Library Column - May 29, 2008

Do you still listen to books on audio cassette? Warren Public Library has done an exchange with Ilsley Library in Middlebury. We have 30 sets of their books and they have 30 of ours. These audiobooks will be available until September 1^st. I’m planning to continue doing exchanges with other libraries and I’ll be building a list of preferred authors and genres for the next exchange, so tell me what you like, thanks! Just came in—another 16 books on audio cassette—a gift from the Jeudevine library–I’ve added them to the paperback collection out in the hall. Like the rest of the paperback collection, they’ll have no due date.

 

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Volume 2 (audio cassettes) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Performed by a delightful cast under the auspices of the BBC, complete with sound-effects. Recommended for fans of Sherlock Holmes and fans of old-fashioned radio drama.

 

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby. Someone ordered this book on interlibrary loan and I decided to read it. A great book, told from the point of view of a man who is totally helpless due to a massive stroke. So, the question is—should I buy a copy for the Warren Public Library?

 

Practically Perfect by Katie Fforde. A fluffy, entertaining romance between a woman, two men, a cottage and a rescued greyhound. The setting is a charming little English village where a listed cottage is being rebuilt by a  young woman who designs interiors (where to put the bathroom, not where to put the cushions). Should she fall for the charming professor or the not so charming building inspector? Stay tuned.

 

Homo Politicus: The Strange and Barbaric Tribes of the Beltway by Dana Milbank. A tongue in cheek anthropological survey of the behavior of the residents of Potomac Land complete with chapters on Status, Kinship, Hunting and Gathering, Mythology and Folklore, Norms And Deviancy, Shamanism, Aggression, Taboo, Festivals and Social Rituals, Human Sacrifice, Fertility Rites and Mating Behaviors (a very entertaining chapter) and finally, the Chorus (also known as the journalists). I learned a lot. Mr. Milbank is an equal opportunity critic, bashing both of the tribes with great enthusiasm.

 

Amazing Grace (DVD). This movie was donated to the library by a generous patron. It tells the remarkable story of William Wilberforce and his long and frustrating campaign to end the British trade in African slaves. The trade was extremely lucrative and vigorously defended by the ship-owners, the port cities that depended on the trade, the sugar industry and plantation owners. The movie focuses on the politics (Wilberforce was a Member of Parliament) and on the character of the protagonist. The title, of course, connects with the well-known hymn, which was written by John Newton, one of Wilberforce’s mentors. Serious, but with moments of humor, and beautifully filmed.

 

Wandering Ghost by Martin Limon.  Military police procedural, set in Korea in the early 70s. A woman MP has disappeared from a base up in the DMZ. Is she dead? Kidnapped? As the investigators dig into the case the local military hierarchy tries to block the investigation. Are they trying to cover up a murder? Black-market activities? Dark, sometimes funny mystery with a twisty plot.

 

See you at the library!

Library Column - May 15, 2008

Spring is really here. I love the tender green on trees and bushes, the masses of  daffodils and other spring flowers and the rich scents as the Vermont soil emerges from winter.

 

Some of the library resources are well hidden. Available online (go to the bottom of our web page for links) are Heritage Quest Online for your ancestor search, the Vermont Online Library for just about anything, the Department of Libraries Catalog for your book searches and the Listen Up! Vermont site for downloadable audiobooks. All resources require passwords or special log-in information, phone or drop in to get the goods that will allow you to access these goodies.

 

More hidden resources: children’s magazines—Baby Bug and Ladybug (on the top of the toy collection); 400 movies on VHS (down in the basement); non-fiction and biography on audio CD (top two shelves of the audio cassette collection); short stories (below the mysteries); science fiction (below the short stories); older kid’s audiobooks (front of circulation desk); little kid’s audio/book combo’s (hanging rack in the corner of the children’s department); children’s music collection (in a box on the floor);  board games (on top of the shelves housing the juvenile fiction). I’m looking forward to our expanded library, which I’m hoping will have a rational layout instead of our current puzzles within puzzles.

 

Does everyone know that our magazine collection can be checked out? Consumer Reports is one exception, but you can find their articles in the Vermont Online Library at no charge. Toys, games, puzzles and puppets can all be checked out, too. Very handy when grandchildren come to visit!

