Bookshelf

I'm a busy bee, reading the following:

The World Is Flat, by Thomas L. Friedman

By a Lady: Being the Adventures of an Enlightened American in Jane Austen's England, by Amanda Elyot

Mansfield Revisited, by Joan Aiken

A Year in the World, by Frances Mayes

Bookshelf

This week's pile includes:

Assassination Vacation, by Sarah Vowell

Apex Hides the Hurt, by Colson Whitehead

Sea of Monsters, by Rick Riordan

The Breadwinner, by Deborah Ellis

Jailed for Overdue Books

I picked up this little snippet and thought I'd share. Remember, folks, overdue library books are no trifling matter!

Patron Receives Jail Sentence for Overdue Books - Library Journal

Your Friendly Librarian

Create Your Own Platial Map

Librarians don't just share books, they also find resources on the Internet. In this vein, I want to share a website/service I learned about through National Public Radio.

Platial is an Internet map service with which one can create meaningful, personalized maps! How cool! I just learned about it today and am playing with it at the moment. This is just too fun not to share. One can create maps of favorite places in Boston, romantic lookouts, future vacation destinations, or the quickest way home from the airport. It's both a practical and whimsical tool.

Check out the website for Platial.

Listen to the NPR story about Platial.

Now, go make some maps of your own!

Bookshelf

Here's what's on my bookshelf today:

The House of the Scorpion, by Nancy Farmer

The Not So Big House and Creating the Not So Big House, by Sarah Susanka

China, Inc., by Ted C. Fishman

A Year in the World, by Frances Mayes

The Sparrow, by Mary Doria Russell (still there, still worth reading)

Of adult interest...

I have currently been taking a brief, and welcome, respite from children's literature to catch up on some adult reads. As much as I love kids' books, it is wonderful to chew on some mature issues and longer novels now and then.

In fact, the word "chewy" came to mind as I was finishing up Sigrid Nunez's new novel The Last of Her Kind. The trajectory of the novel follows the lives of two Barnard College roommates through the tumultuous 60's and 70's. Drugs, politics, murder - what almost sounds like a spy novel is actually a remarkably beautiful story of friendship and loss. Loss of family, loss of idealism, loss of friendship and loss of innocence. Although it was more a loss of innocence for me, the reader,(especially after so much kid lit), rather than characters, who started out pretty hardened by the world.

Ann is a political activist from a wealthy Connecticut family who spurns everything and everyone that made her and wishes she could be poor and black because that would make her more "pure" and not the oppressor/agressor of the masses. Georgette comes from a very poor and abusive background and only made it to college with a teacher's glowing aid. She wants nothing to do with the era's politics and longs for the things Ann spurns, or at least some stability. While the two girls could not be more different, they are able to teach each other about the world as they experiment with the laidback and open lifestyles of the late 60's.

After leaving school, the girls settle more and more into their opposite worlds, until they can no longer relate to one another. But this does not keep them apart in thought, and the story weaves aspects of their lives together, even as they are apart.

I'm not really doing the story justice, but it was a wonderful, thought-provoking book for me, as it opened up aspects of the hippie movement I had not considered before; examined social justice issues from a new perspective; and highlighted mental illness and its effects on family.

Grade: A-

I also recently completed The Samurai's Garden by Gail Tsukiyama. This is a beautifully written, peaceful story, set in Japan at the beginning of the second World War.

A young Chinese man, Stephen, is sent by his parents to their beach house in Japan to recover from tuberculosis. As the Japanese offensive in China picks up momentum, Stephen becomes more and more attached to his Japanese friends and lifestyle.

The contrast of the peaceful landscape and peace-loving personalities of the Japanese characters to the seemingly war-mongering Japanese government is striking and is a confusing issue for the Chinese Stephen to deal with; especially as friends and loved ones back in China are killed and forced to flee their homes.

Tsukiyama is half each Japanese and Chinese and grew up in San Francisco. I'm curious to read more of her novels. She is a truly talented writer.

Grade: A

Last night I was thinking about how I usually only post positive reviews on the blog. And the true is that I only like to write reviews of books I love...otherwise, why bother talking about them. I also will put down a novel if I'm not enjoying it or think it won't hold my attention. Case in point, last night I started reading Arturo Perez-Reverte's newest novel, Purity of Blood. Something about the styling of the characters or the tone just didn't do it for me and I decided not to read further. He is an odd author for me - The Queen of the South and The Flanders Panel are both novels I devoured and ones that have really stuck with me, while I have also put down his Club Dumas and The Fencing Master. Maybe it has something to do with the translations (Perez-Reverte writes in Spanish) or my ignorance of Spanish history. I don't know. I think it's mystifying because most authors are not that way for me.

Happy Reading!

Bookshelf

Here's what I have on my bookshelf right now:

The Last of Her Kind, by Sigrid Nunez

The Sparrow, by Mary Doria Russell

The Samurai's Garden, by Gail Tsukiyama

Point Blank, by Anthony Horowitz

Aunt Dimity and the Deep Blue Sea, by Nancy Atherton

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

Last night I read the amazing new book by Kate DiCamillo, author of Because of Winn-Dixie and others, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Now, DiCamillo is a children's author and this is billed as a children's book, but really, I believe this is a powerful love story for readers of all ages. The book, very appropriately, came out on Valentine's Day, and it explores the importance of loving and being loved.

Edward Tulane is a china rabbit who belongs to a little girl named Abilene. He was made in France of the finest materials, has a whole trunk of exquisite clothes, and is very vain. Abilene loves Edward with all her heart, but Edward is not really interested in being loved or interested in the things around him. He is only interested in himself. One night, Abilene's grandmother tells the story of a princess who loves no one but herself and the story sticks with Edward for the rest of his "life".

Abilene and her family, including Edward, leave on a journey and Edward is lost. Thus begins Edward's journey through America and his spiritual growth. As Edward is handed off from family to family through the years, he learns to understand what it is to be loved and how to love others.

I always eagerly await new novels by Kate DiCamillo because she is such a wonderful storyteller, and really brings something special to children's literature. This one may be her best yet. The writing and the sentiments are so beautiful!

Your Librarian

Bookshelf

I am trying something new...even if I don't have time to blog, I can keep you abreast of what I'm reading, so you can check it out too. This is also a good way for me to keep track of the breadth of my reading for my own information.

So here are the books I have either just finished or current reads.

The King of Torts, John Grisham

Evil Star, Anthony Horowitz

Takedown: the Fall of the Last Mafia Empire, Rick Cowan

Busting Vegas: the MIT Whiz Kid Who Brought the Casinos to their Knees, Ben Mezrich

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, Kate DiCamillo

City of Ember

Hello Friends,

I just finished listening to the audio version of The City of Ember by Jeanne Duprau and WOW was it a wonderful book with the most dramatic and suspenseful ending!!! I was jumping up and down and had to tell my husband all about it.

Back when City of Ember was first published in the States (2003), a librarian friend of mine had read it and loved it, but I had never picked it up until I needed an audiobook for my trip to NYC this weekend. Needless to say, there was plenty of time for listening this weekend while snowbound, so I listened to the whole thing. I think this was a powerful and well written book, as well as a good audio reading.

The citizens of Ember live in a dark world lit only by lightbulbs during certain parts of the day. They are fed with canned goods from a warehouse and live in a city that was planned with their every need in mind. The people have always been taught that they are the only people in a world of darkness. Now, in the year 241, the electricity keeps flickering and supplies are running low. The Builders left a plan for the citizens, but it was lost a long time ago and time seems to be running out for Ember.

In this post-Apocolyptic young adult novel, the hero, Doon, and heroine, Lina, are two twelve-year-old friends who have just been assinged their new careers and who want to make a difference in a world that seems to be collapsing into chaos. Against all odds, they will be the saviors of their people.

Duprau has written second and third volumes that follow the characters through immense changes in a world both confusing and amazing to them. The People of Sparks is the sequel to The City of Ember and a third volume, The Prophet of Yonwood, is due out later this year. A colleague told me that she thought The People of Sparks was even better than The City of Ember, but so far (about six chapters in) I don't agree. Pick up this engrossing series and let me know what you think.

