tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233080372011-07-07T23:18:57.674-04:00A description of interesting books read, skimmed, or claimed as read by adult services staff at the Twinsburg, Ohio, Public LibraryFredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.comBlogger3831100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-57244323481688851452010-04-09T10:59:00.003-04:002010-04-09T10:59:31.018-04:00

As of Friday, April 8, 2010, this blog has moved. Please visit http://blogs.twinsburglibrary.org

Beth Hatchnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-29493678893661699932010-04-06T20:07:00.002-04:002010-04-06T20:22:34.216-04:00

My husband and I have been listening to this series by Richard Montanari. They take place in Philadelphia and Byrne and Balzano are homicide detectives. We are on the 3rd. They are The Rosary Girls, The Skin Gods and Merciless. The audiobooks are read by Scott Brick who has won awards for his narration. I like this series because there is a lot of development of the characters and you begin

Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01911517660501208328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-39294921124407860252010-03-04T10:35:00.001-05:002010-03-04T10:35:54.390-05:00

I saw the trailer to the upcoming movie, in theaters March 19, and knew that I wanted to read this book. Also, lots of kids in the children's department request this book. I checked it out on audiobook and it was only 2 CDs, so its a very short read. Greg Heffley is just starting middle school and decides to write about his experiences in his journal (don't call it a diary!). His observations

Beth Hatchnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-59628967764360592192010-02-27T17:10:00.003-05:002010-02-27T17:37:35.259-05:00

by E. LockhartFrankie Landau-Banks is a sophomore at prestigious Alabaster Preparatory School. This school, like some other famous private institutions, is rumored to be home to a secret society called The Basset Hounds, made up of male, usually rich or well-connected, members who have to be 'tapped' to be accepted. Frankie knows that her father and his close friends were members, though they

Beth Hatchnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-49251631348888883712010-02-11T12:09:00.000-05:002010-02-11T12:10:41.395-05:00

An insiders look at those fleeing Kim Jong Il's regime. Mike Kim is a missionary and an activist, helping people through legally murky means in their bids to escape. His viewpoint is heavily religious and highly personal. Viewed through any lens, though, the tales he recounts are vivid and harrowing.

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-36819268466230200932010-02-08T17:30:00.000-05:002010-02-08T17:30:42.209-05:00

A witty, fantastical book, similar to Christopher Moore's style of writing. Monster is employed by the pest control company but his expertise lies in the more extraordinary household pests....hungry yetis, walrus dogs, pesky demon goats, and the like. Judy is an ordinary woman, working the night shift in a local Food Mart, until one day her life is turned upside down when she finds a couple of

Beth Hatchnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-46341372220866749492009-12-29T13:46:00.000-05:002009-12-29T13:46:20.139-05:00

Tessa Scott has been living with leukemia since she was a little girl. Now, she is in her teens and time is running out. There are so many things she hasn't experienced: sex, drugs, crime, falling in love.... She writes a list of everything she wants to do before she dies and plans on carrying out every single one. She struggles to feel alive though she is dieing. A haunting story, one that

Beth Hatchnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-62061747923686927072009-12-21T17:08:00.003-05:002009-12-21T17:27:39.850-05:00

by Christopher MooreThe first book I read by Christopher Moore was The Stupidest Angel, about Santa turning into a zombie and taking over an entire town during Christmas. So, I expected A Dirty Job to have the same quirky, odd ball humor and fantastical scenerios. I wasn't disappointed.You'll meet Charlie, a self-titled "Beta Male", who undergoes a sudden change after the passing of his wife when

Beth Hatchnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-32620195766870161602009-11-24T14:10:00.002-05:002009-11-24T14:14:57.095-05:00

I started listening to Greg Iles on the recommendation of a librarian from Shaker Heights. I listened to Turning Angel, and I loved the way Iles told a story. Even though it was graphic and the subject matter wasn't my favorite, Iles's mastery of the language and his ability to build a compelling plot led me to pick up True Evil. I loved this audiobook; it was suspenseful, the characters were

Carihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946089089327911719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-32831674479764971452009-11-14T12:45:00.001-05:002009-11-14T12:45:37.405-05:00

An excellent literary tie-in with the Fables series of graphic novels. If you haven't read the graphic novels (really, you should, they're fantastic) this still stands on its own. If you are familiar with the series, this fills in some back-story and builds on the main story line.

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-50408991824131100742009-11-14T12:44:00.000-05:002009-11-14T12:45:15.609-05:00

A tremendous resource for those curious about brewing their own beer. This book covers the history of brewing and how the American commercial brewing scene evolved, the science behind brewing, and the actual art involved.

