A Great Summer

Wow, it's been a fantastic summer here at the library! Summer Reading Club was a huge success, and we had a significant increase in our adult participants this year. I hope that all of you enjoyed reading our book reviews, suggestions, and stories on this blog as much as we enjoyed writing them!

For now, however, it's time to take a blogging hiatus. The kids are back in school and summer's almost over - it's amazing how time has flown by! But we'll be back again next June with more books and library news that you won't want to miss. In the meantime, keep an eye on http://columbuslibrary.org for information on new titles, library programs and events, and details about next year's Summer Reading Club.

Thanks for reading, and see you next summer!

Leave those books alone!

I was reading The New York Times one morning and came across an article by A.E. Hotchner, a friend of the late Ernest Hemingway, regarding a revised edition of A Moveable Feast. Apparently a Hemingway grandson didn't like how his grandmother (wife #2) was portrayed and claims that the book was put together by Hemingway's wife (#4) after his death. Hotchner asserts that he was with Hemingway in the late 1950's when he was presented with an old trunk he had left at the Ritz in Paris in the 1920s that contained notebooks full of his observations and thoughts. Hotchner says he even got to read the final draft of the manuscript before Hemingway's death so the assertion that it was hobbled together by Mary Hemingway is not true. It reminds me of another story recently in the news regarding a Swedish novelist using the protagonist from J.D. Salinger's famous novel, The Catcher in the Rye as an elderly character in his own novel. Salinger sued the author on the basis of copyright infringement and won. Not all authors are so lucky. I remember years ago when Margaret Mitchell's heirs hired author Alexandra Ripley (who had already made a name for herself writing her own novels) to write a sequel to Gone With the Wind. Mario Puzo's The Godfather was published in 1969. Puzo died in 1999 and his publisher had a contest in the earlier part of this decade to find an author to write two sequels. Later this summer another book will be published as a sequel to Sidney Sheldon's Master of the Game. I believe it is the author's prerogative to write a sequel to their own work. If they felt that there was more to be done with their characters, they would have done so. I am not saying that these new books might not be any good (I don't read them on principle) but I think the authors in question should rely on their own creativity in coming up with characters and stories. Am I the only one who feels like these sequels and re-imaginings are cheating somehow? Writers and publishers seem to be cashing in on another writer's success by turning someone else's genuine creativity into a brand name under which to sell their own wares. Consider this: V.C. Andrews died in 1986 and has published more books since she died than she ever did while alive. Does this trend bother anyone else?

Memories of Books

The other day while driving home from work I heard a song on the radio I hadn’t heard in awhile. I used to love the song and played it nonstop on my i-pod when it first came out. It made me a little sad to realize that I hadn’t listened to it in so long. I was glad to hear it and turned up the volume and enjoyed the moment. It also got me thinking; hearing an old song you once enjoyed can immediately take you back where you were when you first heard the song. A good book can do the same, instantly take you back to a moment or feeling you associated with the book.

Senior year of high school I put off reading The Scarlet Letter until the day before the entire book was due to be read. I spent that Sunday out on the porch at my childhood home reading about Hester Prynne and trying my best to finish the book in time (which I did, but this was really not a good idea). Now anytime a teen comes in looking for the book to read for their school assignment, I think of that Sunday at home.

Last March we had those horrific ice storms and the library gave us a snow day (YAY!) one Saturday I was supposed to work. It was perfect timing, the day before I had gotten the new Jodi Picoult novel, Change of Heart. I spent what would have been my eight hour shift starting and finishing this book. Anytime I see this book now, I always think of the thrill of a snow day and of the warmth of reading in bed for 8 hours, only getting up for another cup of tea.

These are just two of my book reading memories, moments that I’ll associate with the books. I read so much it’s hard to always recall where I was when I read a certain book. Like certain songs though, certain book moments just remain memorable. What moments with books have you had? Can you remember a particular picture or chapter book from childhood and where you were when you read it? Do you ever see a book on your book shelf, or ours, and instantly remember where you were when you read it?

Current Read: Stop that Girl by Elizabeth McKenzie

What if Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby was a true story?

When you read Chris Bohjalian's The Double Bind, you have to go on the assumption that events from F. Scott Fitzgerald's famous novel The Great Gatsby really happened. The story opens with college student Laurel Estabrook biking through the woods and she is brutally attacked. The details are fuzzy and revealed from her perspective, but she is adamant that she was not raped. The psychological impact of this attack is well-known to Laurel's friends and associates.

In the present, Laurel is a social worker. She learns that one of her clients, a homeless man named Bobby Crocker has died and she goes to collect his meager belongings from the place where he had been staying. She finds this box that he always carried around. Inside are hundreds of photographs from the 1960's and early 1970's which makes her wonder about Bobby's life before everything went downhill. He was obviously a talented photographer and some of his photos were of very famous people. One photograph in particular catches Laurel's eye. It is of herself on a bicycle seemingly just before her attack. She discovers other photos of places from her childhood home in West Egg. Pictures of the Gatsby and Buchannan estates. Some pictures are of Daisy Buchannan, her daughter Pamela and a young boy. Laurel is convinced that Bobby Crocker is that young boy. The child born after Gatsby was murdered and Tom and Daisy reconciled. She even speculates that he might have been the result of Daisy's affair with Gatsby.

Laurel becomes obsessed with learning Bobby's story to the dismay of everyone around her. She returns to West Egg and talks to people who might have remembered the Buchannan's youngest child, but few have any details to offer. She even interviews Pamela, now an elderly woman who sadly recounts her brother's problems, but assures Laurel that this Bobby Crocker was not her brother and she doesn't know why he had those photographs of her family. As Laurel's search for the truth becomes self-destructive, we realize that she is not so much searching for Bobby Crocker's truth, but rather her own.

I saw this book reviewed in print and saw an interview with Chris Bohjalian on The Today Show. Something about it piqued my interest. It isn't often that you come across a book that you just have to have right now. I couldn't wait for a reserve at the library so I bought it. The Great Gatsby is one of my favorite books and hearing the author talk about the true-life inspiration for this book made it even more compelling. There was a homeless man who died leaving a box of amazing photographs hinting at a richer life than his end would make one believe. It ties into what Nick Carraway, the narrator of The Great Gatsby says. "Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had." The amazing black and white photography of Bob "Soupy" Campbell is featured throughout the book.

Stumble upons

I love audiobook surprises; you know what I mean - a random title that ends up being much more than expected. For example, I just listened to The Lincoln Lawyer, my first Michael Connelly audio (I know, I know, he's been around forever, always going to the best sellers list - but I hadn't tried him before). The big find was the narrator - Adam Grupper - he's wonderful! The story was good too but Mr. Grupper's reading was perfect. I have little patience for male narrators who use an affected throaty or high pitched or dumb blonde voice for women but Mr. Grupper was spot on! I will watch for more Connelly/Grupper titles in the future.