Your Friendly Librarian

And the winners are...

Well, I was happy to see that Criss Cross won the Newbery medal this year...I've never been even close to predicting a winner before! Congratulations also to The Hello Goodbye Window by Norton Juster and illustrated by Chris Raschka, which won the Caldecott medal.

To see more links and information, check out the website of the Association for Library Service to Children, the division of the American Library Association that hands out the awards.

Your Friendly Librarian

P.S. As with so many award winners, Criss Cross seems to have gone temporarily out of print, so it's unavailable for purchase. Check it out at your local library instead!

Children's Book Awards

With the most prestigious of the children's book awards, the Newbery and Caldecott, to be announced on Monday morning, I want to get my two cents in before it's too late. I have checked out lots of other people's pick lists and find both common ground and canyons of difference.

Probably my favorite book of the year was The Penderwicks, by Jeanne Birdsall, which won the National Book Award for children's literature. I also really enjoyed The Schwa Was Here, the fiction winner of the Boston Globe/Horn Book prize. But I am of the camp that thinks it is very rare for a children's novel to win two prizes. (I say rare, not impossible, since Nancy Farmer's House of the Scorpion did just that a couple of years ago.) So to give my vote to a third terrific novel, I am going to cast my vote for Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins.

Criss Cross is a really unique and wonderful novel. It follows five teenage friends through various mundane and exciting experiences during a spring and summer. The writing is experimental; one chapter is written entirely in haiku, another is written in two separate columns detailing events as they happen to two characters simultaneously. And the writing is just gorgeous; phrases and images leap off the page. This was a really special book.

For illustrated books, I especially enjoyed He's Got the Whole World in His Hands, by Kadir Nelson (for review, see November 14th entry) who has been recognized by the award board before with a Coretta Scott King award recognizing African American authors and illustrators. These illustrations are lush and gorgeous.

So there they are, my picks for the awards. We'll see how I did on Monday.

Your Friendly Librarian

Cooking for Mr. Latte...and Me

I have just finished reading Cooking for Mr. Latte: A Food Lover's Courtship, With Recipes by Amanda Hesser. I was in my local gourmet shop a couple of months ago and bought it because it looked fun. Then I forgot about it and only picked it up again this week. I originally thought it was going to be a foodie novel sort of thing, but found instead that is a collection of autobiographical diary entries Amanda Hesser wrote for the New York Times.

The book is completely delightful; fun, light, tender, and chock full of terrific recipes. The writing tells the story of Amanda's romance with Mr. Latte and trying to refine his palate. She tells stories from the kitchens of friends, family, and some restaurants. She talks about food and its place in peoples' lives. She is honest about her annoyance with other peoples' techniques and the trials of sharing kitchen space. For any reader, cook or not, this book is honest, thought-provoking, and laugh out loud funny sometimes.

As each chapter is based on a weekly article, the chapters are best enjoyed individually, to be savored.

I went back and Googled Amanda Hesser after finishing the book and learned more about her writing experience, critics, and that this is truly a non-fiction work, though it reads almost like a novel.

Next I want to go back and try some of the recipes she so generously includes in each chapter.

Grade: A

Get cooking!

This read reminded me of another one I've loved by another New York Times writer, Alex Witchel, who in Girls Only writes of her grown-up New York City life compared to growing up in a suburban Jewish family. While my life could not be more different, her relationships with her mother and sister really struck a chord. As did the honesty in her hotel reviews, glee at Clinique bonus time, and snarky shopping observations. I've re-read this one, so obviously I give it an A.


Your Friendly Librarian

For Jane Austen Lovers

The newest film adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice has brought her books back into the limelight. I'm not going to give any critique of the film (I haven't seen it), but I always appreciate it when adaptations bring people back to the books. Today my blog entry is actually to celebrate the wonderful list of Pride and Prejudice editions, films, and sequels that has been put together by the Denver Public Library.

I happened across this list on the entry portal to their website (which is wonderful) and was thrilled. I especially enjoy the list of movie adaptations and sequel or inspired bys...I've even read a few of these myself.

The guilty-pleasure sequel that I enjoyed most is Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife: Pride and Prejudice Continues. This novel has been slammed by critics and Austen-purists, and I'd slam it myself if it wasn't so fun and satisfying. It's a very sexy follow-up to Pride and Prejudice that examines the class issues that face Lizzie as she becomes the mistress of Pemberly. Mostly, though, it examines how "hot" Lizzie and Mr. Darcy are for each other. If you love these characters and feel like you know them, it's fun to be a fly on the wall as Mr. Darcy loosens his cravat and Lizzie lets down her hair. Are the characters true to those in Austen's novel? Hmmm...decide for yourself.


More information about the film and critiques of the film can be found at:
Rotten Tomatoes (despite the name, Rotten Tomatoes is a round-up of both good and bad reviews)

A great gallery of stills from the film can be found at keiraknightley.com (she's the actress who plays Lizzie Bennett).

There's a nice commentary, including critique of costumes, direction, etc., from those with a moral bent at Christian Spotlight on the Movies.

I had a favorite review from the Washington Post in which the author goes to the movie with his two daughters, both of whom have read the novel, and they discuss and critique elements that vary in the two works. I can't seem to find a link to the article, though! If anyone else has found this online, please let me know! (It was sometime in mid-November, I believe.)

Go out and read your Austen!
Your Friendly Librarian

Holiday Recommendations for the Kids in Your Life

I recently needed to write up some reviews of my favorite new books for gift giving, so I'm going to share some with you. Of course there are many, many more books I enjoyed and could recommend. Just ask!

Non-Fiction

Children's Miscellany: Useless Information That's Essential to Know, by Matthew Morgan and Samantha Barnes (Chronicle, 8/05). Need to know how to pop a wheelie, or how to identify the ten deadliest snakes, or the many ways to make a wish? Just consult this handy and fun reference guide! Miscellany books have been popular among adults lately and this children's version is a great introduction to the genre.

Picture Books

The Dog Who Cried Wolf, written and illustrated by Keiko Kasza (Putnam, 9/05). When Michelle reads a book about wolves to her dog, Moka, he is inspired to run away and live a wild life in the great outdoors. After an afternoon of living like a wild dog, Moka discovers that the comforts of home and someone to love outweigh the perks of rebellious freedom. Funny text and illustrations make this a story-time favorite.

He's Got the Whole World In His Hands, adapted and illustrated by Kadir Nelson (Dial, 9/05). Gorgeous illustrations make this adaptation of the popular spiritual into a joyous romp through our beautiful world.

Fancy Nancy, by Jane O'Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser (Harper Collins, 12/05). Nancy likes things fancy and doesn't understand why her family is so plain. When Nancy decides to give "fancy lessons" her family cooperates in a way that is fun and wonderful to behold. The illustrations and text are paired brilliantly to create a book that is fancy and fun for everyone.

8 and Up Fiction

Akimbo and the Elephants and Akimbo and the Lions, by Alexander McCall Smith (Bloomsbury, 9/05). Set in an African wild-life preserve, these companion stories about Akimbo, a young African boy, are fast-paced and full of adventures as well as superbly written by the popular adult author. These are sure to be a hit with voracious and reluctant readers alike!

10 and Up Fiction

The Misadventures of Maude March, by Audrey Coulumbis (Random House, 9/05). Finally, a great Western for kids! This is a fast-paced, action-packed adventure story set in the Wild West featuring two sisters who inadvertantly find themselves sucked into events that make the oldest one of the "most-wanted" criminals in the West!

The King of Mulberry Street, by Donna Jo Napoli (Wendy Lamb Books, a division of Random House, 10/05). Loosely based on the events of her own grandfather's life, Napoli has crafted a nearly magical story of a 9-year-old boy who is sent from Italy to America as an immigrant, all alone. Dom manages to carve a niche for himself in the ghettos of 19th century New York and accepts his new identity as an American. It's a truly powerful story.

