving home really does seem to make the time fly by.

I’m a huge baseball fan and I’m already in deep baseballwithdraw. I recently checked out anaudio book from the library that I really enjoyed. “3 Nights In August” is written by BuzzBissinger who is best known as the author of “Friday Night Lights”. “3 Nights In August” is a book about Tony La Russa,the manager of the St. Louis Cardinals. The framework of the book is a three game series that the Cardinals areplaying against their hated rivals, the Chicago Cubs, in 2003.

Even though the book is about Tony La Russa and the St. LouisCardinals, there was plenty in there for a Chicago baseball fan to enjoy aswell. First of all, the book is about athree game series against the Cubs. Eachgame is discussed in detail and many of the Cubs players are talked about indetail as well. I found the discussionabout Mark Prior to be almost sadly prophetic. Tony La Russa talks about what a fantastic pitcher he is and how he cantell the young man is completely brimming with confidence about his abilitiesand future. But Tony La Russa then reflectson how fleeting a career as a baseball pitcher can be. One bad injury and a once promising careercan be cut painfully short. If you’re aCubs fan you know how true those words turned out to be.

While the book focuses on the three game series against theCubs it also tells the story of Tony La Russa’s life and his start inbaseball. So once again we get a gooddose of Chicago baseball history as Tony La Russa’s start with the ChicagoWhite Sox is discussed. I’m a huge WhiteSox fan so I really enjoyed hearing the stories about Bill Veeck, Carlton Fisk,and Harold Baines. I also really enjoyedfinding out that Tom Seaver was the only pitcher that Tony La Russa evermanaged who wouldn’t lie to him when he would go out to the mound and ask himhow he was feeling.

What ultimately made the book fascinating to me though washow it really got into what a manager really does in baseball. The day to day, and hour by hour breakdown ofa typical day for Tony La Russa is a lot of what this book is about. As much as possible Buzz Bissinger tries toget inside the head of Tony La Russa to figure out how he makes the decisionshe makes during a baseball game. I wasamazed to learn, for instance, that deciding to have your pitcher try to hit anopposing batter can depend on if that batter gave money to his wife’s charitythe year before! This book was alsopublished shortly after the hugely influential “Moneyball” was released. Tony La Russa talks a lot about his ownpersonal strategies for running a baseball offense and how it differs from the“Moneyball” philosophy. If you’ve read“Moneyball” you will probably find that discussion to be very interesting.

So if you’re a baseball fan, and you’re looking for a great way to kill some time during your commute, I highly recommend “3 Nights In August”.

And For My Next Book...

2011-12-28T01:00:00.000-06:00

As the yearends, a deluge of lists hit our desks and screens claiming the best books of 2011. As much as I try to keep upwith all the new books that make their debut throughout the year, it’simpossible to read them all. Andthat starts me thinking about all the great books I might have missed in yearspast. And then I start to worrythat I will never read everything I want to or that I missed the greatest bookever written.

After I calmdown and tell myself that books are meant to be enjoyed and it’s not a contest,I realize I need to select my next book. What a decision! Somethingthat’s new or something that's old? I decide to gowith old, a 2007 publication date to be more specific. I don’t even remember where I read thereview of The Rossetti Letter byChristi Phillips, but it sounded intriguing. The story of a race to chronicle the tale of aseventeenth century courtesan who tries to warn the Venetian Council of aSpanish plot to overthrow the Venetian Republic sounded right up my alley.

Clare Donovan istrying to complete her thesis of the mysterious courtesan, Alessandra Rossetti,when she discovers that there is another scholar who may just beat her toit. Clare’s career may never takeoff if this occurs. We follow Clare to present day Venice on her quest tolocate the documents she needs to present her case. Parallel to Clare’s story, we also read Alessandra’s story,which is filled with treachery, violence, politics and romance.

For those who love historical fiction, as I do, this book is a great find. A new author thathas me wanting to read not only more by her, but also more about the littleknown Spanish Conspiracy against Venice. The Rossetti Letter was justwhat I needed to remind me not to forget those books that don’t show up on anylists and to just relax and enjoy the book.

Funny You Should Mention Chelsea Handler...

2011-12-26T11:19:00.006-06:00

Every time my husband and I have to make a road trip to visit our families for the holidays, I insist on listening to an audiobook. I tend to get car sick, so I prefer listening to a book rather than reading in the car. And there is no way I'm going to give up several prime hours of reading time to stare out the window at corn fields. The problem is that my husband and I have very different reading tastes, so it's always difficult to find an audiobook we both enjoy. I have had pretty good success with humor. Last Christmas we enjoyed listening to I'm Dreaming of a Black Christmas by Lewis Black. This year I snagged Chelsea Handler's latest Lies Chelsea Handler Told Me. Halfway through our drive I was gasping for breath and literally weeping (from laughing, not crying, in case that was unclear). Two days later I was still tittering when I recalled one of the more humorous stories.
It turns out that Chelsea Handler is a huge liar. She delights in pulling pranks on those around her and will go to great lengths to create elaborate ruses to trap her victims. This book is a compilation of stories told by Chelsea's friends, coworkers, and family members, who recount the instances when they fell prey to her shenanigans. I'm always envious of people who are clever enough to create a good prank and pull it off successfully. Chelsea Handler is a master at pulling pranks. At times they almost seem cruel, but the people in her life seem to understand that this is part of Chelsea and accept it with begrudgingly good humor. Fans of Chelsea's show will recognize some of the comedians that often appear such as Heather McDonald, Josh Wolf, and Brad Wollack. Outrageously funny, fans of Chelsea Handler will love this one.

Mental Note- Avoid Writing Books About Exes

2011-12-21T14:58:00.000-06:00

Along with a large percentage of the 20-30 something female population, I've been known to read snarky humor books written by other women. These books often focus on the status of the author's love life, previous relationships, and awful trips to the mall/salon/Mexico/high school reunion/dance club/family dinner. I cringe when I see an awful first date approaching and I sympathize when an ex-boyfriend says something inappropriate post breakup. That being said, I was immediately drawn to My Boyfriend Wrote A Book About Me by Hilary Winston. The book is nonfiction, and as you may have guessed, starts out with a story about how the author's ex-boyfriend wrote a book seemingly based on their 5 year relationship. Let's just say, it was not a flattering portrayal.
The dedication of My Boyfriend Wrote A Book About Me says "This book is dedicated to anyone who has ever had their heart broken. And dreamed of getting the tiniest slice of revenge. And didn't do it because they were worried they'd look crazy. I'm taking this bullet for you. You're welcome." That's basically the summary of the stories in this book. Winston writes chapter after chapter of hilarious, cringe-worthy stories about ex-boyfriends and you can't help but get sucked into reading every last page. In addition to the dirty details about her former flames, Winston writes with enough self deprecation that you don't feel like she's being unfair to any of her targets. I'd give you more details but they aren't quite appropriate for a library blog. While this book may not be short listed for any awards this year, I'd absolutely recommend it to Chelsea Handler fans and those looking for a read that is maybe a touch bitter but definitely quick and funny.

Short on Time?

2011-12-21T14:00:00.000-06:00

Sometimes being in the midst of the holiday season is like being in a whirlwind. With everything going on it is sometimes very hard to find some time to carve out for ourselves to just sit and read a good book.

We can still read some quality material in less time by reading shorter stories. Some people dismiss short stories. Short stories are not only a great way to find a way to read when you have very little time, but to find new authors for future reading.

Highly reviewed Volt by Alan Heathcock brings us eight stories set mostly within small towns. Some characters are linked throughout the stories, but the stories do not have to be read in any certain order. Hancock writes of life in a sparse, gritty style where characters encounter a lot of life’s, well, volts.

For mystery lovers, A Study in Sherlock: stories inspired by the Holmes canon includes stories by several prominent mystery writers including Lee Child, Dana Stabenow, Charles Todd and S.J. Rozan. And if you want to get into the holiday spirit, try Christmas at The Mysterious Bookshop: ‘tis the season to be deadly. This great collection of short stories is centered around the holiday season and each story involves a bookshop.

These are only a few collections you may want to try. If you want to look for more collections of short stories, enter the words “short stories” or “anthology” into the DPL catalog and you’ll find a vast list of books to explore. Take some time off for yourself this season and Happy Holidays!

My Holiday gift to you, dear Reader

2011-12-21T13:31:00.002-06:00

Joy! I can hardly wait! This gave me the shivers.

1Q84 by Haruki Murakami

2011-12-19T19:48:00.002-06:00

As we prepare to turn another corner and throw ourselves head first into the new year, we are bombarded with a seemingly endless selection of obsessive compulsive attempts to document the best, worst, and most overrated of everything. Many of the repeated picks will continue to be the best sellers and book club selections of tomorrow, and, by default, the novels most often praised as “great” or slammed as “so not worth the effort” by the masses. One destined to fall under both headings is Haruki Murakami’s 944-page behemoth 1Q84. Page count aside, it’s a work of fiction so thoroughly loaded with Murakami’s trademark surrealism that the story alone is enough to cause derision between avid readers. For some, Murakami’s genre cocktail of fantasy and the undeniably ‘literary’ will likely read as silly indulgence matched by a tediously lengthy narrative arc (and yes, fairly overwritten sex sequences). I won’t say these people are in the wrong. On the contrary, 1Q84 is certainly not for everyone. What I will say, though, is that the tome tops my shortlist of the best fiction writing of 2011. For those willing to take the journey, what Murakami has to offer is a languid, gorgeous read that transports its audience into a realm where time is fluid and the pages fly by. This is pure magic realism. It is a dream in print and should only be read when time allows.

The story defies synopsis, but a very simplified outline may read something like this: 1Q84 is the tale of two protagonists on seemingly disparate paths. The first is Aomame, a cynical woman who has fallen into a job as a hired assassin. Aomame enacts vigilante justice by neatly murdering notorious misogynists. In the book’s opening chapters, traffic has prevented Aomame’s taxi from reaching her next mark on time. In an act of desperation, she leaps from the car and slips through a construction worker’s shortcut that we soon learn is a sort of concrete rabbit hole. Why this is, we do not know. From here, Aomame enters a world in which there are two moons; a dimension she takes to referring to as 1Q84, an alternate reality of her 1984 present rife with allusion, symbolism, and a wealth of complicated mechanics.

Our second protagonist, too, has had his world turned upside down, though in a rather different way. Tengo is an unpublished novelist who, while judging a fiction competition, finds himself hired to ghostwrite a revision of a teenage ingénue’s mysteriously compelling manuscript. She’s a sensation, but insists that the fantastical elements of her story are not rooted in her imagination, but are instead very real. It’s worth noting that our accidental lit celebrity is a wonderful character, a sort of cyborg-like slip of a girl who serves as authorial device and enigmatic presence. As the stories begin to slowly enter parallel paths, they meet in places we couldn’t have expected at the outset, but which reveal themselves naturally in context.

The beauty of Murakami’s style (or, at least, the translation from the original Japanese) is that while we may veer into distraction and detail, we never lose sight of the story. This is not a pretentious book written to deliberately obfuscate meaning or confuse its readers. It’s instead a highly intelligent page turner. You read it, you understand it. 1Q84 is a sort of epic urban fairy tale densely packed with mysterious cults, romantic entanglements, echoing incantations and thrilling, cinematic subplots. Murakami guides us through his otherworld with simplistic prose and lays the cards on the table in ways that are often alarmingly blunt, very nearly mimicking the even-keeled language of a young adult adventure. It’s sharp, smart, wholly unique, but not interested in hearing itself speak.

Still, this is not beginner’s Murakami. While the novel is a beautiful piece of work deserving of those inches on your bookshelf, 1Q84 seems written for those already in love with Haruki Murakami’s past works. It’s the equivalent, perhaps, of those later ‘indulgent’ Federico Fellini films whined about by the movie theater complainer in Annie Hall. 1Q84 is the work of a literary auteur who has been given full license to run with his subconscious, however far that may take him. It’s not overblown, it’s not actually indulgent, it is idiosyncratic and it does take its time. In some ways, you have to want to see what Murakami is willing to show you. I followed him down the rabbit hole wholeheartedly, and the rewards have been invaluable. Months later, I still recall moments of this complex tale in crystal clear detail, which is more than I can say for certain books I read just last week. When a work of art has me stumbling into its world that long after the fact, that, for me, speaks to its ultimate value.

"Drinking At The Movies" by Julia Wertz

2011-12-16T13:55:00.006-06:00

"Drinking At The Movies" is a new graphic novel by Julia Wertz. I found it to be a really interesting graphic novel on several different levels.

First of all, one of the things we librarian types often talk about it is "what does YA mean?". Many books that are labeled as YA books seem to be more for the tween set. Some other YA books are very graphic and not at all what would be appropriate for a 13 year old. It can be a tough category to figure out sometimes. While reading "Drinking At The Movies" it struck me that perhaps this was a "real" young adult book. All of the characters are in their early 20's and are trying to figure out how to function and live in a grown up world. This is real life stuff as well. It is basically an autobiographical account of the authors move from San Francisco to New York City and trying to make it there. Much of the comic is about things like trying to find a cheap apartment, roommate issues, trying to find a job, boyfriends, drinking, problems with parents, a brother in rehab, and trying to figure out what to do in life. It may not sound particularly exciting but it's real and true to life. While reading about her trials and tribulations I found myself liking the author more and more as a person. By the end of the book I felt in a funny way like I had made a new friend.

I also found it to be a fascinating graphic novel because of the style of drawings Julia Wertz uses. It seems to be another example of a trend I've noticed in graphic novels that I'm still not sure how I feel about. In the past it seems like a "good" graphic novel had both an interesting story to tell, but was also beautifully drawn, so the pictures were just as interesting as the story. Harvey Pekar couldn't draw so he had his famous friends like Robert Crumb illustrate his graphic novels for him. "Maus", while being a little more primitive in the drawing style still had a style of it's own and was fascinating to look at. Joe Sacco, Jamie Hernandez, Daniel Clowes, and Chris Ware are all skilled artists. Julia Wertz, I'm afraid, doesn't seem to be in that league.

