Who knew?

Have you ever had a Eureka moment? This is the moment when all of a sudden you have insight into yourself. Well, I had a startling Eureka moment yesterday. I was helping a patron at the library find some stories to read.  She hadn't been to the library in years and wanted some new titles. She wasn't sure what she liked, but did say she enjoyed fantasy stories.  I selected a few titles that I thought may  interest her: Hunger Games, Graceling, Shifter, and Ill Wind.  All are wonderful fantasy stories, the one characteristic I did not realize they all had in common (until I looked at them altogether in her arms) was a strong female protagonist. Yes, while I read them I realized it (how could I miss it?).  However I never actually thought about the preponderance of stories I read that contain a strong female lead.  These stories would include JD Robb's in Death series,  James Patterson's Women's Murder Club ,  Tamora Pierce's YA series and Patricia Cornwell's Scarpetta series , and last, but in no way least, Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy (aka Girl with the Dragon Tattoo).

Do not get me wrong, I have many other literary interests and read many novels with male protagonists, animal heroes, and even hapless heroes/heroines. I just never realized that a majority of the stories I enjoy have strong female leads. These are women who (pardon the expression) kick butt, get the job done and at times become reluctant heroes. They do what needs done to survive or to deliver justice.  I doubt that if these women were men that I would like the stories less, but... I'm not sure now.  Who knew that I enjoyed strong female leads as much as I do. I hope you'll take time to try one or two to see if you like them. These stories are action packed, fantasy adventure stories.  Although they all have strong females there are also strong males in each novel. Most of these stories just happen to be written from a woman's point of view.

Kevin Brockmeier

I read Kevin Brockmeier's A Brief History of the Dead a few years ago and enjoyed it, but never picked up any of his other works until a week ago.  Brockmeier uses some fantasy elements in his book while keeping the premise believable at the same time.  For instance, in Brief History a virus spreads throughout the world, eliminating the world's population except for Laura, who is doing research in the Antarctic.  The dead still exist in "the city," which is like another dimension of our world.  They only exist their for as long as someone living (Laura) keeps them alive in her memories.  What I love about Brockmeier's writing is that I feel like I know the characters within the first few pages. 

This title came back to me when I was searching around for something different to read, so I decided to try Brockmeier again.  His book of short stories, The View From the Seventh Layer, is a wonderful read.  Some of the stories have fantasy elements and others are more traditional, but again, the characters are remarkable and the reader can identify with them.  There's a story of a woman who was "abducted" by an entity from the seventh layer of the universe.  Another story follows a philosophy major who is perplexed by the quesiton of why a few prominent philosophers suddenly stopped their practice.  There's even a Choose Your Own Adventure story! 

After reading the The View From the Seventh Layer, I found Brockmeier's newest title, The Illumination.  This book reads as a collection of short stories that are intertwined by a fantastic occurence and a book.  Each chapter deals with one of the six major characters.  Without warning the entire world is affected by the "Illumination" which causes a person's (or animal's) injuries to glow with a white light.  Everything from bumps and bruises to broken bones and cancer glow with this light.  The main characters in the story are also affected in different ways by a book containing love notes from a husband to a wife.  Each life is affected by the "Illumination" and the book of love notes in a profound way.

It's all about you

Do you ever catch yourself unintentionally reading books that fit a certain pattern?  I'm not just talking about the same style of writing or the same general authors, but patterns that you aren't consciously seeking out.  I've been through phases where, unintentionally, every book I read for several weeks involved characters who were chefs or bakers.  I've been through phases where every book took place in India.  I've read about a place I've never heard of before, and suddenly it's mentioned in the next four books I read.  And now, I'm in a phase where many of the books I've read recently have titles that really speak to the reader.  I don't mean that metaphorically, I mean that the titles are all addressed to "you."  My library basket is full of books about you.  Check them out at see if any of them are calling to you. 

You Were Wrong Karl Floor is a loser.  Not only is he not the "cool" math teacher, but he's so inept that the book begins with two of his students beating him up.  Life only gets stranger after that, when he comes home to find his house being robbed...and deciding to help.  Karl is detached in a way that reminds me of Camus' The Stranger, but with more bite. 

You Don't Love This Man Paul is having a bad day.  His 25-year-old daughter, Miranda, is scheduled to marry his best friend, but nobody can find her.  In the midst of looking for her, he gets a call informing him that the bank he manages has been robbed.  He soon discovers that the robber is the same man who robbed him 25 years earlier.  He stumbles through the day trying to resolve everything that has gone wrong and reflecting on the events and relationships that have led him to this point.  It wasn't the most satisfying book

If I Loved You I Would Tell You This  This collection of short stories is just about as melancholy as the title suggests.  From the titular story, in which a dying woman has an imaginary title with her litigious next-door neighbor, to Immortalizing John Parker, in which an artist struggling with her own loss  prepares to paint a portrait of a man with Alzheimers to preserve the memory of him, if not his memories, for his wife, it is an introspective collection of love and loss.

Next on deck are This is Just Exactly Like You, apparently a bleakly amusing dysfunctional suburban family saga and When You Were Mine, Elizabeth Noble's new book about a woman unsatisfied with her marriage who confronts old emotions when she begins meeting her former boyfriend. 

Looking over these summaries, I think it's time for a little something light and frothy to celebrate spring.  I was really drawn in by the intrigue of the titles that seemed to call out to me but, good as they were, the other pattern seems to be that they were all somewhat dark.  Have you any recommendations for books that would help me lighten the mood?  See, there's a good "you" title right there: What do you suggest I do?

Dream Big

Do you like to travel? I love to travel. In recent years with summer activities, traveling has not been an option for my family. Truthfully we have traveled but rather than exotic destinations, it’s to softball fields across Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. Don’t get me wrong, I love to watch softball, but looking at a field is not the same thing as seeing the sites (sigh).



Oh to swing in a hammock on the beach, hike the mountains, swim in a pool or lounge by a lagoon. If I'm going to dream, I'm gonna dream big... climb the Himalayas and live to tell about it. I can see it now,…white water rafting in Colorado, sailing in the Caribbean or perhaps the Greek Isles and visiting the penguins in Antarctica. But alas,….this year softball wins again. We did decide to add a couple days to our Softball World Series trip so we can sail around Florida and swim with the dolphins (Yeah!).


Here are a few books to wet your whistle for vacations to come or dreams to imagine.

1001 Escapes to Experience Before You Die- An excellent book written by travel experts and people who travel to wonderful destinations around the globe. It contains hundreds of beautiful color photos, so whether you are able to travel to these locales or are like me and simply want an enjoyable read. This book will make your dreams come true.

Once in a Lifetime Trips The author captures amazing photography and uses his personal knowledge to describe destination after destination. He describes once in a lifetime experiences and lists detailed itineraries so that you can experience it too. This is not just for those who can travel, but makes for a magnificent reading experience.

Antarctica Secrets of the Southern Continent-Exquisite photos and an in depth look at all Antarctica offers from its amazing landscape to the penguins that call it home. 

Judging a book by its cover

It's entirely possible that I'm too predictable in my interests.  Take a fabulous title, mix in some clever, kitschy art on the front, and I'm in.  I consistently judge books by their covers.  Several weeks ago, a friend at work saw a new book sitting on my desk and said, "I knew you'd be reading that book!" But, really, it was called The Revenge of the Radioactive Lady -- how could I pass that by?  (Of course, if the title and cover art weren't enough, the trailer -- viewable on the book's Amazon page -- clenched the deal.)

Fifty years ago, without her knowledge or consent, Marylou Ahearn was given a radioactive cocktail while she was pregnant.  Her daughter died of cancer ten years later, presumably from the effects of radiation.  The book resolves around Marylou's resolve to kill the doctor who led the radiation study after stumbling across his name and address.  She's not quite sure how to kill him, though.  After moving from Tennessee to Florida, she starts by introducing herself as Nancy Archer (the name of main character in the cult classic Attack of the Fifty Foot Woman) and involving herself in the lives of the doctor's highly dysfunctional family.  She soon learns that the doctor has Alzheimer's disease and is unlikely to remember anything about the study, making revenge far less satisfying for Marylou.  Along the way, her growing relationship with the family further complicates her original plans.

Despite the title, Revenge of the Radioactive Lady is about much more than simply revenge.  It is a sly, darkly comedic novel that probes the dynamics of aging, family, religion, forgiveness, and, yes, even revenge.  If that doesn't make you want to check it out, have you seen the cover? 

 

In The Queue

Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks

This award winning author is back with a novel based on actual events.  Set in the 1660s, this is the story of Caleb Cheshahteaumuck, the first Native American to graduate from Harvard.  I'll read the book just so I can get use to saying his name!

The Love of My Youth by Mary Gordon

Would you want to meet your boyfriend from the 60s?  I shudder just thinking about it.  However, these former high-school sweethearts meet up in current day Rome and discover the sparks are still there.