 

Born Confused by Tanuja Desai Hidier. Hurrah, I made it all the way through my first downloadable audio book on one of our new MP3 players. Please forgive me for my crowing, but I’m a member of the older generation and figuring out how to listen to an audio book on one of those little gadgets was a challenge. I’ll admit they aren’t ideal for books (no bookmarks) but once I got the hang of it I really enjoyed the portability. I could go for a walk, listen in bed, move around and take care of this and that. Oh well, I guess I need to review the book, too. The story is about a teenager whose parents are from India. The main character was born and raised in New Jersey, but is still strongly connected to her parent’s culture and also rebelling against it. Definitely a young adult book, but I found it entertaining, nevertheless, and I learned a lot about the Indian diaspora. There are over 300 downloadable audiobooks in the Listen Up! Vermont collection with more to come. Call the library or come in to find out how to access this new library resource.

 

The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian. A novel about homelessness, literature, photography, crime, survival, mental illness, friendship and the line between truth and fiction. I enjoyed the book and found it frustrating, too. A novel, is, by definition, a work of fiction. Can the characters in a novel reasonably denounce another character for believing that the characters in another novel are real people? Everyone is fictional…

 

See you at the library!

Library Column - May 1, 2008

Have you tried out the downloadable audiobook service? Just go to http://www.warrenlibrary.com , click on audio books and then click on downloadable audio. This will take you to the ListenUp! Vermont web-site. Check out the hundreds of audiobooks available to Warren and Waitsfield residents. You do need to get your library card number expanded to 14 digits in order to use the service, so stop in or call the library for help. As an adjunct to this service, we have 4 MP3 players available for loan. These handy gadgets can be checked out for two weeks at a time and I’ll be happy to show you how to download your first book and transfer it to the player. Starting in June the site will work for Mac users and the files will be I-pod compatible. Any questions? Just call us or send an e-mail to warren@vals.state.vt.us.

 

The Secret History of the War on Cancer by Devra Davis. Highly recommended! A dense, challenging read, but a real wake-up call on where the real “junk” science is coming from. The entire plot can be seen in wonderful Herblock cartoon (1977) reproduced on page 198. A scientist is being badgered by a man labeled Gov’t: “Could you hurry and find a cure for cancer? That would be so much easier than prevention.” Behind him are some rather large men carrying portfolios labeled Asbestos industry; Chemical and pesticide industries; Food and drug industries; Polluting industries and Tobacco interests.

 

The Arraignment by Steve Martini (audio cassettes or book). Lawyer Paul Madriani gets sucked into something that looks like the drug trade, involving Mexican partners, cross-border money laundering and sudden murder. But the real story is a bit more complicated.

 

New Views of the Solar System from Compton’s by Britannica. The latest science on the nature, composition and organization of our local bit of the cosmos, illustrated and nicely organized. A good companion to our new set of DVDs, The Planets, a four volume exploration on the same topic.

 

A Guide to Fiction Set in Vermont for Children & Young Adults by Ann McKinstry Micou. Do your children like to read books about Vermont? This wonderful guide will help you track down hundreds of exciting books for children of all ages.

 

Trouble the Water by Nicole Seitz. A tragic and joyous story set on an island in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Two sisters, divided by secrets, learn to face their despair and open up to life. An older woman who has given up on life struggles back from the brink and a Gullah community offers open-hearted help to three outsiders.

 

Agent Zigzag: A True Story of Nazi Espionage, Love, and Betrayal by Ben Macintyre (biographies). A great story for anyone who likes spy novels or World War II novels. This is non-fiction, but the story is totally amazing, the personalities bizarre and fascinating, and the central character, Eddie Chapman, is alternately puzzling, irritating and amusing. Includes some interesting bits about the British Double Cross System and details describing how the Enigma intelligence was actually employed against the Germans.

 

See you at the library!

 

Library Column - April 17, 2008

Looks like we made it through slush season. Next comes mud season, right? And then, perhaps, spring? As usual, I’ve been reading a lot, listening a bit and watching a little. Two craft books, one movie, four novels (one on CD), and a book of answers (yes, literally, an entire book of answers). Come on in for an inexpensive escape from the rain and mud!

