I enjoy reading Science Fiction or SF, as it is abbreviated.
I won't say I'm an expert, but I usually know a bit more than the other librarians I'm with when we start talking about SF. Science Fiction is a sub-genre of Speculative Fiction which includes Fantasy, Alternate History, Utopian/Dystopian fiction, Paranormal and Horror.
In general, SF appeals to the reader's intellect. It is often described as the left brain reaching out to the right brain--logical toward artistic. These novels imagine worlds and technologies that could exist. Science, rather than magic, drives these stories, and often ethical implications of the choices characters make is at the heart of the tale.
Science Fiction is not all space battles and aliens. If you care about character, there is some SF for you. If you like being immersed in another time or place, there is SF for you. If you like action or prefer a leisurely exploration of ideas, there is some SF for you. As Joyce Saricks writes in The Reader's Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction, "this is a genre rich in both physical and intellectual adventure...From Romance to Mystery and beyond, Science Fiction is an unexpected treasure trove of crossover authors and titles." (p. 244)
I usually recommend a few sure bets to new readers of Science Fiction, trying to match the SF title with things they like about the current books they read. If you want to stretch your reading and go out of your comfort zone, I've read and enjoyed the following books and I think you might enjoy them, too!
If you like books in which characters and their experiences are important, you might try Mindscan by Robert J. Sawyer. Jake Sullivan has cheated death: he's discarded his doomed biological body and copied his consciousness into an android form. The new Jake soon finds love, something that eluded him when he was encased in flesh: he falls for the android version of Karen, a woman rediscovering all the joys of life now that she's no longer constrained by a worn-out body either. But suddenly Karen's son sues her, claiming that by uploading into an immortal body, she has done him out of his inheritance. Even worse, the original version of Jake, consigned to die on the far side of the moon, has taken hostages there, demanding the return of his rights of personhood. A quick read with a conversational tone, and the added bonus of making you wonder if you’d make the same choice as Jake and Karen did, make this book a good read.
If you like books with quirky humor, eccentric characters and satire, you might try The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde. Set in an alternate London, literature is so important that it is a crime to forge verse and it's possible to travel into novels and poems. When someone starts kidnapping literary characters it's up to Special Operative Thursday Next to catch and punish the perpetrator. Clever word-play and satire make this a fun read, and best of all, it's the first in the "Thursday Next" series.
If you like action and adventure, you might try Old Man's War by John Scalzi. John Perry did two things on his 75th birthday. First he visited his wife's grave, then he joined the army. The good news is that humanity finally made it into interstellar space. The bad news is that planets fit to live on are scarce - and aliens willing to fight for them are common. Seventy-five-year-old John Perry joins the Colonial Defense Force because he has nothing to keep him on Earth. Suddenly installed in a better-than-new young body, he begins developing loyalty toward his comrades in arms as they battle aliens for habitable planets in a crowded galaxy. As bloody combat experiences pile up, Perry begins wondering whether the slaughter is justified; in short, is being a warrior really a good thing? Humor and action abound in the first book in the Old Man's War series.
If you like fables and parables, you might like The Carpet Makers by Andreas Eschbach. A barren, isolated planet's whole economy funtions around weaving carpets, allegedly for the emperor's palace, out of the hair of the weavers' wives. Although a weaver must have several wives to make his particular carpet, he may have only one son, who becomes his successor when he finishes his carpet and dies. But what if you don't want to be a carpet maker, and why are all these carpets needed anyway? Soon ships from the new government arrive with officials wondering the same thing. The new interstellar government learns why the ousted emperor secretly maintained thousands of carpet-making planets--and so will you! Eschbach's parable-like writing style as well the mystery we watch unfold are the primary appeals for this book.
One last...
If you enjoy more literary books you might enjoy The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. Father Emilio Sandoz, a Jesuit linguist, heads a team of scientists and explorers on an expedition to the planet Rakhat, where first contact has been established with two sentient races. Fr. Sandoz is the only survivor of the mission. The narrative shifts back and forth between 2016, when the mission began, and 2060, during a Vatican inquest into the failed mission. Through Fr. Sandoz's tale we learn the terrible story of the mission and the reasons he came back maimed and broken in spirit. An excellent choice for book groups and, like most literary novels, can be read on many levels.
There are many more authors and books to explore in this genre. Have you read any SF novels? What would you recommend to readers new to the genre?
