Chick Lit, Volume 2

“I was still me, Betsy, disgusted with my current footwear and ready to give my eyeteeth (or my new fangs) for Colin Farrell’s autograph.

Colin Farrell…now there was someone who’d make a delightful snack.” (From "Undead and Unwed" by Mary Janice Davidson.)

It’s been a long time since we last talked about chick lit here on the blog. This time, as promised, we’ll be discussing Urban Fantasy Chick Lit, which usually are paperbacks when first published, geared towards women, and involve fantasy of some kind: herein there are witches, werewolves, vampires, and all matter of otherworld, preternatural creatures! (Urban Fantasy isn’t always scary, either; usually it’s fun, and sometimes, even romantic.)

Mary Janice Davidson: According to her website, Davidson is credited with creating the ‘Paranormal Chick Lit’ genre. Author of the Queen Betsy series (Undead and…), she’s humorous (where else would you find a girl, newly a vampire, upset by her bad choice of ugly footwear?) and romantic as Queen Betsy tries to navigate her new life and powers.
http://www.maryjanicedavidson.net/

Kim Harrison: Naming all of her “The Hollows/Rachel Morgan” books after Clint Eastwood movies, Harrison is by turns amusing and engrossing. Starting with “Dead Witch Walking,” and going to the most recent, “The Outlaw Demon Wails,” Harrison has created a world like our own, but also completely different. She also offers to answer questions and sign books for her readers online.
http://www.kimharrison.net/

Kelley Armstrong: Most well-known for her “Women of the Otherworld” series (the ninth book, Personal Demon just released in July), Canadian author Armstrong also has two others, “Darkest Powers,” a Young Adult trilogy about a girl who sees ghosts, and the Nadia Stafford books, which is a different turn for the author: there are no supernatural elements.

The Otherworld books are designed so that a reader can pick them up in any order; there are also online short stories, in case you want to get a feel for the series before borrowing or buying the whole series.
http://www.kelleyarmstrong.com/

Charlaine Harris: Charlaine Harris has been writing mysteries since she began the Aurora “Ro” Teagarden mysteries in the early 90’s. Since then, she’s become a phenomenon with two mystery series: the Southern Vampire/Sookie Stackhouse novels, soon to be a television show on Showtime, starring Anna Paquin as a psychic barmaid, and the Grave/Harper Connelly mysteries, all murder and mayhem and a woman who can read graves. Both are well worth a read, enticing, exciting, and addictive!
http://www.charlaineharris.com/

Breaking Dawn is hard to do!

Today’s Book: Breaking Dawn, by Stephenie Meyer

The plot: The fourth in Meyer’s astoundingly popular YA series, Breaking Dawn brings to a close the stories of Bella Swan, Edward Cullen, and Jacob Black, three characters in a truly supernatural love triangle.

Beginning with a wedding (fans know which one!) and ending with an encounter with the all-too-frightening Volturi, Breaking Dawn is a massive 756 pages – easy to get through for veterans of the forerunner of YA phenomenons, Harry Potter.

I won’t spoil those still on the 200-plus waiting list, but lots of surprising things happen – things even devoted Meyer fans won’t expect! – and the ending is good and satisfying.

Why You’ll Love It: The Twilight books have become a worldwide marvel with sales that almost rival J.K. Rowling’s successful series. If you’ve just gotten into the series, or if you were a fan from day one, read this to find out how it all ends. Also great for fans of supernatural romance and urban fantasy.

Who Will/Should Read It: Teens who have been caught up in the “You’ve gotta read this!” craze, affectionately calling themselves “Twilighters,” adults who like a good freeform modern fantasy, and any parent who wants to know what the big deal is.

Outside of a Dog, #18

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx.

We all like to give advice whether we are asked for it or not. Here are several books that do an excellent job of offering advice and even a little inspiration on how to lead a more worthwhile and happy life.

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
At the age of 47 Mr. Pausch died of pancreatic cancer this past month but not before leaving us the lecture of a lifetime along with book of insightful observations and advice on how to make our lives more meaningful. The book came from a video on YouTube by the same title. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo

Bio Pausch WCV WDB

Before I Go: Letters to Our Children about What Really Matter by Peter Kreeft
A series of one page essays on a wide variety of topics that give readers a thoughtful look at the value of gratitude, simplicity, kindness, sacrifice, joy, and death.

170.44 Kreeft SHL

A Short Guide to a Happy Life by Anna Quindlen
The Newsweek columnist and novelist offers up her take on what is important in life.

170.44 Quindlen WCV WMB WAM

The Art of Aging: A Doctor’s Prescription for Aging by Sherwin Nuland
Practical observations and suggestions on the aging process.

305.26 Nuland WCV

*Please note: if the library is noted in BLUE, the item is owned by a Warren Library. If it is noted in PINK, it is owned by another library in the cooperative.

You Know You Should Read This Book!

Today's Book: No One You Know by Michelle Richmond

The Plot: Ellen has never resolved or recovered from the brutal murder of her older sister, a brilliant and exceptional mathematics scholar. After the murder Ellen confides in a professor who subsequently betrays her trust and sends Ellen into a spiral of guilt and regret. Twenty years later Ellen comes face to face with the man she assumes murdered her sister.

Why You’ll Love it: Richmond blends the traditional women’s fiction genre with a murder mystery that offers readers a thoughtful and slowly developing plot that never assumes or offers trite conclusions to the unsolved murder of Ellen’s sister.