So when I first started reading "Drinking At The Movies" it threw me at first. The drawings seemed almost like something a child would draw. But I kept on getting drawn into the story. Julia Wertz may not be able to draw as well of some of the other graphic novelists out there, but she can tell a great story. In my opinion it was one of the best graphic novels I've read that was recently published.

Finally, the last thing that I found interesting was that in some many ways this is a 2.0 book. At the end there is a link to the Julia Wertz website. The website has archives of her older comics as well as newer ones she's written. I found myself spending hours reading her older comics that she's posted online and reading her new ones as well and getting up to date in her life. Her website also includes a blog and links to her Flikr page. I found it interesting to look at her Flickr account and see pictures of many of the people she mentions in the book. Her contact info is right there and she seems like the kind of person who might actually write back if you sent her a note.

So check out "Drinking At The Movies" if you would like to read a good "Young Adult" graphic novel that is true to life. Maybe you'll feel like you made a new friend as well.

Check out the Julia Wertz website. Her current post is about libraries!

Have you ever read a book and felt in a funny way like you've made a new friend?

30 Going on 13; Delving into Teen Fiction!

2011-12-16T09:00:00.001-06:00

So you may not think that as an adult it's totally OK to check out what's going on in Teen book world. I'm here to say that there is nothing wrong with finding a gem of a book that's labeled as "Teen" or "YA". In fact, I highly recommend it. As a Youth Services/Teen Librarian I not only spend my days ordering for both Juvenile and Teen fiction collections, but inevitably I find myself spending free time reading from both departments. In my book (pun intended), crossover between the world of Adult fiction and Teen fiction is one of the most entertaining and relevant occurrences in any library. There are plenty of teens who are interested in titles that are housed in Adult fiction, and vice-versa. So don't be afraid or uncomfortable to venture into that unknown territory in the library where the chairs are really bright and the stories are so so intriguing. Teen fiction has all of that drama and creativity you crave, along with the realism and true experiences that bring life to a story.

Check out the "Can I Borrow Your Book" display in the Library's Adult Fiction department for recommended teen titles that fit the bill, or try some of the titles below as well. As an avid adult reader of "Teen labeled" titles I can say this: Once you start reading them, you won't look back; except of course for when you're in the mood for some awesome Adult fiction, but that's a whole other story (again, pun intended)!

Tell us: What's your all time favorite "Teen" or YA" book?

Cryer's Cross
You are my Only
Anna Dressed in Blood
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
The love curse of the Rumbaughs
The Musicians Daughter
The Twin's Daughter
Bitter Melon
PostSecret : Extraordinary confessions from ordinary lives
The Silence of Murder

Only Time Will Tell

2011-12-13T15:11:00.004-06:00

Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer is Volume 1 of The Clifton Chronicles—a saga that will cover 100 years of family history. Set in Bristol, England just after World War I, it introduces Harry Clifton, the son of a dockworker whose sharp mind and unexpected gift for singing attract attention and win him a scholarship to an exclusive boys' school. The book features two families: the working-class Cliftons, including Harry’s feisty, attractive mother, and the wealthy Barringtons, including Sir Walter and Hugo, the docks’ shipping magnates. Themes of class, the power of wealth, integrity, and betrayal play out with plot twists, and the setting as England prepares for a second war makes this more than a coming of age story. The story is told by different characters over time, combining first-person accounts with third-person storytelling, adding perspective to the novel's events. It's a well-paced, enjoyable read—with a cliff-hanger ending that has me waiting for the next volume!

Historical fiction—including family sagas written as series—offer hours of great reading. Consider these series while you wait for the next volume of the Clifton Chronicles, The Sins of the Fathers, due out in May 2012:

Ken Follett’s Pillars of the Earth series, begins in twelfth century England and follows the lives entwined in the building of a great gothic cathedral; begin with Pillars of the Earth.

Jack Whyte’s Camulod Chronicles begins with The Skystone and recounts the origins of Camelot based on Arthurian legend.

Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove series embraces the legend and fact of the American West. Begin with the Pulitzer Prize winning Lonesome Dove.

Beverly Swerling’s City of Four series, begins in New Amsterdam in the 1660’s as immigrants make their way in what will be the greatest city of the new world. Begin with City of Dreams.

What historical fiction series have you enjoyed?

The Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalian

2011-12-12T10:14:00.000-06:00

Chris Bohjalian is one of my favorite authors. His novels often include a twist at the end that leave the reader rethinking the entire novel. His latest, The Night Strangers, includes a paranormal element that is new for Bohjalian. But he does a great job of creating a sinister, ominous tone that keeps the reader intrigued throughout the novel.

When airline pilot Chip Linton’s plane goes down, he attempts to land his plane on Lake Champlain. But unlike the plane that successfully landed on the Hudson in 2009, Chip’s attempt does not end well. The plane is broken into pieces and thirty-nine of the passengers die. Unable to move past his grief and guilt, Chip, his wife Emily and their twin ten-year-old daughters leave their life in Pennsylvania behind for the quiet of New Hampshire. They purchase a rambling Victorian home in a small New England town with the hopes that Chip will be able to start a new life. But in a dark corner of the basement, Chip discovers a mysterious door that has been bolted shut with thirty-nine carriage bolts. The mystery of the door and the peculiar number of bolts nags at Chip. As the Lintons learn more about the house’s strange history, they also begin meeting members of their new community. Many of the women in town are self-proclaimed herbalists, growing uncommon herbs in their greenhouses that they use in baking and tinctures. The women also begin to take an unusual interest in the Linton’s twins. When Chip begins seeing the ghosts of some of the passengers from his crash, he wonders if he is losing his mind. Will these herbalists be able to help Chip, or is something more sinister at play?

Readers do have to be willing to accept the idea of ghosts or spirits, but it’s not over-the-top or silly, as so many paranormal stories usually are. The audiobook is narrated by Alison Fraser and Mark Bramhall, who do a wonderful job of creating distinct voices for all of the characters. Bohjalian is interviewed at the end of the audiobook and discusses how he came up with the idea for this story and the research he did, which is quite interesting. A good choice for audiobook fans.

Definitely Not Mr. Darcy

2011-11-02T09:31:00.003-05:00

Karen Doornebos' novel, Definitely Not Mr. Darcy, is another addition to the already abundant group of novels based on the world of Jane Austen. Chloe Parker is a thirty-nine-year-old single mother who loves Jane Austen and fantasizes about the Regency period. When Chloe hears about a reality/documentary TV show set in England, that will be staged in the Regency period, she decides to audition. The $100,000 prize could save her fledgling business and her home. Chloe is selected as a contestant, but when she arrives, she finds that the reality show is meant to be a competition to win Mr. Sebastian Wrightman, the heir to a large estate. Chloe also finds that life in the Regency period with no cell phones, electricity, indoor plumbing, or even deodorant, is not as romantic as it seemed. Chloe sticks it out, determined to win the money, but her growing attraction for Sebastian's younger brother Henry jeopardizes her chances at winning.

Ok, so it's total fluff. It's a little silly and I saw the ending coming from quite early on in the novel. But I ate it up. It's a fun story with a steamy romance and I couldn't help but become immersed in it. The author also includes all the interesting details about life during the Regency that you don't learn from a Jane Austen novel, like how one went to the bathroom or bathed, what was used for makeup, how meals were prepared, etc. As much as I'd like to say that I prefer to stick to more serious fiction, I do enjoy a fun novel like this one from time to time.

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T10:56:00.008-05:00

In honor of my Halloween costume, I've put together a list of some great historical fiction and nonfiction titles about one of my favorite historical figures: Marie Antoinette.

Fiction:
Abundance by Sena Jeter Naslund

The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette by Carolly Erickson

Becoming Marie Antoinette by Juliet Grey

The Knight of the Maison-Rouge: A Novel of Marie Antoinette by Alexandre Dumas

Versailles by Kathryn Davis

Nonfiction:

Marie Antoinette: The Journey by Antonia Fraser

Queen of Fashion: What Marie Antoinette Wore to the Revolution by Caroline Weber

Live like a writer

2011-10-25T09:20:00.004-05:00

The Week magazine has a section every week of featured homes on the market throughout the country. They always follow a theme: colonial homes, homes on the beach, historical homes, etc. They are usually multi-million dollar homes plus one "steal of the week." Obviously these are not homes which I could ever hope to buy, but they are still fun to look at. The theme last week was author's homes on the market, which caught my eye. If you are in the market for a home and want to channel a writer's vibe check out these homes:

Ann Rule, one of my favorite true crime writers, is selling her Burien, Washington home for $999,750. It features a main residence as well as a writing cottage.

Novelist Roxana Robinson is selling her four-bedroom home in Mount Desert, Maine for $5.6 million. English-style library with built-in bookshelves (a librarian's dream!).

Gore Vidal's Los Angeles home (with more built-in bookshelves!) is going for $3,495,000.

Garrison Keillor's River Falls, Wisconsin 11.5 acre "retreat" is listed at $995,000. A steal.

The five-story 1839 townhouse in Brooklyn where Truman Capote lived when he wrote his most famous books, is going for $14,995,000.

The steal of the week: Poet Donald Faulkner's Niskayuna, New York Tudor-style home is going for a mere $319,000.

An oldie but a goodie...

2011-10-24T13:52:00.001-05:00

I was reading the latest issue of Audiofile magazine when a title caught my eye: Follow the River by James Alexander Thom. I wonder what prompted Tantor to release this audiobook now. This book was actually published in the 1980s, which I remember because I was obsessed with this book when I was in fifth grade. My fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Weber, was reading the book and every day would come to school and tell us what happened in the chapter she had read the night before. By the end I was so captivated by the story that I begged my Mom to buy me the paperback so I could read it myself.

From what I remember, the story is set in the 18th or 19th century America, in an area that has few American settlers. Mary Ingles lives with her family out in the middle of nowhere, where raids by the Indians constantly kept them in fear. One day, Shawnee Indians raid their little settlement, kidnapping Mary (who is pregnant) and her children. Mary eventually escapes with another woman and they have to walk miles to get back home. It is a dangerous journey and they suffer from starvation, but do finally make it home.

I'm not sure what it was about this particular novel that stuck with me, but it is one of the few books from my childhood that I remember so vividly. I think of it from time to time and consider re-reading it (I still have that paperback my Mom bought me), but I worry that I'll be disappointed this time around. That it won't live up to my memory. Maybe it's just a cheesy paperback. What books from your childhood really stuck with you? Have you re-read them as an adult?

Booker Prize Winner Announced

2011-10-19T09:33:00.002-05:00

The Man Booker Prize, which is awarded to the best novel of the year written by a citizen of the British Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland, was awarded yesterday to Julian Barnes for his novel, The Sense of an Ending. Be sure to reserve a copy!

Cook Without a Book

2011-10-10T16:00:00.006-05:00

I'm a big fan of Pam Anderson's How to Cook Without a Book. She focuses on teaching fundamentals and then explains how you can modify recipes to your taste. The idea is to help cooks learn to cook more on their own, rather than feeling like they have to follow a recipe every time. Anderson has a new version of this cookbook coming out toward the end of October: Cook Without a Book: Meatless Meals. Although I'm not a vegetarian, I'm trying to cut back on meat, but I'm always at a loss as to what to make besides the good old standby, spaghetti. So, I'm always on the lookout for a really good vegetarian cookbook.

The recipes in Anderson's latest are simple and healthy. She provides a "master formula" for each recipe, and rather than specifying a certain ingredient, provides suggestions for ingredients to pick from. I like this because it lets you choose the ingredients you enjoy and shows how easily ingredients can be substituted. This is a great cookbook for beginning cooks, new vegetarians, or anyone who enjoys experimenting with ingredients.

Appalachia is the new exotic destination

2011-09-23T11:26:00.000-05:00

Or at least that's what I'm telling myself. I just finished Amy Greene's Bloodroot which was set in Appalachia. The setting in combination with the heartbreaking complexities of this family made for a truly intruiging story. Bloodroot is narrated by six different people over the course of four generations. The main character in the story is Myra Odom, a woman who was unlucky in love and family. Her grandmother, Byrdie, begins the story by giving us the background of Myra's parents and their death, which leads Myra to living with Byrdie. Their family has a history of untimely deaths, a desperate need to leave Bloodroot Mountain, and a belief in magic. The other person giving us the background of Myra is her childhood friend, Doug. His narration seemingly exists to explain the pull that Myra has on the men around her. She has the ability to entrance nearly every man that she encounters. Unfortunately, this includes the no-good John Odom. Shortly after meeting John, Myra hears of a love spell that involves eating the heart of a chicken. According to the tale, if you do this, the person you love will return the feelings. Whether due to the spell or not, John and Myra fall in love and get married. Their relationship turns abusive and awful but Myra believes this is the price she must pay for having employed the love spell. The rest of the book is told through the point of view of Myra, John, and their twins, Johnny and Laura. The relationships are tormented, passionate, and full of questions. They struggle to break free of their family history while still trying to understand it. Bloodroot Mountain seems to be it's own character in the Odom family saga. It watches their drama, silently keeps their secrets, and calls to them from afar. Not only were the relationships, or lack thereof, compelling, but the Appalachian setting lent a feeling of added twists and complexity. I think if you enjoy intricate family relationships or stories with a gothic setting, you'll be pleasantly surprised with Bloodroot.

Ebooks for the Kindle!

2011-09-21T13:11:00.003-05:00

The day has finally arrived! We've been waiting a while for Kindle to become compatible with the library's ebook collection and it has finally come. I have to say that this was the quickest, easiest experience I have ever had using Overdrive. I figured the demand for Kindle books would mean that all the good titles would be gone, but I did an advanced search for all Kindle titles that are currently available and found Carol Birch's Jamrach's Menagerie, a brand new title, right away. I selected the option to get for Kindle, checked out the book, was routed through my Kindle account at Amazon, and selected the device that I wanted the book to be sent to (I don't have a Kindle. I'm using the Kindle app on an Android phone). Voila! Less than 2 minutes.

