Say the words "summer reading" and the image of lounge chairs, umbrella drinks, and bowls of Chex-Mix evokes a Coppertone-scented reverie (OK, so that's my personal fantasy; feel free to weave your own.) But not all summer reading has to be of the so-called "beach" variety -- all fluff and stuff. A summer reading program such as our "Wild Reads" can be the perfect opportunity to dive into some of those weightier books you've been too busy to get to, or the chance to read the entire body of work of an author you've recently discovered. Created in a handy ten-item list (did we rip off David Letterman?), our "Wild Reads" log can make a perfect checklist to help you accomplish any reading mission.

So... go wild. Break out that Anna Karenina or War and Peace.

CH

Posted by Readers Services at 04:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

One of the (only) benefits to being bed-ridden with the flu is that you can get some uninterrupted reading in. Here's what I did on my first week of Summer vacation while recovering from a nasty bug...

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All three books are about individuals trying to make their way in the world. Memoirs, more or less.

In Outcasts United the reader meets Luma Mufleh a Jordanian immigrant determined to make it on her own in the United States by starting a soccer program for refugee boys who have been transplanted from various horrific situations to Clarkston, Georgia, a small suburb of Atlanta. It's a fast and interesting read and, in the words of one of Luma's supporters, "No one person can do everything, but we can all do something."

The Mighty Queens of Freeville is a memoir from Amy Dickinson, the syndicated advice columnist. In the words of our very own Carol Haggas, "Buoyant and bright, Dickinson offers a refreshingly open and sincere tribute to life’s most important relationships."

And finally, Lost in the Meritocracy, is writer Walter Kirn's memoir about his formative education in Minnesota culminating in his matriculation at Princeton. Think "Holden Caufield goes to college" and you get the idea.

All three books were well worth the time. And now that my health is restored I can go back to getting caught up on Lost, the Complete Seasons.
JS

Posted by Readers Services at 09:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Looking for reading and/or listening ideas for the summer? Here are some lists to get you started:

NPR's Summer Books 2009 and Oprah's list of "20 Tantalizing Beach Reads" are online.

Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine and Mystery News have announced their nominations for the 2009 Barry Awards.

It might seem like the wrong season for horror, but these recent Bram Stoker award winners will help chill things down this summer.

And don't forget we have displays and lists in the Library and on our website, including audio book suggestions for adults and young adults (many of the titles have short audio clips so you can preview how they sound) and "It's Summer: Read for the Fun of It."

marlise

Posted by Readers Services at 10:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Have you read a romance lately? Apparently, lots of people have. According to an article in the Chicago Tribune dated April 7, 2009, sales of Harlequin Romances are way up, despite these difficult financial times. Not only are there subcategories to cover lots of different interests, but the stories are formulatic, with the heroine in an uncertain situation where she must learn to trust. And always there is a happy ending. This certainly does sound appealing after reading the news headlines. Although I haven't read much romance lately, there was a time when I did- back in graduate school, after a long week of classes, my own treat was going to the browsing library to pick out a romance to get lost in for a few hours. Again, comfort in unsettling times. Now I find myself in a study group with fellow librarians reading romances, and I'm again discovering how enjoyable they can be. Much to my surprise, I even found myself staying up reading way past my bedtime, when normally I fall asleep rather quickly while reading in bed. (In case you're wondering, that particular book was Slightly Married by Mary Balogh.) I'm also discovering that there's some very good romance writing out there, with great character development and background settings. Don't know where to start? The web site All About Romance features a page Favorite Books by Favorite Authors, where romance readers have voted on their favorites. (If you're already a romance reader, you can vote for your favorites at Favorite Books by Favorite Authors Ballot.) And of course, you can always ask the staff at the Reader's Services Desk for recommendations.

Posted by Readers Services at 10:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Fans of audiobooks may want to check out the latest nominees and winners of the Audie Awards which are sponsored by the Audio Publishers Association (APA). A complete list is available here with reviews and sound clips. Categories range from Humor (The Learners by Chip Kidd) to Mystery (Voice of the Violin by Andrea Camilleri) to Business/Educational (The Little Red Book of Selling by Jeffery Gitomer).

