Looking Ahead

Everyone is currently looking ahead to 2009. What awaits us all in the coming new year? More importantly, where the heck are all the flying cars that we were promised years ago? I'm still waiting on that one.

So many books and films have tried to look ahead to the future. The views of a future universe vary so much that it's quite easy to say that no one knows what will happen. But it is fun to look back on some of these classic and newer works and see each author's outlook for humanity.

1984 - George Orwell
Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
Farenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury
City at the End of Time - Greg Bear
The Morcai Battalion - Diana Palmer
Execution Channel - Ken MacLeod
The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood
The Age of Conglomerates - Thomas Nevins

Have a happy and safe 2009!

Fearless Fourteen

Even if you don't read romance fiction, you know that it follows a formula. Janet Evanovich got her start as a romance writer before becoming well-known for her Stephanie Plum character. She obviously found the formula for success with this series: one part quirky characters, one part improbable situations, two parts humor. While the latest, Fearless Fourteen, isn't quite as over the top as some of the others (and by this I mean Grandma Mazur didn't have an incident at the funeral home, Stephanie's life was never really threatened, and Ranger only made a cameo appearance), it is still entertaining. Here's to hoping that Janet can keep her formula working!

Books To Film: Låt den rätte komma in

Admit it: nothing says Merry Christmas like bloodsucking vampires. No, I'm not talking about your in-laws or exes (although you may have a different opinion about that). I mean the real deal, the sleeps-by-day-creeps-by-night vampires that populate Swedish author John Ajvide Lindqvist's novel Let Me In, since retitled Let the Right One In ( or Låt den rätte komma in) after the recently released film version. Like the film, the book tells the story of the relationship between twelve-year-old Oskar Eriksson, the oft-bullied school misfit, and his new next-door neighbor, a rather strange little girl named Eli who, as you can probably guess, turns out to be a vampire. This book is not for the squeamish, but I loved it, and let me just qualify that by saying that I am not a fan of vampire novels in general. Everyone's writing them these days, it seems, and most are laughable, if not downright awful. But this one is different: it's good. And from what I've read, the film is pretty awesome as well, winning accolades from critics everywhere. This is what award-winning author Caitlin R. Kiernan had to say about it: "One of the most striking things about this film, which is filled with striking elements, is it's voice. It is so wonderfully soft-spoken. It is a long whisper, punctuated with screams that have meaning because of the whisper....I am pleased with the film's restraint, and by its refusal to submit to either formula or easy morality. And it's just so beautiful....And, of course, this story permits the vampire to be a vampire. Not a watered-down daemon lover that sparkles by daylight, not necrophilia dressed up as bloodless romance for necrophiles who would rather not admit what gets them hot and bothered....Yes, I loved it. I encourage you to see it in the theatre if you can, and, if not, track down the DVD as soon as it's available. Definitely one of the four or five best films I've seen this year." I have yet to see the film myself, and with its limited release it hasn't shown up anywhere around here, but the DVD is scheduled to be released March 10, 2009.

Find the Best Books of 2008

Many readers will think back on 2008 and look to read the best books of the year. Where's the best place to start? Here are some excellent lists for you to peruse.

The New York Times recently released a list of the Top 10 Books of 2008. The list was taken from the Sunday Book Review's list of 100 Notable Books of 2008. Publisher's Weekly has PW's Best Books of the Year, NPR has several lists and GoodReads has their own list. Library Journal has lists by genre, and even one on the top how-to books of the year.

Many of these books are available in the library. This is just a sample of the Best of 2008.

Fiction

Dangerous Laughter - Steven Millhauser
A Mercy - Toni Morrison
Netherland - Joseph O'Neill
2666 - Roberto Bolaño
Unaccustomed Earth - Jhumpa Lahiri

Nonfiction

American Lion - Jon Meacham
The Dark Side - Jane Mayer
The Forever War - Dexter Filkins
This Republic of Suffering - Drew Gilpin Faust
The World Is What It Is - Patrick French

Russian Booker Prize--2008

The Russian Booker Prize is a literary award now established as that country's premier literary prize. It is awarded to the best work of fiction written in the Russian language each year and the cash prize for 2008 was $20,000 US. The 2008 winner was Mikhail Yelizarov for his mystic novel "The Librarian". The library doesn't own any of the winners because most are either unavailable or haven't been translated into English yet. So, why we wait for Lyudmila Ulitskaya, Ruben Gallego, Denis Gutsko, and Yelizarov's works to be released, try some other great Russian authors:

Generations of Winter by Vassily Aksyonov

In Concert Performance by Nikolai Dezhnev

The Faculty of Useless Knowledge by Iuril Osipovich Dombrovskii

Nightwatch, Daywatch, & Twilight Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko (fantasy series)

The Sacred Book of the Werewolf by Viktor Pelevin (fantasy)

Ice by Vladimir Sorokin

Who is your favorite Russian author?