Now I just have to actually read the book. I have downloaded ebooks to my phone and Xoom tablet before to see how it's done, but I've never actually read the book that way. I did buy an e-cookbook, which I like because I can just prop my tablet up on the counter and use the recipe, rather than juggling a big book. But with other books, I've been clinging to print. So, I'm going to try this ebook thing and see how it goes.

Mrs. Robinson

2011-09-20T20:55:00.000-05:00

It would be easy to describe The Kingdom of Childhood by Rebecca Coleman as a literary Mary Kay Letourneou story. But that doesn't quite describe it. The main characters are a middle-aged woman named Judy MacFarland and a 16 year old student, Zach Patterson. They are introduced when Zach's mother offers him as a volunteer to help get ready for Judy's school fundraiser. Their relationship starts off much like any teacher-student relationship but soon begins to cross a line. There is a conversation between Zach and Judy that happens near the beginning of their relationship about the song Mrs. Robinson by Simon and Garfunkel. Zach believes (as many do) that the song is about a younger man being seduced by an older woman. Judy explains that she believes it to be about a woman stuck in suburbia going crazy. While I picked this title up expecting more of a doomed romance, I found myself feeling more like I was reading a psychological thriller. Their relationship is certainly doomed but will they both mentally unravel first? Zach is a hormonal teenager with no real concept of the emotions that come with physical relationships. Judy is suffering from a lack of any emotion besides resentment in her household. Together, the combine to make a Molotov cocktail of sexual intentions.
I found myself at the end of this novel feeling negatively about all the characters involved. I hated what they had done, how they had treated each other, how sloppily they had covered it up, and how self righteous they came across. But at the same time, I couldn't stop thinking about how this stupid fling had turned into such a deeply emotional car wreck. I couldn't stop thinking about how immature Zach was and how Judy lost any sense of reality. I wanted to understand them. I wanted to shake them. I wanted to warn them. Which I think really speaks for my feelings on The Kingdom of Childhood in the end. I have to admire a book that makes me really feel for the characters and question their decisions for a week after I've finished reading. Rebecca Coleman may not have written characters that I have affection towards, but she did a fantastic job of writing characters that kept me thinking. It will be published in paperback at the end of the month and I think it's the perfect fall read. I definitely recommend it. A good read to get your mind working while letting the rest of yourself get used to the chill of fall.

Hooray for new adventures!

2011-09-19T15:13:00.003-05:00

I just read in Publisher's Weekly that Lauren Willig, author of the Pink Carnation series, landed a deal for her first stand-alone novel, to be called Ashford Park. "Ashford Park tells the story of a woman who untangles her family's past and her own future when she stumbles upon a hidden family secret that stretches back in time to Edwardian England and the plains of Kenya."

I love the Pink Carnation series. It's a smart combination of history, romance, and adventure with strong female characters, but truthfully, I'm ready for something new. I will typically read the first few titles in a series, but I find that as a series progresses, it's just the same story wrapped up in a different package. I'm looking forward to seeing something new from this very talented author.

Finally! A use for all those furballs in my house!

2011-09-16T11:38:00.002-05:00

Yes, that's right. Crafting With CAT HAIR. This isn't really that surprising to me. I have seen advertisements in the backs of knitting magazines for places that will spin your cat or dog's fur into yarn that you can knit with. Still. I love dogs and cats, but this just seems weird.

Remembering 9/11

2011-09-11T15:16:00.003-05:00

Jonathan Safran Foer's novel Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close has been chosen as Deerfield's One Book One Zip Code selection this year, in honor of the 10th anniversary of September 11th. I read this book when it came out a few years ago and remembered that I enjoyed it, but didn't remember too much about the details. Having to read it again for the book discussions I am leading reminded me that this was such a wonderful story and how in love I am with Oskar Schell. For those that aren't familiar with the story, Oskar Schell is a 9-year-old boy whose father died in the towers on September 11th. While looking through his father's closet, he finds a key in an envelope labled "Black." He decides that he will find out what this key is for and goes on a mission throughout New York City to track down its owner. This is such a heart-wrenching, touching, sweet, smart, unique novel and I think Oskar is probably one of my favorite fictional characters of all-time.

Since our morning book discussion group had already done ELAIC, I decided that we would read Mohsin Hamid's The Reluctant Fundamentalist because it provides another perspective of 9/11. Changez is a young Pakistani man who moves to America to attend Princeton. After he graduates, he accepts a job at a prestigious New York consulting firm. Changez has a bright future ahead of him and has found a girl he cares about. But when 9/11 occurs, something changes for Changez. People begin to look at him with suspicion, and he begins to question America's response to these attacks and whether America is the great country he thought it to be. Some people in the discussion felt very strongly about this novel. Changez makes some very critical remarks about America, which bothered some people. But I found it to be thought-provoking and a unique perspective on this event.

If You Were Here

2011-09-09T09:27:00.000-05:00

Best-selling Chicago humor writer Jen Lancaster makes her first foray into fiction with her characteristic wit. Mia and her husband Mac finally have the means to buy their dream house on the North Shore. When Mia finds Jake Ryan’s house (from Sixteen Candles) on the market, she knows this is the house she has to have. But the house hasn’t been touched in twenty years and is in need of much repair. No matter—Mia plans to remodel. Once they move in, they discover the house is a money pit, and their neighbors are less than welcoming. As Mac and Mia attempt to renovate, everything that could go wrong, does: toilets fall through ceilings, Mia gets trapped in the panic room, and their contractor disappears. Their bank account dwindles as Mac makes trip after trip to Home Depot, and their rock-solid marriage is on shaky ground. Will they survive this renovation? If you have ever lived through a home renovation, you will appreciate this humorous and entertaining story.

The Last Werewolf by Glen Duncan

2011-09-08T15:08:00.002-05:00

Jake Marlowe is a 200-year-old werewolf, and the last of his kind. WOCOP (World Organization for the Control of Occult Phenomenon) has managed to hunt down and kill all the other werewolves; Jake is the last one on the list. Depressed and haunted by the fact that he killed and ate his beloved wife, Jake is ready to accept his fait and awaits his executors. Just when he thinks it is finally over, he is mysteriously saved. It turns out that the vampires want Jake alive. But why? Duncan delivers a refreshing change from the vampire romances that dominate the publishing industry. Not for the faint of heart, this novel includes explicit sex and violence and dark humor, but rewards the reader with a unique, sophisticated, compelling story and a deeply flawed main character that the reader can't help but root for.

Lady Killer

2011-08-30T16:01:00.000-05:00

Ok, so maybe this particular Chelsea Cain book isn't about her famous lady killer, Gretchen Lowell, but when it comes to writing good killin' spree thrillers, Cain has it down. If you haven't read Chelsea Cain's previous three Beauty Killer books, I highly recommend them. Heartsick is the first of the series and introduces us to Archie Sheridan, Susan Ward, and the evil Gretchen Lowell. Archie tries to balance professional duty with his obsession with Lowell, the serial killer who can get away with almost anything by combining a manipulative personality and stunning good looks. Susan Ward is the local reporter that becomes a sort of sidekick/pain in the butt for Archie. Don't get me wrong, this synopsis may seem silly or suggest the book is a bit campy. It's not. Cain writes a serial killer that oozes sex appeal and you watch helplessly as it steam rolls everyone in her path.

One of the reasons I loved Chelsea Cain's previous novels is because she did such a fantastic job of building the character of Archie over each book. I was angry at him for most of Heartsick and grew to really care about him by Evil At Heart. Heartsick, Sweetheart, and Evil At Heart were all smart, gripping, and chilling. So when The Night Season came out, I was a bit disappointed to see that the story didn't focus on Gretchen's continuing reign of terror. The Night Season is a standalone novel featuring Archie Sheridan and Susan Ward, as well as a number of other characters we've come to know. The city of Portland is struggling with a flooding river and mysterious deaths. Archie and Susan work together to determine the cause of death while dealing with personal blows of their own. The premise of how the people are being killed off is a bit ridiculous but I was dying (no pun intended) to know how it worked.

Overall, this was a satisfying story that kept me reading well past my bedtime each night. I wasn't nearly as grossed out or intruiged as I have been by her previous novels, but I still felt like Archie and Susan held their own. If you haven't read her other books, you can absolutely read this by itself without missing much. I think Chelsea Cain is one of the most entertaining female thriller authors of the past couple years. I will wait patiently for her next book (hurry up!) and recommend the current four to anyone looking for something new and fun!
p.s. if you read The Night Season and it doesn't totally work for you, don't give up on Cain! Go back and read the Gretchen Lowell books. I promise, they are worth it.

Reading can improve your mood!

2011-08-29T17:57:00.005-05:00

I found this interesting blurb in the September issue of Whole Living magazine:

"The benefits of being connected to groups of people--even fictional ones, according to a new study--can give readers a true sense of belonging, satisfaction, and overall positivity. After subjects read passages from Harry Potter or Twilight books for about 30 minutes, they underwent tests to measure how absorbed they were in the story, their connection to specific words, and how much they felt a part of the story....The results...found that the readers derived the same psychological benefits of belonging (like improved mood) when they were immersed in the plot as they did when they were part of a real-world group."

Another reason to keep reading!

Turn of Mind

2011-08-15T12:00:00.003-05:00

I usually avoid books about Alzheimer's. I have a family history of Alzheimer's and dementia, and frankly, after watching people I love live through that while also living with the fear that I may have it myself someday, I'd rather read the latest Ann Coulter book than anything about Alzheimer's. Still Alice? Don't care how good it is; not gonna read it. But I went to a talk with Karin Slaughter recently and she named Alice LaPLante's Turn of Mind as one of the best books she had read recently. Alzheimer's patient is accused of murdering her best friend but has no recollection of the event. Hmm. Could be good. Since Karin is a thriller writer, I figured this to be a thriller. I like a good thriller now and then. Ok, I'll give it a chance.

First let me say that I think this is a good novel. It's definitely not a thriller though. The story is told by Dr. Jennifer White. A formerly prominent hand surgeon, she is now retired due to early onset of Alzheimer's. She is still living at home, but with a caregiver. Her best friend and neighbor, Amanda, has recently been murdered and four of her fingers removed. Jennifer is the primary person of interest, but because of her disease, she is unable to recall anything, or even remember that Amanda is dead. Because Jennifer narrates the story, we know next to nothing about the investigation. We live in her head, as she constantly jumps from past to present. We see bits and pieces of her life, her career, her marriage, her children, her friendship with Amanda, until we can almost piece together what her life was like before the disease. You can see how the disease progresses as her thoughts and memories get shorter and more jumbled.

Jennifer doesn't come across as a very likable character and while the question of Amanda's murder looms in the background, it is really secondary to the progression of Jennifer's disease and her future. That the author told the story from Jennifer's point of view is what makes this so unique, fascinating, disturbing, and thought-provoking.

Sophmoritis?

2011-08-04T15:42:00.000-05:00

I just finished reading Never Knowing by Chevy Stevens and I'm feeling a bit underwhelmed. Chevy Stevens is a relatively new author who released her first book Still Missing about a year ago. I was drawn to Still Missing by the glowing reviews from Lisa Gardner, who happens to be one of my favorite thriller writers. Still Missing was an average page-turner--I was fairly interested and continually felt like the book was about to really get good until the last page when I realized the opportunity for greatness was gone. When Never Knowing was released, it again had a blurb from Lisa Gardner. I eagerly checked it out thinking "Well, I'm sure she's really got her story together this time!". Unfortunately, it's the same old, same old. Stevens has a great premise and fails to really pull it off. Never Knowing tells the story of Sara Gallagher and her hunt to find her birth parents. She uncovers her birth mother's identity which leads to the slow realization that her birth father is a infamous serial killer that is still on the loose. As you can imagine, her serial killer father gets wind of the existance of a daughter and manages to get in contact with her. While being a fairly preposterous idea, most of my favorite thrillers have a semi-unbelievable storyline anyway (don't they all?) so I wasn't thrown off. What DID throw me off was the quotes from The Art of War every other page, the lack of real forward momentum, a super bratty kid, and a last minute plot twist I saw from a mile away. That being said, I somehow don't hate it!?!?! It took me all of 4 nights to read it, I looked forward to picking it up (to see if this was the point where it was going to get really good), and I'm pretty sure I'd give Chevy Stevens another shot in the future.

I'm pretty sure I've managed to confuse everyone about my overall feelings on the book. I guess I'll sum it up this way--If you want a really good thriller, pick up Lisa Gardner. If you want a book to kill some time (and you've already read all of Lisa Gardner) and you aren't pinning all your hopes and dreams on it, pick up Never Knowing. It's kinda like watching a soap opera- not a particularly great storyline but can be an entertaining way to spend a couple hours. Glowing review right?

Harry Potter for Grownups!

2011-07-08T14:51:00.002-05:00

Why do adults love Harry Potter as much as kids do? Come to the Deerfield Public Library on Monday, July 11th at 7pm to find out why Harry Potter is not just a kids' book.

The Girl's Guide to Homelessness

2011-06-28T11:54:00.005-05:00

It's rare these days that I will stay up late into the night reading. I love reading, but I'm pretty committed to getting my eight hours, so there isn't much that I let get between that. But I had to stay up last night to finish Brianna Karp's The Girl's Guide to Homelessness. Wow.

This is an emotionally gripping story of a young woman, who despite doing everything "right," found herself homeless. Brianna was educated, hard working, had a good job and a nice place to live. But when the economy tanked, she lost her job. Her savings soon ran out and she lost her home. Brianna shares her survival methods, talks about the stereotypes people have of the homeless, and the countless challenges she faced trying to get back on her feet. There is another huge component to this story though. Brianna recounts her background and upbringing, which isn't pleasant. Sexually abused by her biological father, physically and verbally abused by her mother, and brain washed by the religion she was brought up in, there are some parts of the book that were extremely difficult to read. Nonetheless, this is a captivating story that elicited a range of emotions: anger, sadness, and even laughter. Get it. Read it. Tell someone about it.

