Who's your all time favorite author? Think about books you have read over the years. Can you choose just one author? It's a difficult task as some of us discovered at a recent staff genre fiction discussion. The time in your life when you read a book seems to be a factor, and we all agreed that individual titles by an author can be great, but not everything he/she has written. So what follows is a discussion of some favorites.

The Dragon Riders Of Pern Series by Anne McCaffrey describes a medieval earth with fantasy and some science fiction elements. The reader is drawn into the characters' lives and their unhurried lifestyles. McCaffrey's books are suitable for middle school students and beyond. Worthwhile read-alikes include The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien and books by Christopher Paolini and Madeleine L'Engle.

Another favorite author is Isaac Asimov. With reason and logic he creates an alternate world that is believable and uinque. Humorous repartee among characters is clever and moves the plot along.

In a different vein from the SF and fantasy, Dee Henderson's Uncommon Heroes series are also filled with realistic characters with positive values. These romantic suspense novels are fast-paced and deal with contemporary issues.

John Updike's early short story collection Pigeon Feathers was so highly praised that some of us wanted to check his book right away. Updike is a poet, an artist and a theologian. Throughout the collection one finds beautiful descriptions of nature and wonderful, perceptive character studies. Don't miss Updike's new book Due Considerations: Essays and Criticisms.

The mystery novels of Nevada Barr (featuring Anna Pigeon ~ National Park Service Ranger) take place in our national parks. So masterful is Barr's description of a place that the reader feels the cold, the fire, the danger that her heroine experiences. And if you enjoy audio books, Barbara Rosenblatt's sharp narration will heighten your involvement in these tales.

Game warden Joe Picket is a somewhat conflicted human being in C.J. Box's mystery series set in Wyoming. Though his stories contain some violence, they offer a great sense of place and lovable characters whose lives are not always resolved with neat little solutions.
Carl Hiaasen is another favorite,especially, when one is in a skeptical, or somewhat sarcastic frame of mind.

At present there are 18 titles in Elizabeth Peters's Amelia Peabody series. These entertaining mysteries set in Egypt during the Victorian Era contain minimal violence and wonderful plots that test the sleuting abilities of archaelogist Amelia and her delightful family. Again Barbara Rosenblatt adds to one's listening enjoyment of Amelia's adventures.

We have more authors to share, so check back for Part 2 of our "favorite author" discussion results. We'd also love to hear about your all-time favorites, so feel free to comment!

MC

Posted by Readers Services at 10:42 AM | Permalink

Tana French's debut, In the Woods, is a mystery with strong psychological overtones, set in a contemporary Dublin suburb. Most of the novel is told through the first person narrative of Detective Rob Ryan, a policeman on the murder squad. Ryan and his partner Cassie are assigned to investigate the murder of 12-year-old Katy Devlin, whose body has been found in the woods of Knocknaree. The case throws Ryan back into his childhood and the unsolved disappearance of two young friends.

I really enjoyed this novel, but it's not the typical mystery. French weaves the story of the current murder investigation with Ryan's flashbacks to his childhood. The plot is complex and there are many characters, but French manages to sustain suspense throughout. Readers who like Minette Walters or Joanne Harris' Gentlemen and Players (2006) or are likely to enjoy In the Woods.

JHL

Posted by Readers Services at 12:10 PM | Permalink

Recently I saw the movie Across the Universe and I was reminded of those amazing Beatles and of the Sixites. It was the Beatles music that made the period distinct, along with the times - war, revolution, Civil Rights, and more.

If you just saw Across the Universe and can't get enough of the Beatles or the Sixties, the Library is the place for you. Do a "beatles" search and you will find all kinds of books, DVDs, CDs, music scores, and more. If you would like some help with your search, Ask Readers Services.

JHl

Abbey Road on CD, nonfiction tiles, novels of the "sixties," and more are all available at your Library:

Posted by Readers Services at 10:37 AM | Permalink

Did you know that Illinois ranks third in the total number of libraries built with grants from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation? Annette Baldwin is a researcher and has performed first-person historical portrayals since 1986. Recently she's been traveling and recording the rich cultural life of these beautiful and often utilitarian structures and their significance to their communities. Some of these libraries are in various stages of repair and expansion in an attempt to honor the old as well as challenge it.