Another "hmmm, what's this?" find was Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane. Wow, what an ending! (I think I may actually have said that out loud as I finished the audio.) I never saw it coming.

The Old Book Debate

Fiction vs Non-Fiction. Does reading non fiction make you seem smarter? Is reading fiction an escape from reality? When someone asks if I like reading fiction or non fiction better, I never know how to answer. Sometimes I’m in the mood to read a non fiction story just to know that the people in the book are real and the story really happened to them. Other times I want to escape into fiction books where the happily ever after is usually hiding in the last few chapters.

I have tons of favorite fiction books and authors, but my most recent favorite non fiction read is Crazy by Pete Earley. This book just sticks with me. The tragedy of loss of options for treating the mentally ill is heartbreaking. The story told from the father’s perspective gives the reader insight on how hard the family’s situation is.

I guess I like non fiction because sometimes there isn’t a happy ending and nothing is really resolved, but the “characters” still have to move forward. It’s a little more real than fiction. However, sometimes after a long day, who wants to curl up with reality? Do you have strong preference for fiction or non fiction books? What do you like and dislike about each?

Current read: Murder by Family by Kent Whitaker

Suspense in a corporate setting

A few years ago, I picked up a book by Joseph Finder not expecting to like it. His books are a little bit like John Grisham in that the protagonists tend to be men in their early thirties up against some powerful force. Whereas Grisham's books have a legal setting, Finder's take place in the corporate world. I never really got into Grisham's work, but I really look forward to a new Joseph Finder novel.

Paranoia begins with Adam Cassidy, a bored white-collar cubicle rat, attending a retirement party for a man who worked on the loading dock for many years. The company is not aware that they threw such a lavish retirement party because Adam finagled an account to make the funds available. Unfortunately, someone does notice that Adam did this and he is called into a meeting with security, CEO Nick Wyatt and a human resources representative. The case is presented to him as are the consequences of embezzling funds from the company. He is looking at some heavy prison time...unless he does something for Wyatt. Wyatt wants him to go to work for their biggest rival, Trion which has been working on a top secret project. With prison as his only alternative, Adam agrees to the scheme. With a heavily padded resume, Adam gets a job with Trion. Soon he is working closely with CEO Jock Goddard. Adam loves the perks of his new job...a great apartment, fancy car, huge paycheck and a boss he actually likes and respects, but his conscience bothers him. He wants to come clean to Goddard, but can't. There is a twist at the end that I never saw coming. I love it when there is a twist I never see coming.

Killer Instinct starts off with Jason Steadman driving his car into a ditch while gabbing on his cell phone. He gets a ride home from tow truck driver Kurt Semko. They begin talking about the baseball game on the radio and hit it off. Semko has a military background and Jason is a salesman for an electronics company. They bump into each other again and Jason tells him there is an opening at work for a security position and encourages him to apply. Semko gets the job as head of security and soon things start going very well for Jason. The star salesman's car stalls on the way to an important presentation. Then there is a problem with his computer which makes his star begin to dim in the eyes of their bosses. If Jason suspects Kurt is behind it, he doesn't let on. When people begin to die, he no longer can. If Kurt Semko is a dangerous friend to have, he is an even more dangerous enemy.

Power Play takes place at a corporate retreat in the remote Canadian woods. Jake Landry is by no means a high level executive but his presence was requested by the CEO on this outing. She asks him to help her uncover some corruption in the group. Soon the cabin is attacked seemingly by a group of hunters and the executives are taken hostage. It soon becomes clear that these hunters know more about the group and their business and that they aren't your run of the mill backwoods hunters.

Watch for Vanished<> which comes out August 18, 2009.

Crave Jane Austen?

I love Jane Austen. And if you love Jane Austen, you'll love Georgette Heyer. Heyer is Jane Austen with a delightful edge. Anchored by perfect historical detail in the Regency era, Heyer's books are populated with a cast of wonderful characters bent on pursuing their own desires. The humor of her stories lies in the conventional nature of these desires (matrimony, money, managing one's relations) and the unconventional ways in which they are achieved. Interfering matrons, scheming rakes, bumbling fops, and giggling schoolgirls endanger their reputations while their respectable guardians seek to preserve them against a backdrop of Polite, Slightly Ridiculous Society.

Start with Black Sheep. Abagail Wendover goes head to head with the uncle of a handsome fortune-hunting rake... who is bent on seducing her young (and very rich) niece. Abagail pleads for him to restrain his nephew, but is astonished when Uncle Miles refuses to take any part in discouraging the romance. Abagail's astonishment deepens when Miles, the scandalously entertaining black sheep of his family, seems to take an interest in her. Read this book and follow the tour de force of a rake's attempt to beguile an innocent, and laugh along as Abagail and Miles attempt to frustrate his plot. The chemistry between them is delightful, and their encounters are nothing short of hilarious.

Another must-read is The Grand Sophy. Raised by her diplomat father in a succession of foreign countries, unconventional Sophy astonishes and delights a houseful of her relatives when she pays them a visit. Sophy--a young woman with too much independence and not enough propriety--uses her matchmaking skills and money to reorganize the lives of everyone around her. Charles, the formidably proper head of the family, is by turns amused, perplexed, and disapproving of Sophy. In spite of the numerous obstacles in her path, can Sophy free Charles from his engagement to a cold hearted fiance even as she attempts to disentangle his frivolous siblings from trouble? If anyone can do it, the Grand Sophy can!

Too dark for summer?

I just finished City of Thieves by David Benioff. It takes place in Russia during World War II and the Siege of Leningrad. It is about two young Russian men who are arrested by the Germans and are ordered by a colonel to find a dozen eggs for him in a city that is starving. It is well-written and fast-paced but it felt weird reading about freezing starving people during these humid, sultry days we're having.

I've just started Dark Places by Gillian Flynn, and boy, dark is the word! Dark, creepy, cynical; about a young woman who is the only survivor of her family's murder, except for her brother who (maybe?) did the killing. I like it, but I think I need some chick-lit after this!

Sure, it sounds interesting, but I don't read that genre....

There once was a time when fiction genres were pretty standardized. Romance novels were a man and a virginal woman who are destined to live happily ever once some conflict is overcome. Horror books were about monsters and blood and things that go bump in the night. Science Fiction....oh no....robots and space ships! Fantasy was wizards and warlocks and fairies. Westerns featured manly men, fallen women with hearts of gold, guns and some tumbleweed making its way down the street. Mysteries were either the hard-boiled detective or the little English lady with the a keen sense of observation. Sometimes we think stereotypically about genre books and the people who read them. That may have been true way back when, but now there are so many writers who do not conform to a specific genre that you are cutting yourself off from some great books. This nonconformity also makes it difficult for the library to know for sure where to shelve them. It is a love story which makes it a romance but it has a vampire which makes it horror and they solve a crime which kind of makes it a mystery....where to shelve it? And more to the point, where do you, the reader find it?

