The building is the tie that binds

Two books I've read in the past few weeks had an interesting connection: both books were about the residents of apartment buildings who had nothing that tied them together but an address.  The first was Marian Keyes' latest, The Brightest Star in the Sky; the second was Elizabeth Noble's new book, The Girl Next Door. 

The Girl Next Door follows Eve, a British ex-pat who moved to New York because of her husband's job, and the people who live in her new building on the Upper East Side.  Eve must learn to adjust to the lonliness of being surrounded by 20 million people, but each of the residents in her building have something to learn, as well.  Some neighbors interact with each other; most don't, save for a nod in the hallway.  Some are major characters who play as prominent a role in the book as Eve; others are only mentioned in passing.  What Noble did well was to take the idea that we are all extras in the movie of someone else's life and explore how our own individual lives affect others'.  Because the story is told from the point of view of many different residents of the building, the reader often gets to view the same situation from different vantage points.   

 

In  The Brightest Star in the Sky, however, the residents of an apartment townhouse in Dublin are observed by a not-so-neutral observer.  The ethereal narrator has been told that this particular townhouse is the one to choose from, and so must observe the couples that live at or are connected to this address.  In the narrator's quest to pick the best couple, the characters' facades slowly crumble to reveal what they are hiding within their walls.   

The premise of using the residents of one building is an interesting way to get a diverse group of characters to interact.  Both of these books told interesting stories with a lot of heart. 

DC Comics Is 75!

2010 is the 75th anniversary of DC Comics, which launched in February 1935.  Since then, DC has published some of the greatest comics ever. 

The Superman Chronicles Vol. 1--Appearance of the worlds first superhero.
Watchmen--Acclaimed literary comic by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons.
The Sandman: Fables and Reflections--Collection of short stories from Neil Gaiman's Sandman series.
Batman: Mad Love and Other Stories--Collection from Bruce Timm & Paul Dini, creators of Batman: the Animated Series.
Preacher Vol. 1--Garth Ennis & Steve Dillon's blasphemous tale of religion & America.
Kurt Busiek's Astro City: Life in the Big City--Busiek's creation that is as much about the superhero genre as it is about the characters.
Road to Perdition--Depression-era crime drama by Max Allen Collins & Richard Piers Rayner.
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Vol. 1--Alan Moore & Kevin O'Neill use characters from great literature and take them on an adventure.
Y: The Last Man Vol. 1: Unmanned--Post-apocalyptic tale where all males die except one man and his pet monkey.
Fables Vol. 1--Bill Willingham's series where all of our childhood fairytale characters grow up.

To see the whole list.

For more reading ideas try the Good Reads section on the library website.

Overnight Socialite

The tale told in George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion  is, by now, a familiar one: wealthy, perhaps bored, aristocrat makes a bet with a similarly entitled friend that he can transform a poor commoner into a woman of manners and bearing such that she could fool the most discerning of the upper class.  If you've never read the book, it's interesting to get the back story that led to the movie of the same name, My Fair Lady, Pretty Woman, and even, some have argued the Eddie Murphy/Dan Akroyd flick, Trading Places. 

The latest book from author Bridie Clark brings Pygmalion into the 21st century.  In Overnight Socialite.  Lucy Jo Ellis, a poor Midwesterner who moves to New York to follow her dream of being a fashion designer substitutes for Eliza Dolittle; Wyatt Hayes IV, an unemployed anthropoligist plays the role of Henry Higgins.  Add in a socialite ex-girlfriend desperate to win back Wyatt (without making it apparent that she cares), not one, but two, Freddy substitutes, and a girlfriend for the Captain Pickering role (billionaire Trip), and you have a collision of chick lit and a classic that's predictable, but entertaining.   

The best part of this book that I, far removed from the elite echelon in my Midwestern averageness, learned:  I had no idea that the island of Capri is not pronounced like the pants (handy thing to remember when I bump into George Clooney and ask about his Italian villa); the "g" in "Gstaad" is silent, and the snow there is better than Aspen's.  Beyond that, I give Clark credit for following true to the Pygmalion form (and definitely not chick lit's) and leaving an ending that is more of a hint than a package wrapped up as a bow. 

It's an entertaining and fun read.  Of course if you're looking to go back in time with this story instead of modernizing it, you can always check out Ovid's Metamorphoses, the Greek grand-daddy of all Pygmalion stories.  As for me, as I shake off the rest of the lingering winter blues, I'll take the lighter, springier modern version.

Shadow Tag

I've never been accused of reading too many books that have happy endings.  It's just not my style.  That's why I picked up Shadow Tag by Louise Erdich. 