I'm not surprised Neil Gaiman won Audiobook of the Year (for The Graveyard Book) - he's one of those rare authors who is a wonderful reader as well. Do you have an audiobook to recommend? Leave your picks as a comment!

marlise

Posted by Readers Services at 02:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Recently I've had the pleasure of discovering the joy of reading some very meaningful memoirs. Part autobiography, part short-story collection, sometimes funny and always eye-opening, a memoir offers the audience a brief yet personal glimpse into a segment of or series of events in the author's life. What has been especially pleasurable is the intimate connection between reader and writer through this almost cathartic experience of contemplating one's own personal struggles and the sometimes emotional conclusions drawn in the process. Here are three titles that I've enjoyed:

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
Reflections of a Carnegie Mellon computer science professor who lectured on "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" after having been diagnosed with terminal cancer. His advice concerned seizing the moment while living, rather than dying.

Always Looking Up by Michael J. Fox
The popular film and television actor evaluates the personal philosophy that has enabled his positive outlook in spite of his battle with degenerative Parkinson's disease, in an uplifting account that considers how he has become a happier and more satisfied person by recognizing the gifts of everyday life.

Hands of My Father by Myron Uhlberg
By turns heart-tugging and hilarious, Myron Uhlberg's memoir tells the story of growing up as the hearing son of deaf parents--and his life in a world that he found unaccountably beautiful, even as he longed to escape it.

jdc

Posted by Readers Services at 12:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We librarians are supposed to be oh-so lofty in our thinking, but I'll admit to scanning the covers of the grocery store checkout stand magazines like everyone else. I mean, who can resist reading about Kirstie Alley's latest dietary dilemma or finding out who Jen's kissing now?

But truthfully, when I want to indulge my passion for books and literary criticism, there's nothing better than browsing the magazines in the Reader's Services area. Located at the end of the "New Fiction" shelves right next to the "Romance" fiction (is this Freudian, by any chance?), these periodicals are a handy resource for anyone looking for suggestions about what to read next. Of course, that's what the Reader's Services librarians are here for, but on those occasions when we're not available, these magazines can be the next-best thing.

The folks at Bookmarks Magazine read book reviews so you don't have to. Not that this is an onerous task, but it's hard to know where to obtain the best reviews of current fiction and nonfiction. Bookmarks' editors select both the hot, "must-read" books of the moment, as well as other worthy books that may not be on everyone's radar screens -- but should be. They furnish a brief synopsis and then take the gist of reviews from publications such as The Chicago Tribune, the Washington Post, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, and even England's Guardian newspapers to give readers a comprehensive overview.

ForeWord Magazine concentrates on those books published by small, independent, and university presses -- including the ever-expanding list of self-published works. If you're in the mood for something a bit out of the ordinary -- from cutting-edge fiction to elegantly produced coffee table books -- ForeWord offers enlightened reviews about books you won't find anywhere else.

Fans of both mystery and romance fiction also have magazines dedicated to these specialties. Check out RT Book Reviews for the latest reviews, articles, and information on romance writers, and both Mystery News and Mystery Scene Magazine for the best in mystery, crime, and suspense.

We also carry The New York Review of Books,; The New York Times Book Review; The Times Literary Supplement; and the Chicago Tribune's book coverage.

A little something for everyone...but I still want to know what's up with Brangelina, don't you?

CH

Posted by Readers Services at 05:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Celebrating May...

Mothers, graduates, workers, Cinco de Mayo...popular May honorees, to name a few. But did you know there are many other remarkable events to celebrate during May?

Just to name a few...