Who Will/Should Read it: Anyone who has enjoyed books by Jodi Picoult, Chris Bohjalian, or Anna Quindlen will find this novel equally reminiscent in style and tone. Characters are complicated, motivations murky, and the plot moves to an unexpected but satisfying conclusion.

Fic Richmond WDB

NFic Fic SCS

New Fic Richmond CHE

FREE! Adult Computer Classes

There will be 9 sessions of computer classes at the two of the four Warren Public Libraries (Civic Center and Maybelle Burnette). Each session consists of 4 meetings, 2 hours long each. The meetings will be Mondays and Wednesdays, from 9.30 am until 11.30 am. Patrons need to attend all four meetings of a session, but not more than one session.
Each session will cover these four topics:
1) Basic Computer Skills
2) Internet
3) E-mail
4) Health information, Job searching, Library Catalog

Dates:
2008
September 8, 10, 15, 17 - Civic Center Library, Computer Lab
October 6, 8, 13, 15 - Civic Center Library, Computer Lab
November 3, 5, 10,12 - Maybelle Burnette Branch
December 1, 3, 8, 10 - Civic Center Library, Computer Lab

2009
January 5, 7, 12, 14 - Civic Center Library, Computer Lab
Feburary 2, 4, 9, 11 - Maybelle Burnette Branch
March 2, 4, 9, 11 - Civic Center Library, Computer Lab
April 6, 8, 13, 15 - Civic Center Library, Computer Lab
May 4, 6, 11, 13 - Maybelle Burnette Branch

Events and Classes at the Warren Public Library

All Fall Adult Programs are free, but require registration. Patrons can call 586-574-4564 to register during regular library hours.

All programs begin at 7 pm, unless otherwise noted.

September 15 - Composting

September 24 - Preparing for HDTV/ Converter Boxes

October - March - Monthly Health Lecture Series
October 29 - Getting a Good Night's Sleep? (Further Topics to Be Announced)

Don't Forget!

Today is Election Day in Macomb County - stop in to your local precinct to vote on the Detroit Zoo's funding initiative, and to elect your local officials!


Also: if your television is still running on rabbit ears, and you don't have a cable box or converter box, be sure to sign up for a coupon to get one! Local news reported that the local libraries have the coupons; unfortunately, we do not. You must contact the agencies below to get a coupon sent to your home:
Phone: 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009)
Online Form: www.dtv2009.gov
Mail: P.O. Box 2000, Portland, Oregon 97208
Fax: 1-877-DTV-4ME2 (1-877-388-4632)
Deaf or Hard of Hearing Callers: 1-877-530-2634 (TTY)

This Book is Wicked!

Here at the Warren Public Library, we're starting a new series of book reviews. We hope you enjoy them!

Today's Book: Wicked Lovely, by Melissa Marr

The plot: Aislinn (pronounced ASH-linn) is your average teenage girl... who sees faeries. It was a gift passed down from her mother, who died young, and her grandmother, who now takes care of her. The problem Aislinn has is this: if the faeries know you can see them, you're in trouble.

Keenan is the Summer King of Faerie, a title that means he's responsible for all of the faeries allied with the Summer Court. The problem is, until he finds a Summer Queen who can withstand the cold of Keenan's caretaker, the Winter Queen, he can't possibly protect them all.

Donia used to be a Summer Girl, courted by Keenan hundreds of years ago. She tried to be the Summer Queen, but found herself frozen inside the Winter Court instead, cursed to stay cold until the true Summer Queen is found.

Keenan needs a Queen to conquer the cold that is taking over his Court. Donia wants to be free of the ice in her heart. Aislinn doesn't want anything but to be left alone. What happens when all three of their lives intersect?

Why You’ll Love It: This is a great Urban Fantasy book, along the same lines as Holly Black's Tithe, Valiant, and Ironside books, and recommended by the likes of Tamora Pierce (the Tortall series) and Charles de Lint (the Newford books). It's a quick read, at under 400 pages, and you'll be drawn in by both the lush details of the Summer Court and the creepy features of the Winter Court. (There's also a sequel - Ink Exchange - in case you get hooked on Marr's prose.)

Who Will/Should Read It: Wicked Lovely is regarded as a YA book, but adults can (and will!) read it, too. Try this is you need something to read while waiting for Breaking Dawn (due out August 2nd.)

BCD YA Marr, MPL

Teen F Marr, TPL

Outside of a Dog, #17

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx.

John Grisham isn’t the only one writing about legal mayhem. Here are some suggestions of other titles dealing with the legal world.

Prejudicial Error by Bill Blum

Disgraced lawyer John Solomon tries to revive his career with his spirited defense of an accused cop-killer. The case pits him against a strong right-wing prosecutor with powerful political allies.
Fic Blum
RSV SBL CLL

Shadows of Doubt by Herb Brown

An attorney befriends her newly located half-sister and then is forced to defend her when she is indicted for murder.
Fic Brown
SBL ROG SHL

The Defense by D.W. Buffa

Defense attorney Joseph Antonelli has never lost a case. When his friend and mentor Judge Rifkin asks him to defend a con man and convicted drug dealer accused of raping his stepdaughter, Antonelli has serious doubts about the meaning of justice.
Fic Buffa
WAM UPL

Shadow of a Doubt by William Coughlin

Not to be confused with Herb Brown’s title mentioned above, here recovering alcoholic Charlie Sloan ekes out a minimal existence in a small Michigan city. When his former lover retains him to defend her stepdaughter, Charley is swept back into the legal world he abandoned.
Fic Coughlin
WDB WMB

Also check in to these read-alikes, suggested by NoveList: Scott Turow, Lisa Scottoline, Brad Meltzer, Richard North Patterson.