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-17218154914014470782009-11-10T14:25:00.004-05:002009-11-10T14:56:05.775-05:00

If you haven't read this book and enjoy audiobooks, this is a fantastic one to listen to. Frank McCourt narrates this autobiography of his childhood growing up in Ireland. His thick Irish brogue is charming and his tale transports you to the dirty streets of Limerick. Living in the lane, children went without proper shoes, food, and were plagued by the guilt ingrained in them by the Catholic

Beth Hatchnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-49506630247627221802009-11-10T14:11:00.001-05:002009-11-10T14:12:29.248-05:00

by Chris TusaTusa immediately draws you into the world of Hailey Trosclair, a typical teenager discovering herself, questioning the meaning of life and the existence of God in a world fraught with misery, loss, and desperation. In such a short amount of time, you become entangled in the lives of the people in Hailey's life - genuinely feel for them, sharing their trials and their triumphs. Only a

Beth Hatchnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-58819723225862903702009-10-19T18:30:00.002-04:002009-10-19T19:15:03.427-04:00

by Audrey NiffeneggerWe begin with a death. Elspeth Noble is dead and leaves her two twin nieces, Valentina and Julia, her flat in London with the stipulation that her sister and twin, Edie, and her husband are not allowed in the flat and the twins have to live there for a year before they can sell it. Other tenants of the building await the twins' arrival: Elspeth's lover, Robert, lives in the

Beth Hatchnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-14532637342895804062009-10-12T17:08:00.004-04:002009-10-12T18:31:07.111-04:00

by Elizabeth KimOut of the frying pan and into the fire... that sums up life for this Korean war orphan. A product of an American soldier's conquest, this young child and her mother are shunned by their Korean families and neighbors. They form a tight union of mother and daughter, alone in a world that views them as nonpersons, not worthy of existence. One fateful night, her mother is killed in

Beth Hatchnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-55596840129359253462009-10-11T10:21:00.001-04:002009-10-11T10:21:41.696-04:00

A serious graphic novel about relationships, and the false impressions that can destroy them.

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-50795192798275876752009-10-01T09:36:00.003-04:002009-10-01T10:09:53.171-04:00

by David Sedaris (audiobook)Back again from the author of Me Talk Pretty One Day, Sedaris' book of comical and insightful essays had me in stitches. I found myself laughing out loud at his descriptions of people and events. His boyfriend Hugh's habit of losing him anytime they walk anywhere. The woman who kept a babyfood jar filled with water and old cigarette butts that she sniffed anytime she

Beth Hatchnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-25971621354224378962009-09-29T13:29:00.000-04:002009-09-29T13:30:49.810-04:00

I'd read this before and remembered it fondly. The recent movie prompted me to revisit it. This book is a classic, having single-handedly given graphic novels legitimacy. The intricacy of plot and subtlety of artwork come together in a spectacular work of art.

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-88177462886578370542009-09-18T10:05:00.003-04:002009-09-18T10:21:14.410-04:00

by Ann PatchettA suspenseful romantic story of a soiree gone wrong. A wealthy Japanese businessman, Mr. Hosokawa, is thrown a birthday party by a South American Vice President in order to gain his favor so that he might construct factories in their country. To lure Mr. Hosokawa to the affair, the Vice President hires the Japanese man's favorite opera soprano, Roxanne Coss, to entertain.Diplomats

Beth Hatchnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-73728523210425707732009-08-26T09:24:00.002-04:002009-08-26T09:31:37.453-04:00

by Dr. PhilIn this book, Dr. Phil explains the five factors for a phenomenal family (great alliteration, right?). To do this you need to create a nurturing and accepting Family system; promote rhythm in your family life; establish meaningful rituals and traditions; be active in your communication; and learn how to manage crisis. I found this book to be helpful and, at least, reassuring about my

Beth Hatchnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-15917073556106744312009-08-10T17:23:00.004-04:002009-08-10T17:43:02.079-04:00

by Antwone Quenton FisherI know this one was posted before but I wanted to elaborate a little....This autobiography strikes into the heart as we follow a young Cleveland foster child, Antwone Fisher, through his years of abuse and neglect at the hands of his foster mother, Mrs. Pickett. Though the scenery is familiar to me, the family dynamic - if you can call it that - is foreign, shocking, and

Beth Hatchnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-33992947461715013152009-07-30T10:11:00.001-04:002009-07-30T10:11:34.638-04:00

The latest of Delisle's graphic novel travelogues. Graphic novels have proven to be a great medium for this type of thing. Delisle has an eye for odd visuals, like the fact that Burma, a former British colony, intentionally switched to driving on the right side of the road. Meanwhile, because of trade restrictions, people there can only get cars with the wheel on the right side, which makes

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-54727675119814595112009-07-27T14:57:00.003-04:002009-07-27T14:58:27.559-04:00

by Neil GaimanA little baby toddles off to the graveyard one night, narrowly escaping a murderous villain named Jack, who dispatches the baby's entire family. In order to protect the child, the ghosts of the graveyard adopt the boy, keeping him safe from harm, naming him Nobody Owens - "Bod" for short. As he grows, Bod is able to live the life of ghosts. Taught by ghosts and his guardian Silas,

Beth Hatchnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-17697036335985135552009-07-26T16:23:00.001-04:002009-07-26T16:23:56.477-04:00

This is a look back at the many-branched tree of the human evolutionary tree. The many versions of human (all but one, Homo Sapien - us - being extinct). This collection is a thought-provoking. Most of the critters featured survived longer than we've so far been around. It's entirely conceivable that we could wind up one of the least successful man-apes dreamt up by nature. Also interesting is

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-49577930279512628952009-07-23T14:15:00.002-04:002009-07-23T14:39:09.973-04:00

I decided to read A Simple Plan by Scott Smith on the recommendation of my friend John, who had heard about it from Stephen King. John is a huge King fan and will read pretty much anything he recommends. And I like King too--although I was kind of annoyed about what he said about the Twilight books. Still, I loved Case Histories by Kate Atkinson, which King also recommended, so I decided to go

Carihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946089089327911719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-77174820628753915902009-07-21T18:25:00.001-04:002009-07-21T18:25:31.797-04:00

A graphic novel about a strange arrival in a small town. Pretty decent. It has kind of a Daniel Clowes feel to it.