Showing posts with label fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fiction. Show all posts
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
May Displays
My how quickly the days fly by. It seems like yesterday that I put up a list of our April Displays, and now, here it is May already!
We have some great displays going up this week.
In the First Floor look for these displays:
Happy Reading!
We have some great displays going up this week.
In the First Floor look for these displays:
- Authors of the Month
Michael Lawson who writes the Joe DeMarco thrillers,
Graham Masterton who is known for his Sissy Sawyer mysteries, and
George Pelecanos who writes compelling and powerful crime novels. - Jane Austen If you love Jane Austen, check out these books written and inspired by her! We'll also showcase movies produced from her books.
- Fictional Weddings (check for the non-fiction display about weddings on the Second Floor)
- The Golden Age of Mystery Read mysteries set in the period between WWI and WWII, known for their British setting, clever plots, and well-drawn characters with intelligence wit and style!
- May is Mental Health Awareness Month:
Nonfiction Books about various mental health diseases, and
Teen Fiction about mental health and suicide - Wedding Planning (check for the First Floor display about fictional weddings)
- Gardening Books and resources to help you have the most beautiful and plentiful garden on your street!
- Teen Top Ten Nominees Read these books that are in the running for the Young Adult Library Services Association and then vote online! Voting instructions will be available; Teens only get to vote!
Happy Reading!
Saturday, April 30, 2011
50 Book Challenge: First Quarter Update
It is the last day of April. Do you know what that means? The year is already ¼ over. How many books have you read so far? To be on track to finish the 50 by the end of the year, you should have read about 12 books so far. My count right now is 21 (21.5 if you count the book I’m currently reading), and that doesn’t even include my text book from my class (and I read every page, I swear!). I know I am ahead of the curve, but hey- where I work, there are books EVERYWHERE.
A lot of the books I have read so far this year are books I’ve spotlighted in earlier posts; but here is a little description of each.
1.Just Kids by Patti Smith-(Nonfiction)
A biography of Patti Smith’s early years with Robert Mapplethorpe in NYC.
2.Uglies by Scott Westerfeld- (Teen Fiction)
What if everyone was “ugly” but turned pretty on their 16th birthday? That’s all Tally wanted until she meets Shay, who might just want to stay ugly.
3. Houdini the Handcuff King by Jason Lutes- (Graphic Novel)
A short story about one of Houdini’s greatest illusions and set in early 1900s Boston
4. Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles- (Teen Fiction)
I read the first book, Leaving Paradise, last year about two teens’ unlikely friendship and romance after a horrific car accident. Return to Paradise wraps up Maggie’s and Caleb’s story nicely.
5. Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and Levithan- (Teen Fiction)
I’ve seen the movie and read one of Cohns and Levithan's other books, Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares so I thought I would give it a try. Follow Nick and Norah for one night all around New York City just as they are getting to know each other and Norah is in the middle of making a big life decision.
6. I Know I Am, But What Are You? by Samantha Bee- (Nonfiction)
A collection of funny essays written The Daily Show’s Samantha Bee. Find out what it was like to grow up in Canada and be just a little bit different.
7. The Eternal Smile by Derek Kirk Kim and Gene Luen Yang- (Graphic Novel)
Three intriguing, thought-provoking stories about how what we believe in shapes our decisions.
8. Janes in Love by Cecil Castelucci and Jim Rugg-(Graphic Novel)
Continues the story of four teenage outsiders named Jane. They started PLAIN, sort of a guerilla neighborhood beautification project but will they be foiled by friends, parents and the local government? I was sad to hear that a sequel to this book was scrapped during the planning phase; But do not let that stop you from reading it. It is a great standalone story.
9. The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman-(Fiction)
This book focuses on interconnected stories about people at an English language newspaper in Rome. Narrators of each story are all connected to the newspaper from all departments and all time periods throughout the paper’s history.
10. Sleepwalk with Me by Mike Birbiglia- (Nonfiction)
Another collection of humorous essays about being a little bit different, but this time it is hazardous to his health. The author has a sleep disorder and once jumped out of window while asleep. You should also check out some of his stories on This American Life. And he is from Massachusetts.
11. 12. 13. 14. 15. Fables 11-14 and 1001 Nights of Snowfall by Bill Willingham (Graphic Novels)
I highly recommend this series about Fables who set out to make a new home in NYC, but just can’t ever seem to catch a break. Great art and funny and thrilling storylines always keep me interested. I am currently reading Fables #15 Rose Red now and cannot put it down.