The story centers around Gil, Irene and their three children.  Irene correctly believes that Gil has been reading her diary behind her back.  He suspects that she has been cheating on him.  What he does not know is that Irene decides to keep two diaries, a red one for Gil to see, and a blue one kept in a safe deposit box.  The red one is the dangerous one as Irene uses it to torment Gil by writing about infidelities that never occurred.  The blue one is where Irene keeps her real thoughts, which we quickly find out are just as dangerous.  The reader is taken into a family being torn apart by two people who no longer love each other, despite anything they may say.  Gil has put every bit of himself into his work, painting portraits of his wife, while ignoring his wife's real problems.  Irene deals with it by drinking too much and keeping two diaries for different purposes.

Despite the rather gloomy tale portrayed in Erdich's book, which I like, it's not the only thing that drew me in.  The writing style is incredibly beautiful and almost poetic.  The descriptions of each family member and the city of Minneapolis are detailed, yet there's more to it than simply telling the reader what someone or something looks like.  Erdich has a way of making you feel like you're there.  She introduces the reader to the players like introducing two friends.  Her style makes you feel like you are going through the very things Gil and Irene are going through.  The reader is caught in the same web of lies and isn't sure who is trustworthy or how the story will end.

2010 Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature

The Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA), an affiliate of the American Library Association, has chosen the winners of the 2010 Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature.  These awards promote Asian/Pacific American culture and heritage and are awarded based on literary and artistic merit.

Here are some of the winners of this years awards:



Adult Fiction
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

Adult Non-Fiction
American Chinatown: A People's History of Five Neighborhoods by Bonnie Tsui

Picture Books
Cora Cooks Pancit by Dorina K. Lazo Gilmore & illustrated by Kristi Valiant

Tan to Tamarind by Malathi Michelle Lyengar & illustrated by Jamel Akib

Youth Literature
Everything Asian by Sung Woo

Tofu Quilt by Ching Yeung Russell


For more information and/or to see the rest of the list go to the ALA website.

To find more great multicultural authors--check out the Good Reads section on our website.

The Story Sisters

I'm not sure why, but whenever I pick up an Alice Hoffman book, I expect it to be light and fluffy.  Maybe it's because my first experience with Alice Hoffman was the Nicole Kidman-Sandra Bullock movie Practical Magic, based on Hoffman's book of the same title (again, not light and fluffy) and now Alice Hoffman is indelibly lined to Sandra Bullock in my head.  Whatever the reason, I recently picked up Hoffman's most recent book and was, once again, surprised by the dark twists and turns and sadness that lurk in her work. 

 The Story Sisters focuses on the three Story sisters, who have created their own language and world, and their mother who loves, but doesn't understand, her daughters.  As time goes on the close-knit sisters grow apart as Elv, the oldest, uses drugs to turn from reality and into her imaginary world; Meg, the middle sister becomes disenchanted with the fantasy and strives to move beyond their gloomy lives; and Claire, the youngest, is torn between loyalties for her sisters.  As the girls grow into women, a hidden event in their past continues to haunt and shape their lives, which seem to be slowly unraveling. 

In many ways, The Story Sisters is archetypal Alice Hoffman.  As with most of Hoffman's stories, the physical world around the characters acts as a character itself and in this story, contributes to the sense of the girls' desire to protect themselves from the dangers that lurk around them.  As with most of her stories, there is a fantastical element to the book that nevertheless feel realistic.  And, as with most of her stories, a sense of hope and resiliency manages to remain through dark situations. 

Perhaps the next time I pick up an Alice Hoffman book I will remember the reason I keep doing so: not for anything light and entertaining, but for the lovely language with which she writes, the complex characters and worlds she continues to create, and the overarching sense that, through melancholy and gloom, inner strength will ultimately allow her characters to thrive.  

More Great Midwestern Authors

The Great Books theme for March is Midwestern Authors.


The authors chosen for this list were either born in or reside in one of the following states: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, or Ohio. Their stories and books open our eyes to the uniqueness of each of these states, but also help us realize that we are all part of that larger, special place called the Midwest.

Try some more authors from the "heartland":

Mama Dearest by E. Lynn Harris
Diva supreme Yancey Barrington Braxton is back after suffering a few setbacks in her acting career. Born in Flint, Michigan, the author was considered one of the most successful African-American or gay authors of his era.  Sadly he died in March of 2009 at the age of 54.

Wit's End by Karen Joy Fowler
As a young woman searches for the truth about her dead father, she is drawn into a mystery. Fowler was born in Bloomington, Indiana and is an author of science fiction, fantasy, and literary fiction.

Dreamers of the Day by Mary Doria Russell
A plain-spoken Ohio school teacher finds herself in the company of historic luminaries during the 1921 Cairo Peace Conference.  This is the Big Read selection! Russell is a multiple award winning writer and she lives outside of Cleveland, Ohio.

Try more great Midwestern Authors!