Nineteen Minutes

The Centerville community will be participating in the Dayton-wide program The Big Read, and as mentioned in an earlier blog, the book selection which was voted on during the first two weeks of August is New York Times best-selling author Jodi Picoult's book, Nineteen Minutes, a fictional account of a community and family's struggle to come to grips in the aftermath of a school shooting ~ a sad theme, to be sure. Although it is impossible to put a positive spin on such a tragic topic, the book presents the opportunity to discuss how a community can come together to support one another and further lends itself to the important discussion on the very real problem of school bullying. On the author's website she actually highlights how her book was used in the greater Hartford, Connecticut area when 75 high school students came together for just such a discussion. The moderators of the group, working with the state Board of Education, developed an anti-bullying curriculum out of the process. Here at the library, we are in the process of planning Big Read book discussion groups which will begin to meet in March of next year. We plan to host groups here at the Centerville Library in the After Words discussion group, and also at the Woodbourne location book discussion group, Page Turners. Our library will host discussion groups at some outside venues as well. We'll keep you posted.

400th Anniversary of John Milton's Birth

Today is the 400th anniversary of the birth of John Milton, who is considered one of the greatest literary figures in history. Universities all over the world are hosting readings of Milton's greatest and well-know work, Paradise Lost. For instance, Cambridge, where Milton attended college, is hosting a 12-hour Webcast with faculty and students reading the famous work. Podcasts are available for this reading at this link. NPR has an interesting article about the celebration along with several audio links to passages of Paradise Lost. The value of this literary work is made more remarkable when one considers that Milton had been blind for four years before beginning the work. The Oxford English Dictionary lists over 600 words that Milton has been credited as the first person to use, furthering his legacy.

There are numerous celebrations and exhibits, especially in England, celebrating Milton's works. Some of them are listed here. Many of these exhibits are available to view online.

The library has several other works by Milton available, including The Portable Milton, which gives a terrific overview of the author's lifetime and various poems and essays. Try John Milton: Selected Poetry if you are interested in reading more of Milton's lyrical pieces.

My Favorite Books of 2008

Publisher's Weekly (among others) has come out with their "Favorite Books of 2008" list. Some of their picks that are on my "to read" list are:
Breath by Tim Winton
Ritual by Mo Hayder
Master of the Delta by Thomas H. Cook.

Two of my favorites that were not on their list are:
Small Favor by Jim Butcher
Ink and Steel by Elizabeth Bear.

Tell me what your favorite books of 2008 are!

If you want the whole list go to: PW list
More by Elizabeth Bear and Jim Butcher.

Play-it-away, Sam!

Well, it's that time of year again when it's simply too cold to jog outside with my neighborhood pals. So, I've grudgingly hit the treadmill. It's not the treadmill I despise, it's the solitude. My dreaded jog passes so much more quickly with good company. Alas, I think that I have solved this problem with the help of the Playways available at the library. Playaways are cool! Basically a book on an MP3 player, Playaways are small and lightweight - perfect for the treadmill. The collection at WCPL includes loads of fiction in many genres, non-fiction, biographies and even foreign language instruction.
I recently "re-read" The da Vinci Code while traveling. I even made it through airport security with the Playaway and that's no small feat these days. The daVinci Code was read by a man with a wonderful French accent where appropriate. So, now I'm brushing up on my rusty French while I jog.
If you are traveling this winter or, if like me, you need something to pass the time while you hit the treadmill, try our Playaways. I bet you'll be playing it away again and again.

In the Queue

Busted Flush
by George R.R. Martin
In 1946, an alien virus rewrites human DNA and is unleashed over New York City. The virus kills 90% of those it infects, 9% survive as mutated creatures, and 1% gain superpowers!

The Virgin Queen’s Daughter
by Ella March Chase
Elinor De Lacy, the purported daughter of Queen Elizabeth I, was supposed to be killed at birth. Instead she is saved by a midwife and now is returning to the Tudor court as one of the
ladies-in-waiting to the Queen!

Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street
by Michael Davis
Born as the result of an after-dinner discussion about the poor quality of children’s programming, Sesame Street is now the longest running children’s show in television history.

Books That Make You Go "Ewww!"

Ever read a book and come to a part that gets you all hot and bothered, and not in a good way? You know, you're zipping along through the story and BAM: you're suddenly subjected to some author's ridiculous version of erotica. And as you try to erase the look of disgust--or incredulity--from your face, you think to yourself, "Why, dear God, why?" Well, fellow reader, take comfort in the fact that you're not alone. Indeed, there's an actual annual award given for the year's worst, I repeat, WORST, erotic writing. It's called the Literary Review Bad Sex in Fiction award, and it was established "with the aim of gently dissuading authors and publishers from including unconvincing, perfunctory, embarrassing or redundant passages of a sexual nature in otherwise sound literary novels." (Laurell K. Hamilton, I'm looking right at you, and if you actually wrote literary novels you'd win this hands down. Every year.) So you're probably wondering who, ahem, is up for it this year. Here's the shortlist:

James Buchan for The Gate of Air

Simon Montefiore for Sashenka

John Updike for The Widows of Eastwick

Kathy Lette for To Love, Honour and Betray

Alastair Campbell for All in the Mind

Rachel Johnson for Shire Hell

Isabel Fonseca for Attachment

Ann Allestree for Triptych of a Young Wolf

Russell Banks for The Reserve

Paulo Coelho for Brida

Update: Rachel Johnson is the winner of the 2008 Literary Review Bad Sex in Fiction Award! Unfortunately--or fortunately, depending on your perspective, we don't own a copy of Shire Hell here at the library, but I'm sure the requests for it will start pouring in. Now get your minds out of the gutter!

Native American Mysteries

Since November is Native American Heritage month I thought I would highlight a few of my favorite mystery series. First off the new Jane Whitefield novel by Thomas Perry will be out in January! I have waited ten years for a new one in this exciting series and now the wait is over! While I not-so-patiently bide my time until the new year, I will be content with these other fantastic entries:

Blood Memory by Margaret Coel

Snake Dreams by James D. Doss

Coyote's Wife by Aimee & David Thurlo

and don't forget:

Runner by Thomas Perry

National Book Awards to be Announced

The 2008 National Book Awards will be held on Wednesday, November 19th. This is the 59th year for the award, sponsored by the National Book Foundation. The awards are divided into Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry and Young People's Literature. Check out some of the books that are available at the library!

Fiction

Lazarus Project by Aleksander Hemon
Telex from Cuba by Rachel Kushner
Shadow Country by Peter Matthiessen
Home by Marilynne Robinson
End by Salvatore Scibona

Nonfiction

This Republic of Suffering by Drew Faust
The Hemingses of Monticello by Annette Gordon-Reed
The Dark Side by Jane Mayer
Final Salute by Jim Sheeler
The Suicide Index by Joan Wickersham

Check out the National Book Foundation website for a complete list of nominees and winners!

Love Is For The Birds

Written by naturalist and one-time Nairobi resident Nicholas Drayson, A Guide to the Birds of East Africa is a hoot of a tale (no pun intended). It's the story of mild-mannered widower Mr. Malik and his quest to win the honor of inviting the woman of his dreams, the lovely Rose Mbikwa, to the Nairobi Hunt Club Ball. But he's got stiff competition: the womanizing, four-time divorced Harry Khan, who also has designs on Rose. To settle their dispute, the two men engage in a friendly contest of sorts: whoever can identify the most species of birds in a week's time wins the right to ask Rose to the ball. Simple enough, right? Not if you're Mr. Malik, and not if you're having to face down robbers one day and Somali bandits the next. But it's all in the name of love, and Mr. Malik is more than willing to fight the good fight. Will he win? Well, you'll just have to read the book and find out for yourself! Fans of Alexander McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, bird lovers in general, and readers simply looking for a good yarn will definitely enjoy this book.

Paying our Respects

This week we are commemorating Veterans Week at WCPL. The focus this year is Arlington National Cemetery, the final resting place for thousands of our military veterans. The exhibit acts as a historical overview of the wars the United States has fought. The collection of artifacts is stunning and complete with uniforms, photos, books and memorabilia. However, the result of the exhibit has been far more personal than any collection of keepsakes. Many veterans and veterans' loved ones have visited and shared their stories. They have also shared their thanks for being remembered. I must admit that being thanked by a veteran was both startling and humbling to me. As someone who has never served in the military, I feel indebted to these brave men and women and, in fact, I thought there was nothing I could do or say to express the depth of my gratitude. After speaking with some of these heroes, I realized that a simple "Thank You" is all they require. And so, I say "Thank You" for defending our nation, our rights and our people.

If you would like to read more about the great men and women who have served our country, there are many, many books available in the library on the topics of military personnel and history. These are some of the books that I found most interesting.

For Comrade and Country, Oral Histories of World War II Veterans, edited by Robert G. Thobaben

The War in Iraq, A Photo History

Arlington National Cemetery, A Nation's Story Carved in Stone, photographs by Lorraine Jacyno Dieterle and forward by John McCain

America's White Table, by Margot Theis Raven

Atmospheric Disturbances

I just finished reading Rivka Galchen's newest book, Atmospheric Disturbances. Galchen does not waste any time as the plot quickly unfolds in the home of Dr. Leo Liebenstein. Something as simple as Dr. Liebenstein's wife coming home sets off the story. The reason is that this isn't his wife Rema, but someone who looks, speaks and acts just like her. Despite this, Liebenstein immediately realizes that she is not his wife.