16. The Help by Kathryn Stockett- (Fiction)
I listened to the audio book version and really enjoyed the performances. Both Diane and I have mentioned this book so you can read what we’ve previously said here and here.
17. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins- (Teen Fiction)
Sort of a cringe-worthy title to me, but I really enjoyed the book and read it very quickly. Anna spends her senior year at a boarding school in France, learning the language and making new friends including the dreamy Etienne.
18. Pretties by Scott Westerfeld- (Teen Fiction)
This is a sequel to Westerfeld’s Uglies. I do not want to give too much away because you need to start with the first book, but just know that is it the continuation of Tally’s story and her place in the Ugly/Pretty/ Special society.
19. Jumpstart the World by Catherine Ryan Hyde- (Teen Fiction)
When Elle’s mother remarries, she is forced to live in her own NYC apartment. That is a dream come true for any 15 year old, right? Well Elle doesn’t see it that way, but when the kind couple next door takes her under their wing, it doesn’t seem that bad.
20. One of Our Thursdays is Missing by Jasper Fforde- (Fiction)
The sixth book in the series about Thursday Next that I recommend to anyone who will listen. This time it is fictional Thursday’s turn to save the day, but can be as cunning, clever and brave as her real-life counterpart if she wasn’t written that way?
21. Bossypants by Tina Fey- (Nonfiction)
Once getting past the slightly creepy cover, inside you will find many funny (and even some laugh-out-loud) stories about Tina Fey’s childhood, time at SNL, and about her current position as writer and star of 30 Rock.
22. (Currently Reading) A Red Herring without Mustard by Alan Bradley- (Fiction)
Flavia de Luce and her bike, Gladys, are back solving mysteries around Bishop’s Lacey, a small village in England. The youngest daughter, she is still exacting revenge on her sisters Ophelia and Daphne, while befriending a girl named Porcelain and finding out more about her mother Harriet, who went missing during a mountain expedition 10 years earlier.
And I was going to star* the books that I most highly recommended, but I couldn’t pick which ones were the best. I have been really lucky so far this year because I have not read one book that I didn’t enjoy.
So what is the best of the best that you have read so far this year? Or have you been and lucky and I have been and liked them all? Either way, let me know!
A lot of the books I have read so far this year are books I’ve spotlighted in earlier posts; but here is a little description of each.
1.Just Kids by Patti Smith-(Nonfiction)
A biography of Patti Smith’s early years with Robert Mapplethorpe in NYC.
2.Uglies by Scott Westerfeld- (Teen Fiction)
What if everyone was “ugly” but turned pretty on their 16th birthday? That’s all Tally wanted until she meets Shay, who might just want to stay ugly.
3. Houdini the Handcuff King by Jason Lutes- (Graphic Novel)
A short story about one of Houdini’s greatest illusions and set in early 1900s Boston
4. Return to Paradise by Simone Elkeles- (Teen Fiction)
I read the first book, Leaving Paradise, last year about two teens’ unlikely friendship and romance after a horrific car accident. Return to Paradise wraps up Maggie’s and Caleb’s story nicely.
5. Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and Levithan- (Teen Fiction)
I’ve seen the movie and read one of Cohns and Levithan's other books, Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares so I thought I would give it a try. Follow Nick and Norah for one night all around New York City just as they are getting to know each other and Norah is in the middle of making a big life decision.
6. I Know I Am, But What Are You? by Samantha Bee- (Nonfiction)
A collection of funny essays written The Daily Show’s Samantha Bee. Find out what it was like to grow up in Canada and be just a little bit different.
7. The Eternal Smile by Derek Kirk Kim and Gene Luen Yang- (Graphic Novel)
Three intriguing, thought-provoking stories about how what we believe in shapes our decisions.
8. Janes in Love by Cecil Castelucci and Jim Rugg-(Graphic Novel)
Continues the story of four teenage outsiders named Jane. They started PLAIN, sort of a guerilla neighborhood beautification project but will they be foiled by friends, parents and the local government? I was sad to hear that a sequel to this book was scrapped during the planning phase; But do not let that stop you from reading it. It is a great standalone story.
9. The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman-(Fiction)
This book focuses on interconnected stories about people at an English language newspaper in Rome. Narrators of each story are all connected to the newspaper from all departments and all time periods throughout the paper’s history.
