The latest roundup of titles our Staff has enjoyed:

The Senator’s Wife Sue Miller
A novel about women’s issues: marriage, trust, and friendship. Delia and Meri are friends though years apart in age. Meri’s first pregnancy teaches her about the nuances of married life, and her relationship with Delia reveals mysteries surrounding Delia’s own marriage. When tragedy causes an unforgivable rift between the women, readers are confronted with powerful emotions as they learn how each woman deals with misfortune. Great for discussion!

Touch and Go: A Memoir Studs Terkel 813.54 TER
Even if you don’t call the Chicago area home, Terkel’s memoir reveals a fascinating history of the people and events that have created a terrific city. Recalling family, friends and a few enemies, Studs Terkel’s book is funny, nostalgic, and informative. His memory is unbelievable! Much to ponder and discuss here, and you may even want to read more about the early history of Chicago.

From Harvey River: A Memoir of My Mother and Her Island Lorna Goodison
972.9205 GOO
Goodison traces her family history from her great-grandfather Englishman William Harvey’s discovery of a well-traveled foot path adjacent to a river during the last days of slavery. He settles the land that becomes the Harvey family home for generations. Goodison’s poignant, stirring story of her family's fortunes is wonderful. The author’s mother Doris grew up in Victorian comfort as one of the "fabulous Harvey girls.” Later her husband, Marcus loses his auto repair business, and the family is forced to move with their nine children to the slums of Kingston. Goodison is a poet and her descriptions of her world are rendered in beautiful almost biblical cadences . Don’t miss this captivating, interesting family history.

The Shadow Catcher Marianne Wiggins
The Shadow Catcher is two stories from two different eras: the first is about turn-of-the-century icon Edward Curtis (1868-1952) and his -wife, Clara, and the second a twenty-first-century journey told by a re-imagined writer named Marianne Wiggins who presents her fictionalized account of Curtis to Hollywood producers eager to sentimentalize the complicated life of Edward Curtis. This multi-layered tale offers much to ponder and discuss. What is memory and how does legend influence culture? What power does the artist have within a society? Is an individual ever able to escape her/his demons? Why do we create stories?

Lush Life Richard Price
It’s the lower East Side: two neighborhoods, one classy, the other desperate and poverty-stricken. The year is 2003, and after eight years downtown, Eric Cash is realizing that his dreams to become an actor, a writer, a restaurateur, anything but what he is - the oldest employee at Cafe Berkmann, are eluding him…….forever. Rough, tough language…would appeal to fans of NYP and police procedurals.

The Blade Itself Marcus Sakey
Chicago South Siders Danny Carter and best friend, Evan earned their living and reputations by robbing pawnshops and liquor stores. A job desperately gone wrong changes everything with the firing of a pistol. Danny is able to move on, rebuilding a new life…normal…successful…happy…until the day he spots his old partner staring at him in a smoky barroom mirror. Hardened by prison life, Evan is barely recognizable to his old friend. The former has served his time without dropping Danny's name, so now it’s payback time. What is Danny willing to sacrifice to protect is future or his past?

Whale Talk Chris Crutcher
Intellectually and athletically gifted, TJ, a multiracial, adopted teenager, shuns organized sports and the gung-ho athletes at his high school until he agrees to form a swimming team and recruits some of the school's less popular students. Great Young Adult appeal

Note by Note: A Celebration of the Piano Lesson Tricia Tunstall 786.2071 TUN
Drawing on her own experiences as a student and teacher, Tunstall’s memoir reveals the mysteries and delights of piano teaching and learning. What takes place in a piano lesson to make it such a durable ritual? Today’s music is heard more often on the telephone and in the elevator than in the concert hall, yet the piano
lesson still has meaning in the lives of children. Unlike other teaching or coaching experiences, perhaps the beauty of the piano is its one-on-one, personal communication with its moments of joy, frustration and eventual breakthroughs. Great for teachers!

MC
9/1/08

Posted by Readers Services at 11:31 AM | Permalink

Do you prefer stories based upon fact or those created from their authors' imaginations? It seems that currently authors of nonfiction narratives are using similar elements as fiction writers, that is, fast-paced plot lines, well-developed characters and strong themes to popularize their books and to make them more appealing for a general audience. (No longer is narrative nonfiction composed in the tedious, text-book driven style of the OLDE DAYS!)
To illustrate this exciting,new trend, the Readers Services Staff has created two displays, one for August and the other for September; August's is Fiction for Nonfiction Readers and September's will be Nonfiction for Fiction Readers. So stop by the Readers Services Desk and while you're there, be sure to check out a book about China and or the Olympics from our August Center Display...READING MAP ~ CHINA!
Book lists are available online or at the Readers Services Desk. As always we would love to hear your comments .

MC
8/20/08

Posted by Readers Services at 09:27 AM | Permalink

The Olympics are here. If you're like most everyone I've talked with, you were impressed by the pageantry of the opening ceremonies as the Chinese put their best face forward. And now maybe you're involved in watching the individual events. Undoubtedly your curiosity has been piqued - and at our Readers Services display this month we have just the guide to lead you through the Olympic Games.
A reading map suggests various titles on related topics- maybe you'd like a novel set in Beijing, one that describes street scenes and subway stops vividly enough that you can imagine yourself there-as in The Last Chinese Chef by Nicole Mones. Or maybe you're wondering about the layout of the Olympic Village itself. Did you know it was planned using principles of Feng Shui? The KISS Guide to Feng Shui by Stephen Skinner gives basic information on these principles. Or maybe 're your more interested in the athletes, and what it takes to make an olympic team- Little Girls in Pretty Boxes: The Making and Breaking of Elite Gymnasts and Figure Skaters by Joan Ryan is a fascinating look at the years of training, and what goes on behind the scenes for these two sports. These are just a few of the varied titles on display. Check us out, and let us know if there's a related title that's captivated you.

TS

Posted by Readers Services at 02:14 PM | Permalink

Move over Harry Potter, there's a new protagonist in town and her name is Bella! In case you
missed the buzz, on Saturday, August 2nd, the fourth and final book in the romantic vampire series
entitled Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer was released, amid much celebration by teens.
Bookstores across the country held parties to mark the event, which included trivia contests about the saga, costumes, and much more. What makes these books so unique is the huge interest in them generated by those elusive young adult readers. We love to see these busy students so hooked on books! Keep your eyes open in October during Teen Read Week for related events to be held at the library. Thinking about sampling the series? Start with Twilight.

Posted by Readers Services at 11:59 AM | Permalink