It's All Relative

2011-06-24T14:07:00.002-05:00

I was very excited to see Wade Rouse's recent memoir, It's All Relative: Two Families, Three Dogs, 34 Holidays, and 50 Boxes of Wine. His last memoir, At Least Someone in the City Would Hear Me Scream, was a humorous account of his and his partner Gary's move to rural Michigan in search of the simple life. In this latest memoir, Wade recounts the various holidays of his childhood and adulthood. The obvious holidays are covered: Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, etc. But also included are Memorial Day, Arbor Day, and Chinese New Year. Arbor Day? I had completely forgotten about Arbor Day. I was expecting another compilation of humorous essays, and for the most part, that's what this is, but then Rouse sucker-punched me with stories of visiting his grandmother in the nursing home and having to put a dog to sleep, that left me sobbing. I haven't read any of Rouse's other works besides these two, but I think this collection shows his talent as a writer. He can deliver a biting, snarky, laugh-out-loud story in one chapter, and the next, a heartfelt, touching tale that brings a reader to tears. I frequently compare him to David Sedaris, although Rouse's biting humor is a little less subtle. Nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoyed this collection and look forward to his next.

Pottermore

2011-06-23T09:11:00.003-05:00

The announcement that all Harry Potter fans have been waiting for was finally released. Alas, no new book. The website, Pottermore, sounds like it's going to be an online experience of the Harry Potter books. It wasn't clearly described, but it almost sounds like a choose-your-own-adventure type of experience. The website won't open until October, so we'll have to wait and see. J.K. Rowling does say in the video that she will be releasing more details about Harry's world that she has been hoarding for years. The Pottermore website will also finally make digital versions of the audiobooks and ebooks available for purchase, which is great news. Still, I have to say I'm a bit disappointed. I know she said no more Harry Potter, but I was hoping for a new story. Although, I guess if you've made as much money as she has, you don't need to keep writing. And, with the huge success of HP, you take a big risk that a new series wouldn't be able to meet expectations. Could she really top Harry Potter? Probably not.

Movie to come!

2011-06-21T12:45:00.000-05:00

I’m not even sure where to start when describing One Day by David Nicholls. Ultimately, it’s a story about the friendship between Dexter Mayhew and Emma Morley. Some people have referred to it as a love story but I’m not sure that I agree. Nicholls introduces us to Dex and Emma on July 15^th, 1988 which happens to be the night they meet. The book follows the ups and downs of their relationship for the next 20 years. The interesting part of this is that each chapter is set on July 15^th of the next year. Initially, I was worried that I’d feel like I was missing large portions of their lives and friendship but that wasn’t the case. Nicholls does a fantastic job of pushing the story forward by leaving each chapter with a slight cliffhanger and starting the next chapter smoothly filling in the gap. Nicholls successfully details the separate lives of each character while also explaining the state of Emma and Dex’s relationship. This allows their relationship to evolve by creating very well rounded characters. I found myself totally engaged in the story and feeling the sort of drive to start the next chapter that you get when reading a James Patterson novel. Luckily for me, that push was followed by a bit more meat to the chapter than a typical Patterson. As I mentioned before, it’s often described as a love story (and it’s being kind of marketed as one for the movie version coming out in August) but I think I might describe it more as a burning friendship. Maybe that is a better description of love anyway? I guess I just really enjoyed their friendship and never really saw the desperate need for them to end up being in love. I do admit that their love story compelled me a bit more over the last 3 chapters than in the rest of the book. Overall, I highly recommend it as a summer read. It’s engaging, different, and the characters are really well written. If you’re looking for a full fledged romance, this might not be it. Then again, maybe you’ll see more of the romance than I did. Anne Hathaway will star in the movie version as Emma Morely so I'm expecting it will get a decent amount of press in August.

Heads You Lose

2011-06-20T16:14:00.003-05:00

Lisa Lutz is one of my favorite new mystery writers. I love her Spellman Files series, so I was a bit disappointed when she decided to take a break from the Spellmans and work on a new project. Heads You Lose is her new novel that she co-authored with ex-boyfriend David Hayward. They took a tag-team approach to writing the novel: Lisa wrote one chapter, David wrote the next. The result is a mildly entertaining, forgettable novel that is no substitution for the Spellmans.

Lacey and Paul Hansen are pot-growing siblings living in a small town in northern California. When a headless body shows up on the Hansen property, Lacey begins investigating. Soon, more characters are turning up dead. To be honest, it was hard to keep it all straight and I don't even remember who the real killer ended up being. After each chapter, Lisa and Dave exchange notes on their disagreements of where the novel is headed. This was entertaining for a little while, but quickly grows old. It was hard to tell if their bickering was meant to be amusing or if it was real. I also started getting annoyed with Lisa, who didn't follow the "yes, and..." process.* She seemed to squash all of Dave's attempts to take the novel in any direction other than where she wanted it to go. So why write with a partner then? In Dave's defense, I liked his writing and his character development. I think what killed it for me was the audio narration. Normally I love audiobooks, and the two narrators have beautiful voices, but their characters were driving me nuts. First, I believe the novel is set in northern California. So, why all the southern accents? Second, I realize that some of the characters are pot growers, but the stoned, surfer-dude voices were really annoying.

I admire Lisa for wanting to try something different, for not wanting to rest on her laurels and beat the Spellman series into the ground, but I don't think this venture hits the mark. Hopefully the Spellmans will be back soon.

*"Yes, and..." is an improv technique where the participant accepts the direction their partner takes and builds on it. Learned that from Tina Fey's Bossypants. Smartypants, aren't I?

Could there be more Harry Potter?

2011-06-17T15:33:00.002-05:00

Galleycat is reporting that J.K. Rowling has launched a website called Pottermore and a YouTube video that indicates that Rowling will be making some kind of announcement in less than 6 days. Rowling's spokesperson claims that there will not be another Harry Potter book, but why would she name the site Pottermore if it had nothing to do with Harry? Could it be a series with James? Adventures of Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs? She better not be toying with my emotions!

What do you think will be the big announcement?

Happy Bloomsday!

2011-06-16T19:08:00.002-05:00

It is with a heavy heart that I face Bloomsday today. Over the past year I have participated in an ongoing discussion group of Joyce's famous novel Ulysses. The Evanston Public Library led Mission Impossible: Ulysses, which met over the course of the year, reading the lengthy, intimidating novel in pieces. I attended the meetings and struggled my way through most of the book, but I admit: I didn't finish it. They had great mugs made up, but I felt I didn't deserve one. Not only did I not finish, but I didn't love it. From the first page I struggled with the book. I used annotations, cliff notes, and other books about the book, yet it was impenetrable. It was like reading something in a foreign language. The cliff notes basically translated enough so that I could get the gist of the story and could follow along with the discussions, but I'm left still wondering why this is considered such a great novel. One of the best novels of the 20th century? I don't know. I did re-read Joyce's Dubliners, which I read in college and remembered loving. I was worried that I wouldn't like it this time around, considering the terrible time I was having with Ulysses, but I loved it just as much, and perhaps more, the second time. I guess what gets me the most is that despite the fact that I spent the last year with this book, I don't feel like I can actually cross it off my bucket list of books.

Beyond the Grave: Michael Crichton

2011-05-27T14:22:00.003-05:00

I thought Michael Crichton's Pirate Latitudes (2009) would be the last book we had from him, since he died in 2008. But EarlyWord is reporting that another Crichton book will be released on November 22nd. Crichton had finished one third of the novel at the time of his death. Richard Preston (the author of The Hot Zone) finished the novel. Preston seems to be the perfect choice for the job. Most of his books, although fiction, read just like a Crichton novel.

In Micro a group of graduate students are lured to Hawaii to work for a mysterious biotech company specializing in micro-robotics. Conflict with the head of the company leaves the group fighting for their lives when they find themselves physically transformed and cast out into the rain forest, with only their scientific expertise and wits to protect them. Should be another great edge-of-your-seat thriller!

Maybe It's My Psychology Degree...

2011-05-11T11:19:00.000-05:00

I recently read a review of Henry's Demons by Patrick Cockburn and Henry Cockburn that inspired me to go pull the book off our shelves. To be honest, it only got a semi-decent review but it sounded so interesting I had to check it out. Henry's Demons is written mainly by Patrick Cockburn with a couple chapters by his son Henry interspersed. The book details Henry's decent into schizophrenia shortly after his 20th birthday. Patrick and his wife, Jan, had noticed slight changes in Henry's behavior but when Henry suffered a breakdown that nearly killed him, they realized it was more than they could handle. Patrick describes the cycles of Henry's hospitalizations, his escapes, subsequent panic stricken searches, and the painful realization that Henry's mental illness was taking over their lives. Patrick also spends a substantial amount of time discussing the difficulties in diagnosing and treating schizophrenic patients as well as the lack of knowledge as to what causes the illness. Henry's chapters allow him to describe the mental breakdowns and actions from his point of view. The point of view of the mentally ill is both heartbreaking and fascinating at the same time.

I don't know if it's the fact that I have a degree in Psychology or what but I LOVED this book! I was really interested in their family dynamics as well as the symptoms of schizophrenia. In addition, I felt like Patrick Cockburn brought up some very interesting points without explaining them completely. Instead of being aggravated by feeling like I didn't have enough information, I found myself arguing possible causes for the points he was making. I also felt the desire to do research into schizophrenia and its treatment history.

I've found myself recommending it to everyone partly because I found it interesting and partly because I want someone else to talk to about it! Someone! Pick up this book and then talk to me about it!

Puppy Madness

2011-05-04T15:17:00.000-05:00

I picked up the book Oogy: The Dog Only a Family Could Love by Larry Levin last week because the silly puppy face on the cover was begging me to read it. I've always been a fan of the sentimental pet books and thought this would be right up my alley. I expected an heart wrenching story of how Oogy was disfigured as a bait dog, the background on what generally happens to rescued dog fighting dogs, and the wonderfully sappy story of how Oogy has puppy kissed his way into the Levin family's heart. I was kind of right. The Levin family absolutely adores Oogy and he seems to be an incredibly resilient dog. Unfortunately, there wasn't much else to the story. I actually just kept thinking "They let this dog get away with anything!". Oogy behaves like every other dog out there, which is great considering he could easily be a bomb waiting to explode after the treatment he's endured. So, there's something to be said for his sweet personality. After all, it also got him some air time on Oprah. But, it just isn't enough to keep a book entertaining. I mean, I didn't even cry at the end! Not a single tear! If that doesn't tell you something about the lack of emotional interest in this story, I don't know what will.

Mister Pip

2011-04-15T12:52:00.002-05:00

EarlyWord reports that Hugh Laurie, aka Dr. House, will play the lead role in the film adaptation of Lloyd Jones' novel Mister Pip. I wasn't a huge fan of this novel, but I think Hugh Laurie is the perfect choice for this role. Filming doesn't even begin until next month, so it will probably be a while before it gets to theaters.

High on Books

2011-04-14T16:17:00.005-05:00

I was browsing at my local Barnes and Noble recently, looking for books on urban farming and noticed a book about growing marijuana. I didn't think much of it until I began seeing more and more books on this topic as I continued to browse. There must have been about 8-10 different books on how to grow marijuana! It seemed like an unusually high number for this topic. Do we really have that much demand for DIY weed books in my suburb? Then I was catching up on back issues of PW and saw an article "Publishers High on Marijuana Books" in the March 14th issue. Apparently marijuana is one of the hot new trends in publishing. Here are just a few of the books you can expect to see soon: Growgirl by Heather Donahue. A memoir of her attempt at marijuana farming after her acting career ended. Marijuanamerica by Ryan Nerz. A look at the pot industry from a lifelong "marijuana enthusiast." Trimming Bud by Doug Grad, Heart of Dankness by Mark Haskell, Reefer Gladness by Michael Konik, War in the Woods by John Nores Jr. and James A. Swan, Pot of Gold and Stash by Greg Campbell. Growgirl sounds like it could be fun. It may be similar to some of the urban farming memoirs I have enjoyed. Don't worry--I'll stick to just growing veggies!

When Was The Last Time You Read About...

2011-04-08T15:37:00.000-05:00

Conjoined twins??

Been a while huh? Yeah, me too. Until this week when I read The Girls by Lori Lansens. This fictionalized account of conjoined twins is set in Canada during the present day. Rose and Ruby are joined at the head and, approaching 30 years old, about to become the world's longest surviving craniopagus twins.

Rose is the largest of the twins and is the mobilizing force behind them as Ruby does not have functional legs. Ruby is known as the prettier and more outgoing of the two. I'm not sure how else to describe it but together they are able to function as individuals. They hold separate, part-time jobs and have individual hobbies. This requires the twins to be very patient with each other and yet they clearly still have a sisterly relationship including the occasional argument.

The Girls is told from the point of view of both Ruby and Rose. The majority of the chapters are told in the voice of Rose who has decided to document their lives in a memoir. This includes the background of their adoptive parents and the unique struggles the sisters have faced. Ruby's sections are not as frequent but tell the reader about their current circumstances and the reason they are writing the book. According to the story, neither sister is privy to what the other one is writing which allows them to discuss each other. Lori Lansens writing shines in these brief moments as the intense love they feel for each other is described in the most quiet of ways. It was refreshing to have an author describe feelings of affection between characters without being overly dramatic or gushy. I felt as though it gave the characters and their unique relationship more depth.

I've had The Girls on my "To Read" list for, literally, years. I'm not sure what compelled me to finally pick it up but I am so glad I did. It was an engaging story that managed to tell the story of two sisters in the most unusual circumstance without feeling gossipy or turning them into a circus sideshow.

I may be compelled to read Chang and Eng by Darin Strauss next to see if Strauss was able to convey conjoined twins as successfully as Lansens. I've heard good things...