12 and Up Fiction

13 Little Blue Envelopes, by Maureen Johnson (Harper Collins, 9/05). Ginny's aunt has left her 13 little blue envelopes to lead her on an amazing scavenger hunt style journey through Europe to help her deal with the aunt's death. Poignant, funny, and tart at times, this one has it all!

And there it is, folks! A quick round-up of children's literature for you and yours this holiday season.

Fun and Frothy Reading for Adults

Last month the newest installment in one of my favorite series became available and I was excited to jump right in! Perfect, by Marne Davis Kellogg (St. Martins, 8/05), is the third installment in a series about the Shamrock Burgler, Kick Keswick, an internationally reknowned, and retired, jewel thief.

This installment follows Kick to the inner sanctum of the world's rich and elite at an ultra-private ski resort in the Swiss Alps. A former prima ballerina, Italian tenor, and Greek billionaire who shamelessly resembles George Soros, round out the colorful cast. Fun and exciting as always!

Grade: A-

I also picked up a copy of The Undomestic Goddess, by Sophie Kinsella (Dial, 7/05), that had been lying around my house all summer. The Undomestic Goddess is a top lawyer at a London firm who suffers a nervous breakdown after a multi-million pound mistake costs her her job. She flees to the country and is hired as a housekeeper in a case of mistaken identity. A hilarious and poignant series of events ensue.

Grade: B+

Reading The Undomestic Goddess inspired me to get in the kitchen over the weekend and I cooked up a really wonderful apple brown betty. It was especially easy to make and would be a snap for any undomestic goddesses out there. I should have taken a photo to post like my idol over at 101cookbooks, but I'm still a novice blogger so I will just list the recipe. Trust me, it's great and looks tasty too!

APPLE BROWN BETTY
4 c. 1/2 inch bread cubes (preferably from French bread)
1/3 c. butter
4 c. rough cut sliced and peeled cooking apples
1 c. packed brown sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnaomn
2 TAB lemon juice
1/4 c. water
Heavy cream or vanilla ice cream

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Grease a 2 quart casserole dish.
In a medium bowl combine bread cubes and butter; mix well.
In another bowl, toss together apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
Sprinkle with lemon juice.

Layer 1/3 of the bread cubes in the prepared cassrole, then 1/2 apple mixture.
Repeat layers, ending with bread cubes.
Sprinkle with water.
Bake 1 hour or until golden.

Serve warm with heavy cream or ice cream.

Bon appetit and happy reading!
Your Friendly Librarian

The Wright 3

Yesterday, I opened the mail and found an advance readers' copy of The Wright 3, by Blue Balliett (Scholastic, 04/06), a sequel to one of my very favorite books, Chasing Vermeer. I was so excited I sat down and read the whole thing today! Sorry there's no link, but it's just too early to find you any more information. Trust me, it will be worth the wait!

Balliett's latest takes us into the brilliant mind and architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. Our friends Calder and Petra are at the end of the school year when Calder's friend Tommy returns to the class from New York City. One of Wright's buildings, Robie House, sits on the property of the University of Chicago where the three attend day school and where their parents all work. The Robie House is slated to be broken up and disbursed to four museums. Ms. Hussey, the kids' teacher, is appalled and puts the questions to her class: Can a home be art? Does cutting up art destroy it or preserve it? She calls it "Plunder...or murder...in the name of salvation."

While tensions run high between Calder's two friends, they manage to find some common ground as the group, the "Wright 3", get involved in solving the various mysteries that have surrounded the house over the decades and try to save it at the same time. The new group dynamic makes for some interesting twists and perspectives in the story. It's fun to get to know the new character, Tommy.

This is a terrific follow-up for fans of Chasing Vermeer. Keep an eye out for it in April.

Grade: A

Part-way through I, Coriander

I'm working my way through a children's fantasy novel titled I, Coriander by Sally Gardner (Dial, 9/05). The writing is exquisite, yet the story is not really capturing me.

The novel is set in Oliver Cromwell's England and surrounds a young girl whose life takes place between this very harsh real-world setting and fairyland. The tone of the novel reminds me very much of the highly acclaimed adult novel of last year, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke (Bloomsbury, 9/04), which I found fascinating. I want to keep giving Coriander a chance, but some other books have wedged their way in. I'll keep you posted.