10. Sleepwalk with Me by Mike Birbiglia- (Nonfiction)
Another collection of humorous essays about being a little bit different, but this time it is hazardous to his health. The author has a sleep disorder and once jumped out of window while asleep. You should also check out some of his stories on This American Life. And he is from Massachusetts.
11. 12. 13. 14. 15. Fables 11-14 and 1001 Nights of Snowfall by Bill Willingham (Graphic Novels)
I highly recommend this series about Fables who set out to make a new home in NYC, but just can’t ever seem to catch a break. Great art and funny and thrilling storylines always keep me interested. I am currently reading Fables #15 Rose Red now and cannot put it down.
16. The Help by Kathryn Stockett- (Fiction)
I listened to the audio book version and really enjoyed the performances. Both Diane and I have mentioned this book so you can read what we’ve previously said here and here.
17. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins- (Teen Fiction)
Sort of a cringe-worthy title to me, but I really enjoyed the book and read it very quickly. Anna spends her senior year at a boarding school in France, learning the language and making new friends including the dreamy Etienne.
18. Pretties by Scott Westerfeld- (Teen Fiction)
This is a sequel to Westerfeld’s Uglies. I do not want to give too much away because you need to start with the first book, but just know that is it the continuation of Tally’s story and her place in the Ugly/Pretty/ Special society.
19. Jumpstart the World by Catherine Ryan Hyde- (Teen Fiction)
When Elle’s mother remarries, she is forced to live in her own NYC apartment. That is a dream come true for any 15 year old, right? Well Elle doesn’t see it that way, but when the kind couple next door takes her under their wing, it doesn’t seem that bad.
20. One of Our Thursdays is Missing by Jasper Fforde- (Fiction)
The sixth book in the series about Thursday Next that I recommend to anyone who will listen. This time it is fictional Thursday’s turn to save the day, but can be as cunning, clever and brave as her real-life counterpart if she wasn’t written that way?
21. Bossypants by Tina Fey- (Nonfiction)
Once getting past the slightly creepy cover, inside you will find many funny (and even some laugh-out-loud) stories about Tina Fey’s childhood, time at SNL, and about her current position as writer and star of 30 Rock.
22. (Currently Reading) A Red Herring without Mustard by Alan Bradley- (Fiction)
Flavia de Luce and her bike, Gladys, are back solving mysteries around Bishop’s Lacey, a small village in England. The youngest daughter, she is still exacting revenge on her sisters Ophelia and Daphne, while befriending a girl named Porcelain and finding out more about her mother Harriet, who went missing during a mountain expedition 10 years earlier.
And I was going to star* the books that I most highly recommended, but I couldn’t pick which ones were the best. I have been really lucky so far this year because I have not read one book that I didn’t enjoy.
So what is the best of the best that you have read so far this year? Or have you been and lucky and I have been and liked them all? Either way, let me know!
Friday, April 22, 2011
Weekend Linky Goodness #2
Sometimes I like to wander the blogs and find fun tidbits. I hope you enjoy these links. Happy Easter!
A fun interview with Michael Connelly from ShelfAwareness.com
http://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=1446#m12058
From the Academy of American Poets (Poets.org) comes Spring Poems. Maybe reading these poems will finally usher in spring!
http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/20045
Literary novels for science fiction aficionados OR science fiction novels for literary aficionados.
From SF Signal.com. http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/2011/02/draft-10-literary-novels-for-genre-readers/
A fun project for you and the kids this weekend: create a poem out of the spines of books in your home. Nina Katchadourian has lots of samples to get your creative juices flowing!
http://www.ninakatchadourian.com/languagetranslation/sortedbooks-sharkjournal.php
Catch up on the literary controversy du jour: Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson. How factual was this book and is the money going where it was promised. From The Reader's Advisor Online Blog.
http://www.readersadvisoronline.com/blog/index.php/2011/04/19/can-we-even-be-sure-it-was-three-cups-of-tea/
Have a great weekend!
A fun interview with Michael Connelly from ShelfAwareness.com
http://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=1446#m12058
From the Academy of American Poets (Poets.org) comes Spring Poems. Maybe reading these poems will finally usher in spring!
http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/20045
Literary novels for science fiction aficionados OR science fiction novels for literary aficionados.