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-14671648562185355052009-07-20T13:34:00.002-04:002009-07-20T13:51:37.424-04:00

by Laura Whitcomb (audiobook)An enrapturing tale of two ghosts, Helen and James, who inhabit human bodies, vacant of souls, in order to share their love in physical form while unraveling the mystery behind each of their deaths. Their former hosts experienced trauma or tragedy in their lives that enabled them to vacate their bodies. James and Helen uncover the mystery of their own deaths as well

Beth Hatchnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-13646044303619511642009-07-11T11:37:00.003-04:002009-07-11T11:37:22.289-04:00

Humorous shorts in comic form, starring Skullboy, a supervillain whose trials in elementary school threaten to derail his career aspirations.

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-83365631263383609282009-07-11T11:31:00.002-04:002009-07-11T11:34:25.519-04:00

The first volume in this manga series shows great potential. It's a romp through a fictional universe featuring airships, pirates, martial arts and more. Good fun, and an (extremely loose, in that typical manga fashion) interpretation of the Wizard of Oz stories.

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-69298120429087159002009-07-09T16:14:00.002-04:002009-07-09T16:32:33.097-04:00

The Cutting is a mystery set in Portland, Maine. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I used to live there 20 some years ago and I like to read books set there. Anyway, Hayman is recently transplanted there from NYC and writing novels is a second career for him. The book is a bit salacious but a decent first mystery. I find that most mystery writers take a couple of books to get really good but

Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01911517660501208328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-91016399717425249212009-07-09T15:57:00.002-04:002009-07-09T16:02:15.222-04:00

Author Seth Grahame-Smith has mostly just used the original Jane Austen classic. His minor changes include making the Bennet clan a formidable band of Shaolin-trained killers, and the inclusion of zombies. Lots and lots of zombies.Thematically, it holds up rather well. I read the Cliff's notes to the original alongside, and the modifications actually seemed surprisingly superficial. And honestly,

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-5224792285543457172009-07-09T15:53:00.002-04:002009-07-09T15:57:10.475-04:00

Scripted by Harvey Pekar, this is a pretty straightforward bio of the more prominent Beats. The accompanying artwork leaves a great deal to be desired, and there's not much depth of information. Still, given the graphic format and accessible information, it could help to introduce a new generation to this important literary movement.

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-63100361601536975142009-07-09T15:46:00.002-04:002009-07-09T16:07:53.509-04:00

Sometimes, either because I am facilitating a book group or just to enjoy a favorite book, I will listen to the audio version of a book I've already read. So, I found myself listening to the audio of Finding Fish to freshen up for a book group. I liked the book but I LOVED the audio. I don't particularly like books where people write about surviving bad childhoods because I find it just too

Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01911517660501208328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-9580724602724021852009-07-09T15:15:00.002-04:002009-07-09T15:43:58.811-04:00

Molly is an educated, well-traveled young woman who currently lives in Seattle, Washington. She is also a foodie who writes the blog "Orangette." For me, I like blogs where the author is passionate about something (cooking, decorating, gardening, writing, art) and then a gifted writer as well. Molly Wizenberg fits that description. She is someone who writes about her life through her writing

Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01911517660501208328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-43621823765794440892009-06-15T12:58:00.000-04:002009-06-15T13:00:26.385-04:00

Paleontologist Jack Horner has long been a maveric in his field. His latest ideas involve reverse-engineering a dinosaur-like critter from a chicken. Why? To get a better understanding of how evolution works. According to Horner, the chicken genome actually contains huge chunks of DNA left over from its more formidable ancestors. Through simple tweaking, an egg could be caused to hatch a

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-61405641175888363162009-06-11T11:26:00.002-04:002009-06-11T11:34:52.625-04:00

This novel by Sally Koslow caught my eye because it seemed very similar to The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, which many of you may remember because it was a huge bestseller some years ago. Molly Marx is dead--and no one knows what happened to her, not even Molly herself, who narrates the book. As the story starts, she's at her own funeral. Through a series of flashbacks and present-day scenes,

Carihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946089089327911719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-87923220928590520432009-06-06T11:23:00.002-04:002009-06-06T11:32:21.595-04:00

by Jay AsherOne day, Clay finds a box of cassette tapes sitting on his front porch. Excited, he gets out the old dusty stereo from the garage and sits down to listen, never expecting the ghostly voice of Hannah Baker, speaking to him from beyond the grave.Hannah Baker committed suicide and before her death, she recorded 13 tapes detailing the events that led up to that fateful action. Each person

Beth Hatchnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-790379819325857602009-06-06T11:09:00.002-04:002009-06-06T11:21:09.920-04:00

by Susan CollinsA suspenseful page-turner, this young adult book packs a futuristic punch. Catniss Everdeen lives in a world that has been all but obliterated by wars, disease, and famine. All that's left of the life we now know are thirteen, well twelve, colonies that are ruled by a controlling government called The Capitol. District Thirteen was destroyed by The Capitol when they staged a

Beth Hatchnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-42023017948644371672009-05-13T11:20:00.002-04:002009-05-13T11:36:44.364-04:00