Knit Your Own Royal Wedding

2011-04-04T15:49:00.015-05:00

Didn't get an invite to William and Kate's wedding? Don't worry, now you can play along at home! Just Knit Your Own Royal Wedding. I found this hilarious book while perusing the new knitting books at Barnes and Noble.

They also had Knit Your Own Dog, which I was hoping would be great, but was a bit disappointing. Some of the patterns were great, but some not so much. The English Bulldog was a little unfortunate looking, so no knitted Bulldog for me. Then I found Yarn Bombing in the library. It's like graffiti tagging but with knitted things. Cozies for lamp posts and trees, etc. I don't know, but surely there is a more worthwhile knitting project one could do, like knitting blankets or mittens for the homeless.

Books on the Big Screen

2011-03-30T12:01:00.009-05:00

I've been living under a rock lately. I've been in denial about it until I just caught up with one of my favorite book blogs, Early Word, and saw that Lisa See's fantastic novel Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is coming out in theaters this summer. I hadn't even known it was in production! It's definitely time for me to come out from under my rock. So I decided to see what else I wasn't aware of. It turns out that the next few months are chock full of some great books coming to the big screen. Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants starring Reese Witherspoon is coming out on April 22nd. Ok, I did know about that one. Emily Giffin's Something Borrowed hits the big screen on May 6th starring Kate Hudson and Ginnifer Goodwin. A great flick to see with girlfriends! On July 8th, One for the Money, based on Janet Evanovich's fabulously fun series. Katherine Heigl plays Stephanie Plum. Can't wait! Also being released on the same day is David Nicholls' One Day staring Anne Hathaway. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan will be released on July 15th. The trailer looks gorgeous. Sarah's Key is coming to theaters on July 22nd. The Help will be released on August 12th. This is sure to be huge! And of course, the most important movie of my summer: the final part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on July 15th. I'm excited and sad at the same time. I also read that Jennifer Lawrence (from Winter's Bone) has been chosen to play the part of Katniss Everdeen in the adaptation of Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games. According to Early Word, some people were complaining because the blond Lawrence didn't fit the book's description of Katniss. I know Katniss is described as dark-haired and olive-skinned, but in my imagination, she was always blond and fair, so I think Lawrence fits perfectly. I can't wait to see what they come up with for this movie.

If you're enough lucky to be Irish...You're lucky enough!

2011-03-17T15:45:00.003-05:00

Tonight I'm celebrating St. Patrick's Day discussing James Joyce's collection of short stories, Dubliners. I read Dubliners in college and remember enjoying it. But since I've been having such a hard time slogging my way through Ulysses over the past several months, I wondered if my memory was faulty. Did I really enjoy it, or did I just tell myself that I did? Would I still enjoy Dubliners now? Is it as difficult to read as Ulysses? Since our book discussion fell on St. Patrick's Day, I wanted to read an Irish author, and really, who better than Joyce? If I chose Ulysses or Finnegan's Wake, I knew I'd lose all my members, so I thought this was a perfect opportunity to revisit Dubliners. I've found that I am enjoying it quite a bit. It's a refreshing break from the hard work one must put in to Ulysses. Dubliners is a great introduction to Joyce, and I'm so glad I picked it up again. The New Dubliners was published a few years ago to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Dubliners and contains stories from leading Irish authors such as Roddy Doyle, Colum McCann, Joseph O'Connor, Bernard MacLaverty, and Frank McGuinness. I've ordered this and am so excited to read it.

Angelina Benedetti's 35 Going on 13 blog has some great suggestions for Irish YA fiction for adults. She reminded me that I've been wanting to read Bog Child. I'm going to be on an Irish fiction bender.

Alterna-Twilight

2011-03-05T14:51:00.001-06:00

In the past couple weeks, I've been given the responsibility of being the library liason to Deerfield High School and handling teen programs here at the library. I quickly realized that I hadn't spent much time reading teen books since my Young Adult Lit class in grad school. I have read the first 3 Twilight books wasn't particularly impressed. I like the idea but not the end-all-be-all sort of love they depicted. That being said, I was interested in reading what else was out there in the not quite human love world!

Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon features Renee Winters, a teenager who has recently discovered her parents dead in the woods. Their deaths are not grisly but don't quite make sense either. Her grandfather steps in and quickly enrolls her at Gottfried Academy. Gottfried Academy is a boarding school that focuses on classes such as Latin, Philosophy, Horticulture, and "Crude Sciences". Renee doesn't immediately fit in but starts to build a group of mismatched friends. She also develops a crush on the school's gorgeous, quiet guy. Might I point out the beginnings of Twilight comparisons? Add in cold skin, lack of interest in sleep, and lack of dating history to said hot guy and need I say more?

As can be expected, nothing is quite as it seems at Gottfried Academy and strange incidents start to come to light. I will admit, I didn't quite follow their explanations for everything (way too complicated at points!) but I was dying to know what the clearly not human people actually were! They don't explain this part of the story until the last half of the book. I made the mistake of reading something that gave it away and was pretty mad at myself. It's probably more obvious to other people more well read in this area but I was entertained for quite a while trying to guess.

Overall, the story probably doesn't flow as seemlessly as I would have liked and there were a couple moments of "huh?". But, I thought it was a much more believable teenage romance than the Edward-Bella black hole. I also felt it painted an interesting picture of the school and enjoyed that it wasn't set in such a typical environment. There is a definite gothic theme to the story that I appreciated. I would recommend Dead Beautiful for anyone who is looking for another Twilight-esque book and for those who might not have really liked Twilight to begin with. On to my next teen read!

Author of The Help Sued

2011-02-17T16:57:00.003-06:00

Kathryn Stockett, author of the bestselling novel The Help is being sued by her brother's maid. Ablene Cooper has been a maid for Stockett's brother for several years and alleges that Stockett used “an unauthorized appropriation of her name and image" in the novel. Ablene is referring to one of Stockett's main characters, Aibilene Clark. Cooper is suing for $75,000.

See the full article at the New York Times.

The Girl With the Fourth Stieg Larsson Book

2011-02-16T13:20:00.000-06:00

Stieg Larsson's Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy has been incredibly hot. Over 50 million copies have been sold, movies have been made in Sweden and will be made in America. When Larsson died in 2004, a dispute erupted between Larsson's family and his partner of 30 years, Eva Gabrielsson, over the rightful beneficiary of Larsson's estate and proceeds. Since Larsson and Gabrielsson were not legally married, the money has been given to his family, although she was recently awarded a $2.7 million settlement. Gabrielsson claims that money is not the issue, that she is more concerned with the changes that have been made to the original novel in translations and the movies. The rumor has been that Larsson started a fourth novel in the series but did not finish it before his death. Gabrielsson just published her own memoir in Europe in which she says she plans to finish the fourth novel. But, she will only finish the work when she is given "undisputed rights" to Larsson's estate.

Before Larsson wrote his novels, he was a journalist and one of the founders of the anti-fascist magazine Expo. A former colleague of Larsson's, Kurdo Baksi, recently published a book, Stieg Larsson: Our Days in Stockholm: A Memoir of a Friendship. Baski contends that as a reporter Larsson used to rig the facts and his work needed extensive editing. Gabrielsson claims that the work is slanderous and should be withdrawn.

Hmmm...

2011-02-15T12:15:00.005-06:00

I just finished reading the book Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin which is a teen book about a 14-year old girl named Liz. Liz is killed in a hit and run accident and this book describes her afterlife. I'm not sure exactly how I feel about this title yet but it reminds me of The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. Sometimes books are so similar that I wonder why no one ever thought to say "hey, ya know, I think someone did that already?" Then again, I guess that would knock out a lot of vampire books...

I don't know whether to laugh or cry...or vomit.

2011-02-15T10:24:00.003-06:00

When I heard that Snooki was given a book deal, it was like a little piece of me died inside. I can take the factory fiction that certain authors endlessly churn out. The ridiculous celebrity memoirs, like Kardashian Konfidential. The commentaries from "political figures" I can't stand. I could even take the Nicole Richie novels. But this? Too far! Is this what we've become? Is this what young people are reading? You think I'm being dramatic? Overreacting? Here is a good article from avclub.com which includes a nice summary and a few excerpts for your reading pleasure.

The Face on the Milk Carton?

2011-02-11T14:13:00.000-06:00

Many readers can name the books that were their favorites growing up and can explain in detail the story. Many people can explain years later exactly why they loved or hated a book. Personally, I have an amazing ability to quickly forget the details of a story but always retain the vague feeling of "thumbs up" or "thumbs down". Professional right? Well, it's the reason why I chose to read Look Again by Lisa Scottoline.

I distinctly remember reading the book The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney when I was growing up. I know it was a story about a girl who notices a missing child picture on the side of a milk carton and decides she is that missing girl. That's about all I remember about the story. I do, however, remember wondering if that could possibly ever happen to me and I would sadly find out that my parents had actually kidnapped me as a child. This kinda sticks as a "thumbs up" book for me. Side note--I'm very happy my parents didn't kidnap me. Anyway, this random fascination stuck with me and I found myself reading the blurb for Look Again thinking "It's like the grown up version!". A must read.

Right off the bat I have to tell you, when it comes to being the grown up version of The Face on the Milk Carton, it didn't disappoint. Ellen Gleeson is a single mother to her adopted son, Will. She adopted Will when he was abandoned in a hospital as a sick one year old. Four years later, Ellen receives a missing child postcard in the mail with a picture that looks shockingly similar to her son. You may be able to guess what happens but the how, what, where, when is pretty entertaining. Look Again moves really quickly in a James Patterson super short chapters sort of way and has a great balance of characters to root for as well as against. There is a little bit of violence towards to end but is quite minimal for what I was expecting. If you're looking for a really in-depth, heart-pounding thriller then this may not be the choice for you. If you're interested in a quick, engaging missing child mystery-go for it!

Sami Rohr Prize Finalists Announced

2011-02-10T15:36:00.003-06:00

The Jewish Book Council announced the five finalists for the 2011 Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish literature. The prize honors the contribution of contemporary writers in the exploration and transmission of Jewish values and is intended to encourage and promote outstanding writing of Jewish interest in the future. And the nominees are...

Allison Amend – Stations West
Nadia Kalman- The Cosmopolitans
Julie Orringer—The Invisible Bridge
Austin Ratner – The Jump Artist
Joseph Skibell –A Curable Romantic

You had me at Nutella.

2011-01-28T13:32:00.000-06:00

Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito have released their second cookbook, Baked Explorations, a follow-up to their popular cookbook, Baked. While Baked is a beautiful, drool-inducing book, I didn't have the greatest results with the two recipes I tried, so I wasn't planning on picking up the new book. But then someone mentioned that it has a recipe for pumpkin cheddar muffins. I was intrigued. Forget the pumpkin cheddar muffins though, they have a recipe for Nutella scones! Say no more, I'm giving Matt and Renato a second chance. They have a bunch of recipes I'm just dying to try besides the scones and pumpkin muffins: sweet and salty brownies, whoopie pies, burnt sugar bundt cake with caramel rum frosting. Should I continue? They also have recipes for some of my favorite things to bake, including mint grasshopper bars, buckeyes, and pecan tassies, so I'm interested to see how their recipes will differ from mine. Even if I don't make anything from this book though, it's a great book just to read and look at the pictures. Pure food porn. My only criticism is that there aren't photographs of every recipe. Stay tuned for the results of my baked exploration.

All My Amish Children?

2011-01-27T14:24:00.000-06:00

Turns out, Amish fiction is a bit "sudsier" than I expected. A bit of background--I am part of a group for librarians in the north suburbs that try to expand our knowledge of genre reading in order to help patrons. Because of this, I read one book a month that tends to be part of a genre I have never read before. For February, we were asked to read a book in the popular new "Bonnet Fiction" genre. What is bonnet fiction you ask? Bonnet fiction is Christian fiction that focuses specifically on the Amish community. You didn't know this was popular?? Well, it is shockingly popular! I don't know ANYTHING about the popular authors in this subgenre, so I did a little research and grabbed a couple books off the shelf. I ended up choosing the book The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fisher. Honestly, I chose it partly because of it's nice cover.

The Choice is about an Amish girl named Carrie who is pretty, smart, sensible and madly in love with the Amish rebel. As most loves often do, this first romance takes a rough turn and Carrie is left behind in the community to figure out what to do with her life. Without giving away too much, Carrie deals with death of family and encounters no less than three potential loves through the course of the book. I hate that I can't say much more than that but this book has more twists than your daytime soap opera! There is romance, lust (toned down of course), mystery, evil backstabbing stepmothers, saucy Englishers (those people outside of the Amish community), death, and Pennsylvanian Dutch!

I'll admit, I wasn't too excited about reading this. I don't tend to enjoy the "cozy" books and I also shy away from books that talk about God. The Choice managed to have a softer tone but still keep my attention with the "who is she going to love?!?!" thoughts and include talk about God without being preachy. I flew through this book! I'm actually debating reading another one to see if it's just as entertaining!

If they ever want to make a movie about The Choice, I'm recommending the cast of All My Children...I've got it all planned out...

Did you know...

2011-01-20T13:04:00.003-06:00

That Today Show weatherman and Smuckers birthday announcer Willard Scott was the original Ronald McDonald? Me either!

Willard Scott played Bozo the Clown in a local Washington D. C. TV show, Bozo's Circus, in the early 1960s. When the show was canceled, a local McDonald's hired Scott to create a new clown that would make appearances at local McDonald's. A costume was designed and Scott came up with the name Ronald McDonald. When McDonald's decided to take Ronald throughout the U.S., they fired Scott because he was considered too overweight to play Ronald. They wanted someone thinner to hock their fattening foods.