In The Queue

The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen Following her mother's death, Emily Benedict, 17, goes to live with her grandfather in the very weird town of Mullaby, North Carolina.  The town has its own ghost, mysterious lights, and the dead people who leave messages.  Sounds like a typical southern town to me!

Pearl of China by Anchee Min
This novel, based on the life of Pearl S. Buck, tells the story of the friendship between Willow, daughter of a poor Chinese family, and Pearl, the headstrong daughter of Christian missionaries.

How To Never Look Fat Again: Over 1,000 Ways to Dress Thinner Without Dieting by Charla Krupp
Apparently, a majority of women think they are overweight.  Krupp offers tips on dressing to hide the fat and bulges to make us look thinner and sexier without the bother of dieting.

Sex, Drugs, and Shakespeare

I learn so much from reading.  For example, I never knew that psychedelic mushrooms grew in cow pies until I read My Name is Will: A novel of sex, drugs, and Shakespeare.   I read it, in part, because it was written by Jess Winfield, one of the founding members of The Reduced Shakespeare Company and co-creator of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged).  For some reason (probably just the subtitle, to be honest), it also reminded me of a book I read and enjoyed a few years ago, How I Paid for College: A Novel of sex, friendship, and musical theater by Marc Acito. 

Like How I Paid For College, My Name is Will is a bawdy tale, but the similarities pretty much end there.  My Name is Will follows Willie Shakespeare Greenberg, a UC Santa Cruz student in the mid-1980s who is ostensibly working on a master's thesis to prove Shakespeare was secretly Catholic, but really prefers to spend his time smoking hash, avoiding his thesis, and relentlessly striving for...well, the first part of the subtitle.  He also has a mission to raise some money by delivering the biggest psychedelic mushroom (yes, found in a cow pie) to a drug dealer.  Interspersed with the stories of Willie is the early life of William Shakespeare, who is struggling as a Latin teacher, but really prefers to spend his time with the players, avoiding the new headmaster and striving for....well, you know.  He also has a mission to deliver a sacred Roman relic to the erstwhile headmaster who, as a Catholic, departed for safer environs.

This is definitely not a book for everyone, specifically those who aren't comfortable with a bit of bawdiness, but if you're looking for something a little bit different with a bit of historical Shakespeare thrown in the mix, it's worth a read. 

Great Midwestern Authors March 2010

The Great Books theme for March is Midwestern Authors. 

The authors chosen for this list were either born in or reside in one of the following states: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, or Ohio. Their stories and books open our eyes to the uniqueness of each of these states, but also help us realize that we are all part of that larger, special place called the Midwest. Try one of the following authors from the "heartland": 

The River Wife by Jonis Agee

This is an enthralling family saga set in the remote "boot heel" of Missouri spanning a century between the early 1800s and the early 1900s.  The author was born in Omaha and is a professor at the University of Nebraska.

The New Woman by Jon Hassler

This novel follows the exploits of the quirky residents of Sunset Senior Apartments and retired teacher Agatha McGee.  Hassler was born and raised in Minnesota and is known for his novels about small-town life. He passed away in 2008.

I Sailed with Magellan by Stuart Dybek
Eleven interlocking stories set in the stark urban landscape of Chicago's southside during the 1950s and 1960s. A Chicago native himself, Dybek is famous for his award winning short stories and poetry.

Try more Great Books on the library website.

Life as I Know It

I've always enjoyed the plot device wherein a person has a defining moment that allows a glimpse into what  life would be like if only one thing had changed.  It's been used both in movies (Sliding Doors and The Family Man and, of course, It's a Wonderful Life come to mind) and in books, including the Sarah Mlynowski's chick lit take on it, Me vs. Me.  It's a fun little mental vacation to think about how life would be different if twists had turned differently.

The latest take I've seen on this is the US debut novel of British writer Melanie Rose, Life as I Know It.  Unlike the other stories of this type, the second life main character Jessica Taylor gets to live is not her own.  After being struck by lighting, single Jessica wakes up in a hospital where the nurses are calling her Lauren and her husband and children are waiting to see her.  Lauren, it seems, was also struck by lightning at the same time, but her soul passed on.  Jessica lives a day as Lauren but, when she goes to sleep, awakes as Jessica.  The cycle repeats: every time she goes to sleep as one, she wakes up in the body and life of the other.  Suspend your disbelief and enjoy the ride.  During the course of jumping back and forth Jessica has to make some serious decisions about both lives.  She finds herself increasingly attached to Lauren's four children, who were in desperate need of a more maternal figure, but is also reluctant to give up her life as Jessica, who recently met and fell in love with her dream man. 

It sounds complicated and, I'll admit, a bit silly, but it didn't read silly.  The characters were compelling and I felt very drawn into the story, which is surprisingly easy to jump into despite the need to susbend disbelief.