Leo begins his quest to find out who this imposter is and where the real Rema is located. He also uses assistance from two other people throughout the search. The first is a patient of Leo's named Harvey, who believes he works for an organization that can control weather patterns. The second is the mysterious Dr. Tzvi Gal-Chen, who apparently works for Harvey's organization, but whom Dr. Liebenstein has never met. The only communication between them is through text messaging.

Galchen has mixed humor and emotion in a way that causes the reader to identify with Dr. Liebenstein. But it also asks the reader one important question: What would you be willing to do and believe in order to find the person you love? This book will keep you guessing until the very end.

This is NOT your mother's hot chocolate!

I have found the most sinful book in the library! Hot Chocolate: 50 heavenly cups of comfort by Fred Thompson is a chocolate lover's dream. During the two weeks that I enjoyed the book, we savored nearly all of the recipes - some of them twice! It was simply gluttonous. I'm warning you: this is not your mother's hot chocolate. One variety is very simply Ghirardelli chocolate caramel squares melted together with whole milk! Talk about rich! Other recipes are more exotic, incorporating cinnamon or mint. And, there are recipes with an international flair, like the hot chocolate from Angelina's in Paris. This was my favorite recipe, although it really is best when you drink it in Paris, at Angelina's, looking at the Louvre. I was thrilled to find this recipe as I have craved this elixir since leaving Paris in 1987! Turns out, Fred Thompson has many wonderful cookbooks including topics like crab and BBQ. Gee, I wonder if he has a recipe for crab cakes as good as in New England . . . I'll get back to you on that.

In the Queue

Once Were Cops
by Ken Bruen
Michael O’Shea is an Irish policeman teetering on the edge of insanity. An exchange program with the NYPD brings him to the United States with disastrous results.

Outliers: Why Some People Succeed and Some Don’t
by Malcolm Gladwell
The author of Blink and The Tipping Point is back with an interesting perspective on the best, the brightest and the most successful—-the people he calls “Outliers.”

The Private Patient
by P.D. James
Commander Adam Dalgliesh and his team are called in to investigate the murder of journalist Rhoda Gradwyn, a patient of the famous plastic surgeon, George Chandler-Powell.

Native American Heritage Month

November is Native American Heritage Month. This month of recognition to Native Americans was signed into law in 1990 and has been a very important tribute ever since. It is sponsored by such prestigious organizations as the Library of Congress and Smithsonian Institution. This year's theme is "Celebrating Tribal Nations: America's Great Partners."

There are many terrific books available by or about Native Americans. One such author is Sherman Alexie, who grew up on a reservation near Spokane, Washington. James Welch is considered a key member of the Native American Renaissance of the 1980's. This time was considered a renaissance because more and more books were coming out by Native American authors than any other time in history. Other authors considered to be a part of this movement include N. Scott Momaday, Simon Ortiz, and Joy Harjo.

Go to the Native American Heritage Month website to learn more.

The Candy Bombers

The Candy Bombers: The Untold Story of the Berlin Airlift and America's Finest Hour, by Andrei Cherney, is a great history book even if you think you don’t like history. This is the touching story of the Berlin Airlift and how a simple act of kindness changed the course of history. The author’s narrative style makes you forget you’re reading “real” history and instead listening to a really good story. The accompanying pictures are a real plus.

Grande Dame, Savannah

As our Ohio weather turns colder, I am drawn to the South. In particular I long to return to Savannah, Georgia. I fell in love with Savannah before I had ever set foot in Georgia, courtesy of John Berendt's engaging story-telling. This charming city revealed herself to me as the protagonist of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Berendt's descriptions of Savannah are so detailed that I actually used his book as my tour guide when I finally visited this Grande Dame. While the murder mystery that takes place in Midnight reads like the most skillfully crafted fiction, make no mistake about it, this story is non-fiction. And in this case, truth is definitely stranger than fiction! After Berendt leads you into the city, he will introduce you to the well-to-do, the Southern Belles and Gentlemen, the voodoo priestess, the drag queen and many others whose lives intertwine without any acknowledgement on their behalf. The charismatic people of Savannah, the deep-rooted Southern traditions and the history contained in Midnight blend together in this real life mystery that I read again and again.

Hungry for a Good Mystery?