From SF Signal.com. http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/2011/02/draft-10-literary-novels-for-genre-readers/
A fun project for you and the kids this weekend: create a poem out of the spines of books in your home. Nina Katchadourian has lots of samples to get your creative juices flowing!
http://www.ninakatchadourian.com/languagetranslation/sortedbooks-sharkjournal.php
Catch up on the literary controversy du jour: Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson. How factual was this book and is the money going where it was promised. From The Reader's Advisor Online Blog.
http://www.readersadvisoronline.com/blog/index.php/2011/04/19/can-we-even-be-sure-it-was-three-cups-of-tea/
Have a great weekend!
Monday, April 11, 2011
Mystery Awards
Library Journal informed me that April hosts two major mystery book awards. The Mystery Writers of America sponsor the Edgar Awards and Malice Domestic sponsors the Agatha Award. If you are a mystery reader, you've probably heard of these awards, and probably read most of the nominated titles.
According to their sites, the Edgar Award is awarded to the best fiction, non-fiction and television mystery, crime, suspense and intrigue works. Named after Agatha Christie, the Agatha Awards honor the best "traditional" mystery in a variety of categories.
Here are the nominees for the Edgar Award, Best Novel:
Caught by Harlan Coben
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin
Faithful Place by Tana French
The Queen of Patpong by Timothy Hallinan
The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton
I’d Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman
Here are the nominees for the Agatha Award, Best Novel:
Stork Raving Mad by Donna Andrews
Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny
The Scent of Rain and Lightning by Nancy Pickard
Drive Time by Hank Phillippi Ryan
Truly, Madly by Heather Webber
Have you read these titles? What do you think? Care to predict a winner? Let us know your thoughts!
Note: Hyperlinks bring you to the library catalog so you can place a hold if you'd like!
According to their sites, the Edgar Award is awarded to the best fiction, non-fiction and television mystery, crime, suspense and intrigue works. Named after Agatha Christie, the Agatha Awards honor the best "traditional" mystery in a variety of categories.
Here are the nominees for the Edgar Award, Best Novel:
Caught by Harlan Coben
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin
Faithful Place by Tana French
The Queen of Patpong by Timothy Hallinan
The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton
I’d Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman
Here are the nominees for the Agatha Award, Best Novel:
Stork Raving Mad by Donna Andrews
Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny
The Scent of Rain and Lightning by Nancy Pickard
Drive Time by Hank Phillippi Ryan
Truly, Madly by Heather Webber
Have you read these titles? What do you think? Care to predict a winner? Let us know your thoughts!
Note: Hyperlinks bring you to the library catalog so you can place a hold if you'd like!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Gotta Love a Cowboy!
The librarian's genre study group that I'm part of just finished reading and discussing the Western genre. I'd forgotten how much I love the Western ethos: strong men and their horses forging a new world in the mostly undeveloped western territories. The redemptive powers of the west--leaving home for a fresh start, adventure or a new life--is so appealing to many of us; as is the struggle to overcome villains, to be a hero and to "do the right thing", even when it is hard.
Here are the three Westerns I read.
SHANE by Jack Schaefer
Shane is a gunslinger trying to get away from his past. He happens upon Joe Starrett's homestead and is welcomed in by Joe, his wife Marion and their impressionable son, Bob. Shane sees something in Bob that he wants to protect and finds genuine friendship with Joe and Marion. Trouble is brewing in town as the leading rancher tries to force homesteader's off what he considers land better used for cattle ranching. The struggle between the rancher and farmers escalates until Shane must act to defend both himself and the Starrett's. The setting sets up instant conflicts between ranchers and farmers, and the interdependence on the land and neighbors is well drawn. Shane finds some peace farming the land with Joe, but in the end, Shane cannot stay. Narrated by Bob who looks back on the time Shane was with his family, Shane is a larger than life figure who tries to do the right thing even as his past defines his present.
Even if you've seen the movie, try the book. It's well written, has a fast pace and is quickly read. Shane and the Starrett's will stay with you.
THE MAN FROM YESTERDAY by Wayne D. Overholser
Neal Clark killed 2 members and wounded the 3rd of a family gang robbing Cascade City’s bank. Eight years later he’s receiving notes threatening revenge against him for the shooting , a shady water developer is in town, and Neal, now the president of the bank, refuses to loan money to his friends and neighbors -concerned that they’ll lose the money to the crooked developer. The only men who haven’t turned on him for refusing to issue loans are the sheriff and the doctor, who assist him the best they can. As the plot moves forward, the threats to Neal's life and his family’s lives become more menacing ending with a showdown with a madman.