Le Carre has many times now used the device of pitting a naive, sympathetic protagonist against the harsh and cynical reality of the spy world. In Mission Song, this works to great effect. The plot centers around a coup planned in Congo, with a cabal of British luminaries hiding behind a mask of humanitarian concern while secretly salivating over the prospect of controlling the region's lucrative

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-57796297656525515442009-05-03T11:21:00.002-04:002009-05-03T11:26:27.769-04:00

This young adult title by Suzanne Collins was recommended to me by a number of teen librarians, but I had no idea I'd get sucked into it so completely. Katniss Everdeen is a young girl living in Panem, a post-apocalyptic version of the United States. Panem is governed by a corrupt government that runs a tournament called The Hunger Games once a year. Two children, a boy and a girl, from each

Carihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946089089327911719noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-29861394049657212192009-04-29T19:46:00.003-04:002009-04-29T19:53:23.950-04:00

Many bloggers get book deals, especially if they have great blogs. We recently had Jennette Fulda, who blogs at pastaqueen.com, speak for our Writers' Retreat, and she talked about how she got her book deal and how she set up her blog. Heather Armstrong is another one of these wonderful funny writers. Unlike Jennette's book, which is about how she lost weight, Heather's book is about how she

Carihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946089089327911719noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-68094995811002418872009-04-29T19:30:00.003-04:002009-04-29T19:41:27.857-04:00

A colleague at the Shaker Heights library recommended this book to me (I substitute there from time to time). She said she was "obsessed" with it--so I couldn't pass it up, especially since the audiobook was available. It turns out the Ravenna Road Irregulars, our mystery club, is doing this book as their June selection as well. I definitely could understand why my colleague liked it so much.

Carihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946089089327911719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-56107957380478608092009-04-15T16:34:00.000-04:002009-04-15T16:35:25.270-04:00

Another installment in a great graphic novel series. This one includes the origin of breakout character Abe Sapien.

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-21240936031363988162009-04-10T16:49:00.002-04:002009-04-10T17:06:37.391-04:00

I have always wanted to read the Spenser series but always thought that it was too big of a commitment with so many books to read. However, Parker has written several other series including the Jesse Stone books. Jesse is a divorced ex L.A. homicide cop. He lost his job because his drinking got out of control when his marriage fell apart. He gets a job as the chief of police in Paradise,

Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01911517660501208328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-28393485455154289122009-04-09T09:07:00.000-04:002009-04-09T09:10:33.484-04:00

A tale of the first "crime of the century "(20th century). In 1910, 21 people were killed in a bombing of the LA Times. It was a period when labor relations were vicious and often bloody. The event brought together famous detective Billy Burns (first director of what became the FBI), attorney Clarence Darrow (of Scopes monkey trial fame) and filmmaker D.W. Griffith (of Birth of a Nation shame).

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-9285255400846810922009-04-03T10:17:00.002-04:002009-04-03T10:19:36.368-04:00

Mike Mignola's Hellboy has escaped the insular comics world to become popular in the mainstream. Another of his projects, BPRD, is poised to do the same. This is an excellent series involving the investigation of paranormal activities.

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-81285279066524577462009-04-03T10:14:00.002-04:002009-04-03T10:17:31.275-04:00

It's a hard-science based take on the relatively near future of space colonization. Author Robert Zubrin builds a scenario that assumes humans have taken the plunge and sent colonists to Mars. What results is a kind of travel guide that discusses the risk and potential of various existing concepts. A must-read for those interested in NASA.

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-85659747616021034602009-02-28T17:20:00.002-05:002009-02-28T17:24:53.104-05:00

This novel by Vikas Swarup is now being published as Slumdog Millionaire, which of course is the 2008 Oscar winner for best picture. It's about Ram Mohammad Thomas, the orphan boy who wins a billion rupees on a television show and is then arrested for cheating. Throughout the course of the book, he explains to his lawyer, Smita, why he knew the answer to each question. I haven't seen the movie

Carihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946089089327911719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-3741063941807703872009-02-28T17:11:00.002-05:002009-02-28T17:16:19.020-05:00

~The "High Heels" series by Gemma Halliday - I'm loving this chick lit mystery series. I've read Spying in High Heels and Killer in High Heels, and I'm in the middle of Undercover in High Heels. The protagonist, Maddie, is just a little bit silly but also has a good head on her shoulders, and the cast of characters supporting her is funny but also realistic. I love Halliday's writing style and

Carihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946089089327911719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-7494154064073712592009-02-23T16:01:00.002-05:002009-02-23T16:12:41.190-05:00

by Spencer QuinnA light, humorous mystery, Dog On It is told from the perspective of Chet, a dog whose owner, Bernie, is a private detective. Charming, witty, and a suspenseful, this book was a delight to read.In this book, Chet helps Bernie solve the disappearance of a young girl who may or may not have run away from home. The unique perspective gives flavor and wit to the story as Chet uses his

Beth Hatchnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-82294882000529207082009-02-08T11:21:00.002-05:002009-02-08T11:32:08.880-05:00

The Wolfman was Pekearo's first and last book. (He wrote other things but I don't think they were published). Tragically, he was gunned down while volunteering in NYC as an auxillary policeman. The Wolfman is Marlowe Higgins, a vet from Nam. The narration is hip, with lots of slang and swearing. Higgins has a family curse that has been passed down through generations. When his father dies,

Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01911517660501208328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-19335503046551438842009-01-24T11:23:00.002-05:002009-01-24T11:32:33.507-05:00