 

200 Braids to Twist, Knot, Loop, or Weave by Jacqui Carey (Regional Library). A super neat book for anyone who enjoys playing with string or yarn or cord. Beautifully illustrated with clear step-by-step directions for all the basic techniques and detailed guidance for recreating each of the 200 braids featured in the second half of the book.

 

Man in the Moon (DVD). A poignant coming of age story, set in 1950s Louisiana. Dani is 14 years old and has her first crush on the boy next door. Unfortunately the boy next door finds her older sister a lot more appealing. Disaster splits the sisters apart…will they find a way to reconnect? Well acted and with a touch of dry humor in spots.

 

Espresso Tales by Alexander McCall Smith. McCall Smith is a series maven. This particular series was originally published as daily pieces in The Scotsman Newspaper and has an interesting flavor as a result. If you missed it, the first novel in the set is entitled: 44 Scotland Street. The story follows the residents of a single apartment building in Edinburgh as they go about their daily lives. Bertie is a bright six year old with an over-dedicated mum, Bruce loves himself more than anyone else in the world but the rest of the world seems to have some doubts about his character, Domenica, an anthropologist observes the world and wonders who to study next, Pat is searching for love and working in an art gallery, which is owned by Matthew who is worried that his father is in love with a blond gold-digger.

 

Creative Weaving: Beautiful Fabrics with a Simple Loom by Sarah Howard and Elisabeth Kendrick. Weaving is difficult and complicated and requires a lot of expensive equipment, right? Wrong. This charming book introduces simple looms and exciting projects to make hand weaving an accessible craft for people on a budget (time, money or space).

 

What Would Socrates Say? Philosophers Answer Your Questions about Love, Nothingness, and Everything Else edited by Alexander George (Midstate Regional Library). Exactly what it sounds like: a collection of questions answered by professional philosophers. Surprisingly fun to read and entertaining. Have you ever wondered, for example, “What happens to a moment of time after it occurs?” See page 58 for an answer.

 

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke (audio CD or book). A very long book about magic, set in an alternative version of early 19^th century England, complete with a wicked fairy and a wonderful library filled with books on magic (as opposed to books about magic). Incorporates a wild collection of characters (some historical, some not) and some delightfully weird adventures.

 

Bangkok 8 by John Burdett. I read this as part of our Winter Book Discussion series and found it a fascinating and unusual mystery. The main character, Sonchai, is a Buddhist and a police detective. Some of his investigative techniques are a bit unusual and the story has many twists and turns, plus a bit of magical mysticism. The first in a series of mysteries set in Bangkok.

 

The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen by Syrie James. I am a very serious fan of Jane Austen and I read this book very critically. My honest opinion? Quite good. Not as good as the real thing, of course, but well worth the time of those who enjoy historical novels. This one is carefully researched and the writing is lively and appealing.

 

See you at the library!

Library Column - April 3, 2008

More snow? Yes, more snow. We also have more books for anyone who needs a bit of an escape from the weather. Several new books came in this week: The Appeal by John Grisham, 7th  Heaven by James Patterson, Lady Killer by Lisa Scottoline, Trouble the Water by Nicole Seitz, Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult, Mafiya by Charlie Stella, Black Widow by Randy Wayne White, The Painter from Shanghai by Jennifer Cody Epstein, in the new fiction section. For non-fiction we have: Fidelity by Grace Paley, Manic by Terri Cheney (biographies), Buried Treasures: Tasty Tubers of the World from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and, best of all, Pocketful of Poultry: Chickens, Ducks, Geese, Turkeys by Carol Ekarius.

 

Hidden Moon by James Church. A bank in Pyongyang, North Korea, is robbed and Inspector O finds himself in charge of investigating. But it seems as though the powers that be don’t really want the case solved, except perhaps they do want it solved. Could almost have been written by Kafka—except that Church isn’t a genius—and Inspector O has a sense of humor.

 

The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. The author tells a magical story based on the Mahabarat and narrated by Panchaali the Indian princess who was married to all five Pandava brothers at one time. The end of the Third Age of Man culminates in the huge battle between the forces of the Pandavas and the forces of their opponents and close relatives the Kauravas. Panchaali plays an essential role in the disastrous and fated events which lead to the battle and its tragic aftermath. Richly imaginative and an exciting introduction to a classic of world literature.

