Judging a Book by Its Lover: A Field Guide to the Hearts and Minds of Readers Everywhere by Lauren Leto
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoy a book about readers and reading: we are, after all, an interesting group. This set of essays has a little bit of everything: humor, judgments, observations. It's at its most entertaining when it's a memoir (and she's not fond of memoirs!) and less so when she delves into writers. The same names keep popping up, probably because these were blog posts originally. With a few weeks separating them, the repetition would not be bothersome but in a book it becomes irritating. Overall a fun read which will make you think about your own reading. And her chapter on Infinite Jest is worth the purchase!

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New Book Roundup

MASSIVE(539.7)What makes things heavy? Scientists don't know for sure! Mysterious & possibly fictional particle called Higgs boson is the key.

ARGUABLY: essays by Christopher Hitchins. Don't be intimidated by its size! Open anywhere and you will be enthralled, angered, amused.

GO FOR THE GOAL: A Champion's Guide to Winning in Soccer and Life(B Ham)/Mia Hamm. nuf said. Chapter 1 is :"There's no me in Mia!"

Australian teens form an unlikely friendship when they cover up a murder until they can prove who is responsible. JASPER JONES (F Silvey)

Tess never wanted to lose the "magic" even if it cost her her life. WITHOUT TESS (F Pix)

Deeply personal look at the commercial sex trade in GIRLS LIKE US (362.88 Llo)

Check out http://paulgriffinstories.net/ Griffin works with at-risk youth and also trains dogs. He combined his interests in STAY WITH ME (F Gri).

HOW I KILLED PLUTO AND WHY IT HAD IT COMING (523.9) CalTech astronomer and planet murderer Mike Brown explains. Funny and informative


1/2 of our brain is dedicated to processing visual input....Pure text and numbers cannot convey info [as well as] VISUAL STORYTELLING(741.6)

Read what you like!

Like pigs? Try SWINE NOT(F Buf) as Ellie tries to hide her pet pig from landlord/boss or GOOD GOOD PIG (B HOGWOOD) true tale of runt piglet.

Like horses? Try WAR HORSE (F Mor) as a farm horse goes to war OR SEABISCUIT (798.4 Hil) as an undersized horse becomes a racing champion.

Love dogs? Try these 2 new books: ROAM(F Laz)tells a lost dog story (with music) and RIN TIN TIN(636.737 ORL) was a war orphan and superstar

Spoiled by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan

Molly's mother has just died. Her final wish is that Molly go to live with a father she didn't know she had-movie star Brick Berlin. So Molly leaves Indiana, her best friend and her boyfriend and heads for La-La Land. Her half sister Brooke is none to happy to be upstaged at her own Sweet Sixteen party and declares war on her new sister. Can Molly survive the craziness that is her father, her sister and Hollywood? Part silly, part serious and a fun read.

Sequins, Secrets and Silver Linings by Sophia Bennett

Three friends in London have high aspirations. Jenny wants to be a star and has recently finished her first film. Nonie, who tells this story, wants to do something in fashion. Edie wants to go to Harvard and save the world. The friends' lives are changed forever when they meet Crow, a 12 year old Ugandan refugee and a genius dress designer. Friendships are strained and grow deeper, fashion competes with the tragic story of Uganda's "Invisible Children," and Edie begins to make sense of her past and her future. A fun read with a serious side. This book was published in England under the title "Threads" which is a much better title! Sequel is coming.

The Devil Colony by James Rollins

If you love the few books Dan Brown has written, take a look at the more talented and prolific Mr. Rollins. His Sigma Force novels mingle history, current events, science and folklore into fascinating stories with strong characters. While Devil Colony is part of this series, it's easy to read as a stand-alone!

Hundreds of mummies have been discovered in a cave in the American Southwest. As an archaeologist removes an interesting artifact, she bursts into flames and dies. Sigma Force enters the investigation and the story unfolds as various operatives try to connect the dots before a world wide geological crisis destroys life on earth. How is a supervolcano in Yellowstone connected to Thomas Jefferson? What does the Lewis & Clarke expedition have to do with nanotechnology? Are the mummies somehow connected to the old legend that the founding fathers intended to include a 14th colony? This is a lickety-split thriller by a true master of the genre.