Admittedly, I will read any mystery and enjoy it - even the fluff. And while Diane Mott Davidson's earliest mysteries were mostly marshmallow, her latest books provide more substance. Davidson's series focuses on Goldy, a Colorado caterer, who finds herself in the middle of many a murder. Toss in a young son, beat in an abusive ex-husband, sprinkle with an eccentric and very rich best friend (who happens to share the same ex-husband), fold together with a new husband who works as a Detective for the local police department and you've got the recipe for a light mystery series. Speaking of recipes, Davidson shares many of Goldy's recipes in the books and the recipes are delicious! With more than a baker's dozen in the series, there are plenty of books to enjoy. No doubt this is light reading, but very enjoyable.

Meet Five of the Best New Writers

Part of the National Book Week celebration, sponsored by the National Book Foundation, is the recognition of five of the best new fiction writers. The NBF celebrates these five authors in "Five Under 35: Best of the New Generation." What is exciting for these authors is who nominated each of them for the award. They were nominated by established authors who have either been a finalist for the National Book Award, or have actually won the prestigious honor. Let's meet our five new authors.

Matthew Eck - The Farther Shore

Keith Gessen - All the Sad Young Literary Men

Sana Krasikov - One More Year: Stories

Nam Le - The Boat

Fiona Maazel - Last Last Chance

Each new author will be recognized at a special ceremony on November 17. Check out the National Book Foundation's website for more information about these writers, who nominated them and the ceremony itself.

Welcome To The October Country

What is the October Country, you ask? It is, as Ray Bradbury put it, that country where it is always turning late in the year. That country where the hills are fog and the rivers are mist; where noons go quickly, dusks and twilight linger, and midnights stay. That country composed in the main of cellars, sub-cellars, coal-bins, closets, attics, and pantries faced away from the sun. That country whose people are autumn people, thinking only autumn thoughts. Whose people passing at night on the empty walks sound like rain.... Look out your window right now: you're in the October Country. But who are these mysterious "autumn people" Bradbury speaks of? I think you may know a few of them: Peter Straub, Stephen King, Clive Barker, Joe Hill, and, of course, Ray Bradbury himself. They know the October Country better than most, have mapped its twilight boundaries, walked its lonely roads and endured its sleepless nights. Their travelogues, if you will, are numerous, with such titles as Ghost Story, Salem's Lot, The Hellbound Heart, Heart-Shaped Box, Something Wicked This Way Comes, and others. Read them if you dare, and do enjoy your stay--it's really quite beautiful during the day, but I wouldn't linger too long after dark if I were you.

The Last Lecture

No doubt, many of you have seen the "last lecture" by Randy Pausch either on YouTube or on any number of websites. If not, let me give you some background. At many universities a professor is often chosen to give what is known as the "last lecture." This speaker must act as though it is the final time he/she can ever speak to a group of students and must pass on some life lessons and rules for living. But what if a professor actually has one final chance to speak to his students? Randy Pausch, a professor of computer science, faced this when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and given only a few months to live.

The key struggle for Randy Pausch was that planning a last lecture was going to take time, time that he would like to spend with his wife and three children. He decided to go through with it, not as a moment for himself, but as one that his children could look back on. Rather than lamenting his fate, Pausch decided to celebrate life by passing on lessons on how to make the most out of life.

Soon after the lecture, which was a rousing success, Randy decided to team up with writer Jeffrey Zaslow so that he could get more of his thoughts down in a book. Entitled simply The Last Lecture, the book gave him a chance to say everything he wanted to say to his family and friends. Unfortunately, Randy Pausch did pass away on July 25 of this year. But his words still inspire those who pick up the book.

Hispanic Heritage Month--Goce de un gran libro!

Hispanic Heritage month began on September 15 and is celebrated through October 15. September 15 is the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries--Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, & Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico declared its independence on September 16 and Chile on September 18. This month-long national celebration recognizes the contributions of Hispanic-Americans and also pays tribute to Hispanic heritage and culture. What better way is there to celebrate than to read a book? Try one of these fantastic authors:
Sandra Benitez
Roberto Bolano
Jorge Franco Ramos
Lorraine Lopez
Angela Mastretta
Ana Menendez
Edmundo Paz Soldan
Laura Restrepo
Mayra Santos-Febres
Helena Maria Viramontes
Thank you Hispanic Americans for all you have done and are doing for the United States! Gracias los americanos hispanicos!

In the Queue

Hounded to Death
by Rita Mae Brown
A dog show in Kentucky, the theft of a famous hound, the suicide of
a horse veterinarian—-sounds like the perfect setting for a Rita Mae
Brown mystery!

Testimony
by Anita Shreve
Not interested in baying hounds in the state of Kentucky? This
book offers a sex scandal at a New England boarding school. Even
more shocking is the fact that the acts were caught on videotape!

