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.