A prime example of this genre-merging is the Diana Gabaldon Outlander series. On the surface it is a historical romance, but there is also time-travel, war, political intrigue and polygamy. I'm not sure it counts as polygamy since one husband is in 1946 and the other is in the 1700s. It starts out in Scotland shortly after the end of World War II where Claire, an army nurse and her husband, a doctor are finally taking their long-postponed honeymoon. While exploring on her own, Claire rests against some standing stones and the next thing she knows she is on the ground surrounded by some angry Highlanders. The men are suspicious of her because they think she might be a witch (young women don't appear out of thin air every day). Soon Claire's medical skills come in handy and they reluctantly accept her. For her own safety, she is encouraged to marry the young outlaw Jamie Fraser who is on the run from the British. It is a very compelling series especially for people who like historical novels, but you might have missed out if you tell yourself you don't read romance or fantasy books.

You don't have to be a Star Trek enthusiast to enjoy good science fiction. It isn't all about outer space and robots and technology gone wild. There is a sub-genre called alternative history. I like this because history is a favorite subject of mine. These stories begin with the premise of "what if?" What if the South won the Civil War? What if Germany got the atomic bomb first? I came across Eric Flint's 1632 which is the story of a rural town in West Virginia somehow being transported back in time to the German state of Thuringia in the 17th century in the midst of the 30 Years War. Let's just say that you might welcome some 20th century gun enthusiasts on your side if you are at war in 1632. Not to mention how America's concept of freedom and democracy could change the course of history when introduced at a time when our Founding Fathers were not yet born.

Some books have a premise that rests firmly in a genre but the rest of the book is a basic human story. This is the case with Stephenie Meyer's The Host. While Meyer is best known for her Twilight series, The Host was marketed as "science fiction for people who don't like science fiction." The premise of the book is that some years ago an alien species took over Earth. People still looked like themselves but they were actually hosts for a parasitic alien species. The main character is an alien implanted in the body of Melanie who is a captured member of the resistance. The trouble is, Melanie won't go away. Soon the alien feels a kinship to Melanie and the alien's handler realizes that she can't control her host and must be removed and the host destroyed. Rather than submit to this, they go on the run and meet up with other members of the resistance. If you take away the fact that there are aliens, it becomes a story along the same vein as 1984, Brave New World and several episodes of The Twilight Zone where it is the human spirit pitted against the collective seeking conformity whether it be a totalitarian regime or alien invaders.

Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series reminded me (at least the early ones) of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series...that is, if Stephanie Plum lived in a world with vampires and werewolves. So Stephanie Plum inhabits the mystery shelves while Anita Blake is in horror. But Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse series is shelved in mysteries even though she has vampires. It is all so confusing....

The point is, good stories are all over the library. Just because they are aliens doesn't mean it isn't a beautiful love story. A little modern technology could make for some interesting outcomes in our history. Who says a werewolf wouldn't make a good detective? Sometimes it is just one minor element to the story that put a sweeping historical saga in the romance section next to the books where the cover shows a bare-chested man and a woman whose clothing is apparently being blown off by the wind. Don't judge a book by the genre sticker.

Staff Picks at Whetstone

A few weeks ago at the Whetstone Branch, we started displaying staff picks on the ends of the nonfiction and adult fiction shelves. It's a fun thing for us to do since most of us read so much. When checking in books, I always find books I've read before, and I would love for others to read them too. Our names are printed on bookmarks in the books so you can tell who is recommending which book. Other libraries have done this too and some patrons have followed a staff member's recommendations because they have a similar taste in books. If you're near the Whetstone Branch, check the displays for staff favorites!

Watching Books

If I know before seeing a movie that it is based on a book, I usually want to read the book first. I like forming my own vision of the characters and setting. If I see the movie first I go into reading the book with visuals already in place. I also tend to think that most of the time the books are way better than the movies. What do you think?

The first movie I can remember seeing that was based on a book is Little Women. I remember knowing the movie was coming out soon and wanting to finish the book before going to see the movie. Although I enjoyed the movie, I still found myself thinking it just didn’t compare to the book.

I also really don’t like it when the movie does not follow the book. If they change the ending or other important parts I’m less likely to enjoy the movie. The only reason I found one of my favorite authors, Jodi Picoult, is because I watched a movie of one of her books. Lifetime made a movie for The Pact.I remember not liking the movie but seeing how it could be a good book so I went out and bought the book. I loved the book and it was nothing like the movie. I was in fact pretty angry that they didn’t do the book justice.

Picoult also has a book called My Sister’s Keeper, which is being released as a movie this summer. There is a bit of controversy because the director of the movie changed the ending from the book’s ending. I’m still going to go see the movie, but I know a lot of Picoult fans are sharing they will not be seeing the movie. Do you like movies based on books? Does it bother you when important details of the book are changed in the movie version? Would you rather watch the movie and then read the book, or read the book and then watch the movie? What are your favorite books made into movies?

Current read: The Rest of Her Life by Laura Moriarty

Haven't I Already Read This?

Has this ever happened to you? You are either in a bookstore or at the library and you find a book that looks good. Maybe the cover is attractive or you have read something by the same author before. You get home and begin reading and you get this sense of deja vu. You somehow know what the character will say. You know that the young woman running away from home on a dark and stormy night will arrive safely in London by the next page. Sometimes the same book is issued with different covers making you think it is a whole new book. Other times we just forget.

A few years ago I was inspired to start keeping track of what I read. A teenaged girl came into the library with her father looking for some titles. She had a notebook that had belonged to her older sister. One summer her sister had kept a reading journal of the books she read and her observations. The younger sister was doing the same and comparing what she thought of the books to what her sister had written about them. I wasn't too interested in taking the time to write about each book I read, but I realized that keeping a list from year to year would be both useful and interesting.

At first I just kept track in a regular old notebook. One day I was at Half Price Books and they had some more fancy blank notebooks/journals. I found one with characters from the children's book Babar where they were inserted into Seurat's famous painting Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. Reading is important to me so my reading journal deserved something nice. I write across the top of a page "Books Read in 2009" and then list each book title, author and the date I finished it. If I feel rather strongly about it, I might give it a star or write "excellent!" next to it. I only write down books that I actually finish. Sometimes there are long gaps between finished books and I know I had a dry spell with some duds. I probably should keep track of what I didn't finish but I don't want to prejudice myself against a certain title or author. A lot of times I pick them up again later and can't put them down.

I find it helpful when I remember the plot of a book but can't think of the title...if nothing else I can look them up on Amazon.com to see which one it was. "I know I read it last winter and the cover was blue with a castle on a hill...." Also, when I read a book and the way it ends makes me believe there will be a sequel, having this list will help me to keep an eye out for it. I find that keeping a list of the books I have read is kind of like keeping a diary. I can look back and see that once I finished my master's degree and was free to read fun stuff again I read Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series back to back....and then I had to wait an entire year for the next one. I also find it interesting to see that one year I read over 80 books and the next I only read half that amount. I only wish that I had started keeping this list sooner.