I picked up this tidbit of trivia from Eric Schlosser's Chew On This: Everything You Don't Want to Know About Fast Food. Schlosser repeats much from his earlier book, Fast Food Nation, but there are some interesting personal stories of people whose lives have been affected by fast food. One story I found particularly disturbing is the rampant tooth decay found among the Eskimo population. Many Eskimos drink copious amounts of soda. The soda, combined with a lack of access to dental care, has resulted in a large number of Eskimos who are toothless. Doctors have also found "baby bottle syndrome" quite common among Eskimos. Mothers put soda into their babies' bottles, the babies fall asleep with the bottles in their mouths, which creates a breading ground for tooth decay. As a result, many babies' upper teeth rot away into black nubs. You would think that if Coca-Cola is flying in cargo planes full of pop, they could make room to bring in a few dentists as well.

May I Introduce....

2011-01-19T17:59:00.000-06:00

Myself! My name is Madeline and I'm one of the trusty reference librarians at Deerfield Public Library. Evidently I've forced enough "Hey have you read..." and "What did you think of.." conversations on Melissa that she's offered to let me post on the blog! Yippee for me! (and hopefully you) Let's get this ball rollin...

I recently encouraged/challenged my friends and family to join me in trying to read 50 books this year. It's something I have attempted in the past and, sadly, never accomplished. So far, I'm on pace by having had read 3 books! I thought that in order to try and keep myself in line with this goal, I'm going to try and blog about the books as I finish them. Which means I need to give you a quick update on the 3 books I've read in January!

Flawless: Inside the Largest Diamond Heist in History by Scott Andrew Selby and Greg Campbell.
Flawless details the planning and execution of the heist of over $500 million dollars worth of diamonds from the Antwerp Diamond Center. I could NOT put this book down. It was Oceans 11 with a bit less sex appeal and a lot more "SERIOUSLY?!?". The scale of this heist, the ridiculous amounts of luck involved, and the level to which diamonds are vulnerable make this a fascinating read. I highly recommend it.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Peterson
This story is a bit difficult to sum up. The best I can explain is that it's set in a slightly updated future where body parts and organs are able to be replicated using synthetic materials. The title character, Jenna Fox, has awakened from a coma and struggles to make sense of her surroundings and memories. Let's just say that these two storylines are intertwined in a way that is explained as the story moves along. This book is intended for a young adult audience and I would say that's pretty appropriate. I didn't find myself too engaged in the storyline or characters but I found the bioethical questions it raised to be interesting. On a side note, it seems like young adult novels these days have two themes: slightly sci-fy/paranormal themes or totally overindulged snotty rich kids?? Has that always been the case and I just don't remember?

We Bought a Zoo by Benjamin Mee
Mee and his extended family come together to purchase a dilapidated zoo in the English countryside. With none of them being particularly knowledgable in the workings of a zoo or its inhabitants, this becomes large project. There is actually a movie featuring Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, and Dakota Fanning scheduled to be released next December. You would think in a book about family and a zoo, there would be a lot of talk about family and animals? Evidently, Ben Mee found it more interesting to discuss the general reconstruction of the zoo buildings for a lot of the book. I found his stories of the animals absolutely entertaining and I wanted to hear more about his family but that wasn't what happened. The cover of the book said "The amazing true story of a young family, a broken down zoo, and the 200 wild animals that changed their lives forever. I'm not sure I get how that happened but I'm hoping the movie will fill me in....

On to my next book!

Da Bears!

2011-01-19T09:05:00.003-06:00

Get fired up for the Chicago Bears' smackdown against the Packers this weekend with a little Bears' history. Check out our books on the Monsters of the Midway!

Why Holmes?

2011-01-18T16:05:00.003-06:00

The Conan Doyle estate has commissioned Anthony Horowitz a new novel starring Sherlock Holmes. Horowitz is the well-known author of the popular Alex Rider children's series, but the Holmes novel will be for adults. The novel is set to be released in Britain in September.

On Holmes' birthday last week I mentioned that despite being over 100 years old, Holmes remains as popular as ever. Why do you think that is? What is it about this character that continues to draw readers (and moviegoers)? Why Holmes?

National Book Disappointments

2011-01-13T13:19:00.000-06:00

After 90 pages of the National Book Award winner Lord of Misrule, I'm giving up. I think I decided to read it more because it's about horseracing rather than because it is the NBA winner. But I've been plugging along for over a week now and am just not enjoying it. This is not a fast-paced, inspiring Seabiscuit-type of story. The story takes place in West Virginia at a rundown racetrack with broken horses and scheming owners. The language is difficult, so reading it really does require a concentrated effort. Most of the characters are not particularly interesting or likeable except for one: Medicine Ed is a poor, old, illiterate, African American groomer, who worries about where he will live out his remaining days. He is a compelling character and I enjoyed his voice, but overall the story left me with an overwhelming feeling of loneliness which I don't particularly need during these dark days of winter.

I haven't had much luck with the NBA books this year. I attempted to read two of the NBA nominees and quit both of those as well. I tried to listen to the audiobook versions of both Peter Carey's Parrot and Olivier in America and Nicole Krauss's Great House. Both sounded like books I would enjoy, but neither captured my attention. Perhaps I just don't have the attention span right now to fully engage and appreciate these works. I think I'm going to try some of the Alex Award winners, which might be easier reads.

Author Visits!

2011-01-07T13:19:00.000-06:00

There are quite a few exciting authors making appearances in the Chicagoland area this month. Check it out:

Karen Abbott, author of Sin in the Second City, will be making several appearances in the area to promote her new book American Rose : The Life and Times of Gypsy Rose Lee. I loved her first and I can't wait to read this one!
Sunday, January 9th at 2pm at the Barrington Public Library
Tuesday, January 11th at 7pm at Anderson's Bookshop in Naperville
Wednesday, January 12th at an 11:30 luncheon sponsored by the Lake Forest Bookstore at Lovell's of Lake Forest (cost is $39 and registration is required).
Thursday, January 13th at a 12pm luncheon sponsored by the Winnetka Bookstall at the University Club (there is a fee and registration is required).

Kim Edwards, author of The Memory Keeper's Daughter, will be at the Oak Brook Borders on January 11th at 7pm to sign her new novel, The Lake of Dreams.

Melanie Benjamin, author of the historical novel Alice I Have Been, will be appearing on Thursday, January 13th at 7pm at Anderson's Bookshop in Naperville.

Sharon Fiffer, author of the cozy mystery series featuring antique "picker" Jane Wheel, will be signing her new book, Backstage Stuff at the Bookstall in Winnetka on Friday, January 14th at 6:30pm.

Rebecca Johns, author of The Countess, will be signing her book on Thursday, January 20th at 6:30pm at the Bookstall in Winnetka. I loved this one!

Christian Lander, author of the hilarious book Stuff White People Like, will be promoting his new book Whiter Shades of Pale: The Stuff White People Like, Coast to Coast, from Seattle's Sweaters to Maine's Microbrews at the Book Cellar in Chicago on January 20th.

Brad Meltzer will be reading and signing his new book, The Inner Circle, at the State Street Borders in Chicago on January 21st at 12pm.

Robert Crais will sign his latest crime novel, The Sentry, at Anderson's Bookshop in Naperville on Saturday, January 22nd at 2pm.

Heidi Durrow will discuss and sign her novel, The Girl Who Fell From the Sky, at Anderson's Bookshop in Naperville on Tuesday, January 25th at 7pm.

Amy Greene, author of the novel Bloodroot, will be at Anderson's Bookshop in Naperville on January 27th at 7pm.

Deborah Rodriguez, author of Kabul Beauty School, will discuss her new novel A Cup of Friendship at the Bookstall in Winnetka on January 28th at 7pm.

The Bookstall in Winnetka will be presenting one of my favorite historical fiction writers, Susan Vreeland as part of their Women Writers Series on January 31st. (there is a fee and registration is required).

"It is my business to know what other people don't know."

2011-01-06T16:54:00.000-06:00

Today is the birthday of the famous fictional character, British detective Sherlock Holmes. Some place Holmes's birth year at 1854, although others argue that it is more likely 1861. Holmes made his debut in 1887 in A Study in Scarlet, which was published in Beeton's Christmas Annual. The author, Arthur Conan Doyle received $25 for the story. Conan Doyle initially named his hero Sherringford Hope, but at his wife's urging, he renamed him after his favorite violinist Alfred Sherlock and Oliver Wendell Holmes, who had recently published a book on criminal psychology. Holmes was a huge success with readers, but Conan Doyle made the bold move of killing the hero off in 1893 in the story The Final Problem. As a result, 20,000 readers cancelled their subscriptions to the The Strand magazine, which carried Holmes's stories. After he was offered a nice financial incentive, Doyle resurrected Holmes in The Hound of the Baskervilles. Holmes has appeared in 56 short stories and four novels.

Despite being over 100 years old, Sherlock Holmes still remains popular. Aside from the original stories, new authors have taken up Sherlock Holmes, inventing new cases and adventures. Movies and television shows are still being made: last year's blockbuster starring Robert Downey Jr. and the BBC's new television series featuring a modern day Sherlock are just a few. If you've never read any of the Holmes canon (or even if you have), a good place to start is The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes, which has wonderful background information on Holmes and Doyle, as well as great insight into the stories.

A Discovery of Witches

2011-01-05T13:57:00.000-06:00

I love vampire fiction. The problem is, it seems that so much of what comes out these days, is silly vampire fiction. While this can be fun, I appreciate a well-written, intelligent vampire novel and this seems much harder to come by. Deborah Harkness's soon-to-be-published debut novel, A Discovery of Witches fits the bill.

Diana Bishop is a descendant of Bridget Bishop, the first witch hung in Salem. Although Diana has inherited the Bishop powers, she refuses to use them and instead has become a well-known scholar. When she discovers a long-lost manuscript with magical powers in the Oxford library, she immediately catches the attention of other witches, as well as vampires and daemons. One particular vampire, Matthew de Clermont takes an interest in Diana and is determined to protect her from the other creatures who are willing to do anything to get their hands on the book and Diana, whose powers are stronger than she realizes. The two quickly begin a romantic relationship but are threatened by the Congregation, the ruling body of all creatures, which will stop at nothing to prevent a relationship between a witch and a vampire. The two are determined to fight the Congregation and unlock the secrets of the mysterious manuscript, despite the threat of starting a war between all creatures.

This was an enjoyable story with an intriguing plot, fast pace, and a sizzling romance. Harkness includes an interesting storyline on the genetics and genealogy/history of witches and vampires which I really liked. My only criticism is that the book is a tad long. I could have done with about 100 less pages, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. The unresolved ending leads me to hope that there may be a sequel.

Starbucked

2011-01-04T17:47:00.002-06:00

Ah, Starbucks. I have a love/hate affair with Starbucks. I love its deliciously comforting beverages, but I hate that I'm paying $5 for what is essentially a cup of coffee. Nonetheless, I am a frequent Starbucks customer and a fan. But after reading Taylor Clark's Starbucked: A Double Tall Tale of Caffeine, Commerce, and Culture, I've started thinking a little more critically about this business that passes itself off as a virtuous, enlightened community establishment.

My favorite line from the movie Best in Show is from the yuppie couple: "We met at Starbucks. Not at the same Starbucks, but we saw each other at different Starbucks across the street from each other." It turns out that is actually true. When Howard Schultz bought the fledgling coffee company, the most profitable cafe was located at a busy intersection and was so busy that the lines were endless. To everyone's surprise, Schultz opened another Starbucks across the street. It quickly became the second-best performing store in the chain. These clusters are now quite common.

Clark traces the beginnings of Starbucks and its rise to fame and fortune and explores the ways that it has insinuated itself into our culture and convinced us that it's a good thing. Think about it: how is Starbucks really any different from Wal-Mart, or even McDonalds? All three are enormous chains that are responsible for putting local businesses out of business and homogenizing our country. All have been accused of exploiting its workers, as well as the producers of the products they sell. Many people refuse to shop at Wal-Mart, or at least feel guilty when they do. Many people also try to avoid fast food chains like McDonalds. Or at least they don't brag about eating there. But there doesn't seem to be the same stigma attached to Starbucks. How do they do that? The history of the company is interesting, but Clark's examination of the negative aspects of Starbucks and his refusal to be swayed by the caffeinated temptress makes good food (ha!) for thought.

Love it:
"Thinking of the coffeehouse as a haven for intellectual discourse is difficult when the one in question operates thousands of clones, wants to sell you the latest Coldplay album, and serves five-dollar milkshakes for adults."

Anyone know where can I find a pattern for this chicken poncho?

2011-01-03T11:09:00.005-06:00

I think I've just found my next knitting project: Chicken Ponchos!!

Seriously, how cute is that? And I know so many chickens that are in need of ponchos right now since the weather has gotten so cold. Now, if only I could find the pattern....

Etsy is a great site, with all kinds of wonderful handmade, crafty products. But there are some people who just should not craft. Ever. April Winchell's Regretsy: Where DIY Meets WTF captures some of the most heinous offenders. From Birch bark purses to crocheted childbirth education dolls, it is truly frightening. Fortunately, (or in these cases, unfortunately), Etsy has new products popping up every day. Since Winchell couldn't possibly include all of them in her new book, check out her website, http://www.regretsy.com/, to view all the latest and greatest crafting achievements.

Here are a few more of my favorites...

Fish in a Squirrel Suit Taxidermy:

Christmas Nativity Meerkats:

Fat: It's for dinner.

2010-12-21T11:51:00.003-06:00

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine named the worst cookbooks of the year with regards to health. Included on the list are Gordon Ramsay's World Kitchen: Recipes from the F-Word, Ina Garten's Barefoot Contessa: How Easy is That, Trisha Yearwood's Home Cooking, Top Chef's How to Cook Like a Top Chef (bacon doughnuts!), and Mark Sisson's The Primal Blueprint Cookbook. The Physicians Committee says that these cookbooks are the worst for containing artery-clogging recipes that include high-fat ingredients, such as bacon, cream, butter, etc.