Your Friendly Librarian

Sisters Grimm: The Fairy Tale Detectives

After a leisurely vacation, it's time to catch you up on what I've been reading. Earlier this week I read a new children's mystery novel called Sisters Grimm: The Fairy Tale Detectives, book 1 in a new series by Michael Buckley (Abrams, 10/05).

The story follows two young "orphaned" sisters, Daphne and Sabrina Grimm, as they enter into the care of yet another foster family. This time their new guardian claims to be their Grandmother Grimm, but the girls' father told them their grandmother had died. Already suspicious, the girls are whisked into some unbelievable circumstances as their granny takes them to investigate a house smashed by a giant, to meet Mayor Charming, and to deal with police who look an awful lot like pigs. After too many odd incidents to be a hoax, the girls come to accept their detective grandmother and her story that their parents have been taken by evil forces and that fairy tale creatures really do exist in the charmed town of Ferryport Landing.

All fairy tale, nursery rhyme, and other mythical creatures come into a story that explains the history of creatures who immigrated to the United States to avoid persecution in the Old Country. One of the Grimm ancestors placed a charm on their village to insure that no fairy tale creatures, or Everafters, escaped to wreak havoc on regular people. The Everafters are doomed live as prisoners - though with eternal youth - in the charmed village until the last of the Grimm family dies out, so they are less than thrilled to meet the Grimm granddaughters.

This all sounds complicated but is actually pretty interesting as a premise. The action moves quickly after the story is set up and the girls are forced to use their wits after their granny is carried off by a giant. Other main characters include Mr. Canis (granny's mysterious companion), Jack the Giant Killer, and Puck the Prince of Misrule. The series ought to go over well with the princess/fairy crowd as well as mystery lovers. It's pretty well written and funny.

Books 1 and 2 are being released at the same time. Book 2 is titled Sisters Grimm: The Unusual Suspects.

Grade: B+

Last Shot

It's been an unusually long time between posts...mostly because I started two books that took me no where and I have been getting ready for a trip and a house guest. Once we were on the plane, I was able to get some solid reading time with a good book.

Last Shot: A Final Four Mystery by John Feinstein (Knopf, 2/05), is another case of an adult writer who has given children's writing a try, this time with much success. Last Shot is the story of two thirteen-year-olds who win a sports writing contest and get to attend the NCAA Final Four basketball tourament as student journalists. While enjoying great seats, schmoozing with coaches and ESPN personalities, and other perks, the kids come across a plot in which a player is being blackmailed in order to throw the championship game. This is a believable mystery written with style in a young person's voice. It was just suspenseful enough without some of the ridiculous scenerios some teenage sleuths face. I loved it!

Feinstein is a terrific writer. This novel would definitely appeal to both readers and reluctant readers alike, especially that elusive teenage audience. I would even say an adult audience could enjoy this one (but then that's what I usually think, being an adult who reads mostly children's lit). The two main characters are a boy and a girl, so it captures a little of both perspectives. There is wit, humor, not overly much basketball trivia, and a fast-moving plot. The book is supposed to be the first in a series and I am looking forward to seeing more of them. Though I am not a sports fan, I always enjoy Feinstein's commentary on NPR's Morning Edition and may look for some of his other non-fiction titles.

Grade: A

In case you were wondering, my non-starters were Mr. Muo's Travelling Couch by Dai Sijie (author of Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress) and Enna Burning by Shannon Hale. I don't know if it was a lack of patience on my part, but I wasn't willing to give Sijie more than an hour of my time. The premise sounded interesting, but the book was hard work so I dropped it. With Enna, I had read Goose Girl, its prequel, and loved it, but I just wasn't sympathetic enough with Enna's plight and didn't feel the story moving quickly enough for my taste. Hale's newest novel, Princess Academy, flew off my shelves, so I'm going to hunt that one down later this fall and give it a read. Again, this week may not have been the best for reading, so I'm not going to completely discount these novels, some others may really enjoy them; I may go back to Sijie again later.

Your Friendly Librarian