The Widows of Eastwick
by John Updike
We’ve aged, and so have the witches of Eastwick. The three
divorcees, Alexandra, Jane, and Sukie have left town, remarried,
and become widows. They return to Eastwick for the summer and
find that the town is still magical for them.

October is National Book Month

Curl up with a good book this month because October is National Book Month. The promotion is sponsored by the National Book Foundation and was created to encourage readers of all ages to enjoy books. The foundation highly encourages families to read together.

This foundation also gives out the annual National Book Award. The finalists for this award will be announced on October 15 at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theater. Check out the webcast from the National Book Foundation's site to hear the announcement. Click here for more information about the 2008 National Book Award.

Want to spend time with a good book, but not sure what to read? Browse the Washington-Centerville Public Library's online catalog or ask the friendly library staff for suggestions. There are many book lists available online including the New York Times Bestseller List, Amazon's Best Books of the Year So Far and Indie Bound, which covers some of the hidden treasures in the world of books. There are many more resources like these available, so go out and explore!

Neil Gaiman Is Cool And You Know It

And if you don't know, you'd better ask somebody. This leather-clad literary icon is the creator of the hugely popular graphic novel series The Sandman, as well as numerous other graphic novels (Eternals, Signal To Noise), short-story collections (Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders, Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnus Nutter, Witch), children's books (The Wolves in the Walls, Coraline), and novels for adults (American Gods, Anansi Boys). Oh, and remember the films Stardust and Beowulf? Neil Gaiman again, who wrote the book on which the former is based and who co-wrote the screenplay for the latter. That's right: imaginative entertainment for the entire family, and Gaiman does it all without phoning it in like certain other popular writers, who, ahem, shall not be named here (but you all know who you are, so knock it off). Gaiman also has a pretty cool web site for his fans, which you can check out here. So if you've never heard of Neil Gaiman, consider this a long-overdue introduction, and be sure to reserve his very latest, The Graveyard Book.

2009 Big Read Title Announced

The next Big Read title is Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult. In this novel, Peter Houghton is an alienated & bullied teen who opens fire at his high school and kills ten people. The judge assigned to the case tries to maintain her objectivity as she struggles to understand her daughter, who was once Peter's best friend and who is now a surviving witness.
The Big Read will take place in Spring, 2009. "Friends, co-workers, neighbors, and strangers will all read the same book, then join together for lively discussion and events. The Big Read is a community wide, six-week-long event during which people gather in all sorts of combinations at all sorts of locations to talk about the myriad issues raised by any good piece of writing."

Meanwhile,try something else by Jodi Picoult.

Greatest Villains in Literature

I was just reading an article in the UK paper The Telegraph highlighting their picks for the 50 Greatest Villains in Literature. What a great idea! So I picked my favorites from their top 25 and came up with the following list.

"Sauron" from the Lord of the Rings--how can a giant, all-seeing eyeball not be creepy?

"Mrs. Danvers" from Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier--the housekeeper from your nightmares!

"Hannibal Lector" from Red Dragon by Thomas Harris--pass the fava beans please!

"Voldemort" from Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling--people are afraid to speak his name!

It was hard to choose favorites from their list let alone come up with the whole fifty by myself. Make your own list at your next get together (don't invite any librarians--they'll win) or just let me know who you think the greatest villains in literature are.

Maxine Hong Kingston Receives Award from the National Book Foundation

Maxine Hong Kingston received the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters from the National Book Foundation earlier this month. The award has been presented to such renowned authors as Toni Morrison, Ray Bradbury and John Updike among others. The winners are chosen based on how their work has enriched American literature.
Kingston has won many other awards during her lifetime, including the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction for The Woman Warrior. Other notable works by Kingston include The Fifth Book of Peace and Veterans of War, Veterans of Peace. Celebrate Kingston's lifetime of meaningful and poignant literary contributions and pick up one of these amazing works!

Tolkien Week: September 21-27

Tolkien Week begins Sunday, September 21 and ends on Saturday, September 27. The week is dedicated to the ambitious writings of J.R.R. Tolkien. If you have never read any of his books, The Hobbit is a great one to start with prior to reading the vast Lord of the Rings series. Then dive in to the series that has been revered, copied and even adapted for the silver screen. The series starts with The Fellowship of the Ring, followed by The Two Towers and ends with The Return of the King. Tolkien has many other works out there and the stories can be quite complicated. That is why there are numerous companion pieces which can be helpful to the reader. The Tolkien Companion by J.E.A. Taylor, Tolkien and the Invention of Myth edited by Jane Chance and A Tolkien Compass by Jared Lobdell are several such guides. Perhaps you are looking for works that celebrate Tolkien's vast collection of stories and his life. A Tolkien treasury and Tolkien: A Cultural Phenomenon honor the works of this illustrious author. Whether you are reading Tolkien's work for the first time or revisiting his world, check out some of these books throughout the week!