I look at a lot of decorating and gardening books and wouldn't normally blog them because I basically look at the pictures. However, I read this book straight through. I find beautiful rooms, gardens and architecture inspiring and at the same time relaxing to look at and read. Certainly, the way you chose to live says a lot about you. This book talks a lot about how you want the room to feel

Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01911517660501208328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-72656280894228282622009-01-21T09:56:00.002-05:002009-01-21T10:34:46.722-05:00

I listened to the audio book narrated by Richard Ferrone. Ferrone has a deep gravelly voice that I love. This book is very compelling but depicts graphic violence so it is not for people who would be bothered by that. It switches back and forth in time from present day to the Vietnam war. It follows the story of Allan Carmichael, a vet, who is injured by the war both physically and

Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01911517660501208328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-83441729621730500132009-01-12T15:14:00.002-05:002009-01-12T15:26:32.049-05:00

This is the fifth book translated into English by Norweigian author Fossum. It's in the Inspector Sejer series. Fossum is a brilliant writer. You care about the victim and the people who commit the crimes (at least in this one) and Konrad Sejer, the police detective, who is a very compassionate man. This story is about the disappearance of Ida Joner, a lovely 9 year old girl. The tension is

Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01911517660501208328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-66001087905697912322008-12-27T11:27:00.002-05:002008-12-27T11:36:16.159-05:00

The title of this post may be a bit misinformed, since I tend to read an eclectic mix of things, but I wanted to share the three books I read while the library was closed for the holidays. After all the bustle was done, I was too tired to do anything but read!How We Decide by Jonah Lehrer - This is a nonfiction Advanced Reader copy I received from the publisher. I've read a number of books on

Carihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946089089327911719noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-4018116342584765362008-12-22T20:00:00.002-05:002008-12-22T20:10:39.717-05:00

This is a debut mystery novel that takes place in Ireland. The main detective, Rob Ryan, is working the murder of a teenage girl from his hometown, Knocknaree, with his female partner and best friend, Cassie. Rob had 2 friends growing up in Knocknaree who disappeared. The earlier case plays into the present case. Rob is Ryan's middle name and he does not reveal his identity to his superiors

Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01911517660501208328noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-51345434037104977552008-12-14T15:09:00.004-05:002008-12-14T15:26:05.007-05:00

by Alexander McCall Smith; narrated by Lisette LecatWonderful audiobook! I am starting my New's Resolution early - to read at least one book in as many popular series as possible. I thoroughly enjoyed this book on audio.Set in Africa, Mma Ramotswe (pronounced ma ra-moat-sway) is a the only female detective in Bostwana. The first in the series, it tells the story of Mma Ramotswe and how she

Beth Hatchnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-79081618955934805202008-12-13T14:29:00.002-05:002008-12-13T14:37:28.388-05:00

I admit that I have never read any of Stephen King's fiction until now. I guess I've either been too scared or not certain that his work would be as good as his nonfiction and essays (which I read in Entertainment Weekly). But the descriptions of the stories in Just After Sunset intrigued me, so I brought it home. I tore through the stories, finishing the book in two nights. I was deeply

Carihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946089089327911719noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-31750338244395849952008-12-13T14:21:00.002-05:002008-12-13T14:29:03.222-05:00

I ran across this title by Lisa Unger on Shelfari. One of the groups I'm in mentioned this author as an excellent suspense writer, and when I picked up the book, I noticed that it had glowing reviews from Lee Child and Lisa Gardner. Indeed, it was very well-written, and I'm going to pick up the author's next book as well (she has two others out right now). But it wasn't very suspenseful--at

Carihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946089089327911719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-84707331882734172512008-12-07T12:51:00.002-05:002008-12-07T13:03:20.771-05:00

This is the first in a mystery series starring Joe Burgess, a cop in Portland, Maine. I lived in Portland for eight years and thought it would be fun to read a book taking place there. This is a gritty mystery involving the death of a child, drug dealers and pedophiles. It's not for everyone. I liked it enough that I'll read the next in the series. I have a feeling that the books will get

Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01911517660501208328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-50750566647370719802008-12-06T15:38:00.002-05:002008-12-06T15:55:50.898-05:00

How to Laugh More, Argue Less, and Communicate Better as Your Family Grows by Stacie Cockrell, Cathy O'Neill, and Julia StoneOf all the baby preparation books out there, I highly recommend this book, which deals with all of the unanticipated chaos that a baby brings into your life. When a couple decides to have children, they may prepare themselves by reading up on all the latest childcare

Beth Hatchnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-77505587676811612622008-12-03T10:48:00.002-05:002008-12-03T11:19:31.124-05:00

I am a huge Michael Connelly fan. Some of his recent Harry Bosch books have been kind of formulaic but I loved The Lincoln Lawyer, about Mickey Haller, the L.A. lawyer whose office is in the back of his car (a Lincoln). This car is chauffered by a client who couldn't pay his bill and needed a job. His ex-wife does his books and general office work out of her home. Wrap this around a

Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01911517660501208328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-78796897023058940592008-12-03T10:30:00.002-05:002008-12-03T10:41:59.293-05:00

This is an unusual mystery. It takes place in 1860s Canada. This is a multilayered book. There are several themes running through the book and subplots besides the main mystery. I did this in a bookgroup and some people thought there were too many characters and didn't understand the purpose of certain story threads. Several people loved the book however, and I did too. The story engrossed

Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01911517660501208328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-44572796595738442922008-11-25T14:32:00.002-05:002008-11-25T14:35:45.057-05:00

I've been reading a lot of short books recently, since I've been listening to audiobooks that are long and complicated. There are only so many plots I can follow! This was a fun little book. It's by Joel Seidemann, and gives details about different silly legal cases, like the one where a man sued himself, and the one where a woman faked her own death to get out of a speeding ticket. A good

Carihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946089089327911719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-56624696198301654322008-11-17T12:05:00.002-05:002008-11-17T12:11:06.821-05:00

Written by Kathleen Kent, this book is narrated by Sarah Carrier, the daughter of Martha Carrier, who was accused and hanged as a witch during the Salem Witch Trials. I have never been a huge reader of historical fiction, but recently I have been reading a few, and as it was around Halloween, I was intrigued by the witch aspect. I grabbed this on audio, and I was so glad I listened to it. The

Carihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946089089327911719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-28939879442284903402008-11-07T16:52:00.002-05:002008-11-07T16:55:00.149-05:00

Another in this series of electronics books. This one features instructions on how to convert an old VHS camcorder into night vision goggles, plans for a laser microphone, homemade laser perimeter sensors and more. It's not as "sciencey" and more hands-on than some of the other "evil genius" books.

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-77707910930349859992008-11-07T16:43:00.002-05:002008-11-07T16:52:35.030-05:00

It's a book of science fair projects for adults! By adult, of course, I mean anyone with permission to meddle with potentially hazardous and (more potentially) michievous electronic components. Sample projects include a plasma gun (yes, really), Tesla coils, lasers and more. Good fun for those interested in physics.

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-38513789396680999672008-11-07T16:32:00.002-05:002008-11-07T16:43:09.311-05:00

This is the second installment in the famous Frank Herbert sci fi series. I wrote about the fantastic audio version of Dune previously. This set features the same cast and high quality. As for the book, it's more philosophical than the first, meditating on the intersection of government and religion, and with drastically fewer sandworms and explosions. Still, it's an engaging work.

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-20922599127233743432008-11-07T13:10:00.002-05:002008-11-07T13:50:14.361-05:00

This is more than anyone ever wanted to know about alcohol. It starts at the beginning, portraying the slaves that built the pyramids as being pretty much pickled on the couple gallons of ale given to them daily by their Egyptian overseers. It goes on in that vein. Along the way, there are some interesting tidbits about culture for those who enjoy trivia. For instance, did you ever notice many of

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-43310755198344482682008-11-03T11:14:00.002-05:002008-11-03T11:19:42.144-05:00

John Hodgman was once a lowly author and former professional literary agent, until he was asked to be on the Daily Show following the publication of his first book, The Areas of My Expertise. Both that book and this new one, More Information Than You Require, are books of knowledge and trivia with one catch: Hodgman made it all up. Most of us know the author from those pesky Mac commercials--he

Carihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946089089327911719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-38200087317610753352008-10-29T16:35:00.002-04:002008-10-29T16:36:49.591-04:00

by Glenda BurgessA memoir that goes into my "couldn't put it down" collection of favorite books.Bronzed and athletic in pressed khakis and a white shirt unbuttoned at the neck, Ken waved over a cab. Brazilian conga music spilled out of the open windows as the Land Rover pulled over to the curb. Ken lifted our bags into the taxi and we tumbled in, reaching for sunglasses against the noontime glare

Beth Hatchnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-72955753721528107572008-10-16T14:22:00.002-04:002008-10-16T14:33:08.660-04:00

I like to read books that illuminate new facts about the mind and human personality. I recently read two such books, one of which I talked about briefly on our technology blog, Click: What Millions of People Are Doing Online and Why It Matters by Bill Tancer. If you have an interest in online data and what it reflects about people, you should read this book. Tancer produces lots of insight on

Carihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946089089327911719noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-86308724651995683112008-10-13T16:45:00.005-04:002008-10-13T17:21:08.724-04:00

by Douglas AdamsA fellow audiobook listener recommended this one to me, saying that Stephen Fry's narration was simply excellent. I have to agree. For those of you haven't read Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, it is a classic in the science fiction genre, and a must-read. Funny and quirky, Stephen Fry's interpretation of the main characters is spot-on and thoroughly enjoyable.Arthur Dent's house

Beth Hatchnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-81707499963196938762008-10-13T13:20:00.001-04:002008-10-13T13:20:35.740-04:00

I tend to read an unseemly number of photography how-to books. They're a little like cookbooks in that they often focus on equipment you'll never own and ingredients (scenery or food) you'll never have access to. That's what made this book so refreshing. For a how-to book, it's remarkably cavalier about disregarding technical finesse. Proper exposure, the famous "rule of thirds," key lights, main

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-65275954755428374762008-10-13T13:13:00.001-04:002008-10-13T13:13:49.933-04:00

Yeah, I know it's a classic. But I had never read it, partly because I was intimidated by its massive size. So instead of reading it, I listened to the library's CD copy. It was far and away the highest quality audiobook I've ever heard; it's clear the book has a dedicated fan base to warrant such care four decades after its initial release.As for the story, it's easy to see how it's managed to

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-18937140544184674352008-09-22T13:46:00.001-04:002008-09-22T13:46:13.992-04:00