The book uses lots of suspense built over short chapters to keep the pace steady. Neal is a strong man whose weakness is his family, and he worries that he won't be able to keep them safe. This is a quick read and recommended for those who enjoy mounting suspense--whether in the Western genre or another.
FAR BRIGHT STAR by Robert Olmstead (We don't own this book, but you can have it sent here to pick up!) I haven't finished this book, but I have to share!
Napoleon, a world weary and hardened horse soldier, is training new recruits in the southwest and Mexico during the hunt for Pancho Villa. The soldiers are herded into a dry bed by a motley band of Villistas and soldaderas who toy with them before they begin to try to kill them. Napoleon and his green soldiers fight valiantly, but in the end it appears that only Napoleon and Preston, a recruit from the East who is used to buying his way out of situations, survive. The two are marched to a camp and tortured--Preston very brutally and sadistically. You get the idea that his brutal treatment is in revenge for something he did in the past. Preston eventually killed, the soldaderas haul Napoleon back to a dry riverbed to survive or die.
I’m only about 2/3 the way through, and the writing is atmospheric, elegant and straightforward. Napoleon is a likable, stoic cavalryman who made peace with death long ago, and no longer relishes killing people. The relationship between a cavalryman and his horse is beautifully drawn. The battle scenes feel realistic and horrifying. The setting and landscape are as much characters in the novel as are the people and horses. A really good, short (207p) novel—more on the literary “Novel of the West” end of westerns.
Do you read Westerns? What would you recommend I put on my to be read list? Visit the Library in April to find a display of good westerns and an annotated book list to go with them!
Here are the three Westerns I read.
SHANE by Jack Schaefer
Shane is a gunslinger trying to get away from his past. He happens upon Joe Starrett's homestead and is welcomed in by Joe, his wife Marion and their impressionable son, Bob. Shane sees something in Bob that he wants to protect and finds genuine friendship with Joe and Marion. Trouble is brewing in town as the leading rancher tries to force homesteader's off what he considers land better used for cattle ranching. The struggle between the rancher and farmers escalates until Shane must act to defend both himself and the Starrett's. The setting sets up instant conflicts between ranchers and farmers, and the interdependence on the land and neighbors is well drawn. Shane finds some peace farming the land with Joe, but in the end, Shane cannot stay. Narrated by Bob who looks back on the time Shane was with his family, Shane is a larger than life figure who tries to do the right thing even as his past defines his present.
Even if you've seen the movie, try the book. It's well written, has a fast pace and is quickly read. Shane and the Starrett's will stay with you.
THE MAN FROM YESTERDAY by Wayne D. Overholser
Neal Clark killed 2 members and wounded the 3rd of a family gang robbing Cascade City’s bank. Eight years later he’s receiving notes threatening revenge against him for the shooting , a shady water developer is in town, and Neal, now the president of the bank, refuses to loan money to his friends and neighbors -concerned that they’ll lose the money to the crooked developer. The only men who haven’t turned on him for refusing to issue loans are the sheriff and the doctor, who assist him the best they can. As the plot moves forward, the threats to Neal's life and his family’s lives become more menacing ending with a showdown with a madman.
The book uses lots of suspense built over short chapters to keep the pace steady. Neal is a strong man whose weakness is his family, and he worries that he won't be able to keep them safe. This is a quick read and recommended for those who enjoy mounting suspense--whether in the Western genre or another.
FAR BRIGHT STAR by Robert Olmstead (We don't own this book, but you can have it sent here to pick up!) I haven't finished this book, but I have to share!
Napoleon, a world weary and hardened horse soldier, is training new recruits in the southwest and Mexico during the hunt for Pancho Villa. The soldiers are herded into a dry bed by a motley band of Villistas and soldaderas who toy with them before they begin to try to kill them. Napoleon and his green soldiers fight valiantly, but in the end it appears that only Napoleon and Preston, a recruit from the East who is used to buying his way out of situations, survive. The two are marched to a camp and tortured--Preston very brutally and sadistically. You get the idea that his brutal treatment is in revenge for something he did in the past. Preston eventually killed, the soldaderas haul Napoleon back to a dry riverbed to survive or die.