Outside of a Dog, #16

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx.

Who doesn’t like a scary story? Stephen King recently wrote about what makes horror scary in Entertainment Weekly, and here are a few suggestions to send shivers down your spine:


Uncanny by Andrew Klavan

Skeptical and terminally ill, horror film producer Richard Storm travel to England in an attempt to see “something Uncanny” before he dies. He hook up with the editor and staff of a tabloid devoted to strange events.
Fic Klavan WCV WAM WDB

Boy’s Life by Robert R. McCammon
This tender look at growing up in a small town in 1964 grows dark when Cory, the young hero, and his father see a car containing a mutilated body sink into the lake. The mystery remains unsolved during a year filled with other dark and wondrous events.
Fic McCammon TPL UPL

Dragon Tears by Dean Koontz
After shooting a man who has opened fire in a restaurant, police detective Harry Lyon becomes the target of a serial killer who actually has god-like powers.
Fic Koontz WCV WDB WMB

The Homing by John Saul
Julie, a young widow and mother of two, moves back to her hometown to marry her high school sweetheart. Things start to go wrong on her wedding day when her younger daughter is stung by a bee and nearly dies. Soon the entire town is in danger from the genetic experiments that entomologist Carl Henderson had been doing on bees.
FIC Saul WCV WAM

Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris
Who can forget the iconic serial killer Hannibal Lecter, portrayed here long before Anthony Hopkins hissed about fava beans. Trust us, imagining it is scarier than seeing it!
Fic Harris WCV TPL SHL RSV

Outside of a Dog, #15

Our final column on collections of essays and stories ends with collections of nonfiction by several authors:

Body Outlaws: Young Women Write About Body Image and Identity, edited by Ophira Edut

Name-checked by Carolyn Mackler in "The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things," this edition was previously titled "Adios, Barbie." The women who wrote for this edition write about being fat, being skinny, being tattooed, and all other kinds of body issues. It's serious at times, funny at others.




What If...? The World's Foremost Military Historians Imagine What Might Have Been, edited by Robert Cowley

What if... Alexander the Great had died at 21? Or if America had lost the Revolutionary War? Historians of all stripes get together and have fun suggesting what might have been in this book. There's also a second book, "What If...? 2" with more great essays.



Fired!: Tales of the Canned, Canceled, Downsized, & Dismissed by Annabelle Gurwitch, Bill Maher, Felicity Huffman, and Bob Saget

If you've ever lost a job, or ever been in the workforce at all, this humorous look at now-successful stars (and some regular people) and their previous employment missteps should be a laugh for you. Read about how actress Illeana Douglas got fired from a job hanging coats, and how author Annabelle Gurwitch was dismissed by Woody Allen from a play.



Finding Serenity: Anti-Heroes, Lost Shepherds and Space Hookers in Joss Whedon's Firefly by Jane Espenson and Glenn Yeffeth

Joss Whedon, creator of great shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly (and the upcoming Dollhouse), has a legion of fans who made the movie "Serenity" possible after the premature cancellation of his space western television show "Firefly." This book is about the philosophy of that show, written by fans, writers, and producers. There's also a sequel: "Serenity Found: More Unauthorized Essays on Joss Whedon's Firefly Universe", and one for Buffy - "Fear and Trembling in Sunnydale" - too. Look up almost any tv show or movie of the past 25 years and you're likely to find a book exploring the philosophy behind it - even Star Wars and The Simpsons have one!

Outside of a Dog, #14

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx.

Collections – Nonfiction by One Author

The Idiot Girls’ Action Adventure Club (True Tales from a Magnificent and Clumsy Life), Laurie Notaro
B Notaro ROG
Notaro started by writing a weekly column for the local newspaper in Phoenix, Arizona, all about life as a grown-up “idiot girl,” along with her friends also in the area. The collected columns became this hilarious book (which includes ladies’ room etiquette and what not to do when you think you see an old high school teacher while out to dinner), and led to several sequels: Autobiography of a Fat Bride (True Tales of a Pretend Adulthood), I Love Everybody (and Other Atrocious Lies), We Thought You Would Be Prettier (True Tales of the Dorkiest Girl Alive), An Idiot Girl’s Christmas (True Tales from the Top of the Naughty List), and her newest, The Idiot Girl and the Flaming Tantrum of Death (Reflections on Revenge, Germophobia, and Laser Hair Removal). She has also written a novel: There’s a Slight Chance I Might Be Going to Hell.

Everything Bad is Good for You: Why Pop Culture is Actually Making Us Smarter – Steven Berlin Johnson
306.0973 J WCV
Are video games and tabloid magazines actually making us smarter? Steven Berlin Johnson investigates how pop culture helps us, in the face of reports of harm in modern media.

I Feel Bad About My Neck (and Other Thoughts on Being a Woman), Nora Ephron
815.54 E WAM
Famous for writing some of the greatest movies of the current era (favorites such as When Harry Met Sally… and Sleepless in Seattle), Ephron writes here about her New York life – fighting for an apartment, and in the title story, how being old makes your neck look funny. All of these are amusing stories of being over sixty and what to do when you can’t read the words on the pill bottle anymore.

The Merry Recluse: A Life in Essays by Caroline Knapp
B Knapp SHL
Published posthumously this collection of essays is an honest and insightful look at the journalist’s experiences with alcohol addiction, grief, and life’s daily little frustrations.

