King County Library System - Library Talk. - January 2009

Blood Music, an amazing early novel by popular science fiction author Greg Bear, was the work that put him on the map back in the mid-1980s. Based on an award-winning short story, the piece was expanded into a novel that was nominated for both a Nebula Award (1985) and a Hugo Award (1986) for Best Novel. Little wonder: Blood Music is a mind-blowing tale of biotechnology run amok and its irrevocable consequences for the human race.

Vergil Ulam is a misanthropic biotechnician working at a southern California firm, Genetron. Not content with the work he is assigned, he uses company resources to conduct his own private research, the goal of which is the creation of intelligent cellular structures, which he refers to as "noocytes." Unfortunately for Vergil, his extracurricular work is dioscovered and he's ultimately canned, but not before he rescues a sample containing the noocytes and surrepticiously injects them into his body. Over the next few days and weeks, as the noocytes evolve and multiply into the billions and trillions, they radically transform his body and begin to communicate with him. Intrigued yet fearful, Vergil seeks the help of Dr. Michael Bernard, an eminent scientist affiliated with Genetron. Yet nothing seems to stop the noocytes: they rapidly spread beyond Vergil like a contagion amongst almost all of the plants, animals and humans throughout North America, transforming them into vast grayish-brown sheets of biomass, within which the consciousness of all those absorbed remains intact. Dr. Bernard, himself infected but still in possession of his faculties, flees to a hermetically-sealed laboratory in Germany, where he continues to investigate the nature of the plague before he is finally transformed himself.

The apocalytic nature of Blood Music is reminiscent of similar science fiction classics like I Am Legend by Richard Matheson or The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton. What really distinguishes this book is its richness. The plot is exceptionally well-constructed and visionary, dealing with subjects (biotechnology, nanotechnology) years before they became prevalent. Beyond that, though, we learn a great deal about Vergil, Dr. Bernard, and several other characters due to the care with which Greg Bear develops their personalities. Surprisingly, the noocytes themselves are portrayed not as evil beings out to destroy the planet but as powerful but benevolent extensions of our own genetic lineage, evolving according to their own nature. Indeed, some really big issues and questions are explored within this story: What is the difference between the Macro-Universe and the Micro-Universe and how is that significant to humanity? What is the relationship between thought and reality? Is it right to cling to one form of existence in the face of a more evolved but utterly alien form of existence? Heavy stuff, this, but Greg Bear handles these issues with pathos and humanity and the result is a thoroughly fascinating read.

So forget the SciFi channel and check out Blood Music by Greg Bear!

Have you ever seen a picture of yourself and really didn't like what you were seeing?  Maybe you suddenly realize it's time for a wardrobe update or some new glasses.  Maybe those jeans aren't looking so good any more.  Maybe you (like me) just saw the picture on your new driver's license and realized you've moved up to the next age bracket.  When cartoonist Carol Lay saw a picture of herself at the age of 50, she realized she was fat.  She also realized she had to do something about it, otherwise she was going to stay fat for the rest of her life.  And so began the first of many changes that totally transformed the way Lay thought about how and what she ate.

The Big Skinny: How I Changed My Fattitude is a funny and very honest graphic novel that chronicles Lay's life-long battle with being overweight, the changes she made to lose the weight, and her success in keeping those 30 pounds off for good.  Told in short chapters, Lay alternates her story with straightforward and practical information on diet, exercise, and nutrition.  What she also includes is some fascinating information on food and human behavior.  And, while it may seem like there are so many obstacles to overcome in order to lose weight (genetics!  hidden calories! sabotaging co-workers!), Lay explains things in a way that makes weight loss a realistic and attainable goal.  

We've been hearing it for years, but what really resonates here is the simplicity of Lay's philosophy:  Think before you eat.  Pay attention to calories and nutrition labels. Eat real food.  Exercise.  It sounds easy, but it can be so difficult!  Lay teaches you, in very simple ways, how to do all these things without disrupting normal life or feeling like you are totally deprived.  Yes, you will have to make some fundamental lifestyle changes, but the rewards are worth the effort.  And when you've made those changes, nothing can sway you. Not even George Clooney with an egg and sausage biscuit.

I usually don't have trouble talking about books.  It's a huge part of my job as a librarian, after all.  But once in a while I read a book that is compelling, well-written, and totally impossible.  Impossible because the premise makes it difficult to describe in such a way that I do it justice and make other people want to read it.   

So, here goes:  after his wife dies, possibly by her own hand, a man tries to teach his dog to talk. 

See what I mean?  That description might turn off a lot of people who would love this book, The Dogs of Babel by Carolyn Parkhurst.  Ye of open mind, read on.

Paul Iverson is a linguistics professor whose wife recently died as a result of a possible suicide.  Their dog, Lorelei, is the only witness to the event.  Engulfed by grief Paul undertakes a project, despite the ridicule of his colleagues, to teach Lorelei to communicate so she can tell him what happened. One of the many strengths of this novel is that it takes Paul as a character and you as a reader, seriously.  His quest to understand the life and death of the beautiful and artistic Lexy feels very real and leads him down several paths he does not want to travel.  And, yet, you understand that loss has clouded his judgment and made him reach beyond where he might normally reach. 

There is no easy resolution to his sorrow, but he experiences moments of joy as he reminisces about their life and he finds comfort in quotidian details.  

This is a complicated book that explores not only the mystery of a single death, but the mystery of love in general.   It is both jagged and delicate, showing that for every question that is answered, there are many that will never be.

I love home decorating books. I just picked up one called The Family at Home: Love. Life. Style. Although not intentionally about print rich environments, I found, to my surprise, many, many ideas for a print rich home. My Children's Librarian heart jumped for joy at this early literacy as home decorating manifest. And IT'S EASY TO DO at home: in a child's bedroom or elsewhere around the house!

Print rich environments have been linked to success in getting ready to read. Read this U.S. Department of Education slide show on print rich environments, if you want to know more about the research. By having print, words and letters all over your home (starting when your child is an infant) you can build interest in reading, phonological awareness, letter knowledge without even trying.

Here are some ideas for decorating your home with print:

• Labels for everyday things around the house. 
• Bulletin boards, poems, calendars, charts, maps can decorate your child's room.
• Magnetic letters on your fridge or a magnetic board in your child's room.
• Your child's name stenciled or displayed in craft store letters. 
• Chalkboard paint on a wall or door will allow your child (and you!) to write on the walls! 
• Alphabet posters: buy one or make your own.

And don't forget the books! 

Books for your child and also books for you. Modeling a reading life is one of the best ways to build a print rich environment.

Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman

Twelve energy dragons and their human partners, the Dragoneye Lords, protect and bring good fortune to the Empire of the Celestial Dragons. Each New Year, as marked by the zodiac and dragon compass, twelve 12-year-old boys compete to become the next Dragoneye apprentice. The ascendant dragon of that year, their birth dragon, will only choose one boy. The competition, a culmination of years of training in martial and magical arts, tests their physical and mental endurance. No one expects crippled Eon to win, but Eon hides two pivotal secrets. Eon possesses the rare ability to see all of the energy dragons. Most boys can only see the ascendant dragon of their birth year. Eon is also a girl and really sixteen, not twelve. Custom forbids girls from competing; female energy is deemed too weak to control a dragon. As one ancient scroll puts it, "...the female eye, too practiced in gazing at itself, cannot see the truth of the energy world." It means death if she is discovered, so under the tutelage of her master, a former Tiger Dragoneye, Eon suppresses all female inclinations, all of her Moon energy, in favor of her masculine Sun energy. Eon surprises everyone, including herself, when she is chosen, not by the ascendant Rat Dragon, but by the Mirror Dragon, who disappeared long ago. The emperor and his allies see this return as a good omen, one that will discourage the ambitions of the sinister Rat Dragoneye, Lord Ido, and his ally, Prince Sethon. Only Eon knows that her bond with the Mirror Dragon remains incomplete. She communed with the dragon, but didn't learn its true name. Now elevated to the status of full Dragoneye and made co-ascendant with Lord Ido, Eon struggles to hide her true identity while she learns the dangers of her new role and secretly searches for her dragon's true name.

A vivid, complex world reminiscent of ancient Asia, the Empire of the Celestial Dragons offers a perfect backdrop for Eon's tale. Eon is a pawn when the story begins and she knows it. Her master hopes to use her to regain his lost riches. Eon just wants to survive. When she ascends as the Mirror Dragoneye, she realizes that others depend on her for survival too. The emperor and his allies, including the heir whom Eon befriends, look to her for hope and renewal. Her efforts to discover the true nature of her dragon gradually lead her to accept her own true nature. Characters who challenge convention dominate this tale. Lady Dela, one of Eon's allies at court, is a Contraire, a man who has chosen to live as a woman. Ryko, her eunuch guard, secretly works for rebels who seek to keep Sethon from the throne. Through these new friends, Eon learns that self-awareness and self-acceptance can be as powerful as any magic.

Look for the forthcoming sequel: Eona: The Last Dragoneye, to find out how Eona and the Mirror Dragon will save the Empire!

At many university libraries and some public libraries, special collections tend to be rare books and other materials. Usually these treasures are not available to the public except via library displays or online digital archives.

KCLS' Special Collections are a little different, more unique than rare. They include collections (and one service - Techlab) that we want to highlight, and/or are not readily apparent in our catalog.

The historical ones include Burien's Northwest Collection, Vashon's local history and author collections, and the Sammamish News Index (linked from the side bar on the webpage).

Possibly the most unique one is the collection of "Daily Living Devices" that KCLS circulates to patrons. These allow people with various impairments to try out an assistive device to determine how useful it really is for them.

KCLS also hosts - at the Redmond branch - a fabulous collection of resources for philanthropy and fundraising. Some are only available at Redmond, but there are a variety of useful online resources for everyone to use from home.

Techlab is a roving multimedia extravaganza.

Finally, our World Languages and Government Documents collections are great community assets. KCLS collects materials in foreign languages based on census data and community studies. Government Documents bring federal, state and local government transparency right to you.

As always, ask us if have questions about our Special Collections!

I have in my hand a KCLS copy of Silas Marner by George Eliot. It is classified as a "Teen Classic"; this does not mean that this novel, published in 1861, was written expressly for teens. Instead, it is a book that is assigned to teens by High School English teachers with the intention of exposing youngsters to fine literature while they are a captive audience. I suppose there is something to be said for that approach. For most, this is their only exposure to classic literature and that is indeed a pity. Silas Marner is a moving, eloquent, witty, and surprisingly relevant masterpiece of 19th century English fiction by one of the first prominent women authors of English-language fiction.

In the early 19th century, young cloth weaver Silas Marner is banished from his hometown of Lantern Hill for a crime he didn't commit. He moves to the village of Raveloe, where he is viewed as an outsider and eccentric, though he serves an essential economic function and is therefore tolerated. Silas withdraws from the company of others and becomes a miser, hoarding his earnings and over the years amassing a small fortune. But one day his fortune is stolen by Dunstan Cass, a n'er-do-well son of a local noble. Dunstan promptly disappears, a fact that pleases his indecisive but essentially decent brother Godfrey, who has a dark secret that Dunstan holds over his head. Silas, however, is crestfallen over the loss of his fortune and sole focus in life. Then one snowy evening, an infant girl inexplicably appears in his home. This little girl, Eppie, is adopted by Silas and restores a sense of love, purpose and community into his life. What Silas doesn't know is that Eppie is actually the disowned daughter of none other than Godfrey Cass. This is known to guilt-ridden Godfrey, but he can't bear to reveal this fact because to the disastrous effect this could have on his marriage to lovely Nancy Lammeter. Circumstances ultimately lead to a dramatic revelation that leads to unexpected consequences, providing the climax of this book.

Sounds like a soap opera, doesn't it? Believe me: it's not. The various strains of the plot are developed in a way that makes them totally, or at least very nearly, believable. The language of this novel is lyrical and poetic, though perhaps a bit dense for a modern reader unaccustomed to the pace; this is further complicated by the wealth of dialect that is used to delineate the various classes that appear in 19th century English society. Personally, I found that after getting used to the rhythm of the prose I no longer had any difficulty and was able to enjoy its beauty. And beyond the language and the story is a great deal of commentary on religion, class distinctions, the treatment of outsiders, and the effect of the Industrial Revolution on old ways of living and thinking...and all of this in 194 pages! Yet Silas Marner is a book of depth and breadth that rarely if ever seems heavy-handed; in fact, there is a great deal of wry humor that enables the book to be an engaging, if not always easy, read.

So if you happened to dodge this particular bullet back when you were in freshman English, give this wonderful Teen Classic a chance. After all, you won't have to take any tests or write any essays. It'll be just you and Silas Marner and you'll almost certainly be happy with the outcome!

Eloise Kelly is a third-year graduate student from New York, living in London and hoping for a breakthrough on her dissertation topic, "Aristocratic Espionage During the Wars with France: 1789-1815." Unfortunately, she's down to her last lead; it seems that spies don't leave much in the way of a paper trail. While searching for information on the Scarlet Pimpernel, she has come across another spy, the Pink Carnation, whose identity remains a mystery. Soon Eloise is visiting the elderly descendant of Lord Richard Selwick--the Purple Gentian to his fellow spies--to study the family papers left to her. It's not as easy as it seems, however. Mrs. Arabella Selwick-Alderly has a nephew, Colin, who guards the papers like a family treasure. Never mind that he's quite a dish; Eloise is just off a bad breakup, and she's only interested in cuddling up with a stack of musty correspondence. From the moment she starts to read, the papers take her into a story of deceit, danger, and romance. Through letters and diaries, Eloise can almost imagine being there as the adventure unfolds. But will she find out the identity of the Pink Carnation before Colin succeeds in cutting off her access to the papers?