 

Guest Review by Fran Plewak:

I’m Looking Through You is a memoir about being haunted, by Jennifer Finney Boylan.  The author grew up as James Boylan, in an old Victorian house in Philadelphia, where he was haunted by ghosts both real and imagined, and by the spirit of Jenny, the woman he would become. 

 

This is quite a story, written with irreverent wit, about the paranormal, ghostbusters, gender reassignment, a monkey named Jesus, and an outrageous collection of relatives and friends.  Boylan candidly recreates her teen years in the 70’s, and brings the reader to her present life as a parent, spouse and transgendered college professor.

 

To be honest, I read this book because my mother and Boylan’s mother grew up together, but I found it to be an incredibly engaging, funny, and tender read!

Library Column - March 20, 2008

Downloadable audio is here! The Green Mountain Library Consortium has signed with a major distributor of downloadable books, Overdrive, and the Warren Public Library is all set to deliver the service. Stop in at the library and I’ll explain how it works and give you your extended library account number, required for checking out materials.

I’m an old-fashioned sort, still listening to books on CD and reading actual, physical books—how quaint! Try out some of these

Blood from a Stone by Donna Leon. (audio CD) An excellent novel from the author of the Commissario Brunetti series finds the excellent Commisario struggling with the mysterious death of an African street vendor. Why should the major powers of the Italian state interfere with the investigation of the murder of such a seemingly unimportant man?

The Ordeal of Elizabeth Marsh: A Woman in World History by Linda Colley. One of the 10 Best Books of 2007 as chosen by the New York Times Book Review. A tour-de-force of research, Ms. Colley manages to bring to life an impatient, intelligent, selfish woman who pushed the boundaries of her time and survived some wild adventures in the Mediterranean and India, including capture by the Sultan Sidi Muhammad of Morocco.

Don’t Throw it Out: Recycle, Renew, and Reuse to Make Things Last by Lori Baird and the Editors of Yankee Magazine. The plot is pathetic, but this book is great if you want to save money or reduce your carbon footprint. Easy to follow information on keeping your stuff from wearing out and recycling it when the time comes.

Blue Shoes and Happiness by Alexander McCall Smith. (audio CD and book) Mma Ramotswe and her stalwart assistant Mma Makutsi sort out blackmail, food embezzlement, an untrustworthy doctor and panic at the game preserve. Also addressed are feminism and why the little white van is leaning over towards the driver’s side.

Death Before Wicket by Kerry Greenwood. More fun in 1920s Australia. This book takes Phryne Fisher to a college campus in Sydney and brings in magic, attempted murder, cricket, sex, prostitution, and safe-cracking. Entertaining, as always.

Crashing Through: A True Story of Risk, Adventure, and the Man Who Dared to See by Robert Kurson. (Regional and Warren) Michael May lost his eyesight when he was three years old, but he continued to tear through life with vigor and enthusiasm, willing to try anything and succeeding at almost everything. Many years later he was offered an opportunity to see again. This book is the story of that adventure and the almost insuperable challenges he faced. Eyesight was easy but seeing turned out to be almost impossible. Highly recommended! Robert Kurson is the author of Shadow Divers.

See you at the library!

Radio Program - June 6, 2008 - Rent, buy, or?

The Central Vermont Community Land Trust offers the following services:

• Homebuyer Education — Teaches the steps necessary for successful home buying to first time buyers.
• Closing Cost Assistance — Financial assistance is available for income qualified buyers.
• Property Rehabilitation Funds — Available to low income and moderate income homeowners to assist with health and safety issues.
• Down Payment Assistance — Available to income qualified buyers for qualified properties.
• Homes for Sale — Homeland resale properties through the HomeOwnership Center.
• Credit/Budget Counseling — Provide counseling to individuals with credit issues.
• Foreclosure Intervention Services — Provide counseling for homeowners with foreclose issues.
• Site Project Analysis — Feasibility review of possible housing development.
• Project Budgeting — Determine financial viability of potential project.
• Construction Management — Part of total project management.
• Grant Writing — Assistance and support in obtaining grants.
• Management Plans — Develop long term asset and property management plans for housing projects.
• Community Development Partnerships — Provide development experience to assist area organizations.
• Rental Apartments — Efficiencies, 1bedroom, 2 bedroom, 3 bedroom affordable units.
• Mobile Home Lot Rentals — Four mobile home parks (South Barre, Williamstown, Bradford and Waitsfield) with lots for rent.
• Transitional Housing — Good Neighbors transitional housing (Barre) for homeless families with children.
• Elderly Housing — Two facilities (Cabot and Waitsfield) with 1 and 2 bedroom units.  Rental assistance available for qualified households.