Letters to a Young Therapist: Stories of hope and healing by Mary Pipher
616.8914 P FRA TPL
By the best selling author of “Reviving Ophelia” here Pipher dispenses valuable suggestions and counsel to an imaginary graduate student.

Outside of a Dog, #13

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx.

A Collection of Collections - Fiction, by One Author

Bagombo Snuff Box: Uncollected Short Fiction, Kurt Vonnegut

Famous for Slaughterhouse-Five and other novels, this book is a collection of short stories Vonnegut submitted to magazines like Cosmopolitan and Playboy in the 1950s. Some of them are gems - like "Runaways" and "Hal Irwin's Magic Lamp" - all of them are worth reading!

Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions, Neil Gaiman (see also: Angels and Visitations, Fragile Things)

It's no surprise that the writer of this blog loves Neil Gaiman. Smoke and Mirrors is not his first collection (that honor falls to Angels and Visitations), but it is a great step into Gaiman's amazing works. Try "Chivalry" first, and make sure to read "Murder Mysteries," which was first recorded in audio and later made into a graphic novel with art by P. Craig Russell.

The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, Sherman Alexie

Usually a must on any college American Literature list, these are short stories about how the traditions of Native Americans on the Coeur D’Alene Indian Reservation in Washington mesh (or don’t) with pictures of modern American life. Some sad, some funny, if you haven’t read it, try “The Approximate Size of My Favorite Tumor” or “Because My Father Always Said He Was the Only Indian Who Saw Jimi Hendrix Play "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Woodstock.”

Mother Aegypt and other Stories, Kage Baker and Mike Dringenberg

Baker, a Nebula award nominee presents the reader with thirteen stories of strange delights and desires in Mother Aegypt. Each is fascinating in its own way, odd, and each takes a twisting turn away from what you’d expect.

The Golden Apples of the Sun, Ray Bradbury

Bradbury, considered by many to be a master of science fiction (he wrote Fahrenheit 451 in 1953), was the author of more than 500 short stories. This is just one collection, which includes tales of murder and silence, of far-off planets and weird weather.

Second Variety, Philip K. Dick (see also: The Minority Report, The Eye of the Sibyl)

Best known for “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” the book that the movie Blade Runner was based off of, Dick was also a writer of many short stories that have experienced a new renaissance with the movie “Minority Report” being released in theaters in 2002. Second Variety is the third collection of stories by this prolific science fiction author, and the stories here are meant to make the reader think and challenge themselves about tough subjects, like the battle between man and technology.

Outside of a Dog, #12

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx.

A Collection Obsession

"The Seven Stages of Falling in Love with an Author" by Gene Ambaum and Bill Barnes, shown here with permission from Overdue Media, LLC, all rights reserved.

What better way to read more of what your favorite author has written, or to discover a new author, than by reading a collection of short stories or essays? Here’s a list of some great collections you might want to check out:

By Several Authors:

Firebirds by Diana Wynne Jones, et al/Firebirds Rising by Sharyn November

These two books are collections of original science fiction and fantasy, featuring works by Emma Bull, Nancy Farmer, Tanith Lee, and Nina Kiriki Hoffman.

The Essential Bordertown, edited by Terri Windling

Written in the mid-eighties, the Bordertown/Borderlands books operated on a shared-world theory: The world of Bordertown, where humans, elves, and all sorts of otherkin share a world where magic and technology don't always see eye to eye. There are several books and short story collections based here (many are out of print now), but this is the best guide and a great place to find amazing authors like Midori Snyder and Will Shetterly.

Many Bloody Returns, Jim Butcher, Laurell K. Hamilton, Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner

13 new vampire stories are presented here, all sharing the theme of everything that can go supernaturally wrong on your birthday.

(See also: My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding & My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon, both edited by P.N. Elrod)

Prom Nights from Hell, Meg Cabot, Stephenie Meyer, Kim Harrison, and Lauren Myracle

Think your Prom night was Hell? Try being a demon huntress, or a girl who accidentally brings her Prom date back from the grave! These stories are short and sweet - they're a YA collection, but fun for adults, too.

Noisy Outlaws, Unfriendly Blobs, and Some Other Things That Aren't as Scary, Maybe, Depending on How You Feel About Lost Lands, Stray Cellphones, Creatures from the Sky, Parents Who Disappear in Peru, a Man Named Lars Farf, and One Other Story We Couldn't Quite Finish, So Maybe You Could Help Us Out, from the editors at McSweeney’s

The title tells you everything about this book of short stories by famous authors like Neil Gaiman and Lemony Snicket. McSweeney's is an Internet humor site, whose contributors also often write short stories and add their unique spin on politics and everyday things at the website.

Speaking With the Angel, edited by Nick Hornby

From the author of High Fidelity comes this collection of tales to benefit the UK-based TreeHouse, a school for autistic children (Hornby's son is autistic, which is what caused him to set this book up.)

Guys Write for Guys Read, edited by Jon Sciezska

Kids don't read anymore? Here's a great book to get them started, especially boys. This book is a collection of stories by-guys-for-guys, as edited by the author of The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales.

Next Time: Fiction Collections by One Author

Outside of a Dog, #11

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx.

Knitting has recently enjoyed a rebirth in popularity. If you experience the urge to put down your knitting needles and read, here are several recent books feature knitting in their theme.

The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs – A single mom runs a Manhattan yarn shop while raising her 12 year old daughter. When the child’s father comes back into their lives, complications follow.

Fic Jacobs – WCV WAM

The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood – While mourning the death of her young daughter a woman takes her mother’s suggestion and joins a knitting group.