Hand-Selling Titles

As most library staff know, there are hundreds (thousands?) of captivating, mesmerizing, over-the-top wonderful titles out there that most people don't know about. And because it's fun (and our job) to link people with these yummies, we hand sell our favorite unknowns to customers. Here are some of my favorite lesser known fiction and non-fiction titles:

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
Trustee from the Toolroom by Nevil Shute
Sin Killer by Larry McMurtry
Telegraph Days by Larry McMurtry
Dead Man's Walk by Larry McMurtry
The Devil You Know by Mike Carey
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Resurrection by Tucker Malarkey
Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie King
The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz
Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon
The Next Thing On My List by Jill Smolinski
Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella
My Dream of You by Nuala O'Faolain
Match Me If You Can by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
Austenland by Shannon Hale
Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder
The Last American Man by Elizabeth Gilbert
A Trip to the Beach by Melinda Blanchard
84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
Almost There by Nuala O'Faolain

If you have little known treasured titles that you recommend to friends, please share with us!

Working at the Library

Working at the library is amazing for many reasons (other than just being cool, of course). The other day I went out to lunch with a coworker and we found ourselves promoting the library. Our waitress saw our library t-shirts and overheard that we were on our lunch break. She got so excited and starting asking where the library was. We were right down the street but she had no idea she had a Columbus Metropolitan Library branch so close. She talked about using the Main Library but how it was so far away and she didn’t have a chance to go as much as she would like to.

It’s always interesting to me that the moment I mention I work at the library, everyone starts to get all giddy about it. I really do like my job for the most part, but it’s nice to get that extra boost from the community. Seeing people get all excited about where I work gets me excited about where I work too!

It always amazes me too that there are still so many people that have no idea where their closest library is. Do you know where your nearest library is? Do you use just one library or do you check out different branches for different needs? What’s your favorite thing about your local library?

Current Read: The Abortionist’s Daughter by Elisabeth Hyde

Gems of the African American Section

At first glance it may appear that the average African American section of a library or bookstore offers two types of books – the Terri McMillan-esque romantic rope-a-dope at one end and gritty thug lit at the other. In reality the range of work that actually appears in these sections is actually far vaster.

This isn’t true simply because institutions typically thrust books of any genre in this section so long as the author is a black American (though it doesn’t hurt). If we took out all of the books that have stand-alone sections in our collection now - mysteries, romance, science fiction, westerns, horror and fantasy – there would still be a lot of books left on the shelves.

The African-American sections located in our libraries typically contain some remarkable jewels that don’t fall easily into genres or, thankfully, stereotypes. My highest recommendations include:

Faraday’s Popcorn Factory by Sandra Lee Gould
If like love stories but want a twist now and then, this one may be for you. A woman working in a popcorn factory catches the eye of an otherworldly being who begins to woo her. There is some down-to-earth courting, some dramatic swells and some danger involved, and in the end the book is sweet and heady. Multiple narrators keeps it spinning a little more than it should, but it’s forgivable stuff. A truly unique story for the intellectual in you.

Dreamer by Charles Johnson
Written by multiple-award winning author Charles Johnson, this book is a tight, accessible story about Chaym Smith, a man who, thanks to his stunning resemblance to Martin Luther King, Jr., is asked to act as a stand-in for the icon during periods of the Civil Rights Era. Smith is almost everything that King is not, and the image of seeing King as a drunk, loud, boorish ex-veteran was an irresistible drama of the book. A great idea executed by a master storyteller.

Song Yet Sung by James McBride
An ensemble cast of characters set during the era of slavery participate in an epic adventure about the hunt for a young slave girl who has visions of the future. A sly commentary on contemporary culture and where it comes from, this book is adventurous and full of close-calls and wonderfully drawn characters on both sides of the issue. A must read!

Erasure by Percival Everett
Everett is one of the most prolific authors around, yet no one has heard of him. Erasure is as close as he’s ever come to a bonafide bestseller, and considering its premise, that’s no small feat. The book centers on Thelonius Ellison, a professor who, in a fit of frustration at being thought of as writing “too white” and suffering in the publishing industry for years, composes a parody of commercial street lit under a pseudonym, which subsequently becomes a bestselling book, lauded by critics and audiences alike. The book is something of a rollercoaster ride from there as his alter ego is asked to be on television, is offered millions for movie rights and more (or worse!). This is one of my favorite books, period, and is a stunning criticism of mainstream publishing today.

Ghost Stories

I am a sucker for a good ghost story. I don't necessarily mean a scary story, just stories with ghosts in them. I once read a book where a child was haunted by the ghost of another child who died on the Titanic. Through information provided by the ghost, they were able to expose the child's mother for abandoning him to save herself. I have no idea what the title was, but if it sounds familiar to anyone let me know. I've found a few books that stand out featuring ghosts.

Jodi Picoult's Second Glance brings a ghost hunter with a death wish to a rural Vermont town where a ghost helps him expose the shameful eugenics experiments conducted on the local Abenaki Indian tribe in the 1930's as well as uncover a murder. This is the only book I ever read by Picoult and as far as I can tell, the rest are nothing like this one. People often recommend her other work to me, but I just can't get over the lack of ghosts.

The Mercy of Thin Air by Ronlyn Domingue features the ghost of Raziela "Razi" Nolan, a young woman who died in 1928 when she slipped on the side of a swimming pool, bumping her head and then drowning. Razi follows a young couple home from a yard sale when they buy a bookcase that once belonged to Razi's fiance. Razi tells us the story of her life and how she wonders whatever happened to her beloved Andrew. Razi watches as the young couple, Amy and Scott begin to have problems. It turns out that Amy lost her fiance years before in a car accident and is having difficulty dealing with it now that she and Scott are thinking of starting a family. In the end we find out that Razi and Amy share a common connection.

Stephen King's Bag of Bones features both a good ghost and several bad ones trying to get revenge on a mean old man who did them wrong. Writer Mike Noonan retreats to his lake front home in Maine after the sudden death of his wife. Once there, he encounters a young girl and her mother living in a trailer park. The girl is the granddaughter of the richest man in those parts. He had disapproved of his son's relationship with a woman from the wrong side of the tracks and blames her for his alienation from his son and his subsequent death. The old man sets out to take the little girl from her mother until Mike starts meddling. He is encouraged to get involved by the ghost of his wife who leaves him messages on the refrigerator spelled out in alphabet magnets.

If you have read any novels featuring ghosts that you would like to recommend, let me know. I've only ever stumbled upon them on the shelf. It is hard to find them in the catalog without getting a lot of horror stories or non-fiction books about the paranormal.