Now, none of these chefs or cooks claim to be promoting healthy lifestyles. I know when I pick up a Barefoot Contessa cookbook that I'm not going to be getting low-cal recipes. And Gordon Ramsay is a professionally trained chef. What do you expect? They don't use skim milk and margarine in their recipes. But, is it just me or does it seem like quite a few cookbooks and cooking magazines are including ingredients that for the last 10+ years were viewed as no-no's? It seems like Cooking Light magazine has been putting more sugar and butter/cream cheese/cream, etc. back into their recipes (albeit still in moderation). Even Jamie Oliver, who is big on healthy, uses ingredients like blue cheese and bacon and has a recipe for fried pork skin in his new cookbook Jamie's America. (He does encourages readers to pair his recipes with a salad and to use rich ingredients only occasionally and in moderation.)

The Physician's Committee doesn't mention what cookbooks they did like, but I think Mark Bittman's Food Matters Cookbook has wonderful, simple, healthy recipes that emphasize a variety of fresh fruits and veggies and minimal meat. I wonder how the Physicians Committee felt about Fat: An Appreciation of a Misunderstood Ingredient by Jennifer McLagen....

Candyfreak

2010-12-20T14:50:00.000-06:00

I have a terrible sweet tooth, but I outgrew my love for most candies like Sprees, Jolly Ranchers, Nerds, Sweet Tarts, etc. when I became an adult. Now I just have an intense passion for chocolate and baked goods. But Steve Almond is a true candy addict. His book Candyfreak is like food porn. He waxes poetic about a number of candies he remembers from his youth and bemoans his favorites that no longer exist. His life-long love for candy inspired him to travel around the country visiting candy factories and meeting other candyfreaks, historians and collectors. He even bought several cases of Kit Kat Darks to ensure that he would have a lasting supply. While it is an interesting and enjoyable read, I do take issue with him on one point. There are a few candies that he refers to as MWMs (Mistakes Were Made), such as Twizzlers, Chuckles, and white chocolate ("a scourge visited upon us by the inimical forces of Freak Evil.") So true. But he also includes Peeps and Circus Peanuts on his list of MWMs! Peeps are the best candy ever! How can a candy connoisseur not love Peeps?!? I suppose Circus Peanuts are an acquired taste, but oh, how I love them. What are some of your favorite candies from childhood? Are they still around and do you still eat them? What candies do you miss the most? I miss Velamints. My grandmother always used to carry them and they remind me of her. I think you can still get them, but I have no idea where. I never see them in stores.

Here is an interesting tidbit: Remember Pop Rocks? Pop Rocks contains sugar, corn syrup, flavor and coloring, and carbon dioxide gas compressed at 600 pounds per square inch! Yikes.

Why give a book? Because a tie never changed anyone's life.

2010-12-15T13:36:00.005-06:00

Since I haven't been reading much in the way of fiction this year, I don't have a list of my favorite fiction reads for the year. But I thought I would put together a list of my favorite foodie books that I read this year. The suggestions range from history to food politics to cookbooks. These would be great gifts for the foodie in your life!

The Essential New York Times Cookbook: Classic Recipes for a New Century
by Amanda Hesser
-Hesser, a food columnist for the New York Times, has updated and compiled more than 1,000 of the best recipes from the past 150 years. It's a hefty one, but the title says it all: it's essential.

The Perfect Finish: Special Desserts for Every Occasion by Bill Yosses
-Yosses is the executive pastry chef for the White House. This is a mouth-watering collection of sweets with gorgeous full-color photos. I'll be honest: I've never tried any of the recipes. I just like reading them and looking at the photos. Food porn for dessert lovers.

Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook
by Anthony Bourdain
-Anthony Bourdain. Enough said.

Fannie's Last Supper : Re-Creating One Amazing Meal From Fannie Farmer's 1896 Cookbook
by Christopher Kimball
-Fannie Farmer was the author of the Boston Cooking School Cookbook, which was first published in 1896. Christopher Kimball is the founder of Cook's Illustrated magazine. When he attempts to re-create a meal using recipes from Farmer's cookbook, he goes through quite an ordeal to get it just right.

97 Orchard: An Edible History of Five Immigrant Families in one New York Tenement
by Jane Ziegelman
-This book traces the social history and culinary revolution of immigrant life through the histories of five families who all lived at 97 Orchard Street, on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, between 1863 and 1935. Fascinating reading for history and foodie buffs.

The Dog Who Ate the Truffle : A Memoir of Stories and Recipes from Umbria
by Suzanne Carreiro
Carreiro's reflections on life in Umbria aren't as poetic as Frances Mayes's Tuscany books, but this is still a wonderful memoir about life in Italy. Carreiro meets wonderful "characters," learns to cook traditional Umbrian food, and yes, goes truffle hunting with a dog who eats the truffles. Also, I would buy this book just for the recipes. Simple, delicious, traditional Umbrian recipes.

Confections of a Closet Master Baker: One Woman's Sweet Journey from Unhappy Hollywood Executive to Contented Country Baker by Gesine Bullock-Prado (this was retitled as My Life From Scratch: A Sweet Journey of Starting Over, One Cake at a Time when it was released in trade paperback.)
-Bullock-Prado is the sister of Sandra Bullock. Fed up with Hollywood, she leaves her career as the head of her sister's production company to move to Vermont and open her own bakery. A humorous and touching story filled with recipes from her bakery.

Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer by Novella Carpenter
-A resident of Oakland, California, Novella decides to become an urban farmer, squat gardening in an abandoned lot and keeping chickens, ducks, turkeys, rabbits, bees and even pigs in her back yard. Interesting, humorous, and a wonderful read.

Working in the Shadows: A Year of Doing the Jobs (Most) Americans Won't Do
by Gabriel Thompson
-Gabriel set out to investigate jobs that are traditionally done by immigrants, which happen to be food related. Gabriel's experiences harvesting lettuce, working in a chicken processing plant, and delivering food illustrate how the food industry treats its workers. A great read for those interested in food politics.

The New Best Recipe by the editors of Cook's Illustrated
-Ok, so it's from 2004, but I just got this one and it's become my new go-to cookbook. It has all the basics, and the numerous recipe testings and lengthy explanations we expect from Cook's Illustrated. I've made a very successful pumpkin cheesecake and the best creamy tomato soup I have ever eaten.

The Great Zamperini

2010-12-07T12:39:00.000-06:00

Laura Hillenbrand, author of the wonderful book Seabiscuit: An American Legend, has finally released a new book: Unbroken: a World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption. I didn't know much about it, other than it was about a soldier whose plane crashed in the ocean and he survived several days at sea. Interesting? Sure. But it didn't sound that enticing. Strangely, it was Runner's World magazine that piqued my interest in this book. The latest issue profiles the book and Louie Zamperini, the soldier whose plane crashed into the Pacific, survived 47 days at sea, multiple shark attacks and two years in a Japanese slave labor camp. Before that, Louie was a runner and participated in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Louie is 93 today and still active. He can still run, just not far. What an amazing story. Be sure to put this one on hold-I did!

On another note, the Runner's World article also mentions Laura Hillenbrand's struggle with severe vertigo and chronic fatigue. Apparently it's incredibly disabling for her. She researched and wrote both of her books from home because she is not able to get out much. It took her seven years to write this latest story. Who knew?

Don't miss Harlan Kane's The Abacus Conundrum!

2010-12-06T10:57:00.002-06:00

Running with Magazines

2010-11-17T14:09:00.004-06:00

After Monday's post on Christopher McDougall's book Born to Run, our trusty Reference Librarian told me that we have a subscription to Runner's World magazine and suggested I check it out. This month's issue happened to have a feature article on Lisa Smith-Batchen, who is an ultrarunner and recently became the first person to run 50 50-mile runs, one in each state. Back to back. That's 2500 miles! She went through 18 pairs of running shoes and 5 pairs of Crocs and consumed 6000 calories a day. So amazing. And so inspiring. I went on to find several other athletes in this magazine that are such inspiring characters: the servicewoman who lost her vision from a virus she contracted while serving in Iraq and went on to run again (with her seeing-eye dog) or the man who has set numerous running records as a single-leg amputee.

And it's not all for serious, long-distance runners. There are plenty of articles about eating right, staying healthy, and tips for beginning runners. I think I've found another magazine to add to my monthly pile!

Born to Run

2010-11-15T09:13:00.002-06:00

I recently started running and am currently training for my first 5k. It hasn't been easy. Running has never come easy to me, so when I heard a blurb about Christopher McDougall's book Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen that mentioned an Indian tribe that can run hundreds of miles at a time, I thought maybe it would contain some secret that would make running a breeze for me. It didn't. But, it is a fascinating book. The Tarahumara Indians of Mexico are a reclusive tribe of Indians that can run hundreds of miles across desert terrain with ease. McDougall travels to Mexico and sets off into the wild to find this tribe and discover their secrets. Along the way he meets an ex-boxer who has retreated from the world and is living like the Tarahumara, and is introduced to the world of ultra running.

I didn't really learn any secrets that have improved my running. I did get some chia seeds(yes, like the chia pets), which the Tarahumara supposedly eat and credit with their endurance. They aren't bad, but I don't think they are doing much for my running. And I'm not trading in my running shoes for some flimsy sandals. But, the book did introduce me to a whole world of running I never knew existed. There are people (besides the Tarahumara) who actually run 50, 100, even 200 miles or more for fun! It's called ultra running or ultra marathons. Can you imagine? It's fascinating to read about the athletes that train for these runs, what the runs are like and what it can do to your body. So, I'm still struggling with my running and have no desire to ever undertake ultra running, but it is a fascinating and inspiring book. Definitely worth a read, even if you aren't a runner.

Make a difference: VOTE!

2010-11-08T09:15:00.005-06:00

Yes, elections are over, and if you're like me, you're probably tired of all the campaign signs and nasty television ads. But, there is another opportunity for you to vote for a great cause. We promise there won't be any mean or snarky ads, just fun pictures!

Out of hundreds of entries, the Deerfield Public Library was selected as one of the Top 10 finalists in the Playaway Picture This Contest! The object of this contest was to submit the most creative pictures of a display promoting Playaways, and Deerfield Public Library was voted a finalist! Online voting begins November 1st, and closes on December 17th, 2010. We need your support and votes to help us win the $10,000 prize for our library, so vote today at http://vote.playaway.com/deerfield

Our children's department is so creative. They come up with the best displays. I love the giant earbuds. I bet they would be the perfect size for Grawp.

A Good Novel

2010-10-13T14:29:00.004-05:00

Europa Editions, the publisher that brought us The Elegance of the Hedgehog, has published another gem by French author Laurence Cosse, A Novel Bookstore. Ivan and Francesca have opened a unique bookstore called The Good Novel. The Good Novel only stocks good novels. Observe:

"And the more people asked him, Is this good? the bolder he became, going from a hesitant Mmmyeah to an openly disparaging, Not bad, then soon to a frank, Good? It is downright awful. Very quickly the idea of selling books that he himself would not advise people to read infuriated him. By July, when the store opened again for the summer, Ivan had resolved the contradiction. All that remained in his little shop were those books which enchanted him. Van would open the boxfuls of books sent automatically every week by the major publishers, and as soon as he had unpacked them and had a look through, nine times out of ten he put everything back in the box and returned it." [Can you imagine? I need a job at this place!]

But when members of The Good Novel's secret selection committee are suddenly terrorized by thugs, mystery and mayhem ensue. This is another wonderful, subtle French novel, filled with intriguing characters and sly humor.

I've lost my appetite

2010-10-12T12:12:00.002-05:00

I've been sifting through a very entertaining book about the history of food in 20th century America, Fashionable Food: Seven Decades of Food Fads by Sylvia Lovegren. It breaks down the 20th century into decades, discusses what was going on in the country at the time and how that affected what people were eating. It also includes recipes from those periods. Most of them are fun to read, but I just found one from the 1930s that actually made me gag. Enjoy:

Peanut Butter Tea Sandwiches:
1 Cup natural smooth peanut butter
2 Tablespoons ketchup
2 Tablespoons finely chopped sweet pickles
1 loaf white bread, buttered and thinly sliced
1 head iceberg lettuce

"Make a paste of the peanut butter, ketchup, and pickles. [Yep. That's right. A paste of peanut butter and ketchup. Ugh.] Spread on thin slices of bread. Top with a lettuce leaf and another buttered slice of bread. Cut off the crusts and slice the sandwich into three fingers."

The Countess

2010-10-07T16:21:00.001-05:00

I had never heard of Countess Erzsebet Bathory until I came across her in Dacre Stoker's sequel to Dracula, Dracula: The Un-Dead. In this novel, she is portrayed as a vampire, more evil than Dracula himself; a woman who brutally killed hundreds of young women and drank their blood. It turns out that Countess Bathory did in fact exist. She lived in Hungary from 1560-1614. She was accused of torturing and killing hundreds of young women and was imprisoned and bricked into a room until her death. Legends of her include accounts of her bathing in the blood of virgins, and she has been given nicknames such as the Blood Countess and Countess Dracula. How did I not know about this intriguing person? This story just begs to be told.*

Fortunately, Rebecca Johns has told Erzsebet Bathory's story in her new novel, The Countess, set to be released this month. The novel begins as Erzsebet is being walled inside her castle tower. As she endures her imprisonment, Erzsebet recollects the events of her life: her childhood, her betrothal and marriage to Count Nadasdy, her husband's death and her fear for her and her children's survival. Oh, and her killing of a few maidservants.

The Countess is not a typical bloody, gruesome horror story, which is why I liked it so much. Johns has written an exceptional, well-researched historical novel, slowly building this ominous and creepy tone throughout the story. Her choice of telling the story from Erzsebet's point of view also adds to this feeling. Erzsebet's calm demeanor, downplaying of violence and rationalization of her crimes is chilling. But at times, I found myself empathizing with Erzsebet, unable to believe her capable of such crimes, which I think is a credit to Johns's talent. This is a captivating story that kept me eagerly turning the pages.

*So it turns out that Johns's book is not the only fictionalized account of Bathory. In 2008, Andrei Codrescu published The Blood Countess, which did get some good reviews. Johns also mentions in her acknowledgements that she relied on Tony Thorne's book Countess Dracula: Life and Times of Elisabeth Bathory, the Blood Countess. I'm fascinated by Bathory, so I'd like to read them as well.