Fic Hood – TPL SHL

Knitting: A Novel by Ann Bartlett –A self-involved woman learns the value of friendship. A rather literary read dealing with a variety of emotions.

Fic Bartlett ROG ROK SHL TPL

The Shop on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber – A woman opens a knitting shop and the various customers provide the cast of characters. This is the first novel in what has turned out to be a popular series. A Good Yarn and Back on Blossom Street have followed.

Fic Macomber WCV WMB WDB

Lit for Chicks!

"It is a truth universally acknowledged that when one part of your life starts going okay, another falls spectacularly to pieces." (Bridget Jones' Diary)

"Chick Lit" is a term used to describe any novel written and geared towards women, most often young twenty-and-thirty-something women. Often romantic, the topics vary from life changes (loss of job, new apartment, new boyfriend) to just keeping up with your friends. Sometimes serious, and always fun, here are some of our favorites:

Bridget Jones’ Diary, by Helen Fielding

One of the originals of the genre, written before the movie and its sequel became famous. Bridget is as funny in the book as she is on the screen – an everywoman who writes things she would never dare say.

Also by Fielding: Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (1999) and Cause Celeb (2001)

The Dirty Girls’ Social Club, by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez

A first, too, in the subcategory of Latina Chick Lit, this is about six friends – Usnavys, Lauren, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Sara, and Amber – who call themselves “dirty girls” because of the color of their skin. Each girl has a life that seems pretty great from the outside, but inside, it’s full of trials, from Usnavys’ accepting herself and the size of her body (and finding a man who will love her for who she is) to Amber’s rock-and-roll life that helps her connect with her Aztec roots.

Also by Valdes-Rodriguez: Playing With Boys (2005) and Make Him Look Good (2008)

In Her Shoes, by Jennifer Weiner

A story about sisters who share nothing but a shoe size, In Her Shoes is Weiner’s second novel. It’s a little deeper than most chick lit, which tends to be pretty frothy, but it’s a great book and the movie isn’t bad, either.

Also by Weiner: Good in Bed (2001) and Little Earthquakes (2005)

Can You Keep a Secret?, by Sophie Kinsella

While Kinsella is best known for her “Shopaholic” books, her stand-alone novels like this one are as good, if not better, showing ingenuity at new and strange situations her heroines find her in. This one finds the lead character, Emma Corrigan, thinking she’s going to die in a plane crash, and telling all her most secret secrets to the guy sitting next to her.

Also by Kinsella: The Undomestic Goddess (2006), and Remember Me? (2008)

If you’re not sure who’ll strike your fancy, try “Girls Night In” or “American Girls About Town” short story compilations released to benefit the War Child and Make-a-Wish charities.

*All of these books will be in the library's Fiction section, which is arranged alphabetical by author's last name, i.e. "FIC WEINER"*

Next Week: Urban Fantasy Chick Lit

Outside of a Dog, #10

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx.

We wouldn’t be able to conclude discussing romance without mentioning some of our own favorites. In no particular order or category here are a few we definitely recommend trying.

Elizabeth Berg

Her book “Open House” was chosen as an Oprah Book Club Selection several years ago. She writes novels noted for giving readers remarkable insights into human relationships. Although not strictly what we would call a romance writer, her stories often have strong romantic elements in each plot.

The Art of Mending (2004) WCV WAM

Say When (2003) WCV

Open House (2000) WCV WDB WMB WAM

Susan Carroll

She mixes a lot of different elements in her stories including magic, time travel, and reincarnation, but pulls it all together in an engrossing read.

The Dark Queen (2005) WCV TPL

The Night Drifter (1999) WAM ROG

The Bride Finder (1998) WAM SHL

Patricia Gaffney

An author who made the leap from writing Harlequin-type category romances to mainstream hardcover novels.

Mad Dash (2007) WCV

The Goodbye Summer (2004) SHL

Saving Graces (2001) WDM WAM

Feel free to comment with *your* favorite romances!

Images of America - Arcadia Publishing

Arcadia is a publishing company based in Chicago, specializing in pictorial books with a regional and local history viewpoint. Every book is a selection of photographs with a brief but informative paragraph underneath. Listed below is a selection of titles owned at the Warren Libraries. Many other titles can be found within the library cooperative. The Arcadia website lists their entire catalog. This is a link to all of their Michigan books.

Civic Center Library:
Detroit City of Industry 977.434 P
Detroit’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 977.434 M
Romeo 977.439 M
Hudson’s: Detroit's Legendary Department Store 977.434 H
Detroit’s Belle Isle: Island Park Gem 977.434 R
Remembering Detroit’s Olympia Stadium 796.068 W

Dorothy Busch Library:
Detroit’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 977.434 M
Baseball in Detroit, 1886-1968 796.357 P

Arthur Miller Library:
Motor City Mafia: a Century of Organized Crime in Detroit 346.1066 B
Cruisin’ the Original: Woodward Avenue 977.434 A
Detroit’s New Center 977.434 F
Catholic Churches of Detroit 977.402 G
Detroit’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 977.434 M
Detroit’s Belle Isle: Island Park Gem 977.434 R
Remembering Detroit’s Olympia Stadium 796 W
Detroit, 1900-1930 977.434 B
Detroit, 1930-1969 977.434 P
Detroit, 1860-1899 977.434 P

Maybelle Burnette Library:
Labor in Detroit: Working in the Motor City 331.88 S

Outside of a Dog, #9

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx.