Out of Africa

Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai grew up in a lush corner of Kenya in the 1940s--two decades before the country wrested its independence from Great Britain. During her lifetime she saw her people oppressed by greed and corruption--first by the Western government that colonized Kenya, and then by those Kenyans who freed the country and claimed to represent its interests.

In her memoir Unbowed, Maathai depicts colonization from the perspective of the colonized: she describes how Kenya's natural resources were devoured by an enormous colonial government, how Kenya's people lost their identity when their land was taken from them, and how they have struggled to recover it since. She ties Kenyans' disconnection from their land to the political oppression and discontent in the country today, and she offers a radically simple solution: the Green Belt Movement, an initiative to reclaim Africa's green spaces.

Maathai's involvement with Kenya's political, educational, and health care systems; her battles with the government to preserve Kenya's land and resources; her advocacy for women's rights and civil rights; her Kenyan upbringing and her Western education; and her personal struggle for equality as a woman, a Kenyan, and a human being--all make for an absorbing history of one woman's refusal to follow the status quo. It is en engrossing and inspirational read.

Have any other recommendations for an inspiring memoir?

ASRC: The Case of the Missing Detectives!

Adult Summer Reading Club here at Parsons has been packed with wall-stuffing displays!

We generated three separate displays for patrons at every age level that they could interact with to advance on their reading records. Here was the adult one, a little thing I like to call "The Case of the Missing Detectives!" Originally, I had it laid out so that there was a whole mystery aspect to it where you not only guessed who the detectives were, but who kidnpapped them. I removed the villain, but the rest of the project remained intact. Also, I primarily used detectives who were not only popular, but had been filmed at least once. That way people who might not read mysteries could also participate. And of course, the icing in any display should always be our collection: the mysteries themselves.

There was only one ringer!

American Wife and Me

I would never have expected to be able to listen to 19 CDs about Laura Bush -- not so much because of what I assumed would be our political differences, but more because I never thought her worth thinking about. (That is, for 19 CDs.) What makes American Wife remarkable is that it is a compelling portrait of a maybe-not-so-compelling person. Well, wait that's not fair -- Alice Blackwell isn't "plain" as much as the opposite of charismatic. Is that it? Has anyone else read or listened to this who can figure out why it worked? (Or didn't?)

(Also, for those who do know about Laura Bush's real life: did you find it rang true? I'm curious to know which parts were more fictionalized than others.)

Hollywood Noir at Its Best

Mixing history and fiction is popular lately. Ace Atkins' The Devil's Garden

blends fact in fiction in a delicious and dark hard-boiled detective story set in pre-code 1920's Hollywood.

Sam (later to become Dashiel) Hammett is a Pinkerton detective, hired to investigate the famous Fatty Arbuckle. Accused of killing an aspiring actress in a most sordid manner (rape with a Coca-Cola bottle--and this is a true part!), Arbuckle is villified daily by the Los Angeles press.

Hammett wanders through Hollywood's dark guts, interviewing fellow party-goers, trying to sort truth from lies in a city made famous by stories spun for its masses.

Writer Atkins has a great ear for dialogue, and has even included a 1920's Hollywood street map for the reader to follow the action. I was surprised to find so many facts in Atkin's novel: Hammett did work for the Pinkertons, and did, in fact, investigate the Arbuckle case.

But the dialogue is pure Atkins. This is one of those books that should be filmed. Maybe John Goodman as Fatty Arbuckle...

I AM a fan of books

In late May rapper Kanye West was quoted as saying “I am not a fan of books. I would never want a book’s autograph. I am a proud non-reader of books. I like to get information from doing stuff like actually talk to people and living real life.” The irony of him saying this is that he is now a published author. Funny how he wants people to spend money on his book but he is not a “fan” of books.

After I read about this, I was pretty upset. Something cool happened though, every time I expressed my anger and shared the story with friends or family who had not yet heard, everyone reacted in pretty much the same way that I had. All the sudden I was hearing everyone talk about how great books are and how dare he make these comments. It turns out that while Mr. West is not a fan of books, many people still are. I know I am proud to say I am a huge fan of books. Reading allows you to get away without actually having to move from your couch, patio, desk, etc. I like to get my information in more than one way too and getting out there and doing stuff is great, but reading about stuff is pretty cool too. Why are you a fan of books?

Current Read: The Condition by Jennifer Haigh, another book I’m glad to be reading this summer. I’m hooked on reading about this family, as they struggle through life facing challenges and I am hoping for a happy ending for them.

I Love Historical Family Sagas

I always enjoyed those books that followed several generations of a family like Sidney Sheldon's Master of the Game, the North and South Trilogy by John Jakes, and Princess Daisy by Judith Krantz. You don't see too many of these books nowadays. I was very happy to discover Penny Vincenzi's books several years ago. Vincenzi is a British author and her books have only been available in the United States for a few years now. The story of the Lytton Family begins in No Angel. It is 1904 and Lady Celia Beckenham, the daughter of an English aristocrat is determined to marry Oliver Lytton, the scion of Lyttons Publishing House. He is a commoner and Celia's parents are having none of it. Oliver loves Celia but is too honorable to pursue her against her family's wishes. Celia comes up with a plan to get her way. Soon she is pregnant and her parents reluctantly give her their blessing. Married life isn't as exciting as Celia thought it would be and motherhood soon loses its appeal. Celia is a bright young woman who wants to be more than women of her day were allowed. Her interest in the publishing business is rebuffed and she is encouraged to pursue charity work. Although it is against the rules, Celia befriends a young woman she meets through the charity. They are about the same age but this woman already has more children than she can handle and is expecting another one. Her husband is a drunk and often violent. In her misguided way, Celia wants to help the woman and offers to take in the little girl called Barty. A few years later, Celia's twin daughters are born. By taking Barty from her family, she would cause the girl to be in a kind of limbo. Because of Celia, Barty got to live in a big house, have nice clothes, good food and an education equal to any upper class girl but was never allowed to forget that she didn't really belong in that world. She would also face the resentment of her siblings who wondered why Barty got to be the lucky one. This conflict and its consequences will be fully explored in Something Dangerous.

World War I gives women like Celia a rare opportunity. The men were away at war and someone had to take over the jobs they left. Celia hires other talented women and together they keep the publishing house afloat. She is doomed to disappointment when the war is over and Oliver returns a changed man. He has been injured and is dismayed to see how much better Celia is at business than he had been. As soon as he is able, he takes his rightful place and fires all the women Celia had hired and worked with for years to make places for all the men returning from the war. In time, Celia is allowed back into the business, but their relationship has changed for the worst.

Celia woos a famous children's author to Lyttons and works closely with him. They soon begin an affair. Celia is stuck in a loveless marriage but knows that leaving Oliver is not an option. She finds herself pregnant with her lover's child and is advised by her mother of all people to make her husband think it is his. Oliver has long since been cowed by Celia and if he suspects anything, he doesn't let on. She ends the affair and makes the best of things with Oliver. The book ends with the birth of her son Kitt.

Something Dangerous is the story of Celia's twin girls and Barty through World War II and Into Temptation is the story of the family in the aftermath of Celia's death and also Barty's daughter Jenna.

Murder, Magic and Madness

I don’t often read non-fiction. I much prefer the fantastic worlds of science fiction or fantasy. But occasionally a book will come along with writing so crisp and a story so engaging that it makes me read outside of my comfort zone just to see what it’s all about. Has there ever been a book that you were surprised to find yourself reading?

For me, one such book was The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. The story fully lives up to the “murder, magic and madness” it promises in its sub-title, and does it so well that it was the 2004 Edgar Award for Best Fact Crime, the 2003 National Book Award Finalist for Nonfiction, and was on the shortlist for the 2003 CWA Gold Dagger award for non-fiction.

Larson frames his story around the lives of two men: Daniel Burnham, architect, and Herman Mudgett, otherwise known as Dr. H. H. Holmes, serial killer. As Burnham planned and constructed the towering “White City” that would hold the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, Holmes was constructing his own legacy of death, culminating in the three-story high, block long “Murder Castle.”

The highlight of the book is definitely when the two stories meet during the six month run of the Exposition, but I was kept on the edge of my seat until the very end, anxious to find out how events wrapped up.

The Devil in the White City is not for the faint of heart. True crime rarely is: it hits too close to home, and it can be a shock when you realize the horrific things that you’re reading about are not the inventions of an author sitting at a computer, but the actions of a real person. It is a fascinating read for those who want a chill up their spine this summer.

Series heaven

I'm always excited when I find a new series to obsess over. If I'm new to it and
it's been around a long time I'll have months of great listening. If it's a new series I'm biting my nails until the next installment is released. But a frequent question for both long running and newer series is...what is the chronological order of the titles?

Some series will show up on the library's computer catalog using an author, single title or series title search; look to the right of the screen and click on "series." Once located, you can reserve your title directly from this screen. If your series doesn't show, or is not complete, go to www.fantasticfiction.com for a complete list of series titles in order.

A few of my favorite series, in no particular order, are:
Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris
Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne series by Julia Spencer-Fleming
Wee Free Men/A Hat Full of Sky/Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett
Adelia Aguilar (Mistress of the Art of Death) series by Ariana Franklin
Chicago Stars series by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Alex Delaware series by Jonathan Kellerman
Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J. R. Ward
Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling
Berrybender Narratives by Larry McMurtry
Jane Rizzoli series by Tess Gerritsen
Spellman family series by Lisa Lutz

What series do you recommend?

cute Harry Potter story

Last week when I was working, a very young lady (couldn't have been older than 10) was asking me for some books in the Harry Potter series. I was getting them for her, and we were chatting about the series since I'm a big fan myself. She said she might re-read the last book but she wasn't sure, since she "hated" the ending. I was thinking she was perhaps referring to one of the many character deaths that occur in that book and was trying to think of something comforting to say. Then she bursts out "Hermione should have married Harry, not Ron!"

My jaw dropped. What was going through my head was: a) you're too young to care about that; and b) NO SHE SHOULDN'T!!! I managed to squeak out "noooooo" and something about Hermione and Ron being made for each other (obviously!), and that was pretty much it. She went on her way, and I just marveled at the sheer power of a well-told story.

Middlesex

Ever find out about a great book long after it was popular? Months ago I was in a class with some fellow library staff and we were all suggesting books to one another. Actually they were suggesting books, I was frantically writing down titles to add to my never ending book list. Someone mentioned Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides and I was intrigued by their summary. I thought it must have been a new book since I hadn’t heard of it before, but turns out it’s been around for awhile. I reserved it and patiently (okay not so patiently) waited for it to come in.

I was a bit leery when I read the back cover synopsis. It just didn’t sound like my cup of tea. I kept in mind though that of all the books I penned down that day, this was the one I reserved immediately. Within just a few pages I was hooked. I could not put it down. It was one of those long books that you want to finish because it’s so good, but can’t imagine finishing because it’s so good! I also realized after I got the book that it’s by the author of The Virgin Suicides which was a favorite read of mine some time ago, though I didn’t like the movie. Middlesex might be too complicated to make into a movie but I would love to see what they could do with it. If you are looking for a great read this summer, this one is on the top of my list from this year’s reads.

What books have you found out about much later after “everyone” had already read them? Were you surprised you had missed a great find? Were you happy to have finally caught on to a great read? What book has been your favorite read this year?

Current Read: Undoing I Do by Anastasia Royal

Beach Blanket Blog

During my recent vacation I took some time to scope out what everyone is reading around the pool and under the beach umbrella. You might be surprised to find out that what is popular this summer is suspense, romance and thrills. No light reads here.

Blue Smoke by Nora Roberts

Reena Hale thought becoming an arson investigator for the Baltimore Police Department was a challenge, until she met hunky next door neighbor Bo Goodnight. With a pyromaniac stalker threatening everything Reena loves, her relationship with Bo won’t be the only thing heating up.

Dying Breath by Wendi Corsi Staub

A summer on the Jersey shore sounds like the perfect get away for Cam Hastings and her teenage daughter. Cam soon learns that you can’t outrun your demons, no matter where you go. A serial killer is preying on children and Cam’s disturbing visions are about to become reality.

Killer Weekend by Ridley Pearson

Eight years ago in Sun Valley, Idaho, sheriff Walt Fleming bravely stopped an attempt on Attorney General Elizabeth Shaler's life. Back in town, Elizabeth prepares to announce her candidacy for president at a weekend conference. Her political aspirations are soon threatened by a cunning assassin who intends to finish the job.

Hot titles in the hot sun! Adventures await you. What do you plan to read during your summer getaway?

Visiting Fabletown

I’ll admit that I have always loved fairy tales. Not the Disney versions, where everyone always lives happily ever after, but the real Grimm ones – pun definitely intended. Two of my favorites are “The Juniper Tree” and “Bearskin” – has anyone heard of those? What are your favorite childhood tales?

As an adult, I sometimes feel a little silly pouring over the old fairy tales, but luckily the Fables series of comics has updated the stories and made them more accessible to modern audiences (and grown-ups!) The first collection in the series, Legends in Exile by Bill Willingham, tells the sad tale of how the Adversary – the faceless, nameless enemy – slowly took over the lands of the Fables and forced them into exile. They have managed to make a living in New York City but still dream of one day standing up to the Adversary and taking back their homes. The series is clever and fast-paced with memorable characters and striking illustrations. It can be fun to catch up with some familiar characters and see what they’ve been up to since their original stories – for example, who would have thought the Frog Prince would be a janitor in a high-rise, or that Snow White would divorce Prince Charming and become a deputy mayor?