I’m only about 2/3 the way through, and the writing is atmospheric, elegant and straightforward. Napoleon is a likable, stoic cavalryman who made peace with death long ago, and no longer relishes killing people. The relationship between a cavalryman and his horse is beautifully drawn. The battle scenes feel realistic and horrifying. The setting and landscape are as much characters in the novel as are the people and horses. A really good, short (207p) novel—more on the literary “Novel of the West” end of westerns.
Do you read Westerns? What would you recommend I put on my to be read list? Visit the Library in April to find a display of good westerns and an annotated book list to go with them!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Woot! Someone's Already Read 50 Books, and "Room" by Emma Donoghue
I knew it would happen. One of our library patrons is in very regularly and reads quickly. Today, this patron turned in a filled reading log! We eagerly gave the patron another log to begin to fill!
Now, don't feel inadequate...this patron is retired and spends a lot of time reading. Sigh... This is how I want to live my retired life...visiting the library everyday for good books, a quick chat, and the anticipation of more to come the next day. If I have any time left over each day, I'll craft and write poetry.
For those of us who still work, reading this many books two months in to the challenge is near to impossible. I'm sure some Super-Reader, book bag swaying in the breeze, could do it, but that isn't me! I'm thrilled to be on my 8th book. I've just finished reading Room by Emma Donoghue. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this book. It is disturbing and fascinating with it's 5-year-old narrator trying to understand his changing world.
Whenever I read a book, I try to figure out if I've read any other books like it. I'm training my mind to make conscious connections so that I can become a better readers' advisor. I've been thinking of other books I've read that might compare... The ripped from the headlines, fast paced story of tough decisions reminds me of Jodi Picoult's books. But unlike Picoult's books, during which it feels to me that my emotions are being manipulated*, Room allowed me to experience my emotional reactions in a more natural way. I think it achieves this through Jack's innocent narration of his life as it expands from one room to the outside world. Jack's voice is completely authentic and the struggles his Ma experiences are conveyed through his logic and understanding of the world. This writing technique allowed me to stay slightly removed from the horror and experience it less dramatically. The experience of reading Room is as satisfying as the story it tells and this book will stay with me for a long time.
If you liked the youthful narrator, you might also like The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddad or Me & Emma by Elizabeth Flock. If you like the fictional exploration based on current events definitely check out Jodi Picoult or Chris Bohjalian. For the quiet and compelling tone found in Room try Elizabeth Berg's or Ann Hood's books.
*Apologies to the many Jodi Picoult fans in the world. While her style of writing isn't my cup of tea, I do understand why she's so popular.
Now, don't feel inadequate...this patron is retired and spends a lot of time reading. Sigh... This is how I want to live my retired life...visiting the library everyday for good books, a quick chat, and the anticipation of more to come the next day. If I have any time left over each day, I'll craft and write poetry.
For those of us who still work, reading this many books two months in to the challenge is near to impossible. I'm sure some Super-Reader, book bag swaying in the breeze, could do it, but that isn't me! I'm thrilled to be on my 8th book. I've just finished reading Room by Emma Donoghue. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this book. It is disturbing and fascinating with it's 5-year-old narrator trying to understand his changing world.
Whenever I read a book, I try to figure out if I've read any other books like it. I'm training my mind to make conscious connections so that I can become a better readers' advisor. I've been thinking of other books I've read that might compare... The ripped from the headlines, fast paced story of tough decisions reminds me of Jodi Picoult's books. But unlike Picoult's books, during which it feels to me that my emotions are being manipulated*, Room allowed me to experience my emotional reactions in a more natural way. I think it achieves this through Jack's innocent narration of his life as it expands from one room to the outside world. Jack's voice is completely authentic and the struggles his Ma experiences are conveyed through his logic and understanding of the world. This writing technique allowed me to stay slightly removed from the horror and experience it less dramatically. The experience of reading Room is as satisfying as the story it tells and this book will stay with me for a long time.
If you liked the youthful narrator, you might also like The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddad or Me & Emma by Elizabeth Flock. If you like the fictional exploration based on current events definitely check out Jodi Picoult or Chris Bohjalian. For the quiet and compelling tone found in Room try Elizabeth Berg's or Ann Hood's books.
*Apologies to the many Jodi Picoult fans in the world. While her style of writing isn't my cup of tea, I do understand why she's so popular.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Sometimes You Feel Like a Nut...
It's one of my fears...someone will ask me to recommend a book to them. It's not like I don't read or enjoy talking about books; it's that my memory doesn't often go further back than the book(s) I've just read... I'm one of these people that has to walk through the shelves and remember the books as I see them or use a book list to remind me about books I enjoyed.