May 1, 1939 Debut of Detective Comics#27 highlighting Bob Kane's caped crime fighter Batman
May 1, 1893 Opening of The Columbian Exposition in Chicago
May 1, 1884 First skyscraper was erected (The Home Insurance Building) Chicago
May 3, 1999 Dow Jones tops 11,000 for the first time
May 4 International Respect for Chickens Day
May 13 Root Canal Appreciation Day
May 19, 1536 The Execution of Anne Boleyn
May 20, 1932 Amelia Earhart's Atlantic Crossing
May 22, 1967 Premier of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
May 25, 1977 Premier of Star Wars
May 29, 1953 Mt. Everest Summit reached by Edmund Hillary and Tensing Norgay
May 30, 1783 First American newspaper published ~ The Pennsylvania Evening Post

Intrigued? I hope so.

The rest of the "iceberg" (750 pages) can be found in Chase's Calendar of Events, 2009 ( 394.26 CHA).
Wonderful information is arranged according to the calendar year and commemorates international events (sports, holidays, special occurrences, anniversaries). Best of all, Chase features brief, historical descriptions for the majority of entries. So, if you're intrigued by facts and appreciate them in small doses ( at your leisure!), check out this fascinating book. Begin with your birth month and discover lots of days to celebrate!
mc

Posted by Readers Services at 08:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

For those who love mysteries, the Mystery Writers of America announced the 2009 winners of the Edgar Awards! You can also search their database of past nominees and winners for additional mystery reading ideas.

mcs

Posted by Readers Services at 02:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Book lovers certainly do love quotes about books, reading, libraries - you name it! I grew up with a poster of this famous quote by Henry Ward Beecher in my room:

A library is not a luxury but a necessity of life.

Hmmm, wonder if that influenced my choice of career?

I recently checked out some books of quotations and sayings related to all things book-ish, and found some new quotes to savor and share:

Harper Lee:

Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.

A good reader is rarer than a good writer.

Let our books have some of the qualities of music. But they must be the qualities that music has for the unmusical, what we want are dreams, and sound without sense.

And my new favorite, from Oliver Wendell Holmes:

When I want a book, it is as a tiger wants a sheep. I must have it with one spring, and, if I miss it, go away defeated and hungry.

I'm always open to adding new quotes to my collection so send your favorites in!

marlise

Posted by Readers Services at 03:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Who hasn't known the anticipation of waiting for a new book by a favorite author? I usually hear about a forthcoming title and put it "on hold" at the Library and then wait to be pleasantly surprised when I receive notice that it has arrived and awaiting pickup. But what to do when a favorite author seems to be a rather slow writer and/or the publication of a book is delayed? This happened to me last week when I learned that the sequel to Patrick Rothfuss' wonderful Fantasy debut (The Name of the Wind) has been postponed from April to November. I find myself torn between the sheer frustration of wanting the book as soon as possible and with knowing that I should be patient since a rushed work is only going to disappoint. The reason I enjoy authors like Diane Setterfield (The Thirteenth Tale) and Marisa De los Santos (Love Walked In) is as much for their writing as for the story, so their commitment to take as long as needed can only be a good thing.

Then again, I think some writers have hit a wall and can't continue. This seems to be true of George R. R. Martin who has a great Fantasy series (Song of Fire and Ice) which he started years and years ago, but which he can't seem to finish. He's tried to post updates on his website but he's even stopped those. Even when the next book IS published (possibly in September) I've decided I'm not reading it! I'm going to wait until he finishes the entire series (which at 3+ years per book could be another decade) and then read them start to finish when I won't have to wait years in between for the next installment.

Which author keeps you in suspense as you await their next book?

marlise

Posted by Readers Services at 05:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

What's the secret to raising a reader at home? Start early. Kids love to be read to, even when they no longer want to be referred to as "kids!" Library visits are great for finding new books, but also for finding resources designed to support parents in their quest to raise lifelong readers. Some publications also offer online suggestions.

Raising Bookworms by Emma Walton Hamilton is full of age-appropriate book recommendations.
Feel free to ask our staff for ideas, too! We are happy to help.

Posted by Readers Services at 09:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)