Vermont Online Library call and ask for a password!

http://tinyurl.com/57mzrl
Saltzman, Amy. ”To buy or to rent is a question for the ’90s; these days, a home may not be the best investment.” U.S. News & World Report 106.n15 (April 17, 1989): 68(3). 

http://tinyurl.com/5ffn73
Exter, Thomas. ”The burden of roof.” American Demographics 13.n2 (Feb 1991): 6(1). 

http://tinyurl.com/563c64
“Chapter 5: buying and selling a home.” Know Your Legal Rights. The Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc., 2001. 85(37). 

Reader’s Digest Family Legal Guide: The Layman’s Complete Guide to the Law (340) [article about buying a condo or co-op starts on page 185]

Every Landlord’s Guide to Finding Great Tenants by Janet Portman (346.7304)

Starting Out: The Complete Home Buyer’s Guide by Dian Hymer (643)

Good Debt, Bad Debt: Knowing the Difference Can Save Your Financial Life by Jon Hanson (332.024)

LIving Well on a Shoestring by Yankee Magazine (640)

A Country that Works: Getting America Back on Track by Andy Stern (331.880973)

Real Estate Riches: How to Become Rich Using Your Banker’s Money by Dolf de Roos (332.63)

Money Magazines from March 2007 and June 2008

Available from the Green Mountain Library Consortium Listen Up Vermont! web-site:  

 

Mortgages for Dummies 2nd Ed.  (call the library for your log-in info)

Edition: Abridged

by	Eric Tyson Brett Barry © 2004 by Eric Tyson and Ray Brown

 

Summer Book Discussion Schedule

The Vermont Humanities Council is providing a wonderful series: Religion Matters

All programs will be at 7:00 p.m. on Thursdays.

June 26: Why Religion Matters: The Fate of the Human Spirit in an Age of Disbelief by Huston Smith, discussion will be led by Patricia Stuart, at Warren Public Library

July 17: Why God Won’t Go Away: Brain Science and the Biology of Belief by Andrew Newberg, Vince Rause, and Eugene D’Aquili, discussion will be led by Robert Johnson, at Warren Public Library

August 21: Working on God by Winifred Gallagher, discussion will be led by Peter Burns, at Warren Public Library

September 18: Peace Like a River by Leif Enger, group led, at Joslin Memorial Library in Waitsfield

October 23: The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, group led, at Joslin Memorial Library in Waitsfield

Radio Program - May 30, 2008 - Carol Milkuhn on Tudor Court Costume

Books mentioned on the show:

Costume of the Western World: Fashions of the Renaissance in England, France, Spain and Holland ed. by James Laver (Midstate Regional Library)

A Survey of Historic Costume by Phyllis Tortora and Keith Eubank (Midstate Regional Library)

 A Visual History of Costume: The Sixteenth Century by Jane Ashelford (Midstate Regional Library)

Costume Throughout the Ages by Mary Evans (391)

Related books available at the library:

The Wives of Henry VIII by Antonia Fraser (920–above the biographies)

Behind the Mask: The Life of Queen Elizabeth I by Jane Resh Thomas (biographies)

Shakespeare’s Wife by Germaine Greer (new biographies)

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory (fiction)

The Lady Elizabeth by Alison Weir (new fiction)

Radio Program - May 23, 2008 - Fran Plewak - WW II Novels

Resistance by Anita Shreve

The Welsh Girl by Peter Ho Davies

Dark Voyage by Alan Furst

Consequences by Penelope Lively

Jackdaws by Ken Follett

Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres

A Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell

Atonement by Ian McEwan

Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky

Movies:

Life is Beautiful (VHS)

The English Patient (VHS)

Kelly’s Heroes (VHS)

Saving Private Ryan (VHS)