Don’t be fooled, though – these fairy tales are not for kids. Jack of Fables, Prince Charming and Bluebeard are pretty serious playboys and the illustrators aren't above showing a bit of romance. Also, while most of the series is light-hearted, there is a war brewing with plenty of casualties on both sides.

If you’re curious about the fate of your favorite fairy tale character, I would suggest you pick up Legends in Exile and get caught up in the magic and adventure.

Books about books

Right now I'm reading the latest collection of Nick Hornby's articles originally published in The Believer, a magazine with contributors such as Amy Sedaris and Dave Eggers. In Shakespeare Wrote for Money, Nick Hornby, author of About a Boy and Fever Pitch, tells about the books he's bought and read.

Here's Hornby's praise of Fun Home by Alison Bechdel:

Fun Home has had an enormous amount of praise ladled on it already, and those of us who love graphic novels will regret slightly the overt literariness of Bechdel's lovely book (there are riffs on Wilde, and The Portrait of a Lady, and Joyce)-not because it's unenjoyable or pretentious or unjustified, but because it is likely to encourage those who were previously dismissive of the form to decide that it is, after all, capable of intelligence. Never mind. We'll ignore them.

I've never gotten into Hornby's novels, but I read his two previous collections of articles-The Polysyllabic Spree and Housekeeping vs. the Dirt. They're funny books and they've have given me some good suggestions for reading. Since Hornby is British, he reviews some books that don't get as much press in America.

Perfect Marriage of Narrator and Story

There are narrators who are intrinsically linked to specific stories or are so closely associated with a series that it would cause a laying down of earphones if they were replaced. They are THE voice of the protagonist and it would be difficult, if not impossible, to replace them. The following is a list of iconic readers to enjoy:

Jim Dale - Harry Potter series (by J.K. Rowling)
Simon Vance - The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (by Stieg Larsson)
Johanna Parker - Sookie Stackhouse series (by Charlaine Harris)
Will Patton - Dave Robicheaux series (by James Lee Burke)
Kate Reading - Can You Keep a Secret? (by Sophie Kinsella)
Anna Fields - Chicago Stars series (by Susan Elizabeth Phillips)
Stephen Briggs - Wee Free Men (by Terry Pratchett)
Barbara Rosenblat - The Indiscretion (by Judith Ivory)
Simon Jones - The Bartimaeus Trilogy (by Jonathan Stroud)
Davina Porter - Outlander (by Diana Gabaldon)

Who are your favorite narrators?

Talking About Books

Earlier this year, I spent Memorial Day weekend up in Cleveland visiting family and friends. That Sunday night a group of friends and I went out to a bar to watch the Cavs game. We were sitting around on a holiday weekend eating nachos at the bar watching the game, so naturally we started talking about… books. Yes you read that right, book talk at the bar. I didn’t even bring them up; someone else started talking about needing to create their summer reading list since summer was approaching. Then somehow that led to a much longer discussion on who was reading what lately and what they liked or didn’t like about it.

I love talking about books so I was quite happy with the discussion topic, but it still struck me as odd that in the last place I’d expect to be talking about books, we suddenly were. When you are out with a group of friends do you ask what they are currently reading? What books are making up your summer reading list this year?

Current Read: Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs by Chuck Klosterman
I really love this book! It is a set of essays written on pop culture and a fairly easy light read.

The Secret Life of Syrian Lingerie

Reason 70 million thousand I'm glad the library exists -- and I know this is going to sound a little strange -- is the book, The Secret Life of Syrian Lingerie: Intimacy and Design. When I came across this on the shelf, I was looking for anything about the history of clothing, for a project I was doing with kids. I picked it up and thought two things: 1. This won't be something I'll share with the kids (in part because of the scholarly treatment of the subject), and 2. Wow. I have to check this out.

I've had a chance to read most of this unusual book, and although I'm finding the topic unsettling and sometimes even offputting, I'm amazed by this slim guide to a world I knew nothing about. I'm impressed with the authors and editors, who had to overcome many barriers in order to publish this -- and grateful to my library for giving me the chance to discover it.

I found a new romance writer that I love!

I love it when I find a new author! I just finished Lisa Kleypas's new novel Smooth Talking Stranger and I enjoyed every minute of it. Kleypas had, to this point, only written historical fiction which isn't one of my strong reading interests. But I picked up Smooth Talking Stranger on the suggestion of a friend, and it is one of the best novels I have read in long time. Its got all the key elements for a good love story: Jack is a rich but down to earth Texas playboy, Ella, his polar opposite, is an environmentalist vegan, Luke is the requisite adorable baby they are both trying to help. Jack and Ella's different views of life clash into some steamy sex scenes that are just graphic enough to make you wish you had a man like Jack in your life. Then there is a tragedy toward the end of the book that turns everyone's life completely around. I very much enjoyed this novel and believe that anyone who likes a good romance will too. But, please read Sugar Daddy and Blue Eyed Devil first; the books are not really a "series," but if you start with Smooth Talking Stranger like I did, you'll have to catch up with Jack's family on your own. Reading Sugar Daddy and Blue Eyed Devil first will give you that introduction.

Non-fiction That Reads Like Fiction

For the most part I think of myself as a fiction reader - but what I really am is a "good" story reader. Any good story! Give me a riveting, what-happens-next plot and I'm hooked. The following are non-fiction titles that 'read' like fiction. The kind you can't put down. Give these a try:

Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder
A Trip to the Beach by Melinda Blanchard
A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
Drinking a Love Story by Caroline Knapp
Tender at the Bone by Ruth Reichl
84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
Rocket Boys by Homer Hickam
Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing
Horatio's Drive by Dayton Duncan
Cruelest Miles by Gay Salisbury
Ice Bound by Jerri Nielsen
Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio by Terry Ryan
Lucky by Alice Sebold
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
The Last American Man by Elizabeth Gilbert
Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger

Do you have favorite non-fiction titles? Please share with us!

Thank You for Supporting the Library!

Here at CML, and at libraries all across the city, we have truly been humbled by the outpouring of support that has come from you, our customers. We don't know what the outcome will be of the state budget, but you did your part to make your opinion heard: 35,000 emails were sent to state legislators! Obviously, they have some hard work ahead of them, but we also thank them for listening. Over the next few weeks we will keep you updated as things unroll.

Thank you for proving how vital libraries and the services we provide are to the community! Thank you for helping to save Ohio libraries!

Listened to a Good Book Lately?

The first audio book I took a chance on and listened to was Marley and Me by Josh Grogan. Before this I hadn’t really seen the point in listening to a book. I thought I would miss out on the experience of turning the pages and reading the book. I thought I would zone out from the book as I tend to do with the radio sometimes. I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed listening to Marley’s mischievous tales on my 30 minute commute to work.

Over the years I’ve now listened to many audio books. One set that stands out are the Harry Potter series. The narrator on these, Jim Dale, does an amazing job of animating the characters in the series. I had been curious about the HP series for sometime but hadn’t gotten around to reading them. Listening to the first few got me into the series.