Lorrie Moore & Other Witty Writers

Fun and funny, witty and wistful, majestic and mundane, and outrageous and completely down-to-earth sums up Lorrie Moore's fiction. Dear Readers, there's a long tradition of funny, witty, and clever writers. Dorothy Parker. Oh, and Oscar Wilde. Let's not forget John Irving, Margaret Atwood, Zadie Smith, George Bernard Shaw, Tom Robbins, Evelyn Waugh, P. G. 'Plum' Wodehouse, Virginia Woolf (she is wickedly funny, really), Douglas Coupland, Terry Pratchett, James Thurber, and David Lodge. But no writer lifts my spirits and makes me laugh out loud more than Lorrie Moore. You'll want to read her sentences out loud to just about everyone, if only to make them laugh and sigh at the same time. Her Collected Stories is out in the U.K. (Here's hoping for a U.S. release soon.) Until then, read any of Lorrie Moore's works. My favorite collection is Like, Life. My favorite passage? I'm not telling.
Margaret Atwood
Douglas Coupland
John Irving
David Lodge
Dorothy Parker
Terry Pratchett
Tom Robbins
George Bernard Shaw
Zadie Smith
James Thurber
Evelyn Waugh
Oscar Wilde
P.G. Wodehouse
Virginia Woolf

Deer Hunting With Jesus

Sometimes a snappy book title does just what it’s meant to do: makes you chuckle and then open the cover. Most of us will read the book jacket and then decide whether or not the book has potential merit. I’m a sucker for a catchy title myself, so I jumped at the chance to investigate further Joe Bageant’s story of growing up in rural West Virginia, Deer Hunting With Jesus. The present election cycle once again brings to the forefront America’s cultural distinctions, and this book could not be more timely though published last year. Joe is a great storyteller, but the book is also informative in the vein of Nickel and Dimed and What’s the Matter with Kansas. I love what the publication "Mother Jones" had to say about the book: “Bageant writes with the ghosts of Hunter S. Thompson, Will Rogers, and Frank Zappa kibitzing over his shoulder.” The great literary critic, Marshall McLuhan, suggested that you should choose your reading by turning to page 69 of a book and, if you like it, read it. This is what the author had to say about page 69 of his book: “Well, page 69 is one of the more low keyed pages in a rather gonzo book.” I would agree. The author recently achieved international fame when a Swiss-Italian TV station produced a 30-minute documentary titled, “Joe’s Winchester”. You can view the production on the author’s web page. Since Italian is my second language, I found it particularly enjoyable. However, even if you don't understand the language, the story is wonderfully told.

Exploring America's Roots

During this important election year I have found it interesting to look back at America's beginnings. One of the most important documents for this young nation is the Constitution. But do we take enough time as we should to appreciate this work? There are many books available that study the writing of the Constitution, and the document itself, without sounding as dry as the Sahara. Actually these books read more like a novel. Try Decision in Philadelphia by Christopher Collier, Brilliant Solution by Carol Berkin and Summer of 1787 by David Stewart if you are interested in the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The Words We Live By, written by Linda Monk, is an annotated version of the Constitution that describes each section in detail. Check out Founding Brothers by Joseph Ellis for detailed information about the men who argued, compromised and finally wrote one of the most powerful documents in history.

In the Queue

More new books coming soon!

Letter To My Daughter
by Maya Angelou
It seems everyone is writing books to their kids or about their dogs!
This is Angelou’s first original collection in a decade. In the book
she shares personal experiences and short essays about living well
and living good.

Fixing Hell: An Army Psychologist Confronts Abu Ghraib
by Larry James w/ Gregory A. Freeman
In this appropriately titled book, army psychologist Larry James is
dispatched to Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq to fix the catastrophe
caused by the abuse of prisoners and to prevent it from ever
happening again.

Bob Schieffer’s America
by Bob Schieffer
Schieffer, the moderator of CBS-TV’s Face the Nation, offers more
than 165 of his best commentaries, covering a wide range of issues.

2008 Man Booker Prize Shortlist

The shortlist for the 2008 Man Booker Prize was announced this week. The Man Booker Prize is for "any full-length novel, written by a citizen of the Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland and published this year. It must be an original work in English (not a translation) and must not be self-published." I had to look up the Commonwealth and it is "53 independent sovereign states, mostly former British colonies" such as Australia, Canada, India, and Egypt. (I knew it was British but I didn't realize how extensive their "empire" was.) The judges had to read over 112 entries, cut it down to thirteen, then the final six. The winner will be announced October 14, 2008 and will win a prize of 50,000 pounds (almost $88,000.00). The nominees for this year are:

The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry
Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh
The Clothes on Their Backs by Linda Grant (on order)
The Northern Clemency by Philip Hensher (on order)
A Fraction of the Whole by Steve Toltz

Adiga and Toltz are first-time novelists and beat out previous winners John Berger and Salman Rushdie.