Last week we talked about adventure and humorous romances. This week we’d like to suggest some contemporary and inspirational or Christian romances.

Barbara Bretton writes a contemporary romance story that features interesting characters and old-fashioned story-telling. Only published in paperback her website www.barbarabretton.com offers a complete list of all her titles.

Just Desserts (2008) SHL TPL

Just Like Heaven (2007) WCV

Someone Like You (2005) WDB TPL

Girls of Summer (2003) WCV

Claire Cook’s books are a delight to read. Humorous and insightful, they deal with family and romantic situations we can all relate to.

Summer Blowout (2008) (to be released on June 3^rd)

Multiple Choice (2004) WAM TPL SHL

Must Love Dogs (2002) (now a movie – but trust us the book is so much better) WCV RSV SHL

Karen Kingsbury is a big name in the arena of inspirational fiction. She has almost 30 novels to her credit including continuing series and stand alone efforts. Her Red Glove series is published in a smaller hard cover format. The books are easily identifiable by the small red glove that appears on the cover. Her website www.karenkingsbury.com gives a full listing of her titles as well as author information, newsletters, and speaking engagements.

Oceans Apart (2008) SHL

Between Sundays (2008) WMB

Forever (2007) WCV

Ever After (2007) WCV

Just Beyond the Clouds (2007) ROK TPL

Outside of a Dog, #8

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx.

Believe it or not, there are all different types of romances. Adventure romances, humorous romances, inspirational or Christian romances, contemporary romances, paranormal romances, romantic suspense, chick lit, and romances that deal with a variety of so-called women’s issues. In this issue of Outside of a Dog, I’d like to give readers an example or two of adventure romance’s notable authors:

Cherry Adair’s books are a good illustration of adventure romances. She gives her readers a strong romantic plot blended with an exciting adventure storyline. Most of her novels deal with strong male characters who are involved with the military, police, or Special Forces. The majority came out originally in paperback. Here are just a few of her recent titles.

White Heat (2007) SHL TPL ARM

Edge of Darkness (2006) WCV WMB

Edge of Fear (2006) WMB

Edge of Danger (2006) WMB

Hot Ice (2005) ROG SHL TPL ARM

Susan Anderson’s titles, on the other hand, feature a blend of romance and suspense but it is the large dose of humor that keeps her audience turning the pages.

Just for Kicks (2006) WAM SHL

Head over Heels (2002) WMB WDB

All Shook Up (2001) CLL SHL TPL

Next week we will give you some suggestions for contemporary and inspirational romances.

Bring May Flowers...

*Due to an unexpected misplacement of data, Outside of a Dog will not appear this week. Thank you for your patience.*

Did you know that May is National Sports and Physical Fitness Month?

May is a great time to get outside in the sunshine and put some play into your day! Play a game, watch some sports (Go Tigers! Go Red Wings! Go Pistons!), or learn a new way to feel great! As the weather heats up, come and play in the fountains at city square! (Be sure to bring a towel!)

Why not try these selections from the Warren Public Library?


* Tigers Essential: Everything you need to know to be a real fan! 796.357 C WCV
* High-Flying Stars J 796.323 F WDB
* Bend it Like Beckham DVD B162 WDB
* America's Game: The Epic Story of How Pro Football Captured a Nation 796.332 M WMB
* Hockey: A People's History 796.962 M WAM
* Bellydance: Basic Moves With Neena and Veena VC 793.3 B WCV
* Basic Yoga Workout for Dummies DVD BKS 613.7046 B WMB
* Budokon: Beginning Practice by Carmen Shayne DVD 613.7 S WAM
* Cardio Salsa DVD 613.71 C WDB

Don't forget to check out our Yoga for kids and teens in May and June at the Civic Center!

Interested in getting out and moving? Check out your local gym or YMCA for programs like Cycling, Forza, Zumba, Kickboxing, and Bellydancing!

Coming Soon to a Library Near You!

Still waiting for your copy of "Double Cross" to come in? Why not try one of these popular authors' upcoming books while you wait?

These books, guaranteed to make a splash when they release in late spring and summer, are on order now, and available for you to put on hold now!

Archer, Jeffrey – A Prisoner of Birth (3/2008)
Brown, Sandra – Smoke Screen (8/2008)
Burke, James Lee – Swan Peak (7/2008)
Child, Lee – Nothing to Lose (6/2008)
Clark, Mary Higgins – Where are You Now (3/2008)
Cook, Robin – Foreign Body (8/2008)
Cornwell, Patricia – Front (5/2008)
Deaver, Jeffrey – The Broken Window (6/2008)
Fielding, Joy – Charley’s Web (3/2008)
Gardner, Lisa – Say Goodbye (7/2008)
Green, Jane – Beach House (6/2008)
Kane, Andrea – Twisted (3/2008)
Lowell, Elizabeth – Blue Smoke and Murder (5/2008)
Meyer, Stephenie - Breaking Dawn (Twilight, Book 4) (8/2008)
Noble, Elizabeth – Things I Want My Daughter to Know (4/2008)
Paolini, Christopher - Brisingr (Inheritance, Book 3) (9/2008)
Patterson, James – Sail (6/2008)
Perry, Anne – Buckingham Palace Gardens (3/2008)
Rice, Christopher – Blind Fall (3/2008)
Rice, Luanne – Last Kiss (7/2008)
Siddons, Anne Rivers – Off Season (8/2008)

April is National Poetry Month! (#3)

One Perfect Rose
by Dorothy Parker

A single flow'r he sent me, since we met.