The Secret History of the Pink Carnation is the first book in Lauren Willig's series of flower-titled historical love stories. The story of the Purple Gentian, the Pink Carnation, and an assortment of other British and French spies is told in flashbacks, while the overarching story of Eloise's research and her rocky relationship with Colin periodically brings the focus back to present day. Both story lines are engaging, with appealing characters and a bit of mystery. The historical tale wraps up in a satisfying way at the end of the book, but Eloise and Colin finish with a bit of a cliffhanger, setting the scene for the second book in the series.

The fifth book, The Temptation of the Night Jasmine, was released last week, but this is a series that you will definitely want to read in order so that the development of Eloise and Colin's relationship makes sense. Part historical romance, part chick lit, part mystery, part spy novel, The Secret History of the Pink Carnation has it all!

Have you recently gotten an assignment requiring you to read some historical fiction or are you looking for enticing historical fiction to read? Don't worry. Not all historical fiction is boring. In fact most of the stories listed below read like a good mystery and/or suspense. From the heart of battle in Vietnam to a riches to rags story in Mexico, you'll encounter brave, courageous, feisty main characters and action to keep you hanging on to every word. 

• Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson.
  When Hattie goes to Montana to work the farm her Uncle left her in his will; she faces a bitter winter that threatens her very survival.
• A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly.
  It's 1906, and as 16-year-old Mattie struggles to make her way to college to be a writer, a summer job at an inn entangles her in a murder mystery.
• The Keeping Room by Anna Myers.
  When his father leaves to fight as a rebel in the Revolutionary War, thirteen-year-old Joey must guard his home and family against the British who threaten their safety.
• Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War II by Joseph Bruchac.
  Ned, a Navajo, joins the Marines in World War II and becomes a code talker, sending coded messages in his native language.
• Fallen Angelsby Walter Dean Myers.
  Seventeen-year-old Richie Perry is sent to Vietnam and experiences firsthand the horrors of war.
• Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan.
  When her father is brutally murdered, 14-year-old Esperanza and her mother leave Mexico to work in a California migrant camp in the 1930s.
• Under the Blood-Red Sun by Graham Salisbury.
  Tom's typical teenage life is turned upside down when Pearl Harbor is bombed in 1941 and his father and grandfather are taken away to a prison camp.
• Grape Thief by Kristine L. Franklin.
  In Washington State in 1925, 12-year-old Slava "Cuss" Petrovitch does his best to stay out of trouble, but when the annual Californian grape train comes through town he decides to join his friends in stealing some grapes and maybe hopping a ride.
• Wolf by the Ears by Ann Rinaldi.
  Harriet has the privilege of being freed from slavery when she turns 21, but this means leaving the only home she has ever known, the household of Thomas Jefferson.
• Ten Cents a Dance by Christine Fletcher.
  After her father's death and her mother develops severe arthritis Ruby must work as a taxi dancer to get her family out of debt, but faces physical threats from some of her customers and increasing difficulty hiding her job from her family and friends.

I have read all eight of Louisa May Alcott's books for children and loved every single one of them.  My favorite is An Old-Fashioned Girl, no maybe it is Rose in Bloom, hmm maybe...well for today my favorite is An Old-Fashioned Girl.  When I was reading them, I didn't realize that the heroines were intelligent and capable.  I just knew that they didn't need any guy to take care of them and marriage wasn't the be-all and the end-all. When I was reading these books for the first time (ages 8 through 12), who needed boys!  With great interest I recently picked up Miss Alcott's E-mail; Yours For Reforms of All Kinds by Kit Bakke.

Kit Bakke turned to reading American authors after years of reading English and European 19th century authors.  She began reading Louisa's letters, journals and then a biography.  On a whim she emailed Miss Alcott and to her surprise Louisa wrote back.  Kit was asking Louisa how she maintained her enthusiasm for women's rights, her abolitionist's zeal and in general her humor and energy in the daily grind of life.  Kit explained that she had done many of the same sorts of things in her college days, but children, profession and spouse buried the sharp edges of her radicalism. Kit said to Louisa that using the materials she had available today (2005) she would write short histories on the interesting things that Louisa had done, the creative people she had known, and how she lived.  Louisa then could correct and edit these essays thus having another chance to comment upon and to discover what had happened with the issues most dear to her heart.

What a wonderful way to learn about Louisa May Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Transcendentalism, Abolitionists and the Women's Suffrage Movement!  Kit uses Louisa's letters and journals to craft Louisa's responses, which feel so real.  I believe that Kit has caught Louisa's voice.  Now I am going to read Louisa's Hospital Sketches, Transcendental Wild Oats and The Selected Letters of Louisa May Alcott, in the editions recommended by Ms Bakke.  I think I will reread her children's books too, starting with An Old-Fashioned Girl...no maybe Rose in Bloom...  I am also waiting for the arrival of Ms Bakke's next book.

Finding a series of books to read can be wonderful.  If the author was prolific, you can be guaranteed great reading for months or years!  After you read a book from a series and get hooked, the next step for many people is to find out what other titles are in the series and in what order to read them.

The KCLS database NoveList is a great resource for series information.  In the search box, type words from the series name, and click the "series" button before Clicking Search.  NoveList will provide you with a list of books in the series starting with number one.  There are also links to the KCLS catalog on each title so you can start reading right away!

The order of some series is very straightforward, as the characters age and time progresses throughout the series.  Other series, such as the Narnia books by C. S. Lewis or the Pern books by Anne McCaffrey, involve one place or set of characters, but take place at many different points of time.  The question for the reader is, do you read the books in the order in which they were written, or the in the order in which they take place?  Some writers, such as Anne McCaffrey, are very helpful and will tell you in the beginning of the books that they prefer you to read them in the order in which they were written.  Other authors, such as C. S. Lewis, don't plan their series ahead of time, and suggest readers experience the books in the order in which events happen.  Straightening this all out can often take a little research, which our librarians are happy to help you with! 

\ləsh\ - adj: (1) growing vigorously; (2) appealing to the senses; (3) in dramatic style--noun: (1) a drunkard.

One night, in Manhattan's Lower East Side, a trio of barhoppers is staggering homeward in the wee hours of the morning. Ike Marcus, the bartender among them, is shot and killed. The primary witness, and suspect, is Eric Cash, an aspiring writer and host at the same restaurant where Ike worked.  Detective Matty Clark must sort through the conflicting stories and evidence to find out who killed Ike. Was it a random street shooting? Or does Eric have a reason for wanting Ike dead?

Richard Price's Lush Life was one of the best reviewed novels of 2008 and is listed among KCLS's Best Books of the Year. With good reason. His prose brings to life this growing New York neighborhood--giving equal voice to its cops and criminals, to the owners of its trendy restaurants and to its project dwellers. Fans of the HBO series The Wire will recognize Price's name--he wrote a number of episodes--and his style. You'll come to care about every character, no matter their faults, as they navigate their way through the ethical questions Ike's death brings to light.

Lush Life teems with the energy of the streets. Its complex characters and natural dialogue will engage your literary sensibilities. The dramatic twists and turns in the plot will keep you turning the pages. Did I mention all the booze and drugs?

It is "lush" in every sense of the word.