A patron I didn't know was at the desk today and we were talking in general about reading habits and she commented that she hasn't loved the books she'd been reading lately. I sympathized, and then she asked the dreaded question: "What books would you recommend?"
While feeling like a deer caught in headlights (I truly hoped that's not what I looked like!), I thought and thought and mentioned the only book that I could remember at the time. Then, I stopped feeling panicked, and I remembered that what I liked wasn't really the issue, it was my responsibility to find out what she liked to read and try to match her up with more of the same. After a few minutes, she left with a few more titles to try--whew!
My goal of reading 50 books is paired with a goal to write a few words about each book in my reading log. If I do that, I'll be better able to remember books that I enjoyed and can recommend in the future. Problem solved, and no more panic!
A patron I didn't know was at the desk today and we were talking in general about reading habits and she commented that she hasn't loved the books she'd been reading lately. I sympathized, and then she asked the dreaded question: "What books would you recommend?"
While feeling like a deer caught in headlights (I truly hoped that's not what I looked like!), I thought and thought and mentioned the only book that I could remember at the time. Then, I stopped feeling panicked, and I remembered that what I liked wasn't really the issue, it was my responsibility to find out what she liked to read and try to match her up with more of the same. After a few minutes, she left with a few more titles to try--whew!
My goal of reading 50 books is paired with a goal to write a few words about each book in my reading log. If I do that, I'll be better able to remember books that I enjoyed and can recommend in the future. Problem solved, and no more panic!
Friday, February 4, 2011
Snow Days
As a child, one of the things I loved were days off from school. Snow days were like gifts from the weather gods--I could stay home and read all day if I wanted to. I usually did want to read in my spare time!
Snow days can be a wonderful break from the routine, although they seem to have become the routine these past few weeks! Settling in with a good book and a cup of coffee is a great way to spend some time while the flakes are falling. Here are a few books that you might want to consider reading the next time you're cooped into the house!
Dracula, My Love by Syrie James is the famous vampire story told from Mina Harker's point of view. Read this and tell me it's impossible not to love Dracula! This book came out at about the same time that Karen Essex's Dracula In Love was released.
The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell tells the story of Father Emilio Sandoz, the only survivor of a secret Jesuit mission to the planet Rakhat. Fr. Sandoz is bitter and broken when he returns and we learn about the mission and his breakdown as he tells his story while under inquisition from the Church. The characters and the plot make this story wonderful to read and the themes of first contact, the nature of god and of faith make this a thought provoking book as well.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot is the story of Henrietta Lacks, a poor Southern African American woman who was buried in an unmarked grave six decades ago. This woman and her story would have been lost to history if not for the story Ms. Skloot tells. Unknown to her or her family, her cells were harvested and became one of the most important medical research tools ever discovered. The author presents a tale both fascinating and horrifying as we ponder the ethics of medical research, the pervasiveness of racism and how a family tries to understand something they never knew occurred. Don't miss this one!
Stop by the Library for more great suggestions. We're always happy to talk books!
Snow days can be a wonderful break from the routine, although they seem to have become the routine these past few weeks! Settling in with a good book and a cup of coffee is a great way to spend some time while the flakes are falling. Here are a few books that you might want to consider reading the next time you're cooped into the house!
Dracula, My Love by Syrie James is the famous vampire story told from Mina Harker's point of view. Read this and tell me it's impossible not to love Dracula! This book came out at about the same time that Karen Essex's Dracula In Love was released.
The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell tells the story of Father Emilio Sandoz, the only survivor of a secret Jesuit mission to the planet Rakhat. Fr. Sandoz is bitter and broken when he returns and we learn about the mission and his breakdown as he tells his story while under inquisition from the Church. The characters and the plot make this story wonderful to read and the themes of first contact, the nature of god and of faith make this a thought provoking book as well.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot is the story of Henrietta Lacks, a poor Southern African American woman who was buried in an unmarked grave six decades ago. This woman and her story would have been lost to history if not for the story Ms. Skloot tells. Unknown to her or her family, her cells were harvested and became one of the most important medical research tools ever discovered. The author presents a tale both fascinating and horrifying as we ponder the ethics of medical research, the pervasiveness of racism and how a family tries to understand something they never knew occurred. Don't miss this one!
Stop by the Library for more great suggestions. We're always happy to talk books!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)