Song For Night

More Dayton Literary Peace Prize stuff for you folks. I decided to read one of the books nominated in the fiction category: Song For Night, by Chris Abani. Wow. Utterly blown away. Song For Night tells the story of My Luck, a 15-year-old boy soldier in Nigeria trying to find the rest of his unit after being separated from them by a land-mine explosion. My Luck's journey through the landscape of war and memory is a walk through a waking nightmare in which no emotion or sense is spared. What keeps this novella from being an utterly depressing read is the absolute beauty of Abani's writing. The man is a poet (really, he is), and with passages like this, it shows: "I dream my hate comes back and she is a woman made of night dancing in the middle of a lake I have seen only in Grandfather's stories and she has claws of fire and breath of ice and her laughter, as she turns in dance, is a band tight as a vice across my heart choking life from it, and as I am gasping for breath all I can think is, What a thing of beauty she is, what a thing."

What a thing, indeed. I'm adding this one to my personal collection.

2008 Dayton Literary Peace Prize Winners

In case you were wondering, and you should be, the winners for the 2008 Dayton Literary Peace Prize were announced this week. The winner of the Fiction Prize is Junot Diaz for The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, and the Nonfiction Prize winner is Edwidge Danticat for Brother, I'm Dying. The Lifetime Achievement Award winner is Taylor Branch, notable for his Pulitzer Prize-winning trilogy, America in the King Years. According to Sharon Rab, chair of the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, "This year’s winners explore both the devastating impact of violence and the power of the human spirit to overcome great pain and adversity in order to move communities and society forward. We are proud to honor artists whose creativity and unique perspectives remind us that lasting peace comes from our recognizing a shared humanity.” For more info about these authors and their prize-winning books, read the entire press release here.

Peace!

Interred With Their Bones

The writings of Shakespeare have become a hot topic for debate. Who was Shakespeare? Was it more than one person? Are there other writings by this person that have never been read? Suppose their are other writings. This is what the author, Jennifer Lee Carrell, does when places her heroine, Kate, into a mystery/thriller concerning manuscripts by Shakespeare that have been lost for years. Many of the scenes from this book mimic scenes from many of Shakespeare's most famous plays which creates a modern day mystery with a literary twist. The reader follows Kate as she travels the globe in order to find the truth about the manuscripts and elude those who are after her. If you're looking for a book that doesn't give you nightmares about your ninth grade English class, pick up Interred With Their Bones!

Chick Lit from a Cool Chick

I will be the first to admit that I am not a reader of Chick Lit. I am more a mystery and fantasy gal. I have read part of a series by Shanna Swendson which I consider "supernatural chick lit" and I enjoyed them but I haven't tried anything else yet. So I consulted my pal Kristin,the Chick Lit guru and got buckets of good suggestions for you. Her favorites are Last Chance Saloon by Marian Keyes, Dirty Girls Social Club by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez, and In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner. She also recommended some newer ones: Three Girls and Their Brother by Theresa Rebeck, Dirty Girls on Top (the newest by Valdes-Rodriguez), and The Ex-Debutante by Linda Francis Lee. So hats off to Kristin--the coolest chick I know! Oh and don't forget my only contribution to the list:

Enchanted, Inc.

Once Upon Stilettos

Damsel Under Stress

Don't Hex with Texas (2008)

If you want more Chick Lit suggestions try our Good Reads page on our website at www.wclibrary.info.

Books I Love: Alabaster

Alabaster by Caitlin R. Kiernan

Commanded by an angel no one else can see, an albino girl named Dancy Flammarion travels the scorched backroads of Georgia in search of otherworldly prey: the Children of Cain. Nightwalkers. Monsters that for ages have hidden themselves in the dark places of our world. Monsters that feed on us. Dancy--homeless, motherless, and utterly alone--was first introduced in Kiernan's Threshold, and she is the heroine of this short story collection. Unlike many of the cookie-cutter protagonists populating today's dark fantasy and paranormal fiction, Dancy isn't drop-dead gorgeous and she has neither a blackbelt in karate nor any sort of law-enforcement or combat training. Really, she's just a teenager armed with only an old carving knife and the ability--or curse--to see monsters that others cannot, and that's all she needs to get the job done. If you're looking for romance, look elsewhere: Dancy doesn't date the monsters, she kills them. Alabaster is one of my favorite collections by one of my favorite authors, so if you're a fan of dark fantasy and looking for something a little different from the norm, give it a shot.