 

In Steinbeck's novel The Grapes of Wrath, a ragged man told his troubled history to Pa Joad and Preacher Casy outside a transient camp. "Pa said, 'S'pose he's tellin' the truth - that fella?' The preacher answered, 'He's tellin' the truth, awright. The truth for him. He wasn't makin' nothing up.' 'How about us?' Tom demanded. 'Is that the truth for us?' 'I don't know,' said Casy."

Studs Terkel quotes this passage at the beginning of his book Hard Times: An Oral History of the Great Depression. Hard Times is the true story of the Great Depression according to bonus marchers, itinerant farmers, factory owners, artists, parents with nothing, their children, the unaffected, the wealthy, the ruined, and scores of others who lived through it. It's the history of a dark American era in the words of its people. Terkel interviewed such a number and range of people, and their personal histories are so touching, that those of us who weren't there can begin to understand what we didn't witness.

Cesar Chavez spent the depression traveling from field to field with his family working for food and gas money. He understands the importance of his testimony: "This I remember. Some people put this out of their minds and forget it. I don't want to forget it. I don't want it to take the best of me, but I want to be there because it happened. This is the truth, you know. History."

At only fifteen years old, Liga has experienced more than a lifetime of hurt.  Repeatedly abused by her father then raped by a group of village boys, she is unable to endure any longer.  With one child already and now another on the way, Liga intends to end the suffering for all of them but, when she attempts suicide, she instead finds herself transported to a magical world much like her own, only here she and her daughters will forever be safe.  There is no danger in Liga's personal heaven; nothing is unexpected, and evil is kept at bay.  It is here that Liga raises her two girls, Branza and Urrda, knowing they are protected and safe from harm.

As time passes, the fragile membrane separating Liga's family from the outside world starts to fail and strangers begin appearing near Liga's home.  One, a man who is transformed into a bear upon entering the world, is harmless, even loving, as he spends three months with Liga and her girls.  The others, less so.  As the intrusions continue, curious Urrda senses a larger world ripe for exploration and she feels increasingly confined by the safe parameters of her upbringing.  Longing for challenge and excitement, she follows a second man-bear when he journeys back home and finds herself in a place similar but very unlike that of her childhood.   Unable to return, Urrda begins to make a new life for herself, torn between the freedom of the real world and longing for her mother and sister.

Margo Lanagan is an author with an incredible talent for creating worlds that are simultaneously unknown and familiar, but always surprising.  Tender Morsels, a retelling of the Grimms' fairy tale Snow White and Rose Red, is a complex work with rich, fully realized characters that nearly leap off the page.  Multiple distinct story lines are expertly woven throughout the novel, with each character bringing their own unique perspective.   Despite the strong presence of magic throughout the book, Tender Morsels is ultimately a fable about healing and living.  It may be a painful journey, but it is one worth taking.

I like to think that my decisions--the big ones, anyway--are based on thorough consideration of the facts.  When I need to buy something new, I research brands, consider price, check for sales, and make my purchase, secure in the knowledge that my decision-making process has been objective and rational.  Or has it?  In Predictably Irrational, author Dan Ariely presents compelling evidence that many of our decisions are strongly influenced by emotions and unconscious thoughts, instead of the objective study of facts that we believe. 

For example, Ariely discovered that university students would pilfer cans of soda from a communal refrigerator within a very short time, but they would leave a plate of dollar bills untouched.  Why?  The value is about the same, so what makes the decision to steal the soda different from the decision to steal the money?  What are the implications of this perceived difference?  And, if we understand the basis of the distinction, can we predict under what conditions people will be more or less likely to steal, thereby reducing theft?

Writing in an amusing and informal style, Ariely uses results from a variety of studies, both his own and others', to illustrate his theory that we often act in ways that are not only irrational, but predictably so.  He discusses the impact of expectations, social norms, and other forces that come into play each time we make a decision, and the way we underestimate the influence of arousal, procrastination, and the desire to keep our options open.  He believes that we can change behavior by understanding these concepts, resulting in decisions that, while no more rational, provide a more positive outcome.  It's something to keep in mind next time I make a major purchase.  I'll still do all the research, though.  I am a librarian, after all.

Northern Lights by Nora Roberts

When Baltimore Detective Ignatius Burke decides to take a job as the new police chief for an isolated Alaskan town, he knows its sheer lunacy. That seems appropriate since Lunacy is the name of the town. Nate quickly finds that Lunacy isn't quite what he expected. The town is full of characters and, while colorful, most of them are harmless. As winter sets in and the blizzards start to fly, Nate finds purpose in the everyday dramas of this small community: fender benders, rowdy drunks, domestic squabbles, and the like. After Baltimore, where he was shot and his partner was killed in the line of duty, an event that still weighs on him and threatens to plunge him into depression, these mundane problems are a welcome chore. Nate also finds himself drawn to a woman, not Charlene, the proprietess of the town lodge, who comes onto him at every chance, but Meg, the forthright bush pilot. There's a problem there too; Meg is Charlene's daughter. Charlene, an aging beauty, is having a hard time letting her youth go and has a history of trying to steal her daughter's lovers. These things are drama enough for a man recovering from depression, but when three boys go missing on a mountain, Nate's life gets even more complicated. When the boys are rescued, a body is discovered in the ice cave where they sheltered. This body wasn't just another hapless climber; an ice ax is buried in his chest. It also isn't just a random tourist- its the body of Meg's father, who disappeared in 1988 when Meg was only thirteen. Now Nate has to solve a decades old murder and find out which "Lunatic" is not quite so harmless.

Nora Roberts has a gift for writing everyday characters who readers can recognize and identify with, but who are also a little more glamorous, a little larger-than-life. Northern Lights is one of her better romantic suspense stories. The characters are lively and quirky, with a slight Northern Exposure feel. Ignatius, who is a broken man when he arrives in Lunacy, stirs back to life in this stark setting. His romance with Meg is fun and the mystery of who killed her father is compelling. Parts of that mystery are revealed through journal entries that the dead man wrote while climbing that mountain with two other companions, whom he nicknamed Han and Darth (he was Luke, of course). Its intriguing to look at the present-day townsfolk and try to figure out which two climbed with him, killed him, and left him there. Anyone hoping to while-away an hour or to with a good story can't go wrong with Roberts and Northern Lights is perfect for a cold winter night.

La Asociación Americana de Bibliotecas, en associación con Univision Radio, le presentan la campaña ¡Encuentralo en Tu Biblioteca! " para dar a conocer como las bibliotecas crean oportunidades para los adultos Hispanos y sus hijos, proporcionandoles ayuda confiable de bibliotecarios profesionales.

¿Cuales son algunos de los servicios ofrecidos por su biblioteca KCLS?

Ayuda Con Tareas Escolares
Información de Salud
Oportunidades de Empleo
Información Para Iniciar Una Empresa
Libros, Peliculas, y Música
Hora de cuentos en español para niños
Protección de la privacidad y confidencialidad de todos los usuarios de la biblioteca
Programas en Español

The American Library Association (ALA), in partnership with Univision Radio presents the "At Your Library" campaign, the purpose of which is to raise awareness of the opportunities that libraries create for Hispanics and their children.  Professional librarians are also available to provide assistance in the pursuit of information.