Bossypants by Tina Fey

I plan to read this book because I think Tina Fey is very, very funny. This actress and comedian has won 5 Emmys and other awards for her humor. However, I have to admit her picture on the cover is mildly disturbing.

What sort of witchery is this?

One of my jobs here at the 'brary is unpacking new books, which is pretty cool because I get to see all the new stuff before it goes out on the shelves. Now, it's said that one shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but let's get real: the cover is often the first thing about a book that anyone notices. The covers I've been noticing lately are those that belong to books in the urban fantasy genre, and the reason I've been noticing them is that, well, they're all pretty much the same. Let's see if I've got this right: scantily-clad women in tight leather pants holding guns, talismans, or daggers. Here's a sampling: Under Wraps, Mercy Blade, Magic at the Gate, Unclean Spirits, and Web of Lies. I've seen so many of these lately that I've begun to wonder: are hot, young twenty-somethings the only people who can save the world from demons, vampires, and other assorted nasties? I mean, aren't there any average-looking heroines just itching to kick some undead butt? None? Really? Or is sex-appeal the only weapon that counts in the war against devils and diminishing book sales? Sadly, I gather the latter's probably closer to the truth than anything; that, and the implied message that only bad girls can get the job done. I know, it's a losing argument, as I'm sure the trend of me-too book covers will continue for as long as sex sells (i.e., forever). But just once I would love for a publisher of novels of this genre to commission an artist to create artwork that isn't a goth-flavored knock-off of the cover of some racy men's magazine. Think about it: in a deluge of similar books, something truly unique just might stand out.
  

Mr. Chartwell - Personalizing the Black Dog

Winston Churchill famously battled with depression and, almost as famously, referred to his depression as the "black dog."  What if, though, the black dog wasn't just a euphimistic expression, but rather a physical entity?  What if the black dog was messy, well-spoken, and nearly 7 feet tall when standing on his hind legs?  And with that, Rebecca Hunt had a unique idea for her fascinating debut novel, Mr. Chartwell.  Mr. Chartwell, or Black Pat as he prefers to be called, is the dog whose sole job is to torment Winston Churchill.  Whether it takes the form of chewing rocks within Churchill's hearing or laying bodily across Churchill to make movement difficult, Black Pat is obligated to make life difficult for the former British Prime Minister.

Of course, Churchill is not the only person with whom Black Pat interacts.  He does, after all, need a place to live.  He arrives at the home of librarian Esther Hammerhans offering to pay her handsomely in exchange for lodging for only a few days.  When Esther resignedly agrees to allow him to stay, he begins insidiously involving himself in her life, while her friends encourage her to stay positive as an important date looms.

The twists aren't necessarily unexpected, but are clever and illuminating.  Hunt has written a touching story about the nature of depression and those affected by it.  She has done so with subtle wit and a keen eye for characters. At 242 pages, it is a quick read that will stay with you for a while. 

Toys and Other Things that Go Bump in the Night

Have you ever watched a scary movie, screamed your head off and then laughed at how silly you were. Then you return home to a quiet house and see shadows waiting to get you once you enter?  Well I have, isn't that half the fun of watching a scary movie or reading a scary book? Here are two books I read recently that are suspenseful thrillers. They are not terrifying but excellent fast paced high octane reads.

One is by the prolific author James Patterson. His new book Toys turns an ordinary doll into a life threatening menace.  I enjoyed the mystery, sci-fi high tech creations and political espionage. Hays Baker is a crime fighter just rewarded by the President and has spent all his life fighting evil or so he thought. When a twist of fate leads to his impending death his life as he knows it comes to a crashing halt. He does not realize he is one of the people he has hunted for years or that those he learned to hate are not the enemy. When given the chance will he choose the life he had or the new people he just found? This is a fast paced thriller with espionage, murder and covert operations.

Gideon's Sword, by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child is also another thriller.  Reviews are mixed, but I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. A death bed confession leads to revenge, and intrigue.  This is an action packed epic adventure. It has car chases, epic battles and a strong sense of justice. Show me a man or woman killed in cold blood and I want justice.  Gideon Crew delivers.  He is not an omniscent crime fighter or undercover agent (Well at least not initially.) He is an avenger. Odd and quirky at times and ever unpredictable, can Gideon an outdoorsman, scientist, conman and art thief save the world without assistance from others? The climax held me riveted to my seat with a crazy fight scene and another plot twist. I can't wait for the next novel with Gideon Crew.