Ashfall by Mike Mullin

Alex is a teen boy enjoying the freedom of being home alone while the rest of the family visits relatives. He really likes the feeling until his house explodes while he is sleeping. He crawls out from under the rubble and discovers that a "super volcano" has erupted in Yellowstone. The ash cloud from the volcano has filled the air, blocking out the sun and forcing everyone indoors to escape the effects. Kind neighbors rescue him but as violence escalates with the population's desperation, Alex decides to do the unthinkable: hike hundreds of miles through the lawless and increasingly nightmarish landscape to find his family. A great adventure awaits as he uses his wits to complete his journey. This is a "can't put down" thriller which surprises you at every turn. I'd have liked to know more about the volcano but, hey, it looks like there might be a sequel!

Can magic save the world?

Trickster's Girl by Hilari Bell

In this world of the future, fears of terrorism fuel restrictions on how people may live their lives. Each state in the United States has its own border crossing. You are monitored at all times and must always have appropriate ID. In this paranoid new culture, it's hard to connect with nature. And nature itself is under attack: rainforests are dying of disease and the disease is spreading. A world without trees and growing plants is unsustainable but all government effort is placed on keeping citizens safe.

Kelsa is mourning the loss of her beloved father and harboring ill will against her mother for sending him to hospice for his last days, instead of bringing him home to die. She does not realize she is being watched by an unusual young man. A young man full of magic, who has realized that Kelsa, too, possesses magic. He recruits her to use their combined magic to heal the world.

This is an exciting fantasy adventure, steeped in Native American folklore. By setting this story in the Pacific Northwest and Canada, and by using Kelsa's growing understanding of her own grief and resentment as a theme, the story feels realistic and would appeal to lots of teens. The fantasy elements are subtle and quite beautiful. The contrast between the passionate human, Kelsa, and the dispassionate trickster, Raven, makes for a fine dynamic. I highly recommend this!

Hunted by Deadly Aliens

Ten alien children and their guardians are rocketed from their planet moments before it is destroyed by an invading army. Their destination is Earth. Their mission is to "hide in plain sight" and be safe: they represent the last of their kind. They are protected by a charm that dictates that the young people can only be killed in order. The alien destroyers are on Earth, seeking out the children. Numbers one through three have been killed. This is the story of Number Four.

John Smith (Number Four) and his guardian Henri arrive in Paradise Ohio and John sets out to fit in at high school. But the local bully is making that hard. Befriended by a beautiful girl and a geek obsessed with alien abductions, John grows to love his new town. Will he need to pull up stakes and run, as he has so many times before? Or will he stand and fight for his life?

This book reads like a movie. And, indeed, the movie is coming out in February and I, for one, can't wait. The writing is a little clunky (for example, "embarrassingness" instead of "embarrassment")but you quickly care for the main characters and the plot is non-stop action. Part of a projected 6 part series!

The Bells by Richard Harvell

The innocent, struggling for survival in an indifferent and often hostile world, is a recurring theme in good literature. Richard Harvell taps into that and gives us his own unique spin that is part Dickens, part Gunter Grass and totally original. Written as a letter from a successful man to his son, the novel spans the beautiful and the grotesque in telling a story totally original and touching.

In 18th century Switzerland, a nameless waif spends his first years in a bell tower, cared for by a deaf mute mother who can only truly hear by ringing the town's bells. Surrounded by the deafening cacophony, the child begins to understand music not just with his ears, but with his entire body. This imprinting of music defines the child's destiny.

The child is dubbed Moses when he is rescued from the river by two worldly and resilient monks, who serve as his protectors. Moses' extraordinary voice is both a blessing and a curse: some seek to silence it and others try to own it. For a time he is protected in the Abbey of St. Gall and becomes the star singer in the choir. His voice is so beautiful that the choirmaster conspires to have Moses castrated to preserve the voice. That act catapults the action as Moses sets out on a harrowing journey to find true love and to fulfill his destiny as a great singer.