Often I find with audio books that the narrator can make or break the listening experience. Maybe I just have high expectations since listening to Jim Dale who was so amazing that he had me hooked on audio books. How do you feel about audio books? Do you prefer books on tape or books on CD? What was the last book you listened to? If you haven’t listened to a book, give it a try, share your experience.

Current read: Snog a Puppy’s Guide to Love by Rachael Hale.

[Image by Jeff Daly; some rights reserved]

We are lucky to have good libraries

My first memory of going to a library was in elementary school when we would march down the hall in a single file line trying to be as quiet as we possibly could because the library was some kind of sacred place. The librarian gave us wooden sticks with our names on them for when we pulled a book off the shelf to look at, we could return it to the proper spot. My grandmother first took me to the Hilliard library back when it was on Main St. I think there is a gas station or pizza place there now. It was a quiet place with that distinct book smell that I came to love. I was amazed that you could have this flimsy little card and take anything you wanted home with you. From my elementary school training, I knew that you should never eat or drink while reading a library book and bending the corner of the page to mark your place was a no-no.

As I got older, my interests grew and the library could always provide me with the education that my school and teachers didn't offer. I could learn about art, history, foreign lands, languages, astronomy, philosophy, religion, etc. I would often go and browse the shelves for anything that looked interesting. My only restriction was that once I had more than I could carry, I had to stop and check them out. I think my arms are longer than they should have been as a result. No matter what subject interested me at the time, I knew that I could go to the library and learn everything about it.

When I got older, I went to work for the library. I really could look ahead and see myself surrounded by books and knowledge the rest of my days. The library of today is a bit different than it was when I first went as a child. Now material is offered in different formats. You can listen to books or download them onto a reading device. The old card catalogs have been replaced with computerized versions which make searching faster and sometimes more confusing. There are Internet computers at all locations where a world of information is at your fingertips if you know where to look. The dusty reference tomes that occupied shelf after shelf (you know, the ones you couldn't check out) are now replaced with online versions that you can access from your very own home.

Working for the library, I have a different perspective than I had when I was just a visitor. I still see kids that remind me of myself who are curious about the world around them and love to dive into the next book that they just can't put down. There are the people who come in wanting to learn about specific subjects and aren't sure where to begin. There are also people who have lost their jobs and gave up their Internet service to save money who depend on the library to search for jobs online and apply. We often get people coming in who have never had to use a computer in their life and discover that so many things have gone online and you can no longer just fill out a paper form, visit an office or dial a phone. There are people who rely on the library computers for e-mail so they can maintain contact with family members in the military.

The library provides study materials so people can either get their GED, get certified for careers such as nursing and teaching as well as civil service exams. At the beginning of each quarter or semester for local colleges and universities, we are inundated with calls from students hoping to find even one book from their syllabus so they don't have to blow their budget on a $100 textbook.

That is why it is so disappointing to see that Governor Strickland has looked to raid the funding for public libraries to balance Ohio's budget. Libraries have been hit hard in this decade and have been getting by on less and less with each passing year. There was a time when you could request that the library purchase a certain book or movie or cd and we would. Now, we are lucky to be able to provide what is popular. If the governor's budget goes through, CML's budget will be cut in half. It is unfortunate that some child out there might no longer be able to go to his or her local library due to us having to close a branch or a job seeker having to go further away from home to submit job applications. Please contact Governor Strickland, your state representative and state senator and let them know how you feel about the library.

Help Your Library!

If you enjoy your summer reading as much as we do here at the Columbus Metropolitan Library, then please help us out! Governor Strickland is set to launch his proposal to fill Ohio’s $3.2 billion dollar shortfall in the state budget. Among many reductions, he has recommended the elimination of $200+ million from the Public Library Fund over the next two years. His proposal will have a drastic impact on all 251 public libraries in Ohio and on CML in particular. In basic terms, this will reduce CML's state funding by 50%. We cannot absorb this additional cut without serious repercussions to our organization. In fact, it unavoidably means we may have to close branches and/or significantly reduce hours of operation.

Help CML keep its libraries open and help us continue to offer the many services we provide to the community. You can take action today! We have only days to make an impact, but we can do it! Here are some steps you can take to help:

1. Send an email today to your legislator.


2. Ask everyone you know to send an email to the addresses below. Since we anticipate that legislator electronic mailboxes may be full, try to also send a letter today or tomorrow.


3. Keep yourself educated about developments. Read the newspaper and watch news on TV. Follow statewide updates from the Ohio Library Council.

Most importantly, make sure you support your local library and the services it offers. To quickly contact your legislators and senators all at once, go HERE.

Ohio House of Representatives:

• Marian Harris, District 19 -- district19@ohr.state.oh.us


• Nancy Garland, District 20 -- district20@ohr.state.oh.us


• Kevin Bacon, District 21 -- district21@ohr.state.oh.us


• John Patrick Carney, District 22 -- district22@ohr.state.oh.us


• Cheryl Grossman, District 23 -- district23@ohr.state.oh.us


• Ted Celeste, District 24 -- district24@ohr.state.oh.us


• Dan Stewart, District 25 -- district25@ohr.state.oh.us


• Tracey Maxwell Heard, District 26 -- district26@ohr.state.oh.us


• W. Carlton Weddington, District 27 -- district27@ohr.state.oh.us

Ohio Senators:

• David Goodman, 3rd District -- SD03@senate.state.oh.us


• Ray Miller, 15th District -- rmiller@maild.sen.state.oh.us


• Jim Hughes, 16th District -- SD16@senate.state.oh.us

My "True Blood" Dilemma

Last year I watched the first season of the HBO series "True Blood." I liked it. It was sexy and cool and a little scary and had great characters. It didn't take long to find out the show is based on a series of novels by Charlaine Harris (referred to alternately as the "Southern Vampire Mysteries" or the "Sookie Stackhouse novels"), and after the season ended I decided to give the books a shot. Season One of the show followed the plot of the first book (Dead Until Dark) pretty closely, and there's my dilemma: Do I want to be surprised by the show or by the books? I'm leaning toward the show. I'm suprised to be saying this, but the show actually does a better job developing the secondary characters than the books do. When the killer in the first season was revealed I was completely shocked and a bit dismayed by who it was (I won't say who; no spoilers!), while in the book he was just one of a lot of background characters who were just kind of there. I have read books two and three in the series but I think I will hold off on the rest until I watch Season Two (which starts June 14) and see how closely it sticks to the books. I'm really hoping the books and show stories will start to diverge (as the Dexter books and series did) and I will be able to enjoy and be surprised by both in the future.

The Southern Vampire Mysteries series by Charlaine Harris is an enjoyable read: lightweight, romance-y, some violence but not over the top. A good recommendation for someone who's finished the Twilight series.