What are some services offered through KCLS libraries?

Homework Help
Health Information
Employment opportunities
Information about starting a business
Books, movies, and music
Story times in Spanish, English, and other world languages
Protection of privacy and confidentiality for all library users
Programs in Spanish

Being rich doesn't protect you from a nuclear attack! In The Compound, Eli and his family have been living in an bunker that his billionaire father built to protect his family. For 6 long years the family has been living underground in a plush mansion, but tensions are wearing thin. Grief plagues the family, as Eli's twin brother, Eddy, and their grandmother didn't make it into the compound in time and perished outside the steel doors.

Eli becomes suspicious of his father's weird behavior, and discovers the food supply may be contaminated. Things aren't what they seem and his worst fears are confirmed when he makes contact with the outside world...if things are o.k. outside, why are they still living under lock and key? And why is his father the only one who knows the code to get out?? Eli discovers his own father may be a madman, and it's up to him to help his family survive.

I'd say my chances of one day running a marathon or writing a novel are an equal zero percent, rounding down. Both appeal to me, but I'm worried I don't have what it takes. Some runners have told me I don't have muscles suited for long distance running. As novelist Haruki Murakami puts it in his brief memoir What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, I don't have his knowledge of pain.

The thirty year old Murakami was enjoying a sunny day at the ballpark when it occurred to him to write his first novel. He felt like something had flown down from the sky and he'd accepted it. He hand-wrote a two-hundred page novel and sent it off for consideration. Just happy to have written his own book, he didn't even make a copy of his manuscript. Today his books have been translated into forty-two languages.

About the time he started writing he also began running, which to the author is no coincidence. What I Talk About When I Talk About Running is a chronicle of solitary training, races, even a sixty-two mile ultramarathon. These meditations are of interest to other runners, but they also offer insights into Murakami's writing and outlook on life.

Murakami is often asked about the most important quality necessary to a novelist, and his answer is unsurprising: talent. But along with talent, he also believes a writer needs focus and endurance. He mentions a mantra that for him sums up long distance running: "Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional." Runners find ways to endure pain and still enjoy the race. For Murakami writing is a similar activity to running; he spends long, sometimes difficult and painful hours alone. Murakami's memoir provides a glimpse into the life of this very private writer, but it's also a study of focus and endurance.

If you like books about alternative history then definitely put Robert Charles Wilson's Darwinia on your list. This science fiction novel by the author of the Hugo Award winning novel, Spin, begins in 1912 and proceeds through to 1999. Yet it is a very different century than the one we remember. You see, in mid-1912 all contact was lost with Europe, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East. When reconnaissance parties from America and the European colonies around the world finally reach Europe, they find a virgin wilderness populated with strange species of flora and fauna and seemingly devoid of human life. The significance of this "Miracle," as the religious fundamentalists understand this event, is slowly revealed to the more rationalistic main character, Guilford Law. Law is a young American photographer who is part of an expedition that penetrates the interior of this strange new frontier and, over the next several decades, gradually comes to understand and accept these events and his role in them.

Darwinia is in many ways a homage to the science fiction writers of the late 19th and early 20th century: Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, and especially Edgar Rice Burroughs. Indeed, these names are invoked within the story on more than one occasion. Darwinia, the nickname for the vast and strange wilderness, reminds one of the Lost Continent or The Land That Time Forgot with their fantastic landscapes and inhabitants. Yet Darwinia is far more than an imitation of antiquated science fiction classics. On another level, this book is reminiscent of the movie The Matrix: events that unfold on planet Earth are ultimately an illusion that actually takes place in the distant future in a vast Archive that houses the collected sentience of civilized worlds throughout the galaxy. This revelation is, at least initially, far too much for Guilford Law and the other characters to understand and properly digest. In fact, one of the more intriguing aspects of this book is the way in which various characters make sense of the incomprehensible. And as the story progresses certain characters are caught up, almost against their will, in a cosmic struggle that occurs in their perceived world but sheds glimpses of actual reality near the end of the life of the Universe.

Heady stuff, this. It might sound confusing and, well, it is at times. One could even argue that a bit too much was crammed into 320 pages and that the book showed a certain lack of focus. Admittedly, this is not necessarily an easy read but then again Robert Charles Wilson is an ambitious and visionary author that likes to stretch his readers. As such, Darwinia has definitely got the goods: the overall premise is fascinating, the characters are treated with empathy, and the writing keeps you engaged all the way to the end of the story. Check it out!

Today is my husband's birthday and in his honor, I promised to post on one of his favorite books, The Driver: my dangerous pursuit of speed and truth in the outlaw racing world by Alexander Roy.

On his deathbed, Alex Roy's father shared a secret with him. He had once participated in the highly-illegal road race that was the basis of (and nothing like) the Burt Reynolds movie The Cannonball Run. He asks his son to find the Driver, the mythic organizer of the cross-country race.

To this end, Roy goes against the better judgment of his family and friends, soups up a BMW M5 and attempts to catch the attention of the Driver by driving a 120 mph lap around Manhattan (ala the 1976 French cult film, C'était un Rendez-vous). Entering this underground society, he competes in the Gumball 3000 and the Bullrun, two of the most infamous rally races in the world. Finally he attempts to set the record for a New York to Los Angeles run. His time? 3000 miles in 32 hours and 7 minutes.  Along the way, he uses every means at his disposal (radar detectors, police scanners and costumes) to achieve and maintain speeds up to 200 mph.

Dangerous? Yes. Fun to read? Oh yes. For a time, Alex Roy lived his life in pursuit of speed and truth for himself and his late father and we, his readers, get the shotgun seat on his adventures. Fast-paced and funny, The Driver may just tempt you to open up your engine the next time you see a clear highway ahead.

World War II has just ended, and Evie and her parents are on vacation in Palm Beach, Florida. It's just what the family needs - palm trees, warm weather and time away from the hustle and bustle of Queens, New York.

Peter Coleridge shows up at their resort, and Evie is immediately smitten with the handsome veteran. It turns out that Peter and her step-father Joe served together during the war. Evie's relationship with Peter takes a romantic turn, and her parents do not approve of the age difference between them.

It's hurricane season in Florida, and one powerful storm will inflict tragedy upon Evie's family. Her adoration of her gorgeous mother and loving step-father are forever tarnished, and she must come to terms with the grave reality of her family's situation. Evie is forced to stand trial to defend her family and she discovers her parents aren't as innocent as she believed.  What I Saw and How I Lied is historical fiction at its best. For this novel, Judy Blundell won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature.

Is part of your New Year's resolution to do more writing? Are you looking for a chance to meet other teens who write and share your ideas? Below is a list of opportunities around the Library System this winter.

@ the Fairwood Library

• Teen Writing Workshops
  2nd Thursdays, February 12th and March 12th at 7pm
  Participate in exercises that will stretch the your creative thinking and jump start your writing. Receive a writer's notebook and enjoy winter treats courtesy of the Friends of the Fairwood Library. No registration is requires and you can come to one or both sessions.

@ the Auburn Library

• Writer's Group
  Thursdays, February 3rd and 17th, 3:30pm-5pm.
  Like to write? Want to share your work? Auburn Library's Writing Group meets twice a month to do exercises and discuss our work. 

If you like your romances with strong, handsome and pig-headed, uh stubborn men and intelligent, determined women, you are going to love the Devil's Bride by Stephanie Laurens.  Honoria and Devil, the Duke of St. Ives, meet over the body of his dying young cousin, Tolly.  Honoria was going to her new position as a finishing governess to a noble family, when her horse was frightened by a gunshot.   Investigating she found the dying young man, and shortly thereafter was nearly run over by the Duke riding his big black horse. They try to save Tolly, to no avail and end up spending the night together in the woodsman's cottage, where they had taken refuge.  Now, in the 1800's in England when a man and a woman spend the night together, even if they do not hold hands, they must get married or the woman's reputation is ruined.  Honoria is not happy with this, she was planning never to marry and she wanted to travel.  Devil is attracted to her and admires her pragmatic and calm attitude while tending to Tolly. So he figures that he can "do the right thing" and she will be happy to become the Duchess of St. Ives.  Huh!  Devil and Honoria argue and fight their attraction to each other, but it can't be helped, love is waiting for them.  At the same time Devil and his cousins are hunting down Tolly's killer.  Honoria is determined to help, and Devil has the devil's own time in trying to screen her from the sordid and dangerous things of life.  She straightens him out, by proving that she can think on her feet and is not a little woman who needs to be protected.  Devil is surprised when he falls in love and this is what makes him overprotective.  Honoria is stunned when she realizes she loves Devil, but that doesn't stop her from arguing and showing that she can take care of herself.  Devil's Bride is an entertaining, sexy read, and it is the first book in the Bar Cynster series, which gives you many more opportunities to meet Honoria and Devil. 

The Devil's Bride is also available as an ebook.  And did you know that romance writers were some of the very first writers to publish online?  Just thought I'd mention it.

The plot: After a small dinner party, the Governor of the Bahamas and his one remaining guest make idle conversation, until a chance remark about their hostesses prompts the aging diplomat to recount the story of the decline of a colleague's marriage many years before.  A study in the erosion of civility, the tale centers on the choices that are made by everyday people, and the effects of those choices.  How thoughtlessness and lack of consideration can turn people away from one another.  How the amount of comfort we give or withhold can change those who love us into those who hate us.  The guest, caught up in the story, begins to look at his own life in a new light. 

Can you guess the title of this short story?  Here's a hint: It was recently made into a movie.  Still doesn't sound familiar?  Another hint: Of the nine stories in the anthology by this author, five have been made into movies.  Still can't place it?  Not surprising.  The story is only 25 pages, so they had to add a bit to make a full-length film  The knowledge that the author also wrote Chitty Chitty Bang Bang will clear up the mystery for some fans.

So what is the answer?  It's Quantum of Solace, by Ian Fleming.  It was re-released last year in an anthology of James Bond short stories that also includes, as I mentioned, four others that bear the same titles as James Bond films.  I grew up with the Bond films and have always been a fan, but when I started reading the books in college I saw a different side of 007 that I think is more suited to print. 

Ian Fleming's stories let the reader into James Bond's head--and it is an interesting place to be. Throughout this anthology are clues to Bond's character and background that make him more realistic, though perhaps no less of a playboy.  After all, Fleming was a product of his time, and the stories are not politically correct, with language, morals and opinions that sometimes make me wince.  But they are also a window into what motivates people to do good or evil.  Many times, particularly in these stories, the people are unremarkable until some event prompts them to act.  Which are good and which are evil is open to some interpretation at times, though Bond is always our hero--even with hardly a scantily clad woman or electronic gadget in sight. 

Ya esta encima la temporada de declarar sus impuestos federales. Esta obligación anual puede ser estresante para muchas personas, especialmante para aquellos recien llegados a este país y para los que no hablan inglés. Afortunadamente el Departamento del Internal Revenue Service contiene información en Español en su sitio electronico, que incluyen formularios y el enlace para obtener un Numero de Identificación Personal del Contribuyente (ITIN), si la persona que esta declarando no tiene un numero de seguro social. El Sistema de Bibliotecas de King County tambien ofrece estos formularios y ademas varias de nuestras sucursales ofrecen ayuda GRATIS para declarar sus impuestos. Para ver cuales sucursales ofrecen esta ayuda GRATIS y visitar el Departamento del Internal Revenue service en Español, visite las siguientes paginas:

Ayugda GRATIS con su declaración de impuestos federal en su Biblioteca de KCLS
http://www.kcls.org/programs/tax_help.cfm#help

IRS en Español

Numero de Identificación Personal del Contribuyente

Tax season is upon us once again, this time of year can be very stressful to many, especially for those who are recent immigrants and/or don't speak English. Fortunately, the Internal Revenue Service has a Spanish section that includes general information and links to essential forms, including a link to obtaining an Individual Tax Identifcation Number (ITIN), if a taxpayer does not have a social security number. Your King County Library System also offers tax forms and some branches even offer FREE tax assistance. To find out which branches offer this service and to visit the IRS site, click on the following links:

FREE tax assistance at KCLS
http://www.kcls.org/programs/tax_help.cfm#help

IRS in Spanish

Individual Tax Identification Number (en Español)

It's not easy to describe Harry Bosch. He's a Vietnam veteran. He's a homicide detective with the LAPD. He spent most of his childhood in "the system." He's not particularly lucky in love. He has a strong sense of right and wrong. He's the son of a prostitute who was murdered when he was 11. He has trouble with authority. All of these contribute to the man he is, and yet the list doesn't do him justice. Harry Bosch is the central character in several of Connelly's novels, among which The Closers is probably my favorite.

Harry has returned from retirement at the behest of the police chief, and is working with a former partner in the Open-Unsolved unit of the Robbery Homicide Division. The first case to get their attention is the 1988 murder of a 16 year old girl. Her body was found on a hill above her home, staged to approximate a suicide. 17 years later, DNA evidence causes Harry and his partner to review the case, finding several instances of carelessness or cover up in the original investigation.

Michael Connelly is a master of the police procedural, and Harry Bosch is an exemplar of the world weary cop. If you like them, you can read the other fourteen Bosch titles, or give Connelly's five standalone novels a try!

Our country is getting ready for some serious belt tightening in the coming months.  To help you and your household keep fiscally sound, KCLS is offering a series of Fiscal Fitne$$ classes designed to help you find ways to save money and handle your finances. 

We're offering workshops for selling on eBay, frugal fashion and art, money management for kids and adults, credit and credit reports, identity theft, and career tips.

Combine your need to be frugal with the conviction and momentum of your New Year's resolutions and join us!  After checking the class listings, please contact your library to register for these free classes.  You can also search our events listings and register online.

Tinker, Bandit, and Pirate were once household pets much loved by their families, as the "Missing" posters certainly testify.  Stolen by the military for use in a top secret experiment, these harmless animals are transformed into brutally efficient killing machines.  They are given armor, weaponry, even rudimentary speech as scientists attempt to create the ultimate soldier.  When the "subjects" are slated for extermination at the end of the experiment, their sympathetic trainer sets them loose rather than see them destroyed.  Once free, the animals are driven by instinct and memory to return to their families but are under constant attack by soldiers, both human and animal.  In their effort to develop an unbeatable weapon, it seems the military has finally created something even they can't stop.

We3 is a groundbreaking graphic novel, both visually and conceptually.  Artist Frank Quitely uses unusual panel shapes and layouts to heighten the effects of certain scenes, and his portrayals of the three animals are as subtle and beautiful as they are violent.  This is one of my favorite titles by Grant Morrison, and it's not difficult to see why his work is so well regarded.  Tinker, Bandit and Pirate have more depth and complexity than some of the human characters I've seen in other graphic novels. In lesser hands, the emotional content of this story might come across as sappy and corny.  Here, Morrison uses few words to convey a depth of expression that is not often seen in this format, and it is poignant and heartbreaking.  This collaboration of two immensely talented artists is not to be missed.

When I read a mystery novel, my favorite part is not knowing how it will end.  The story moves forward, the reader gathers clues alongside the characters, and at the end, the culprit is unmasked.

When I read The Kitchen Boy by Robert Alexander, I knew exactly how it would end.  Young Leonka was the kitchen helper in the palace of Tsar Nicholas of Russia.  The real Leonka's fate is lost to history, but in Alexander's story the boy continues to work for the household, even as the Tsar and his family are held captive by the Bolsheviks in a secret location. 
History books reveal the terrible fate of Nicholas and his family, but Alexander's book imagines the life the family lived as they daily awaited their fate and hoped that they would somehow be rescued by those still loyal to them.   Incorporating actual letters and secret notes into the story, Alexander provides an intimate perspective into the royal family and demonstrates their love for each other even under frightening circumstances.  Nicholas, no matter his actions as Tsar, was also a loving husband and father, while Aleksei his son, though destined to be the next Tsar, was also just an infirm young boy who enjoyed games of pretend.

This gripping novel speeds to its inevitable conclusion, and yet like in a good mystery, Alexander keeps you guessing about the identity of several characters and just how they impacted the history of a nation.

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

The King of Sounis wants to marry the Queen of Eddis, but Eddis isn't interested. Not only would Eddis lose her independence, such an alliance would upset the balance of power between the three kingdoms, Sounis, Eddis and Attolia. But the King is determined and his magus has a plan. If he can find Hamiathes's Gift, an ancient stone used to choose the true monarch of Eddis and give it to Sounis, the Queen will have to marry the King to get the stone. The magus even thinks he knows the secret location of the stone. He just has one problem: a thief must retrieve the stone from its hiding place. Not just any thief either, a thief of great skill must steal the stone. Luckily, just such a thief languishes in the palace prison. Gen claims to be the best thief in the world and his boast may prove true. After all, he did steal the King's seal from the magus' own chambers. He was only caught because he bragged about it later. So the magus makes Gen an offer he can't refuse: help steal Hamiathes's Gift in exchange for his freedom. Gen agrees quickly enough and not just because he wants out of prison. Gen has a plan of his own, one that will drastically change the three kingdoms and his own fate.

The Thief was written for children and won a Newbery Honor medal in 1997, but Gen's story, especially as it evolves in the sequels, Queen of Attolia and King of Attolia, is complex and rich enough for any adult. This first novel is perhaps the most simplistic and straightforward, focusing as it does on Gen's attempts to steal the stone and outsmart the magus, but it sets the tone for the other books. The setting is unique, a slightly Mediterranean-flavored fantasy world that leaves an impression but doesn't bog the reader down with too many details. A trickster at heart, Gen is lively and naturally duplicitous (one can easily envision a young Johnny Depp in this role).What he lacks in sincerity he makes up for in loyalty, wit and charm. Readers will want to see just how far this thief will go.

It's time to make your New Year's resolutions. Why not add one more? This year, resolve to get involved at your local library. You may feel like many decisions about what happens in your life are made by adults (your parents, teachers, coaches - the list goes on and on), but sometimes adults are looking for your input. Many KCLS libraries offer Teen Advisory Boards where we ask for your opinion about what programs, events, and materials we offer for teens. At Auburn, our Teen Advisory Board planned a sushi rolling demonstration for Teen Read Week and has shown seniors how to use the Nintendo Wii. Plus, you can count your participation as credit for school or other volunteering requirements. Here's a partial list of libraries that have Teen Advisory Boards.

• Auburn Library (click here for more information)
  Third Monday of the month at 4:00 pm (next meeting January 12th)
• Bothell & Kenmore Libraries (click here for more information)
  First Thursday of the month at 3:30 pm (next meeting January 8th)
• Kingsgate Library
  Third Tuesday of the month at 4:00 pm (next meeting January 20th)
• Mercer Island Library
  Third Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm (next meeting January 20th)
• Newport Library
  Last Tuesday of the month at 6:00 pm (next meeting January 27th)
• Redmond Library
  Second Wednesday of the month at 4:00 pm (next meeting January 14th)
• Shoreline Library
  Tuesdays (once or twice a month) at 4:00 pm (click here for meeting dates and more information)

Just because you don't see your library listed here doesn't mean they don't offer volunteer opportunities for teens. Call or stop by your local library branch and ask to talk to the Teen Librarian. We'll be only too happy to put you to work!

When Jon Cote' returned from the Iraq War a decorated army paratrooper he joined a University of Florida fraternity and let the good times roll. A few months later, feeling depressed and empty, Cote' signed on with a private security company as a mercenary and returned to Iraq. Cote' entered a war where shootings and casualties aren't reported, where mercenaries disappear and their companies hire someone else. In his book Big Boy Rules Pulitzer Prize winning war journalist Steve Fainaru gives us a firsthand look into the lives of mercenaries and their employers fighting for the US military in Iraq.

Without enough troops to fight its wars, the United States now relies on unprecedented numbers of soldiers for hire. No one is sure how many mercenaries are employed by the US government in Iraq, but estimates range from 25,000 to over 75,000. Their deaths are not included in the US government's casualty totals; no statistics are kept about how many die or just disappear. It's also unclear what laws govern mercenaries in Iraq; they are immune to Iraqi law, US law, the Uniform Code of Military Justice, Islamic law, and the Geneva Conventions. In the fall of 2007 three teams of Blackwater guards opened fire on civilians in Baghdad's Nisoor Square killing 17 people in 15 minutes, an action described by US military investigators as a "criminal event." Blackwater still operates in Iraq, and while a handful of their guards have recently been charged in US federal court, lawyers aren't sure they're legally accountable to anyone.

Some people see mercenaries as heroes paid to fight for the United States. They allow the US military to avoid a draft. Jon Cote's friend and fellow soldier Patrick McCormack sees it differently: "You can get away with taking life if your country sends you; you can eventually forgive yourself. But when you do it because you want to buy a house, that's when you really begin to have existential questions." Fainaru never resolves his own moral ambiguity toward mercenary work. He does write a book I couldn't put down, a book that illuminates part of the Iraq War that's been kept in the shadows.

Would you like to know more about the process of becoming a United States Citizen?  You've come to the right place!  KCLS currently offers ongoing Citizenship classes at Algona-Pacific, Auburn, Bellevue, Kent, Kingsgate. Also, be sure pick up your free citizenship packet at any KCLS library which inlcudes information on current test taking procedures. While your at it, ask if your library is currently offering Citizenship workshops in addition to Citizenship classes. 

Click for a list of Citizenship, ESL, and Talk Time classes

Citizenship Classes:

• Algona Pacific: Tuesdays and Thursdays 6:30 pm
• Auburn: 10:00 am (classes begin January 31st)  
• Bellevue: Mondays 7:30 pm
• Kent: Tuesdays 7 pm
• Kingsgate: Mondays 7:30 pm

**Please call local library to verify current dates and times. 

Useful Citizenship Web Resources:

• Guia Para Inmigrantes
• US Citizenship and Information Services
• INFOPASS
• Washington State Refugee and Immigrant Conference
• Naturalization Self Test

(Image: Flikr Creative Commons: Attribution License: Daquella Maquera)

My Life in France by Julia Child with Alex Prud'homme

Who knew that Julia Child wasn't a natural born cook? Not I!  In this thoroughly enjoyable memoir/biography (in the best, true sense) the son of Julia's husband's twin brother interviewed Julie over a number of years about her life in France and about her beginnings as a celebrated chef.  What helped immensely in this project were the letters Julia's husband Paul wrote to his brother almost every day, detailing their life in Paris and Marseille and covering roughly the years 1948 to 1954.  Julie grew up in Southern California of upper middle class parents who never ate anything out of the ordinary.  It was after she married Paul, a diplomatic officer and moved to Paris that she began to move outside the life she was raised in.  In fact, the first lunch she had in France, Sole Meuniere, so overpowered her senses that she was instantly in love with France and its' food. 

My Life in France chronicles her  extraordinary journey learning French, attending classes at Le Cordon Bleu and writing Mastering the Art of French Cooking with Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle.  What a delicious treat this book is!  About the book Julia says it best: "This is a book about some of the things I have loved most in life: my husband, Paul Child; la belle France; and the many pleasures of cooking and eating."    Right after I read this book the CIA revealed that Julia had been a spy for OSS during WWII.  What an intriguing coda to a full life.

Alice Lindgren is a quiet, reserved, school librarian when she meets aspiring politico Charlie Blackwell. Charlie stems from a wealthy, well-connected, conservative family. Their whirlwind courtship and marriage eventually becomes the stuff of legend as their life together takes them from a governor's mansion to Pennsylvania Avenue.

Change the names and the story sounds remarkably like that of the current occupants of the White House. Curtis Sittenfeld's American Wife, is fiction that in less capable hands could have come across as a schockly tell-all biography of our First Lady. The author does not disguise her inspiration. As the story unfolds, Charlie struggles with drugs and alcohol, becomes a born-again Christian,  and as President begins an unpopular war in the Middle East.

However, Sittenfeld is interested in humanizing the woman behind the man. Alice Blackwell is a complicated and altogether kind creation. She loves her husband and at the same time disagrees with his politics. "If I were to tell the story of my life...and if I were being honest...I would probably feel tempted to say that standing that night just inside my apartment...I made a choice: I chose our relationship over my political convictions, love over ideology."  The parts of Alice the world does not see are very readable and very relatable, and for good reason American Wife was one of the best reviewed books of 2008, landing on the Top Ten lists of both Time and Entertainment Weekly.

With the excitement building toward January 20, and the Inauguration of a new President, now is a good time to read the story of this First Lady. Even fictional, Alice Blackwell may  stay with you long after the Bush's have retired into history.

Dreams can be pretty amazing. What do they mean? Where do they come from? How do you interpret them? Most people crave additional sleeping hours, but in Wake, 17 year-old Janie is thrilled to wake up. Ever since she was a little girl, she gets sucked into other people's dreams when they fall asleep around her. Watching other peoples' fantasies and nightmares can be both exhilarating and terrifying. Janie knows her special power is unique, and she's forced to keep this secret to herself. That is, until people in their dreams start reaching out to her to save them. Janie can tell her friend Cabel is in need of serious help, but does she want to get involved? This is a first novel for Lisa McMann, but the 2nd installment in the series, Fade, is already set for publication on February 10, 2009. 

Best of all, Lisa McMann is hosting a special essay contest for teens aged 14-18 to help them fund their dreams. The grand prize is $1,000! Check out Lisa's website for details: www.lisamcmann.com

Fieldwork, the National Book Award nominated first novel by Mischa Berlinski, is a book about obsession. The narrator, an underemployed American journalist living in northern Thailand named (strangely enough) Mischa Berlinski, becomes obsessed with the story of Martiya van der Leun, an anthropologist from Berkeley who was convicted of murdering a young American missionary, David Walker. As Mischa tries to unravel the story of this murder he discovers that Martiya and David were both obsessed with the Dyalo, a fictitious southeast Asian hill-tribe. David was obsessed with converting the Dyalo (among other Asian tribal peoples) to Christianity, thereby saving them from the "spirits that enslave them." Martiya, on the other hand, was obsessed with learning about and ultimately protecting existing Dyalo culture, though unfortunately her obsession did not stop there. Thus, the Dyalo villages become a sort of battleground for conflicting ideologies held by First World urban cultures in relation to Third World tribal cultures.

What makes Fieldworka remarkable work of fiction is that it takes this potentially dry topic and turns it into a riveting story. The author's prose is very fluid and the dialogue is utterly believable. The plot has many twists and turns that keeps the reader guessing. Berlinski describes wild, tropical southeast Asia with such loving detail that at certain times the books seems as much a travelogue as a novel. Perhaps most importantly, his detailed, well-researched exposition of the respective fields of evangelism and anthropology is largely neutral. One does not get the sense that the author is siding with one viewpoint or another; instead, he tells their stories and then allows the reader to draw his own conclusions. Similarly, Dyalo culture is portrayed with neutrality; while the description of Dyalo customs and beliefs is rich and complex, there is no apparent judgment on the author's part as to the relative value of their culture. Indeed, the author's tendency of letting the characters speak for themselves mirrors the fundamental mission of the anthropologist: "To grasp the native's point of view [or, in this case, the character's], his relation to life, to realize his vision of his world."

This neutrality, of course, is not shared by the two protagonists, David Walker and Martiya van der Leun, who arrive at their own contradictory judgments based on their own conflicting histories. One thing's for sure: Martiya and David...as well as the journalist narrating the story...paid a price for their lack of detachment. In the end, Fieldwork is less about "primitive" mountain villagers than about the ultimate cost, to ourselves and others, of our own "civilized" perceptions.