The structure of The Bells is an opera, although that only becomes apparent as you finish reading it. Long parts of the story reflect the recitative of 18th century opera and then a flurry of intense chapters form the aria. The love story between Moses and Amalia plays out against the backdrop of Orfeo ed Euridice. This is not heavy handed; one reads the story and the richness of structure, character, setting reverberate after, just as the tolling of bells does not end when the last note is struck.

Best Book of Summer

Yes, I know we have a lot of summer left.  But nothing I read will be better than The Passage by Justin Cronin. I finished this book several weeks ago and haven't written about it because words fail me.  I babble about it to everyone I meet and I carry images from it with me still.  So here's my feeble attempt to tell you about it.

In the not distant future, the government is tinkering with a newly discovered virus.  The virus has the potential to extend human lifespan indefinitely, if it can be buffered enough not to kill the infected person.  In order to engage in final testing, death row inmates are convinced to be test subjects.  Something goes terribly wrong.

Does this sound like a dozen science fiction/end of the world books you may have read?  The Passage has been compared to The Stand (King) and The Road (McCarthy).  Justin Cronin elevates this material to a new level.  He populates his huge canvas with characters rich and compelling and flawed and human.  He does not demonize his demons nor does he glorify his heroes. Read it simply as a story and it's a great one. Read it as a fine piece of literature as well.  While the premise is genre-restricted, the scope and wonder of this novel transcends genre.  It is, like most great books, about being human. Just read it...then come talk to me. There's much to talk about.

Summertime...and the reading is easy (Part 1)

After a dry spell when I started many books and finished none, I read three fabulous books in a row. Whew...I was worried that I had fallen out of love with books.  So here they are, in no particular order.

City of Dreams by William Martin tells parallel stories. In the present, antiquarian bookseller and unlikely action hero Peter Fallon accepts a challenge to locate a cache of New Emission Money. These bonds were issued to finance the fledgling American economy in the 1780's. They may now be worth billions. In the past, a street boy and a prostitute fall in love during the American Revolution and their fates are forever tied to those same bonds. The backdrop to both stories is New York City and offers a fascinating peek at the city of the past and of the present. The mystery of the present day features amusing twists and lots of action.  But the real heart of the book is the love story of Gil and Loretta and their fabulous city of dreams.

WWW: Watch by Robert J. Sawyer is the sequel to WWW:Wake.  In Wake, the world wide web becomes sentient.  His awakening as Webmind is the result of a new technology which allows 16 year old Caitlyn to see after being blind her entire life.  In Watch, Caitlyn begins the hard task of teaching Webmind to understand human concepts like compassion, morality,and love.  At the same time, governments around the world discover Webmind and set out to destroy him because he is a security risk and potential terrorist tool. This is a clever and thought provoking tale from the author of one of my favorite books: Flashforward. A satisfying conclusion also hints at another book to come.

Jeffrey Deaver's The Burning Wire is another mystery featuring brilliant investigator Lincoln Rhyme. Rhyme is confined to a wheelchair but with the help of his brilliant partner Amelia Sachs he is able to track down murderers using forensics and logic.  Electricity looms large in this installment: a murderer is using the power of the grid to kill innocent people all over Manhattan.  Ironically, the instrument of death is also part of what keeps Rhyme alive.  As Rhyme and Sachs struggle to track down the killer, Rhyme's own health is in jeopardy and the killer keeps one step ahead of them.  A pretty satisfying mystery which will give you pause every time you plug in your toaster!

Spring Roundup

Here's a quick roundup of new books in the library. Better hurry: we'll start packing for the Big Move very soon.

Forget-Her-Nots by Amy White. Laurel has the power to use flowers to change people. Controlling her power is a challenge. Her mother died before Laurel could be properly trained. No control might create a strange set of love matches and a prom riot!

Lies:a Gone novel by Michael Grant Zil sets fire to the town in a misguided attempt to get rid of the teens with powers. Dead Brianna walks among the living and Drake is back. Why are the dead rising in Perdido Beach?

Side by Side (808.81) pairs art from around the world with international poetry, often in original language & English translation.

No Angel (364.106) is Jay Dobyns scary good true story of infiltrating the Hell's Angels motorcycle gang as an undercover cop.

from I Can't Keep My Own Secrets: six-word memoirs by teens famous and obscure (808): "Learned that sometimes friends aren't forever."