Author John Kelly has produced a scholarly yet personal look at the plague, which swept through Europe in the mid-14th century. In places, half or more of the local populace succumbed in the span of weeks. It's something almost unimaginable to us in our comfortable modernity (save the venerable film genre involving zombies; I'm left wondering if that's an echo of our culture's awe at the black

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-2802128825300118072008-09-22T10:17:00.002-04:002008-09-22T10:23:27.679-04:00

This is an older nonfiction book that I happened across while perusing the 800s. This section of the Dewey Decimal System--representing writing and literature--is woefully underused, not just in Twinsburg but in libraries everywhere. I suppose "underused" is a relative term since not everyone is a literature buff, but for me, it's sad to see so many wonderful books not read. Anyway, The

Carihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946089089327911719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-67348057492241793442008-09-15T20:07:00.002-04:002008-09-15T20:15:22.699-04:00

I talked about this book on the latest TPL Radio News podcast. It's by Debra Ginsberg, who wrote Blind Submission, a book I just loved. I wasn't disappointed by her latest effort. The Grift follows the story of Marina Marks, who makes her living giving psychic readings. Through the years, she has learned to read people's expressions and gather information from them intuitively, but in the

Carihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946089089327911719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-65623863175887167562008-09-11T11:18:00.001-04:002008-09-11T11:18:30.725-04:00

T.C. Boyle is one of the most unpredictable writers in business today. His books span a huge range of styles and themes. Some have been instant hits, others languish in obscurity. Even in his less than stellar novels, though, Boyle is always interesting.Talk Talk follows a deaf woman who's identity has been stolen. It also follows the thief. What unfolds is a compelling look at identity,

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-41239271071455703122008-09-09T16:40:00.001-04:002008-09-09T16:40:21.851-04:00

This book on CD takes a look at a year in one of the most advanced, and also most scrutinized, detective units in the nation. It tracks about five teams of detectives working on a variety of homicide cases. Some involve forensics, some are just time-tested police procedure. It's an interesting book in a "day in the life" kind of way.

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-29742969589034013382008-09-03T14:27:00.008-04:002008-09-03T14:44:18.714-04:00

by Deborah Copaken KoganNEW RELEASE FOR OCT 7, 2008As a librarian, we sometimes receive advanced copies of soon-to-be-released titles for review. Every once in awhile, we get our hands on something fabulous that the public hasn't been able to read yet. This is a must-read new release and you can reserve our copy on order through our library catalog.Elizabeth Steiger is on a mission to find the

Beth Hatchnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-866263497567883882008-09-02T17:55:00.002-04:002008-09-02T18:01:57.415-04:00

American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld comes out today, and I was lucky enough to get a copy from an advanced reading program for librarians. At 551 pages, it's long, and I finished it just before the release date! Sittenfeld is the author of Prep, which I absolutely loved, but she also wrote Man of My Dreams, which I had a hard time getting into. Coupling that with the fact that the book is

Carihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946089089327911719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-56728525389636426352008-08-25T19:50:00.000-04:002008-08-25T19:51:12.982-04:00

The latest installment in Marvel's Runaways series, in which a group of kids discovers their parents are actually supervillains and leaves for brighter pastures. This volume marks the takeover of the series by Joss Whedon (Firefly, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) from its creator, Brian K. Vaughan (Y: The Last Man). In Whedon's hands, the series ran into chronic deadline troubles and it's since been

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-7490939307052106862008-08-18T19:31:00.001-04:002008-08-18T19:31:48.916-04:00

Comedy albums are one of the things that propelled the art of standup to prominence today. When routines started to be televised in the '80s, those albums largely went by the wayside. Fortunately, they seem to be making somewhat of a comeback these days.Henry Cho is a standup of Korean descent who was born and raised in Tennessee. That perspective makes for some pretty fun stories. It's short,

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-70740508268004553732008-08-18T19:13:00.001-04:002008-08-18T19:13:07.734-04:00

The latest in the running saga of the character Jack (of beanstalk, giant killing, frost, candlesticks, etc., etc.), by Bill Willingham. It's one of the smartest-written graphic novels series out there today. This one might need some knowledge of the story thus far. Fortunately, it's not too far in.

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-5162327484177905512008-08-12T13:30:00.001-04:002008-08-12T13:30:21.895-04:00

Here's an anthology of stories representing the rapidly growing steampunk subgenre of science fiction. The stories are diverse and a mixed bag in terms of quality. Notables include a kabbalistic tale by popular author Michael Chabon, and some other big names (Ted Chiang, Paul Di Filippo). There's also a pretty good opening essay on just what steampunk means. It traces the roots to stories the

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-28110893333245666572008-08-12T13:24:00.001-04:002008-08-12T13:24:45.776-04:00

This graphic novel is written by George R.R. Martin, author of the popular Song of Ice and Fire fantasy series. It follows Dunk, a wandering knight, through his travels and adventures. It's a good series that doesn't portray its knights as invincible or annoyingly chivalrous. Mostly they're like Dunk, mercenaries just trying to get by in the world.