All tenderly his messenger he chose;

Deep-hearted, pure, with scented dew still wet --

One perfect rose.

I knew the language of the floweret;

"My fragile leaves," it said, "his heart enclose."

Love long has taken for his amulet

One perfect rose.

Why is it no one ever sent me yet

One perfect limousine, do you suppose?

Ah no, it's always just my luck to get

One perfect rose.

Enough Rope: Poems by Dorothy Parker (New York: Boni and Liveright, 1926): 73

Libraries are Reading! #8

What book do you recommend to everybody?

Stacey R: American Gods or Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman, Storm Front by Jim Butcher (I guarantee you will be hooked on Harry Dresden), and Bagombo Snuff Box: Uncollected Short Fiction, by Kurt Vonnegut. (FIC GAIMAN – WCV, FIC BUTCHER – FRA, VONNEGUT – ARM)

Tricia GW: The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger (F SAL – LEN)

Pat G: I haven’t read it yet.

Nathan: When the Wind Blows, James Patterson (FIC PATTERSON – WCV)

Kathy F: The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak (Y FIC ZUSA – SBL)

Sharon L: The Number One Ladies’ Detective Agency, by Alexander McCall Smith (MYS MCCALL SMITH - WAM)

Wanda: Not Without My Daughter, by Betty Mahmoody (BIO MAHMOODY - WMB), and House of Sand and Fog, by Andre Dubus (FIC DUBUS - ROG)

Stephanie L: The Song of the Lark, Willa Cather (FIC CATHER – WCV)

Margaret H: The Shelter of Each Other, by Mary Pipher (AC 306.85 P – SHL), Book Lust: Recommended reading for every mood, moment, and reason, by Nancy Pearl (011.73 P – WCV),
The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold (F SEBOLD – TPL)

National Poetry Month - Poem in Your Pocket Day

Today, poets.org suggests you put a poem in your pocket to share with your friends and family. This is one of Stacey R's favorites:

Preludes, T.S. Eliot

I

The winter evening settles down

With smell of steaks in passageways.

Six o'clock.

The burnt-out ends of smoky days.

And now a gusty shower wraps

The grimy scraps

Of withered leaves about your feet

And newspapers from vacant lots;

The showers beat

On broken blinds and chimney-pots,

And at the corner of the street

A lonely cab-horse steams and stamps.

And then the lighting of the lamps.

II

The morning comes to consciousness

Of faint stale smells of beer

From the sawdust-trampled street

With all its muddy feet that press

To early coffee-stands.

With the other masquerades

That time resumes,

One thinks of all the hands

That are raising dingy shades

In a thousand furnished rooms.

III

You tossed a blanket from the bed,

You lay upon your back, and waited;

You dozed, and watched the night revealing

The thousand sordid images

Of which your soul was constituted;

They flickered against the ceiling.

And when all the world came back

And the light crept up between the shutters

And you heard the sparrows in the gutters,

You had such a vision of the street

As the street hardly understands;

Sitting along the bed's edge, where

You curled the papers from your hair,

Or clasped the yellow soles of feet

In the palms of both soiled hands.

IV

His soul stretched tight across the skies

That fade behind a city block,

Or trampled by insistent feet

At four and five and six o'clock;

And short square fingers stuffing pipes,

And evening newspapers, and eyes

Assured of certain certainties,

The conscience of a blackened street

Impatient to assume the world.

I am moved by fancies that are curled

Around these images, and cling:

The notion of some infinitely gentle

Infinitely suffering thing.

Wipe your hand across your mouth, and laugh;

The worlds revolve like ancient women

Gathering fuel in vacant lots.

Original text: T. S. Eliot, Prufrock and Other Observations (London: The Egoist, 1917): 24-26.

Outside of a Dog, #7

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx.

In a Presidential election year politics is often on our mind. If “real life” politicians and campaigns seem a little overwhelming at times, why not take a fictional look at the political process? Here are a few suggestions to get you started.


The First Among Equals by Jeffrey Archer
Fic Archer WCV
Four very different and competitive men spend decades vying for power until one of them is elected Prime Minister of England.

The Candidate’s Wife by Patricia O’Brien
Fic O’Brien WAM
How a grueling presidential campaign changes a wife and mother.

Murder in the White House by Margaret Truman
Mys Truman WMB WDB
The Secretary of State is found murdered in the White House and even the President is a suspect.

Murder in the West Wing: An Eleanor Roosevelt Mystery by Elliott Roosevelt
Mys Elliott WCV
Eleanor begins an investigation into the murder of one of FDR’s assistants leading her into a very dangerous area of Washington D.C.

Grass Roots by Stuart Woods
Fic Woods Fic TPL
A close senate election and a controversial murder trial blend together with some surprising results.

Primary Colors: A Novel of Politics by Joe Klein
Fic Klein WAM
The behind the scenes look at the presidential campaign of a small southern governor.

Senator’s Wife by Sue Miller

Fic Miller ROK
A long term political marriage comes under scrutiny when a young married couple rents the apartment next door.

Libraries are Reading! #7

Who is your favorite author?

Stacey R: Neil Gaiman

Tricia GW: Stephen King

Pat G: Thomas Hardy, probably.

Sharon L: Barbara Wood and Nicholas Sparks

Theresa Z: John Grisham

Kathy F: It’s very hard to pick only one! Charlotte Bronte, Geraldine Brooks, Cheryl Mendelson, Jane Austen, & Alice McDermott are some.