In Rwanda, Angel Tungaraza makes a living baking cakes. Her cakes heal broken hearts and bridge differences. Baking Cakes in Kigali (FIC Parkin)

Falling Hard:100 Love Poems by Teenagers Here's a sample: "I am/the flour/to your tortilla/baby." In library 811 Fal

Newes from the Dead by Mary Hooper. Anne Green, a servant who survived a hanging in 1650 England, wakes up on the dissection table. Based on a true story!

The Smartaleck's Guide to U. S. History by Adam Selzer is a very funny take on all things U.S. history. For example, President Harrison was the last president to sport a beard. He was also afraid of light switches, having been shocked by one. "Alexander Graham Bell was really disappointed when people started answering the phone by saying 'Hello.' He wanted people to say "Ahoy.'"

A Washington Thriller

Wes Holloway, a presidential aide shot in an assassination attempt eight years ago, has never truly recovered. His face has healed but his spirit has not. His scars are a daily reminder of those moments of horror and he feels guilty that Boyle, a man he invited along for the presidential appearance, was killed that day. Wes still works for the former President and is with him in Malaysia when he sees a familiar face. It is Boyle...a man supposedly dead for 8 years. Wes has stumbled onto a plot hundreds of years in the making and one that threatens to destroy the country. The Book of Fate by Brad Meltzer

Shark Girl

In one moment, your whole life can change...

On a beautiful June morning, Jane Arrowood is attacked by a shark in shallow water. She loses most of her right arm. She actually loses much more than an arm...Jane is an artist who can no longer draw and a pretty girl who is stared at like a freak. Told in poetry form (like Sonya Sones), Jane struggles to regain her health and find her way in a much-changed world. Shark Girl by Kelly Bingham

Which Would You Choose: Safety or Freedom?

In the future, our country is now called United Safer States of America. When you play "sports," you are encased in padding from head to toe and padded mats replace cinder track. Sportsmanship is key; calling an opponent a bad name could get you sent to prison. That's exactly where Bo ends up when he insults someone on the track team. Will he survive life in a penal colony in the wilderness of Canada, making frozen pizzas for the MacDonalds Corporation 18 hours a day? In the end, he will have to choose. Will it be freedom or safety? Rash by Pete Hautman is in the Fiction section.

Get ready for Lost (coming in January)

One of the aspects of "Lost" which makes it very intriguing to watch is the number of references to books both popular and obscure. Check the booklist below to see some of them. btw this is only a partial list...check Wikipedia for a more complete one. Anyone interested in having an X block Lost discussion???

The Odyssey (Homer)
Alice in Wonderland /Through the Looking Glass (Carroll)
Wizard of Oz (Baum)
Tale of Two Cities (Dickens)
Stranger in a Strange Land (Heinlein)
Mysterious Island (Verne)
Carrie (King)
Watership Down (Adams)
Brothers Karamazov (Dostoevsky)
Lord of the Flies (Golding)
Turn of the Screw (James)
Catch 22 (Heller)

The End of the World Part 4

In the savage days after a war nearly destroys North America, Gordon Krantz is just trying to survive. He has no hope...nobody does. Roving gangs terrorize the survivors. and Gordon takes to the road, not knowing where he's going. He comes across a car with a dead mail carrier inside. Gordon takes the dead man's jacket because Gordon is cold and the dead don't mind the cold. When he reaches the next group of survivors, they think he is the postman and that things are getting better. They give him letters to deliver to their missing loved ones. And without meaning to do this, the Postman becomes a symbol of hope and, eventually, a legend. The Postman by David Brin And disregard the dreadful Kevin Costner film!! The book has the real goods....

End of the World Part 3

Deadly chemicals from a government research lab leak into the air and travel by winds across America. Only a handful of survivors are left. Some are called by Mother Abigail to be the army of goodness. Others are recruited by the "traveling man" to finish the job the government started: destroy the world. Can a failed musician, an elderly professor and a simple country boy defeat the forces of the dark side? This battle is The Stand by Stephen King.