Travel the back roads with Ms. Baldwin as she explores the history and architecture of these wonderful places during
St. Charles Library's Books@Noon on Wednesday, October 17, 2007, in the downstairs Meeting Room. Bring your lunch. Coffee and tea will be served.
MC

Posted by Readers Services at 09:20 AM | Permalink

I love to travel, and find as much pleasure in the anticipation and planning of a trip as in the trip itself. Naturally, the library plays an important role. Not only do I peruse a stack of the latest Lonely Planet, Fodor's, Moon and countless other guides, but also carefully consider which titles would make great background reading, and which title(s) to carry along with me. Generally both fiction and non-fiction titles are involved.

For a recent trip to China there were a wealth of options. China Road: A Journey Into the Future of a Rising Power by Rob Gifford was recommended to me by a fellow staff member. This is an easy to read, informative and entertaining account of a NPR Beijing correspondent's road trip 3000 miles across China, interviewing whoever he chances to meet along the way. For several years I had been intending to read Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang, a perenially popular title for book clubs, and it did not disappoint.The author tells not only her story of growing up in the People's Republic of China, but also her mother's story of a young, fervent revolutionary and her grandmother's story, who began her adult life as a young concubine. This background reading did much to enhance my understanding of the culture. Ah, but which books would be worthy of valuable carry-on luggage space? I ultimately chose Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See, a historical novel which vividly portrays rural and family life in 19th century China, along with a travel language guide and Lonely Planet's Beijing to accompany me. Once home, my journey continues as I'm immersed in The Last Chinese Chef by Nicole Mones. In this novel an American widow travels to Bejing to investigate a paternity claim against her late husband, and in the process discovers a wealth of knowledge about Chinese cuisine and it's impotance to their culture.

Whether your next trip involves a ride in the car, a hop on a plane or simply armchair travel, please remember that the Readers' Services Staff is here to help you find reading material to enhance your journey.

Trudy

Posted by Readers Services at 11:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

As with many other books we recommend to patrons, you will likely have to wait to get Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Fight Terrorism and Build Nations-- One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson (371.822 MOR ). But the wait is worth it.

Greg Mortenson's story begins in 1993 with a failed climb of Pakistan's treacherous K2. The oxygen deprived Mortenson fell seriously ill and lived only because he was found and nursed back to health by residents of a remote Pakistani village. Mortenson determined shortly after to build a school for the village children. He has since dedicated his life to community based education in remote mountain regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The story is true and one of the most hopeful, inspiring stories I have read in years. Greg Mortenson's is the face I wish each of the world's citizen's would associate with America.

JHL

Posted by Readers Services at 09:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

If you’re like me, you don’t find yourself reading a lot of horror books. However, there's something about autumn that seems to inspire me to try stories that are “darker.” The annual Halloween marketing hoopla is a big influence, of course, but I think there’s more to it. As daylight fades a bit earlier each evening and leaves fall exposing stark branches against moonlit skies, it just seems like the right time to curl up with tales of ghosts and other scary creatures.

All last year I read more horror than I ever expected (or wanted!) as part of a study of the genre with other Librarians. As I anticipated, there were several books that I simply couldn’t finish, or I could only read during my lunch hour if I wanted to fall asleep at night. What was unexpected was how many great writers there are in the horror genre (Stephen King in particular was quite a revelation) and the wide range of terror – from haunted houses and tales of vampires, to medical monstrosities and psychological chillers.

Are you feeling the pull of scary stories? During October, Readers Services has a display which will let you test your "Fright Quotient" against our Spook-o-Meter:

1 bat = “Not So Scary” (likable ghosts and Halloween mischief)
2 bats = “Haunting Tales of Mystery and Romance
3 bats = “Terrifying Tales”

No matter what fright level you're looking for, there's sure to be a suitably spooky story to enjoy!

marlise

Posted by Readers Services at 10:05 AM | Permalink