Whatever Sells

2010-10-05T09:07:00.001-05:00

Sometimes it’s hard to figure out how a book landed in a certain section of the library
(or bookstore); it may even be tough to identify the real author. Libraries and stores, of course, are busy public places, constantly in flux. Where’s the book I want, we ask? The answer so often is that it was moved. Why? So many books, so many categories; or so many books, so little space. And many books, these days, are written by authors (or author teams) using pen names. Figuring it all out can be exhausting.

Take The Housekeeper and the Professor, a first novel by the young Japanese writer
Yoko Ogawa. The book was written by written by a first-time novelist using her own name. It should be simple to find in any bookstore or library, right? Well, the book is a lovely, spare novel that could be read by adults or teens. It also includes more than a small dose of mathematics, right there on the page. So—is it a young adult novel or an adult novel or math book? As those commercials for kitchen choppers and cleaning cloths might say, it’s all three! Really. It is. So the decision is the publisher’s initially. How to market it? Math book? Nope; it’s a novel. For teens or adults? Both, of course, like Harry Potter or Twilight. Well, then, who wants to read a novel with math in it?

Not me, or so I thought until Ogawa captured me with her spare, elegant prose and the reminder that math is really about the symmetry of everything, from a leaf to an archway. Near the end of the novel the professor asks a young boy he has grown to love to picture 1 +1 = 0 this way: one bird lands, and then another. Both fly away, and we are left with sky and a tree and a complicated, imaginary number. Now where to you put a book like that? I don’t know about you, but I’m keeping my copy in a backpack these days.

Urban Farming, Part 2

2010-10-04T13:00:00.001-05:00

Any romantic notions I've been harboring about starting my own little urban farm have been severely curtailed after reading Manny Howard's memoir, My Empire of Dirt: How One Man Turned His Big-City Backyard into a Farm. Novella Carpenter's experience with her Oakland urban farm is uplifting and positive. Although she experiences some difficulties, her farm does fairly well and she has a way of making it seem like anyone could do it. Manny, on the other hand, makes me think "how on earth did I ever think I could do something like this?" Manny undertakes constructing an urban farm in his Brooklyn backyard and is, frankly, terrible at it. While I can chuckle over failed attempts at growing vegetables, I cannot abide the stories of numerous animals dying because he is unprepared and ill-equipped to raise them. But as I read, I realized, this is probably a more realistic example of urban farming than Carpenter's book. Farming, even on a small scale, is not easy and should not be undertaken lightly. Carpenter genuinely seemed to enjoy farming and raising her own food seemed to be a source of pride for her. Her parents did some of their own farming when she was a child, so it wasn't an entirely new concept for her. Whereas Manny took on the task solely because he was paid to do it and write about it. He seems to see this strictly as another "project" rather than having any romantic notions about knowing where his food comes from. Although I liked Carpenter's book better, Manny's story taught me something important: I am not ready for chickens.

Running with Knitting Needles

2010-10-01T15:31:00.002-05:00

I can't believe it's been a month since my last post! My apologies, readers. I've been caught up in so many things, time has just gotten away from me. But fortunately I have a number of books to tell you about, so stay tuned!

Since I've been so busy lately, I've been too distracted and tired to read much, so I've been turning more and more to one of my other favorite past-times: knitting. Knitting is something I can do without having to think much and the result is something beautiful, so I find it very relaxing and satisfying. Plus, I can listen to audiobooks at the same time, which makes it even better. I came across Adrienne Martini's memoir Sweater Quest: My Year of Knitting Dangerously and it had a picture of colorful balls of yarn on the cover. For you non-knitters: knitters are easily drawn in by colorful balls of yarn. Like moths to a flame. I was hooked.

But as I was reading, I realized something. I have a number of friends who knit and we knit together regularly. But we don't talk about knitting while we are doing it. We don't debate the merits of various techniques or the history of certain patterns. Why? Because it's boring. In her memoir, Martini chronicles her attempt to knit an intricate sweater using a technique called Fair Isle. To many knitters (and non-knitters) Fair Isle seems quite difficult and can be very intimidating. And the particular pattern she attempts seems impossible for any but the very advanced knitter. So I thought this might be an entertaining and funny story of dropped stitches, misshaped armholes, and fights with the hubby over how much money was being spent on yarn. Meh. She delves into various knitting techniques, the background of Fair Isle knitting and the background of the woman who created this particular sweater pattern. I'm a knitter and I was bored. There were a few parts where she talked about meeting other knitters that was semi-interesting, but that was about it. This is definitely not a book for someone who isn't really, really in to knitting. And even then.... I get that there is something satisfying in reading someone's memoir about something you also enjoy or have also experienced. Cooking? Yes. Running a marathon? Sure. But I don't think it works well with knitting.

Vampire Tourism

2010-08-31T09:20:00.001-05:00

Even though I’ve read the Twilight series (okay, only the first two) and am aware of the whole vampire craze, I was shocked to see its effect on tourism in the actual towns featured in the books. A waitress from Port Angeles, Washington, recently told me that business has picked up at the local Italian restaurant featured in the book. In fact, some tourists are stopping by to dine with those life-size cutouts of Edward.

I found the whole thing hard to believe, so I decided to check it out for myself when we stopped in another Twilight location: Forks. Sure enough, the town was teeming with vampire fanatics buying up Twilight gear and signing on for Twilight tours. A local real estate brochure encouraged would-be entrepreneurs to buy commercial real estate in the hot new “vampire” area. And (why not?) you can buy “vampire blood” (syrup?) along with your Tully’s coffee at the local café.

The whole thing had me thinking of people who select vacation fiction that features the area where they will be traveling. I’m not that organized, but I did find myself fondly remembering a charming old memoir by Betty MacDonald called Onions in the Stew that details the author’s life with her young daughters on Vashon Island. MacDonald, who died in the late 1950s, was better known for The Egg and I. But her obscure memoir stayed with me for years and sprang to mind as I rode the ferry from Seattle toward the Olympic peninsula.

The amazing trees in Washington’s national parks also reminded me of how much I want to read Timothy Egan’s new book, The Big Burn, about the 1910 forest fire that inspired Teddy Roosevelt’s conservation efforts (in Montana and Idaho, not Washington).

So before you pack that next vacation book, why not consider choosing something related to your destination. Wherever you go, there you are, with a great book in your hand.

Tip it!

2010-08-17T13:43:00.000-05:00

Maggie Griffin is the mother of comedian Kathy Griffin. If you've watched Kathy's show My Life on the D-List or seen her comedy routines, you are probably familiar with Maggie. She is often the source of Kathy's amusing stories or subjected to Kathy's outrageous behavior. Maggie is famous for her mumus and love of boxed wine. But Maggie is finally getting her say with her new book Tip It! The World According to Maggie. It's a quick little read filled with stories of Maggie's childhood, her family, her husband and children, life in Hollywood, as well as her thoughts on various subjects, such as Bill O'Reilly and how much things cost. The family stories are charming and sweet and her observations are humorous. A lot of time it reminded me of my grandparents saying "when I was young, we..." which was comforting. Kathy adds her two cents here and there, adding to the humor, and I loved the back and forth conversations between them. Though Kathy teases her a lot and makes jokes at her expense, you can tell they really love each other, which is nice.

Best Cookbooks Ever

2010-08-16T13:20:00.004-05:00

The Observer released it's list of the 50 best cookbooks of all time. Of course we see Julia Child, Marcella Hazan, Elizabeth David, Alice Waters, and Fergus Henderson. Nigella Lawson and Jamie Oliver even make the list. I don't think Thomas Keller made the list, which I thought was strange. There were quite a few that I have never heard of. But it got me thinking: what was the criteria for the list? What would make my list? To me, a great cookbook is one that has a pleasing design, includes beautiful pictures and recipes that I can (somewhat) easily replicate myself. And, they are cookbooks that I would turn to regularly. Although many of these cookbooks are considered classics, I don't regularly cook from any of them. I've cooked from Mastering the Art of French Cooking, but it's not something I would do regularly. Momofuku is gorgeous, sure. But who (aside from the serious cook) actually cooks from it? Same with The Complete Robuchon and Henderson's The Whole Beast. While these are great cookbooks to read, what are the best cookbooks of all time for the average home cook? What are the cookbooks that you regularly turn to?

I am having a hard time coming up with titles. I have repeatedly used Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything and The Joy of Cooking for reference, but I don't know if I would put them on the "best cookbooks ever" list. Let's hear from you: what would you put on your list?

If you make it through zombies, you can make it through anything.

2010-08-13T15:35:00.002-05:00

Now that you've found a new love from Alikewise, find out whether your relationship will stand the test of a zombie Apocalypse. Apparently, I would not do well.

My relationship would survive for weeks in the zombie apocalypse!

Take the How Long Would Your Relationship Survive in the Zombie Apocalypse? Quiz at JessePetersen.net

Forget eHarmony and Match.com

2010-08-12T13:08:00.003-05:00

Not that I'm looking, but this great website was just passed on to me called Alikewise. Alikewise is a dating site that allows you to find people based on their book tastes. Perfect for librarians and book lovers, right?

I spent a little time browsing the site. For research purposes. I don't think there are many people using this site yet, because most of the searches I did resulted in the same 3 or 4 guys each time. None of which were of interest to me. But that got me thinking: is it a dealbreaker if your mate doesn't like the same literature as you? My husband is not a reader, but this has never been a problem for us. Whenever I talk to him about something I'm reading, he just nods his head and pretends like he is listening. And he tolerates my need to listen to audiobooks in the car, even if he'd rather be listening to some horrible death metal. I'm not sure if I would want a partner who is as into books as I am. At least he balances out my nerdiness and makes sure I am exposed to things like Jersey Shore and Ice Road Truckers.* What do you think? Is the same taste in literature important in a relationship? What if your mate is not into literature at all?

*In his defense, my husband does watch a lot of decent TV, like the History and Discovery channels.

Do you think my neighbors would mind a few chickens?

2010-08-11T09:33:00.001-05:00

I've always loved the idea of having a small little farm: a garden where I can grow my own veggies, a few chickens to produce eggs, even some bees for honey. But alas, I live in the city and the likelihood of moving to the country is nil, so it remains a dream for me. But city life didn't stop Novella Carpenter. A resident of Oakland, California, Novella decides to become an urban farmer, squat gardening in an abandoned lot and keeping chickens, ducks, turkeys, rabbits, bees and even pigs in her back yard. Her book Farm City: the Education of an Urban Farmer is an entertaining tale of her attempts to create a farm amidst concrete and violence. Barbara Kingsolver's memoir Animal, Vegetable, Miracle is probably a more well-known tale of do-it-yourself farming, but I found Novella's story more endearing. The urban aspect created some humorous situations, as well as some unlikely friendships with neighbors. Her farm not only serves to provide her with food, but it also provides a sense of community. Neighbors stop by to help with weeding and enjoy fresh produce. Young children get a chance to see pigs and rabbits for the first time. When Novella is dumpster diving for pig food, she meets the chef of a local restaurant who teaches her how to make salami and prosciutto from her pigs.

Novella's farm gives me hope. Perhaps I can have a chicken or some bees after all. My village's code is a little vague. I just read that Novella is working on a how-to book for urban farming, due out in the Spring of 2012. Yay! Maybe by then I'll have convinced my husband this is a good idea.

A Well-Deserved Success

2010-08-10T09:26:00.000-05:00

Although I truly enjoyed Kathryn Stockett’s wildly popular novel The Help, I have to admit that her seemingly instant success bugged me. I mean, who writes a first novel that seems incapable of sinking below the fourth slot on the New York Times bestseller list AND gets made into a movie by Spielberg? Some reviewers were as bothered by Stockett’s use of heavy dialect and ability to cash in on a dark chapter in African American history (Stockett is a white Southerner) as they were by her white heroine Skeeter’s decision to begin her writing career by editing and transcribing the stories of African American maids. Was the story really Kathryn or Skeeter’s to tell?

Stockett claims writing the novel helped her deal with homesickness in the wake of 9/11, and, although she did more conventional research as well, she also revealed that Grandaddy Stockett (98!) supplied many of the family stories that allowed Kathryn to understand an era before her time. It seems to me that all great writing is an ability to inhabit the lives of diverse characters different from ourselves. It would, after all, be difficult to populate a fictional world with only a narrow range of characters similar to the author.

Besides, Stockett worked hard to publish the novel. Although she became so discouraged at one point that she stopped tracking her correspondence to agents, she estimates that 60 of them rejected the novel before it finally found a home. So, I’ll stop envying Stockett her success and hope that Grandaddy Stockett is telling her some good stories about the Great Depression, which is the topic of her second novel in progress.

Still Missing

2010-08-05T13:33:00.003-05:00

Chevy Stevens's debut novel Still Missing grabs you from the first page and doesn't let go. The story begins with Annie O'Sullivan's first session with a new psychiatrist. Annie has just reappeared after having been abducted and held captive for almost one year. A realtor, Annie had been hosting an open house for one of her properties. At the end of the day, she is just about to close up and go home, when a man shows up to see the house. He is friendly and personable, so Annie agrees to show him around. But she soon discovers he is not as innocent as he seems. Annie is drugged and taken to a remote cabin where she is held prisoner. The story moves between Annie's sessions with her psychiatrist, describing the events that occurred, and Annie's difficulties returning to her old life and the investigation into the man who abducted her.

Normally, I don't care for these kinds of stories. Stories with serial killers, rapists, psychos, etc. keep me awake at night, so I usually steer clear. But Stevens's novel got some good reviews and sounded intriguing, so I gave it a try. I was up pretty late last night. Not because I was scared (although it is disturbing), but because it is such a page-turner I couldn't put it down. The story is a little graphic and creepy for my taste, but I was hooked immediately, and a little twist in the middle kept me guessing right up to the end.