Library Column - March 22, 2007

As I write this column a couple of kind gentlemen with shovels are moving snow off the roof of the library, a truly impressive amount of snow. I think this is probably a very good idea: we need to preserve the books (essential) and the librarian (of great personal concern) and our patrons (crucial).

Town Meeting in Warren was fascinating this year. I am delighted that the library move was approved. Thank you to all of you who contribute to making Warren a totally wonderful place to work. In fact it is so wonderful that I’m hoping to move to Warren soon. I need to find a small apartment to rent, so please let me know if you hear of anything. Thanks!

A few books, and DVDs:

Double Tap by Steve Martini (paperback collection). On the way into the library there is a hall full of posters and paperbacks. The paperbacks can be borrowed and you don’t need a library card. Just pick what you want and mark it on the little counting sheet. This guy writes lawyer novels and does a great job. The head of a software company is murdered, execution style. Her ex-bodyguard probably did it. Well, not actually, of course. Entertaining and suspenseful.

Me vs. Me by Sarah Mlynowski. Love or career? Arizona or New York City? Does a girl have to choose? Why not have it all…

Ask the Parrot by Richard Stark (actually Donald Westlake). Parker is trying to avoid being caught by the police after robbing a bank. He lands in a small town, where his attempts to help out a disgruntled ex-employee rob a racetrack creates havoc. Entertaining, but creepy.

Ancient Civilizations (6 DVDs, 9 hours). An interesting concept. The creators take you to various modern locales: Rome or Athens, for example, and then use computer graphics to recreate the architecture and the view from long-ago. The films also include excerpts from a wide range of old movies, plus plenty of learned commentary. The section on Pompeii was particularly interesting. I will admit that I didn’t watch the entire thing, mostly because my DVD player isn’t very good.

Wild Horses I have Known, text and photos by Hope Ryden. A lovely kid’s book about mustangs. Younger children who love horses will enjoy the photos and older kids will enjoy the information.

Krakatoa (DVD). PBS film about the explosion that completely destroyed the volcano of Krakatoa, which, prior to the eruption stood 6,000 feet high and 10 miles in diameter. Includes historic dramatization plus commentary by modern scientists. We also have the book and the audiobook (CD). We have other books about natural disasters, if you like the genre.

The Girl Who Married a Lion and Other Tales From Africa by Alexander McCall Smith (book or audio cassette). A charming set of folktales, lightly rewritten by the popular author of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series and beautifully read by several voices.

Anybody Out There? by Marian Keyes (audio CD). So you are young, good looking, crazy in love with your husband, working a glamorous job in NYC, have a great circle of friends…and then something irrevocably awful happens. How do you cope?

Library Column - March 1, 2007

Plenty of new books at the library, plus mountains of books out in the hall on the paperback shelves and the “sale” shelves. Come by and check out a couple!

Please be sure to vote at Town Meeting next Tuesday: the library is on the ballot.

Reading, listening and watching, plus sharing with my grandchildren—here are the reviews:

Ladybug and Babybug are children’s magazines that we’ve added to the collection. Both include illustrated easy reading stories plus material for parents to read: poetry and stories. My grandchildren gave the magazines positive reviews: the 7 year old loved Ladybug and had fun trying to read Babybug. The 3 year old mostly wanted to hear stuff from Babybug, but liked a few of the stories in Ladybug. Both magazines can be checked out for two weeks. Many thanks to the Friends of the Warren Public Library for providing all of our periodical subscriptions.

Talk Talk by T.C. Boyle. What is it like to be profoundly deaf? What is it like to be in love with someone who is deaf? What happens to a deaf person whose identity is stolen by a criminal?

The Pursuit of Happyness by Chris Gardner. The story of how the author went from homelessness (with a child, and a job), to great success as a stockbroker and a philanthropist. A gripping read—I zoomed through it in two days.

Being Julia (DVD). Feature movie about an actress who is bored with her roles, her life and her husband. The solution: a love affair with a younger man, which, of course, goes bad. The second solution: watch the movie to find out!

The End of Mr. Y  by Scarlett Thomas. An excellent genre crossing novel that combines science fiction, thriller, romance, adventure, mental trips and a serious exploration of the nature of reality. As I was reading it I wrote the following preliminary review: “A very strange book. I’m enjoying it.”

Echo Leahy Center Pass. What a deal! Take up to 5 people to the Echo Center for $2 per head (2 adults and 3 children). I went with my son-in-law and two grandchildren and we had an excellent time. The snapping turtle was very popular as was the model of the Champlain basin, complete with a rain shower that can be switched on and off with a faucet. Call us first to see if the pass is in.

Magic Time by Doug Marlette. Mississippi now and in 1964, in a novel that jumps back and forth in time and (a bit) in place. Topical because many of these old civil rights murders are being reopened in a last ditch attempt to find justice.

Gnosticism and other Vanished Christianities by Richard Valantasis. A basic, easy introduction to the complex early history of Christianity (from the Regional Library).

Passion: A Novel of the Romantic Poets by Jude Morgan (from the Regional Library, in our collection until May 9^th.) So, what was it like to be in love with Byron, Shelley or Keats? Mostly painful, but sometimes amazing. Beautifully written, engrossing and one of the best researched historical novels I’ve ever read.

Benjamin Franklin (DVD or Video).  The entertaining story of Franklin’s life and times. Not exhaustive, but a good introduction to his interests, activities and relations. We also have several other books and one audio book on Ben.

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King. (Audio cassette) Two books in one. The first part tells the story of his life and how he became a writer. The second part is an excellent manual on how to learn to write fiction. As a librarian, I really appreciated his recommendation to budding writers: read a lot! Even if you don’t want to become a writer, his memoir is entertaining and the sections on how to write also tell a lot about how to read. 

Radio Program - March 16, 2007 - NYT Notable Non-Fiction

Uncommon Carriers by John McPhee

Self-Made Man: One Woman’s Journey into Manhood and Back Again by Norah Vincent

Field Notes from a Catastrophe: Man, Nature, and Climate Change by Elizabeth Kolbert

The Discomfort Zone by Jonathan Franzen

At Canaan’s Edge: America in the King Years 1965-68 by Taylor Branch

Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War by Nathaniel Philbrick (we also own the audio CD version)

Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan