King County Library System - Library Talk. - October 2009

As intermission ends at Teatro la Fenice, the third gong strikes.  The opera goers return to their seats, eagerly awaiting the final act of La Traviata.  But the orchestra does not begin to play.  Suddenly, from behind the curtain, the artistic director steps out, announcing that Maestro Wellauer is unable to conduct, and the assistant director will finish the performance.  Wellauer will never conduct again.  The police are called, and when they arrive (by boat, as this is Venice), Commissario Guido Brunetti enters the dressing room and finds the body. Maestro Helmut Wellauer, the most famous conductor in Europe, lies contorted by the effect of cyanide in the coffee he'd begun to drink.  Who could have wanted the esteemed maestro dead?

In  Death at La Fenice, it's Brunetti's task to find out, and he's an expert at detection.  At first there appears to be no possible motive, but as the investigation deepens, an array of secrets, rivalries, and intrigue is uncovered.  Was it the assistant director, hoping to eliminate a rival?  Or the soprano, who's hiding a secret only Wellauer knew, that could destroy her career?   It couldn't be his young and beautiful wife, apparently devastated by his death.  And what about the rumors that Wellauer, a German, was a Nazi sympathizer during WWII, a strong motivation for revenge?

As Brunetti investigates, we meet a unique cast of characters:  his vain, insufferable boss, Vice Questore Patta; faded opera star Santina, now living in cruel poverty; his lovely wife Paola, a daughter of Venice's aristocracy.  We come to know his family, and savor the delectable extended meals they share at mid-day.  But the most distinctive character is Venice.  As Brunetti prowls the canals, calles, piazzas, and cafes of his native town, we acquaint ourselves with this ancient and mysterious floating city.

Donna Leon has woven together a fascinating tale that's sure to please lovers of opera, Italian life, and detective fiction. This is the first novel of the Guido Brunetti mysteries; her most recent installment, About Face, is 18th in the series.  Throughout these novels, Commissario Brunetti exposes the seamier side of life in Venice, battling corruption as he brings the truth to light.

With NaNoWriMo, (National Novel Writing Month), lurking just around the corner, my attention has turned to books about writing. There are many to choose from, including books on motivation, some that emphasize certain techniques and some that focus on selling your material once it's finished.

Break Into Fiction by multipublished authors Mary Buckham and Diana Love uses popular films to demonstrate the points of each technique they discuss. They've also provided templates for important story elements such as developing a story premise, creating believeable, motivated characters, strengthening conflict, and raising the stakes.

Many writers struggle with the beginning of a story, not knowing where to start. When facing the blank page, it can be a challenge. These successful authors suggest that the frustration can often be traced to a lack of preparation. If you have insight into the goals and motivation of your main character, it can be easier to get the words on the page. Taking the time to understand the story arc, how conflict must be escalated and the story question answered can help the beginning writer move beyond fear and into the flow of the narrative.

If you are interested in learning more about Power Plotting, NaNoWriMo programs offered throughout the library system will include workshops with Mary Buckham.

Making your house, (apartment, room or whatever) into your home is always exciting and fun. Jill Butler's book, Create the Space You Deserve:  An Artistic Journey to Expressing  Yourself  Through Your Home is an inspirational book that got me thinking in a different way about my living space.  

It is easy to find ideas on home décor and stores are relentless in their push to sell you the latest thing that you absolutely need for your home. Create the Space You Deserve takes a different  approach  by tapping into the emotional process of designing space. This book inspired me to look at my living space with a fresh eye. Your living area can be a powerful expression of who you are and in these hard economic times I find myself in the nesting mode more than ever. For me it is the little things that tend to make me happiest...like sitting at home in a comfy chair, sipping tea and watching the clouds.

Which of these is not a real tale of madness?

A. The Madness of March: Bonding and Betting with the Boys in Las Vegas
B. Madness Under the Royal Palms: Love and Death Behind the Gates of Palm Beach
C. Trapped by Love: the Madness of Compulsive Collecting
D. Madness and Modernity: Mental Illness and the Visual Arts in Vienna 1900

Who is the Master of the Horror Genre? Edgar Allan Poe. Nearly 165 years after he wrote his final tale, he is still loved--in fact, he is more popular than when he was alive. Nobody does tales of darkness, mystery, and the macabre like Poe. Nobody.

Edgar Allan Poe's Tales Of Death And Dementia is a graphic novel illustrated by Gris Grimly. It is the second Poe collection Grimly has done: the first, Edgar Allan Poe's Tales Of Mystery And Murder, is also awesome. I am looking forward to his third, and I hope more. His illustrations are just as creepy and understated as Poe's tone which adds a beautiful unique dimension to the tales. The tales have been slightly "nipped and tucked" from their original text, but nothing is lost. The tales are just as wonderfully creepy as they were when written.

"The Tell-Tale Heart" has to be one of the creepiest tales ever written. Written from the perspective of a deranged, cold-blooded killer, it will creep you out. As a child, this tale absolutely terrified me; as an adult, it still gets me, even though I have read it many, many times. The rest of the collection includes the scary yet humorous "The System Of Dr. Tarr And Professor Fether," the tragic "The Oblong Box,", and the weird and disgusting "The Facts In The Case Of M. Valdemar."

A wonderful set of classic tales to revisit next the fireplace on a cold night or maybe all alone in your room on a windy night. The wonderful illustrations make this collection of Poe's dark tales even darker. A book that anyone young or young at heart will enjoy...tick tock, tick tock....

Some people are so outside the realm of normality that they almost seem to be a different type of human.  Their lives can make for fascinating biographies. Paul Erdös was just such a person.  Born in Hungary in 1913, he soon took to numbers.  At age 3 he would calculate how many seconds his parents' friends had lived.  Paul Hoffman's The Man Who Loved Only Numbers chronicles the bizarre life of Erdös.

Considered to be the most prolific mathematician in history, Erdös co-authored nearly 1500 scientific papers.  During most of his adult life, he traveled from university to university, or conference to conference, living out of two suitcases.  He never owned other possessions, did not have a home, and gave away money he didn't need.  Often, he would simply show up on a colleague's doorstep unannounced, spending a few days or weeks solving research problems before moving on to another city.  

Hoffman's interviews in the math world uncovered some great stories.  Later in his life, Erdös apparently needed an operation to correct his dimming vision, but delayed surgery because he was reluctant to lose precious work time.  He finally agreed to the procedure only when he mistakenly believed that he would be able to work during surgery.

In honor of his work and life, mathematicians humorously developed the Erdös number.  Erdös himself was awarded the number 0.  Erdös co-authors are awarded the number 1.  Co-authors of co-authors, the number 2.  And so on.  A low Erdös number is considered to be a great distinction (Steven Hawking, Bill Gates, Noam Chomsky and J. Robert Oppenheimer are 4's; Einstein a 2).  Hank Aaron jokingly has a 1 after co-signing a baseball with Erdös.  And, of course, a few mathematicians have tried to auction their Erdös numbers on Ebay.

Merry Hall By Beverly Nichols

In 1946 Mr. Nichols longed to escape post-war London, so he went looking for a small Georgian House, not too far from the city, with about 5 acres of land where he could create a garden.  He found Merry Hall.  It fit all his requirements, and he bought it, even though the Georgian lines of the building had been ruined by remodeling and additions, the interior was in shambles, the five acres were mostly weeds and nettles, and the gardener who came with the house was devoted to all the mistakes of the former owner.  With the help of his incredibly efficient factotum, Gaskin; the reluctant but expert aid of the gardener; the company of his cats, One and Four; and the occasional interference of neighbors, he turned Merry Hall into his dream house and garden.  He tells the story with classic deadpan British humor.

You don't have to be a gardener to enjoy this book.  (My favorite garden activity is to recline gracefully in the shade on a hot day with a cool drink and a good book.)  You do need to be prepared for strong prejudices, mostly about plants, but also about women and what Nichols considers the lower classes, and accept that he was a creature of different times.  He brings the best of those times alive most enchantingly.

Thanksgiving is coming up which means it's time to start placing hold on those Thanksgiving titles to be sure that you will get them in time. Here are some of my favorites.

For Preschoolers:
'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey
School children go on a field trip to a farm and bring home turkey for thanksgiving. Based on the famous 'twas the night before Christmas. This book is hilarious!


Alligator arrived with apples : a potluck alphabet feast by Crescent Dragonwagon
A Thanksgiving alphabet book. Each animal bring a different dish for the best A-Z Thanksgiving feast.

Feast for 10 by Cathryn Falwell.Not really a Thanksgiving book, but a heart warming counting book about a family eating together. Probably my favorite "food" book for preschoolers.

I know an old lady who swallowed a pie by Alison JacksonGoodness! Can this lady eat, or what? Written in the same rhyme as "I know an old lady who swallowed a fly.

For Elementary Schoolers:
Thank you, Sarah : the woman who saved Thanksgiving by Laurie Halse Anderson
The real story behind Thanksgiving is more inspiring than pilgrims and Indians. Sarah Hale finds that the pen is mightier than the sword when she convinces Abe Lincoln to make Thanksgiving a national holiday.

Milly and the Macy's Parade / by Shana CoreyYoung Milly inspires the first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Based on a true story; includes historical note.

The Hoboken chicken emergency by Daniel Pinkwater Arthur goes to pick up the turkey for Thanksgiving dinner but comes back with a 266-pound chicken.

What do you do when life gives you the unexpected? Otto Ringling has been coasting along on his successful editing career, with the support of a loving wife and two well behaved teenagers. Tragedy strikes when his parents are killed by a drunk driver near their North Dakota farm. Otto and his sister haven't been particularly close throughout the years. He's grounded while she's more focused on cosmic energy and the power of meditation. It's not that he's opposed to alternative viewpoints; he's a liberal and open minded individual.

Differences aside, Otto and his sister decide to embark on a road trip from New York to North Dakota to settle their parents' estate. His flakey sister bails out and sends her friend, Volya Rinpoche, a Buddhist monk, in her place.

Initially, Otto finds himself being irritated and impatient with his new Zen passenger. Otto is conflicted between his comfortable existence and the potential reality of the universe. He's somewhat embarrassed by monk's outfits and habits, yet he finds himself being drawn into Rinpoche's simple teachings.

Throughout simple philosophical discourse, an unlikely friendship develops. This story is whimsical, quirky and made me smile. Breakfast with Buddha is reminiscent of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, with parallels on morals, life purpose and the wonderlust of the road trip. I found Breakfast to be more accessible and easier to digest. Uplifting and charming, this book puts a positive spin on the human race.

In the summer of 1880, Auguste Renoir persuaded thirteen of his reluctant friends to spend several weekends posing for his famous painting, Luncheon of the Boating Party, which inspired Susan Vreeland's historical novel of the same name.

I started reading the book with some trepidation, because I couldn't help remembering my mixed experiences with historical fiction about famous painters. For example, I had always loved Vermeer's paintings until I read the historical novel Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier, which made me wonder exactly what kind of man Vermeer really was. On the other hand, I liked the book Lydia Cassatt Reading the Morning Paper by Harriet Scott Chessman, which I thought gave me some insight into Mary Cassatt's life and also the world of the impressionists. My book group decided to read Luncheon of the Boating Party, though, so I decided to give it a chance, and I'm glad I did. I listened to it on CD, which gave me the advantage of hearing the correct pronunciation of French words and names. It had the disadvantage, however, that I kept getting the numerous characters confused. Also, I constantly wanted to look at the painting itself as it started to take shape in the narrative. I solved this problem by printing a copy of the Wikipedia article about the painting from the Internet, which included an image. So my suggestion is to have the book and the CD version both on hand for maximum clarity and enjoyment.

I found myself enthralled with the book. I felt like I was immersed in French life in 1880, during La Vie Moderne, an exciting time of social change.  We tend to think we are living in modern times and that all previous times were part of ancient history, but Vreeland managed to capture that time in history and make it feel immediate to me.

A historical novel like this one can be used as a starting point to exploring history and ideas through other nonfiction books and complementary experiences. At KCLS we have one of the books that Vreeland used to research her book: Impressionists on the Seine: A Celebration of Renoir's Luncheon of the Boating Party by Eliza E. Rathbone et al., which is a great source for more background information and pictures. 

As long as she can remember, Isabel (aka Belly) has spent every summer at the beach. It's always the same people - her mom, her brother Stephen, her mom's best friend Susannah, and Susannah's two sons, Conrad and Jeremiah. Gorgeous beach house, private pool where Belly loves to swim, and the leisurely pace of summer vacation. Belly's grown up with Conrad and Jeremiah, but the summer she turns 16, things get complicated. Jeremiah obviously has a crush on Belly, but Belly is into Conrad, who doesn't have the same feelings. Belly meets Cam at a beach bonfire and a relationship blossoms. What happens when summer is over and everyone goes home? Belly is surrounded by boys, but struggles with her emotions, why does love have to be so hard?  The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han is a wonderful, new romance.

The Elfish Gene: Dungeons, Dragons, and Growing Up Strange, by Mark Barrocliffe

I did not grow up in England, rather here in Maple Valley, but I did meet my English husband at a Dungeons and Dragons party, and I feel a strong connection to this book on a few levels.  I'm an anglophile and a geek and rather proud of it now, although it caused pain earlier in life when I didn't fit in, so I can vividly relate to this biography of another fantasy misfit.

Growing up in England, Mark Barrocliffe was smitten at the age of twelve by the allure of the new fantasy role-playing game, Dungeons and Dragons, a game in which you can create the character of your dreams and destroy the enemies of your nightmares, but almost assures you'll never get a date.  The enthusiastic boy immersed himself in the worlds of elves and orcs, wizards and warriors, of magic light and dark; of gaming sessions that would last anywhere from hours to days and where the final goals were to kill the Goblin King, save the fair maiden, and loot an amazing Frost Wand, to be used in the next game.  Barrowcliffe speaks with uncompromising clarity of the choices he made as a teen and why, of the odd, lonely, and equally strange young men he met through gaming (very few girls play), and the effect such a youth had on later life and his relationships.  The game consumed him to the point it drove his parents to distraction, drove some real friends away, and surrounded Barrowcliffe with other slightly broken people with the same goals; occasionally cruel boys who'd sit in a damp basement for hours eating junk food and rolling twelve sided dice, rather than going on a beach holiday with friends.  If you've lived the nerdy life of fantasy role-playing before it was popular, have been in situations where you haven't fit in but long to, or are just curious about that crazy D & D you've always heard about, this book will lure you into one young man's world of obsession and adventure, and what some might call his subsequent escape.

Which of these is not a real obsession?

A. A Maze of Twisty Little Passages, All Alike: Sewers, Games, and Obsession
B. Go Ask Your Father: One Man's Obsession with Finding his Origins Through DNA Testing
C. The Brother Gardeners: Botany, Empire and the Birth of an Obsession
D. Flotsametrics and the Floating World: How One Man's Obsession with Runaway Sneakers and Rubber Ducks Revolutionized Ocean Science

There is so much to know and learn when it comes to applying for college. Where should I apply? How do I make my application competitive? Once I get in, how will I pay for it? Some KCLS branches are offering programs that will help you answer these questions and more.  Come to one or all of these free programs! Some programs require advance registration, so follow the link for details.

COLLEGE OPTIONS: FINDING THE RIGHT FIT FOR YOU
This workshop is designed to help students choose the right college. Discover your strengths and learn about the options that best suit them!
Newport Way Library, Tuesday, October 20, 7:00 PM

FINDING YOUR DREAM COLLEGE
Facilitated by a real-life college administrator, this workshop will empower those looking at schools to use numerous information opportunities to be both resourceful and resource full!
Covington Library, Wednesday, October 21, 2009, 7:00 PM

WRITE TO WIN
Hear from a real college administrator about what it takes to write successful college entrance essays and submit applications that work.
Covington Library, Wednesday, October 28, 7:00PM
Bothell Regional Library, Sunday, November 01, 12:30 PM
Maple Valley Library, Thursday, November 05, 7:00 PM
Auburn Library, Thursday, November 19, 7:00 PM

FINDING MONEY FOR COLLEGE
A representative from the non-profit College Planning Network will provide a complete review of the college financial aid process, including how students identify and apply for all types of grants, scholarships, work study and student loans.
Covington Library, Wednesday, November 4, 7:00 PM
Auburn Library, Thursday, November 12, 7:00 PM

NAVIGATING THE FINANCIAL AID MAZE
So you've filled out the FAFSA and have identified colleges, but how will you pay for it? A former assistant director of student financial aid will share tips on budgeting during college, tracking your student loan information and working with your financial aid office.
Auburn Library, Thursday, November 05, 7:00 PM

SAT INFORMATIONAL SEMINAR
Get test-taking strategies for the SAT and other college entrance exams, as well as advice on the college admissions process. This is a repeat of the program held on October 7.
Federal Way 320th Library, Monday, November 16, 7:00 PM

"Life here is a constant struggle, an endlessly repeated effort to tilt in one's favor the fragile, flimsy, and shaky balance between survival and extinction."

This sentence roughly encapsulates Ryszard Kapuscinski's assessment of the life of the average African in his fascinating book, The Shadow of the Sun. Kapuscinski was Poland's first-ever African correspondent, arriving in 1957 and returning many times over the next 40 years. During this time, his travels took him to virtually every corner of the African continent including Mauritania, Mali, Senegal, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Somalia, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, and many other locations in between. Contemptuous of Europeans that sequestered themselves in affluent whites-only enclaves, Kapuscinski immersed himself in the real Africa, living in clay huts in the country and squalid tenements in the cities. What he saw was not pretty and the essays in this book make no effort to soften the blow. Everywhere he went he encountered scorching heat, disease, starvation, war, corruption, and the sort of utter destitution that is unimaginable to even the poorest member of a European or American society.

Yet for all this, The Shadow of the Sun is far from being an onerous, depressing read. Kapuscinski repeatedly focuses on the Africans' love of togetherness, the caretaking role of the clan, their quickness to laughter, their pervasive spirituality, and many other attributes that have enabled them to survive in an environment that is in so many ways harsh and unforgiving. But this book does not idealize Africans, just as it refrains from condemning Europeans or Americans. Yes, Kapuscinski gives a thorough account of the destructive effects of colonialism and the slave trade, but he also brings his journalistic skills to the fore in his detailed reports of oppression, brutality and mass-murder amongst Africans themselves in places like Liberia, Uganda and Rwanda. In short, his approach is objective and balanced. And beyond this, he clearly respected and felt compassion for the average African. Despite their hardships and their suffering and against all odds, they survive. 

So if you're in the mood for an insightful look into the reality of African life, check out Ryszard Kapuscinski's The Shadow of the Sun!

It's not so easy to retire when you are one of Spain's finest swordsmen.  Much as he tries to avoid it, Diego Alatriste keeps getting pulled back into danger's unsympathetic maw.

Arturo Pérez-Reverte is one of my favorite authors, ever since I stumbled across The Fencing Master.  Although he has a number of excellent stand-alone titles, Pérez-Reverte is best known for his musketeer-like Captain Alatriste series.  One of Spain's (and Europe's) most popular authors, he writes in what I think of as a deliciously old world European style - hard to describe - patient and eloquent, but not at all slow.  I find his writing similar to Gabriel Garcia Marquez (without the magical realism).

Diego Alatriste, an inveterate gentleman soldier and veteran of the Flemish Wars (17th century), is willing to fight for God, country and gold, but mainly for gold.  In Captain Alatriste, the first book in the series, he has been hired to assassinate two British visitors.  Always reluctant to shed needless blood, he spares their lives, opening a hornet's nest and infuriating the Holy Inquisition.  Not good.

Pérez-Reverte's works are excellent historical fiction picks for adults and (I think) older teens. If swashbuckling isn't to your fancy, Pérez-Reverte writes some other dynamite thrillers and even a narco-saga that is surprisingly entertaining given the rough subject matter.

A ridiculous number of vampire books have been published lately.  Good ones and not so good ones.  I haven't read much horror in recent years, but when I read about a movie adaptation of a Swedish vampire novel called Let Me In, I checked my usual review sites to see if the novel was any good.  The tone of the reviews in general was somewhat strange: the book was highly recommended, but in serious, intense terms.  Not the "oh, I loved it!" kind of response at all. 

So, I borrowed the book and took it home.  I read, like many of us, right before I go to sleep at night.  Working life has many dictates, and this is one of them.  This circumstance was unfortunate, which I sensed long before I could finally put the book down that first night.  This book is scary.  I feared falling asleep.  I feared shadows in the corners. 

Let Me In, in the best tradition of horror, includes very effective literary techniques (foreshadowing, pacing of the plot, allusion, etc.) for heightening the reader's susceptibility to the shock of the experiences Oskar, a 12-year old boy living in suburban Stockholm, endures.  Oskar is a bit of a dork.  He's socially inept, is overweight, and a favorite target of his school's bullies.  When one of the bullies ends up dead, Oskar is equally horrified and relieved.  A new neighbor has moved into Oskar's building about this time; a girl and a man who could be her father.  Eli doesn't go to school, though, and Oskar only sees her at night.  Oh, yeah, she's definitely a vampire.  Lindqvist develops Eli, Oskar and the other characters not as types, but to the point that you know them like you know real people.  And the things they do are unspeakably grotesque, but for reasons we all understand: love, fear, hunger and the need to belong.  These are vampires of the Anne Rice variety, once human and now monsters of appetites.  Eli befriends Oskar, cares for him as no one else does, and for that he keeps her secret and accepts her terms for their relationship without dispute.  And ghastly terms they are.

When You Know the Assignment is Coming

• Find a basic research system to use, such as Big 6. Check what your school uses, or pick one that works for you. You can find some examples on the library's research help page.
• Find a way to manage your notes and drafts.
• Find out what bibliography format you are expected to use.
• Find a way to schedule your work that works for you.

When You Get the Assignment

• Read the whole assignment and make sure you understand what is required. Ask questions of your instructor now.
• Map out the assignment: list all major jobs and sub-jobs to make sure all of them get done.
• Don't procrastinate: have free time at the end, not the beginning.
• If you get to pick a topic, do some early research. Find out what topics have a lot of information and what have only a little. It can be through browsing a library catalog or using basic reference sources like encyclopedias. Pick a topic that is easier on you, research-wise, by picking one with a lot of available information. If you start early and hit a dead end, you will have more time to change your topic if you need to.
• Make the best of your assignment: pick topics of interest to you, get the most out of the topic for yourself, take an opportunity to learn something new and interesting. Not all research has to be boring.

Preparing to Search

• Find topic keywords. Is there specialized vocabulary for your topic? Read dictionary entries and encyclopedia articles or introductory books to find the best search words. Write down the major ideas, major names, and synonyms to use in your searches later. What is the broader topic name? What are narrower topic names?
• Get help in selecting sources: the librarian is there to help, and can tell you about sources you don't know about yet.
• Keep good notes and cite everything! Use a note taking method that will attach the source citation and page number to each thing you write down. Make sure you can tell the difference between a direct copy from a source and your own paraphrasing in your notes.
• General sources will have more basic information and will be filed under the broader topic name. You will find some information on your topic in these works. You don't have to read the whole thing. Pick and choose the sections you read by using the table of contents and the index, searching with your search words.
• Specialized sources may have information about smaller parts of your whole topic, you will need to combine information from several of these to get the whole picture. Again, read only what you really need, using the table of contents and the index.
• Plan ahead for library visits by using the catalog from home and placing books on hold. Allow time for your holds to arrive.
• Group types of research by where you need to go: school library, public library, or online to minimize trips BUT refining your search may make a second trip necessary!
• When you need to interview someone, keep their schedule in mind, don't assume they can get right back to you. Ask early.

Searching

• Evaluate the information you find: Is it up to date enough? Is the author an expert? Does the author have an agenda that might influence the information they give? Can you find confirmation of their facts? Bad information leads to a bad research paper.
• Works cited in your sources can lead you to other good sources. Use the work other people have already done.
• Read only what you need to read, use the table of contents and index to help you.
• Read and think as you go: it will help you redirect your searching if you need to and means you don't have to read a huge stack of books and printouts all at once.
• Research raises new questions and clarifies your research. Leave yourself time to refine your project and redirect your questions.
• Don't have your final answer in mind! Research should be able to change your mind.

Writing

• Organize your notes: by idea or by topic, make a map of the flow of your argument with support for each piece. This will help you find where your argument needs more support and enable you to look for sources to fill in the gaps.
• Cite all ideas from other sources. Cite all direct quotations. Anything without a citation is assumed to be a generally-known fact or your own original work. If it isn't, that's considered plagiarism.
• Allow plenty of time to write and rewrite, make sure the points you want to make really come across, and make sure all of them are supported by your research.
• Make sure your final product answers the question you were asked in the original assignment: no matter how well you did in research and writing, it won't matter if it doesn't meet the assignment requirements.

Which of these is not a book on metaphorical demons in the King County Library System?

A. Chased by Demons: Grief and Long Distance Running
B. Feeding Your Demons: Ancient Wisdom for Resolving Inner Conflict
C. Demons in Eden: the Paradox of Plant Diversity
D. Seattle and the Demons of Ambition: a Love Story

Daniel "Sprout" Bradford has a secret, but it isn't what you think.  Sprout's secret has nothing to do with his green hair, his romantic relationship, his mother's death, or his father's drinking.  After his mother died four years ago, Sprout's father packed him in the car and drove from Long Island to the middle of nowhere - in this case, Buhler, Kansas - where he and Sprout live in a trailer covered in vines and surrounded by a collection of upside-down tree stumps. 

Tapped by his hard-drinking but no-nonsense English teacher to compete in the statewide Kansas essay contest, Sprout spends the summer before his junior year under her tutelage.  Mrs. Miller urges Sprout to divulge his secrets, both public and private. 

Sprout is an intelligent and wisecracking narrator, and the novel is full of wordplay.  But until Sprout begins talking about his first relationships, we really don't know much about him.  From his purely physical relationship with jock Ian to his feelings for the new kid Ty, Sprout's romantic entanglements force him explore his own motivations and desires.  But will this self-examination come too late?  Sprout: Or My Salad Days, When I was Green in Judgment is a poignant, entertaining look at growing up gay in small-town America.

There are a few events in US history that are so complex, tragic or emotional that they are still compelling to readers, even decades afterwords.

The Civil War is a good example--new books on Abraham Lincoln and the war seem to come out every month and still make the Best Sellers list.  The sinking of the Titanic is another event that still fascinates readers. One event about which I've read voraciously is the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in 1911.

One hundred forty six workers died in a fire that was under control in less than an hour. Situated on the 8th, 9th and 10th floors of a new "skyscraper" in New York City, the Triangle Factory made ladies' shirtwaists which were all the rage at the time. Like the Titanic tragedy, there are many "if onlys" in the Triangle story that would have meant many lives being spared: proper fire escapes, doors that were not locked by factory bosses, fire hoses that actually worked, enforcement of the non-smoking rule.

In Margaret Peterson Haddix's book Uprising, she brings to life not only the facts of the story, but three young girls who lived them. Yetta from Russia and Bella from Italy both came to the US looking for a better life and hoping to save enough money to bring their families from their homelands.

Caught up in the workers' strike that predated the fire, Yetta and Bella befriend Jane, a lonely society girl who becomes involved in their crusade. Their friendship is a big part of the story, as is the plight of many other girls newly arrived in the States and held at the mercy of greedy factory owners.

Haddix, who is the author of the popular Shadow Children  series for kids and teens, has a talent for mixing history and fiction and the ability to write about tragedies like the Triangle fire without making them maudlin. Even though we know how these sad stories end, in the hands of a skilled author, they are worth the read.

The Hansa family's wagon moved across the Dakota prairie like a small boat on the sea. Per Hansa looked across an ocean of rolling grass and his spirit filled with possibilities; here he could build something great for himself, for his family, and for generations to come. His wife Beret looked over the endless plain and choked back tears of sadness; they couldn't possibly be stopping here. She knew something bad would happen if they did. Days later Per and his sons sank their plowshare into the black Dakota soil.

O.E. Rölvaag's novel Giants in the Earth is a sobering look at life on the American frontier. He takes us out to the Hansas' fields during the 18 hour work days of summer and into their sod hut in the depths of the Dakota winter. The isolation of living out on the wide plains, days away from the nearest town, years away from their homeland, weighed heavily on Beret. Empathizing with the Hansas' unrelenting struggle for survival is a frightening departure from more romanticized depictions of pioneer life.

Rölvaag wrote Giants in the Earth so that the people of Norway would know what their relatives undertook settling in the American Midwest. He also left Americans a moving testimony to the hard work, innovation and endurance required for nineteenth century life on the plains of the Dakota Territory.

Maybe it's kind of gruesome, but I always like a good archaeology book with lots of pictures of skeletons and bodies. It's fascinating what the combination of archaeology, forensics and cultural anthropology can tell us about people and cultures that lived hundreds or even thousands of years ago. And, as science and technology continue to advance, we get to learn even more about the people who came before us. Two books I always pull from the shelves for those who share my love of preserved people are Bodies From the Ash: Life and Death in Ancient Pompeii and Written in Bone: Buried Lives of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland.

Bodies from the Ash is always a hit with kids and adults alike. After a brief introduction about the eruption of Vesuvius, the author really starts digging into the good stuff like how, exactly, archaeologists made all those incredible plaster casts of the volcano's victims in Pompeii. Details from jewelry and clothing provide all sorts of clues into the identity of some of the people who were excavated and, because the disaster happened so quickly, we have learned quite a bit about the daily life of people living in Pompeii.

Written in Bone is an incredibly fascinating read that will appeal to both fans of archaeology and early American history. Through careful and extensive excavation of cemeteries, homes and other sites throughout the James Fort area in Jamestown, Virginia, readers get a very intimate glimpse into the lives of some of the people who lived in the Chesapeake Bay area in the 1600s and 1700s. Clues such as copper pins and coffin materials provide insight into whose remains have been found buried in grave sites. When excavations are compared to various journals and logs from the era, it is possible to pinpoint exactly who many of these people were. Not all of the excavations were so benign, however. One skeleton was found under a hearth, and scientists were able to determine from the arrangement of the bones that he was hastily buried, and they even found evidence of the digging tools!

When I was in fourth grade I saw the book Hawaii by James A. Michener; it was the biggest book I had ever seen. I started to read it (I was a precocious child), but I couldn't get past the italics, you know the whole section that was the geological history of the islands. It was many years later before I picked up that book again. Then I discovered The Source! It is my favorite Michener book and it is even bigger than Hawaii. (The book not the state).

The Source is the story of an archeological dig in Israel. It starts in May 1964, describing who will be working at Tell Makor and why they are there. The archeologists are from all over the world and arrive with various specialties that will help decide and define who lived at Tell Makor and what those lives were like. It starts with a bullet casing from a British rifle circa 1950. The last artifacts discovered are five sharpened flints from 9811 B.C.E.

What makes this book so special to me is Michener tells the story of each person that uses the artifacts discovered. He makes the science of archeology up close and personal, it is about the people and their stories. I got the feeling that people really haven't changed over the centuries, we all want the same things and it seems we enjoy fighting to get them, okay maybe not enjoy, but it is much harder not to fight and hate than it is to be peaceful, kind and honest.

If you like a good big story with lots of Holy Land history you will certainly enjoy The Source.

Book lovers believe that reading a book can change a life.  So what happens if the life that is changed is one that touches many others?  That is the question at the heart of Alan Bennett's charming novella, The Uncommon Reader.  The reader in question is Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.  Following her dogs around the palace grounds one day, she comes across the local library bookmobile.  Her natural curiosity prompts her to go inside, and, once there, she feels it's only polite to check out a book.  As she decides what book to select, she meets the only other patron of the traveling library, a young man named Norman who works in the kitchens.  From that point on, books and Norman have a growing influence on the Queen.

Many of us will find Her Majesty's behavior familiar.  She pleads a cold so that she can finish her book.  She begins to question others about their reading habits.  Her walks with the corgis become shorter.  After a lifetime of duty, she begins to read for the simple enjoyment of it.  The reaction of her family, staff, and subjects is less than enthusiastic. 

This portrayal of Queen Elizabeth is light and fun, and the peek into her life, whether accurate or not, is fascinating to consider.  At 120 pages, the novella is easy to slip into a pocket. The audio version is narrated by the author, who portrays the characters with great skill and humor.  In either version, you'll enjoy the impact of books on The Uncommon Reader.

Which of these survival guides is made up?

A. Our Frontman Can't Go Bald!: A Survival Guide for The Aging Hip
B. "I Can't Believe I'm Sitting Next to a Republican": A Survival Guide for Conservatives Marooned Among the Angry, Smug, and Terminally Self-Righteous
C. How to Raise your Parents: A Teen Girl's Survival Guide
D. Yokai Attack!: The Japanese Monster Survival Guide
(answer after the break)

I just need an article, quickly!
From the library's home page, click on Databases. Under Subject List click on Magazine and Newspaper Articles. Choose ProQuest. If you're outside the library, you'll need to enter your library card number. The first thing you'll see is a search box. You'll get a list of results back. Click on the link for each to see the whole article. You can print, email, or save your article. Stuck? Read the other tips or ask a librarian. There are many other magazine and newspaper databases that the library subscribes to, they are all searchable in a similar way.

What magazines are available in online databases with the full text of the articles available?
From the library's home page, click on Databases. At the bottom of the screen, there is a search box. Search for the title of the magazine you want. You can browse by clicking on Full-Text Magazines & Journals In KCLS Databases.

What magazines and newspapers does KCLS have in paper format?
Search for the title of the magazine or newspaper you want in the catalog, making sure that what you find has a call number starting with PER. The full record will tell you what libraries have it and how many years of back issues they keep.

How can I find a magazine or newspaper on a certain topic, for a certain age group, or in a certain language?
Our Browse Magazines page has links to magazines and newspapers the library has on many topics, for children, teens, and in different languages. The Press Display database has newspapers in many languages.

Can I check out magazines and newspapers?
You can't check out newspapers or the newest issue of a magazine (though you can make copies), but you can check out magazine back issues for 1 week, and place them on hold.

How can I get better results when I search for an article?
Try limiting your search by the date range you want, limiting to peer-reviewed articles, sorting your search results, or trying suggested search terms. Try the advanced search options. You can also ask for help from a librarian. Make sure your results are from a source you trust. Be aware that some publications may be biased one way or another. You may want more than one point of view on controversial topics.

Where can I find articles from the Seattle Times?
The Press Display database offers full text of the Sunday paper for the past 60 days. Seattle Times articles are no longer offered through ProQuest, so the library does not currently have any weekday digital back issues of the paper. The physical copies are held for up to 3 months and microfilmed back issues are available at many larger libraries. Some current articles are available for no charge on the newspaper's web site.

What about magazine articles on the web?
Many newspapers and magazines offer current articles for free on their web pages, and some offer articles from older issues as well. Others may charge to look at or print articles. There are some excellent free online collections of historic newspapers. Ask a librarian for more information.

How do I cite a magazine article for my bibliography?
Most of the databases will automatically format a citation for you on the article itself. If not, MLA is the most common format:
Author of article. "Title of article." Title of magazine/newspaper. Date of publication: Page number(s) of article.
More information and citation styles are available on the library's bibliography help page.

Can I get articles from other libraries?
Fill in the Interlibrary Loan: Journal/Magazine & Newspaper Request form It may take several weeks to get the article to you.

I can't find what I need!
Ask a librarian for help, in person, on the phone or online. Staff are familiar with what resources are available and how to get your answer quickly.

Essentials of Asian Cooking edited by Chuck Williams, recipes by Farina Wong Kingsley

I'm not generally one who enjoys cooking from glossy cookbooks such as this title from Williams Sonoma but in this case I was pleasantly surprised by the depth and breadth of information and recipes.  When I first picked up the book I thought the focus was Chinese cooking, but I quickly found that the cuisine of no less than fifteen countries was represented including India, Burma, Japan and Vietnam.  Recipes for common meals such as noodles, breads and dumplings lead the home cook through simple everyday cooking up to more complicated dishes such as 5 Spice Duck.  Also included are suggestions of items for the pantry, techniques and menus.  I have made the Hot and Sour Soup two times now and just thinking of it now makes my mouth water!  You could display this title as a glossy coffee table book but pick it up and take it into your kitchen; your family and friends will thank you for it (and ask for second helpings!)

Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart

Linda Martin longs to return to France, where she lived until her parents died. She's spent the last few years in an English orphanage, first as one of the orphans and then as a teacher. When she is introduced to Heloise de Valmy, who is looking for a governess for her nine-year-old nephew, the Comte de Valmy, she leaps at the job. She's so eager, in fact, that she lies a bit about her skills. Madame de Valmy seems to want an English governess who speaks little French. Linda speaks fluent French, but she hides her ability, thinking it a small sin. Little lies can sometimes lead to big adventures.

The Valmy estate is a brooding place, ruled over by the crippled, autocratic Leon de Valmy. Her charge, little Philippe, is a serious, skittish child. As she bonds with Philippe, she begins to wonder why he is the victim of so many strange accidents. Snippets of overheard conversations make her curious about Leon de Valmy too. He is Philippe's guardian and the caretaker of the estate, but he seems obsessed with the land and dismissive of the boy. Even the other servants are secretive and strange. When Raoul de Valmy, Leon's rakish son, arrives for a visit, Linda is drawn even further into the family and their mysteries. Then things take a deadly turn and Linda must  decide where her loyalties truly lie, despite what her heart might want.

Romantic suspense doesn't get any better than Mary Stewart. She's not as steamy as her modern successors, but, with just implied steam, she keeps the tension taunt. Linda is a self-acknowledged Jane Eyre, caught up in a Gothic mystery with a sinister, brooding hero. Philippe is suitably charming, as is Raoul (in completely different ways of course!). Other memorable characters include a Parisian fashion designer and and the ubiquitous English housekeeper. Descriptions are lush, as expected in a Mary Stewart novel. Readers looking for a classic romance or a classic suspense tale will enjoy Nine Coaches Waiting. Reading along with Jane Eyre can be fun too!

Kitty and the Midnight Hour, by Carrie Vaughn

Most of us have at one time or another listened to what we thought was a slightly strange radio call-in show, usually late at night, usually with a supposed expert on their subject, and usually full of weird and possibly wacky callers.  Kitty's Midnight Hour is one of those shows.  But although Kitty isn't an expert, she really is a werewolf, and while many of her callers are wacky, quite a few are the real deal; were-creatures of some kind or another, vampires, or various other flavor of supernatural, all looking for others of their kind, a friendly ear, or advice.

Kitty knows firsthand that there are no paranormal handbooks given to those newly changed; people suffering from fear and violent trauma, often left for dead.  While Kitty tries to help and educate her callers and brings light into some strange arenas, many supernatural beings want to stay in the dark and bring an end to the show, by any means necessary.  Now Kitty must avoid the man hired to kill her while helping the police solve a puzzling murder case, plus show the community of the dark that her show poses no threat and actually helps their secret world.

Kitty Norville is a strong, smart-alecky, and engaging young woman with a love for her work and a passion for helping all the other confused supernatural beings who populate Denver.  This is the first in an action packed urban fantasy series full of quirky and often dangerous characters.  Many have their own agendas, but some are true and loyal friends.

School has been in session for almost a month, and for many students that means homework is starting to pile up. Why not set aside some time to visit your local library and get your homework done? Many KCLS libraries offer Study Zone, and it is a great place for students to do homework and get help with their questions. Volunteer tutors provide free homework help during Study Zone hours. Students can find help in all subject areas, including Math, Science and WASL and SAT test preparation. Each tutor works with 1-5 students in a group setting. Study Zone is open to all students in grades K-12. 

Students are not required to register or provide personal information to participate in Study Zone, just drop in any time during Study Zone hours.  See the schedule for Study Zone hours at a KCLS library near you.

If there isn't a Study Zone location near you, don't despair! Visit any KCLS library for help from live volunteer tutors online through Study Zone Online. Please note that this service is only available from library computers.

If you can't make it to Study Zone, but still need help with your homework you can always try Live Homework Help, which is a service that connects you with a live tutor from any computer that is connected to the internet. The Live Homework Help is available 7 days a week from 2pm-Midnight. All you need is your library card number to log on and connect to a live tutor!

There's an Irish Wolfhound named Dante in Sight Hound who has cancer, but this is not a book about a dog who has cancer. I'm very sensitive to the treatment of animals, and I really hate it when an animal is used as a device to play with my emotions, but this book doesn't do that. When you hear the description, you may think it sounds like a sappy animal story, but I assure you, that's not what it is, either. In fact, it can be quite gritty. What this book is about is a woman named Rae and her journey toward love and self acceptance.

As you read this book, you get to hear from all the characters, including the animals (Rae has another dog and a cat). But again, this is not done in a cutesy way. Dante quotes Buddha and Lao-tzu, and is truly wise. His mission (this time around) is to teach Rae that it is alright to hope, and to find her a human who will love her after he is gone. Rae and Dante have a deep effect on everyone around them, and each has a chance to speak. All of this takes place for the most part on Rae's Colorado ranch, a beautiful setting that changes with the tide of the story and the emotions of the characters.