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-82055267368086019912008-08-08T10:12:00.001-04:002008-08-08T10:12:32.541-04:00

This is the third in that Warhammer series I've been prattling on about these past few weeks. It's still a good series. The author of this installment, Ben Counter, doesn't seem as interested in the philosophical underpinnings of the whole story arc as the other writers involved, though.What still impresses me is the way this group of four or five SF writers came together to plot out a

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-13079972360964530402008-07-26T11:40:00.004-04:002008-07-26T11:51:11.564-04:00

Lisa Black is a Cleveland native and the author of two other mysteries under the name Elizabeth Becka. She'll be at the Hudson Library and Historical Society on August 12th at 7pm, in the first of a new series of events sponsored by the Twinsburg Library, Hudson Library, and the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library, along with the Learned Owl Bookshop. This new consortium is called "Route 91--

Carihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946089089327911719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-2061799003235805972008-07-22T12:18:00.002-04:002008-07-22T12:28:14.236-04:00

I was privileged enough to write the 200th post... now I'm also writing the 300th post!One of the great things about the Twinsburg Library is that we have a built-in network of reading buddies. If you ever listen to the ABC Book Reviews Podcast, you can hear that Beth and I are pretty nuts about books--and our colleagues are no exception. The former director of TPL, Karen Tschudy, got me hooked

Carihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946089089327911719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-41669091396111967942008-07-21T16:43:00.002-04:002008-07-21T17:02:29.438-04:00

This is a unique mystery. This is one of those books that tells the story in the present and the story of the past at the same time. Lippman is an excellent writer and events are revealed slowly. The reader is left in suspense and wants to know what happened. There are major twists in the plot but the book is also rich in character development. The story involves a woman who has a hit and

Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01911517660501208328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-48324039261598583352008-07-19T10:46:00.001-04:002008-07-19T10:46:33.560-04:00

Linguist David Crystal travels back roads of southern England in search of the origins of various idioms. As a narrative, it meanders more than a Welsh highway. Still, for those interested in how our language works and came to be, there's some neat stuff in here. Crystal is a writer of charming curiousity, though his academic sense of humor can be a touch cloying.

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-13583406475089051532008-07-15T19:59:00.002-04:002008-07-15T20:02:55.364-04:00

This novel by David Wroblewski is a whopper, over 500 pages, but it's currently a critical darling--if you want it, you'll have to go on the waiting list for it! It's worth the wait, though. Just like the title says, this is the story of Edgar Sawtelle, a mute (but not deaf) boy who grows up on a farm, where his parents raise and train dogs. The dogs are characters in the story of their own

Carihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946089089327911719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-87060415470114081272008-07-15T19:54:00.002-04:002008-07-15T19:58:44.572-04:00

Published in 2001, this novel by Ian McEwan was selected for this Thursday, July 17th's Ladies' Night book club, which I am moderating. We're watching the 2007 movie version starting at 5:30, and then we'll be discussing both the book and the movie following. I won't ruin the discussion by revealing too much here, but I have now finished the book and watched the movie, and I must say I am

Carihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946089089327911719noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-63346755715080043262008-07-14T17:26:00.004-04:002008-07-14T17:43:15.513-04:00

The first book in the series, Artemis Fowl, is about a 12 yr old boy genius who uses his unique talents to hatch a scheme to steal some fairy gold to add to his family's wealth. At his side is his trusty man-servant, Butler, a giant man adept at all forms of combat. The opposing side, the supernatural creatures, include fairies, dwarves, centaurs, and trolls. In particular, Holly, the only

Beth Hatchnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-39732395819736787542008-07-14T13:41:00.001-04:002008-07-14T13:41:51.324-04:00

This is by the same author as the better-known Fight Club. It's stylistically and thematically similar to that earlier work, and it also shares many of the same flaws.Survivor follows the story of Tender Branson, a refugee from a fundamentalist suicide cult, as he meanders through his unexpected life in the outside world, meets a girl, finds out he has a brother who may or may not be trying to

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-66686383187079408932008-07-07T13:54:00.001-04:002008-07-07T13:54:18.244-04:00

G.I. Joe has been around for decades, but really took off with the comic book in the early 1980s. That comic died off, but Devil's Due Publishing has revived it with a new series exploring the origins of those old characters. It's probably of little interest to those who weren't into the series as kids, but for those who were it's kind of a trip down memory lane.

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-44727582464029712972008-07-03T12:38:00.004-04:002008-07-03T17:53:41.561-04:00

AudiobookThis YA novel, written by Janet Taylor Lisle, is based on the actual story of the Black Duck, a famous rum running speedboat in the 1920's that was gunned down by the Coast Guard, killing the men on board. Many lives were lost in that tumultuous time, when liquor was sold illegally and many wanted part of the action.In this present day story, David, a soon-to-be freshman, is vying for

Beth Hatchnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-74817515682911171812008-07-01T19:57:00.001-04:002008-07-01T19:57:03.584-04:00

This is the second in a series based on the Warhammer 40,000 universe. It continues the fall of a near-mythic being created to protect humanity from the dangers of intergalactic space in the distant future. I wrote this about the first in the series, by a different author, but it's true of this book as well: For what are essentially tie-ins, these are remarkably meaty reads. There's very much a

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23308037.post-43774122264496345882008-06-19T11:38:00.001-04:002008-06-19T11:38:27.442-04:00

This is a pretty good guide on how to write a grant proposal. Of course, much of the process depends on the specific grant one is pursuing, but this guide offers general tips on what to expect and what various foundations will be looking for in a proposal.We get a lot of people here at the library who ask for the Matthew Lesko series of books (he's that frenetic guy on TV who wears a question

Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00084926916002176258noreply@blogger.com0