If you have ever found it difficult to love yourself, or easy to love a dog, try Sight Hound by Pam Houston.

Lost in Place: Growing Up Absurd in Suburbia, by Mark Salzman.

Picture a 13-year-old boy, small for his age and not athletic, in the 1970's.  Are you uncomfortable yet? Meet Mark Salzman, the author of this satisfying memoir, on the cusp of adolescence.  One day Mark goes to a kung fu movie and finds his true vocation.  He decides to pursue the life of a Zen monk, with all the passion that "is possible only when you don't yet have to make a living, when you are too young to drive, and when you don't have a girlfriend."  What does that look like, exactly?  Well, his parents won't let him shave his head or quit junior high to wander the world, but he does the best he can.  He transforms the basement into his vision of a Buddhist temple, with lots of incense and knick-knacks from the Oriental gift shop in his small town.  He borrows his father's bathrobe and orders a bald-head wig from an ad in the back of a comic book.  His sister says he looks like an eggplant, but nothing distracts Mark from pursuing his dream.

Mark's dedication to kung-fu carries him through high school and dumps him out of the other side. This is the 1970's, years before there was a variety of martial arts studios in every town.  The only martial arts class he can find is taught by a man who is more drill sergeant than sifu, fueled more by alcohol and rage than by spirituality and equanimity.  Mark gives it his all anyway, and faces a chasm of loss and regret when his dream implodes.

By turns hilarious and poignant, this is an honest, big-hearted memoir.  

Which of these books on the undead is untrue?

A. The Zombie Handbook: How to Identify the Living Dead and Survive the Coming Zombie Apocalypse
B. Zombie Haiku
C. Zombie CSU: the Forensics of the Living Dead
D. Lonely Planet Zombie: Tales of the Undead from Every Culture
(answer after the break)

When I was a kid in Phoenix circa 1972, I used to love Saturdays because I would always watch "John Wayne Theater" at 2:00 P.M. I've seen dozens of his movies over the years, spanning "'Neath Arizona Skies" from 1934 to "The Shootist" in 1976. I used to love the simplicity of those westerns; you always knew who the good guys were and who the bad guys were and you could always count on some good fights and lots of action. One of his movies that I managed to miss was "Hondo", a western from 1953 starring John Wayne and Geraldine Page. I've since placed a hold on that one but in the meantime I've done something even better: I just finished the book upon which it's based, Hondo by Louis L'Amour.

Hondo Lane is an army dispatch rider during an Apache uprising in southeastern Arizona. Riding alone except for his trusty canine companion, he comes across an isolated ranch owned by a beautiful woman, Angie Lowe, and her young son, Johnny, both of whom were long ago abandoned by her husband, who's presumed to be dead. Hondo and the woman share a kiss but he leaves without her in order to deliver his dispatch to the army commander. This mission accomplished, he decides to return to the ranch to protect Angie and Johnny from harm. But things start to go awry: a cavalry column from the fort is massacred; Hondo himself is captured and tortured by the Apache; Angie is pressured by the stern but noble chief Vittoro to take an Indian brave as her husband in return for her safety; and, worst of all, Angie's no-good husband Ed Lowe turns up alive and well and full of ill-intent for Hondo Lane.

All the archetypal pieces are present in this quintessential western tale: a tough but honest hero; a beautiful but chaste heroine; a cowardly and despicable villain; brutal but honorable Indians; brave but naive cavalry officers; lots of fights and battles; lots of austerely beautiful landscape; even a wild but loyal dog. Yet as formulaic as all of that sounds, I found Hondo to be a throughly enjoyable read, due chiefly to the well-constructed story, well-delineated characters, and L'Amour's fluid writing style. Of course, little in the book strikes me as terribly realistic. From what I've read, life on the frontier was a whole lot more complicated than a battle between hero and villain, cavalry and Indians, right and wrong...though, to his credit, the author added touches of depth to a number of characters in this book. Still, it's a fairly idealized account that perpetuates the myth, rather than the truth, of the Old West. 

Yet myths have a habit of being comforting and Hondo is definitely a feel-good read, just as most of the old John Wayne westerns were feel-good movies. So if you're looking for an action-packed excursion into the heart of American Mythology written by a master of the idiom, then you better listen and I mean listen good, pilgrim: check out Louis L'Amour's Hondo!

What are databases?
Web-based sources of information that you have to pay to use. King County Library System has pre-paid for people with library cards to use many useful databases. Databases are library information available 24/7, and it's free if you have a library card!

What can I find in databases?
Magazine and newspaper articles, entire books, encyclopedias, dictionaries, pictures, music, videos, and hundreds of specialized sources of information.

How do I find a database?
Go to the library home page, click on Databases, then select a subject or browse the list of databases. You will need to type in your library card number if you are using the web page outside the library buildings.

How do I know which database I should use?
Pick one from a list on the subject you are interested in or contact a librarian for help. You can get instant help online, just use our "Ask a Librarian" service.

How do I list a database in my bibliography?
Most databases will have a citation pre-formatted for you on the information page. If not, look at our bibliography help page for more information or ask your instructor.

How do I search in a database?
Most basic searches will act like a Google search, but you have advanced options, too: you can search for a certain subject, limit by date of publication, limit by author, and more.

What magazines are available in online databases with the full text of the articles available?
At the bottom of the Databases screen, there is a search box. Search for the title of the magazine you want. You can browse by clicking on Full-Text Magazines & Journals In KCLS Databases.

How can I get better results when I search a database?
Try limiting your search by the date range you want, limiting to peer-reviewed articles, sorting your search results, or trying suggested search terms. Try the advanced search options. You can also ask for help from a librarian. Make sure your results are from a source you trust. Be aware that some publications may be biased one way or another. You may want more than one point of view on controversial topics.

I can't find what I need!
Ask a librarian for help, in person, on the phone or online. Staff are familiar with what resources are available and how to get your answer quickly.