Stephanie L: Willa Cather, but I love all of the classics by ladies: George Eliot, Jane Austen, The Bronte Sisters…

Margaret H: I’m going to run out of room, but: Jodi Picoult, Chris Bohjalian, Jonathan Kellerman, Elizabeth Berg, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Judith Guest…

LINKS:

http://www.neilgaiman.com/

http://www.stephenking.com/

http://www.yale.edu/hardysoc/Welcome/welcomet.htm

http://www.barbarawood.com/

http://www.nicholassparks.com/

http://www.randomhouse.com/features/grisham/

http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/bronte/cbronte/bronteov.html

http://www.geraldinebrooks.com/

http://www.simonsays.com/content/destination.cfm%3fsid=33%26pid=334691

http://www.pemberley.com/janeinfo/janeinfo.html

http://www.powells.com/authors/mcdermott.html

http://cather.unl.edu/

http://www.lang.nagoya-u.ac.jp/~matsuoka/Eliot.html

http://www.jodipicoult.com/

http://www.chrisbohjalian.com/

http://www.jonathankellerman.com/

http://www.elizabeth-berg.net/

http://www.susanephillips.com/

http://www.judithguest.com/

April is National Poetry Month!

"It Couldn't Be Done"

Somebody said that it couldn't be done
But he with a chuckle replied
That "maybe it couldn't," but he would be one
Who wouldn't say so till he tried.
So he buckled right in with a trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it!

Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you'll never do that;
At least no one has ever done it;"
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat
And the first thing we knew he'd begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure,
There are thousands to point out to you one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start in to sing as you tackle the thing
That "cannot be done," and you'll do it.

This poem was written by Edgar Albert Guest (1881-1959),
and appeared in a volume called "Breakfast Table Chat", 1914.

[Submitted by Sharon @ WAM]

Libraries are Reading! #6

What is your favorite series?

Stacey R: The Dresden Files, by Jim Butcher [http://www.jim-butcher.com/books/dresden/] (SCI BUTCHER – WCV)

Tricia GW: Harry Potter, by J.K. Rowling [http://www.jkrowling.com/en/] (JFIC ROWLING - WAM)

In manga, Trigun, by Yasuhiro Nightow [http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/profile.php?sku=13-031] (GN TRIGUN – CHE)

Pat G: Stephanie Plum, by Janet Evanovich [http://www.evanovich.com] (MYS EVA - CLL)

Kathy F: The Outlander Series, by Diana Gabaldon [http://www.dianagabaldon.com/] (BKD FIC GABALDON - RSV)

Stephanie L: The only one I really read is the Big Stone Gap series, by Adriana Trigiani [http://www.adrianatrigiani.com/books.htm ] (FIC TRIGIANI - WCV)

Margaret H: Robert Parker’s “Spenser” series [http://www.robertbparker.net/spenser_series.asp] (PB MYS P – SHL) and Sue Grafton’s Alphabet books [http://www.suegrafton.com/bookshelf.asp?ISBN=0399152970]. (NEW MYS GRAFTON – HPW)

Outside of a Dog, #6

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx.

Nice Books

Every once in awhile a library users will come to desk asking for a recommendation for a “nice” book. By that they usually mean a good story but without serial killers, gory forensic evidence discoveries, swear words, sexual descriptions they could do without, and unhappy endings.

Below are listed some fiction suggestions that fit the above criteria. Quite a few were published many years ago but that doesn’t make them any less enjoyable.

Lilies of the Field by William Barrett
FIC - WAM
A black handyman helps a group of nuns build a church.

Mrs. Mike by Nancy Freeman
FIC - SHL TPL SBL
A young woman marries a Mountie and begins a new life in the Canadian wilderness.

The Chosen – Chaim Potok
FIC - SCS TPL
In 1940’s Brooklyn, two young boys form a deep and unlikely friendship that carries them into adulthood.

At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon
FIC PBK Kar - WCV
The first book in the series featuring Father Tim, a beloved rector to his small town community is a delightful read.

Jane’s House by Robert Kimmel Smith
FIC - WMB
The touching story of a man whose wife has died very unexpectedly. He and his children valiantly struggle to cope with their loss.

Two from Galilee: The Story of Mary and Joseph by Marjorie Holmes
FIC Holmes - TPL SHL
Fictional account of the birth of Christ as told through the young couples eyes.

Memory of Running by Ron McLarty
FIC McLarty - WCV
A man takes a bicycle trip across to US to claim his deceased sister’s remains.

Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
FIC Enger - WCV
The story of the unusual Land family set in rural Minnesota during the 1960’s.

Rosie Dunne by Cecelia Ahern

FIC AHERN - WCV

The story of Rosie and her best friend and all of the curveballs that get thrown at her.

Poh-tay-to, Poh-tah-to

How do you say "Gaiman"? How are you supposed to say it?
What about "Scieszka"? Or "Funke"? "Konigsburg"?

Hear the correct pronunciation direct from the author the name belongs to, at Teaching Books, who've put together an archive of voice recordings of famous authors. Sometimes, the author will tell a story (like Sherman Alexie or Tony DiTerlizzi), so they're all worth a listen!

Teaching Books: Author Name Pronunciation Guide

May Events at the Warren Civic Center Library

(picture courtesy of the Nature Discovery web site)

Nature Discovery presents "Reptiles and Amphibians of Michigan"

Did you know that 18 species of snakes call Michigan home? Get ready for Be Kind to Animals Week by learning about the snakes and other reptiles and amphibians living in our state.

Staff from "Nature Discovery" will be on hand to do a presentation, which will include live specimens. At the presentation's conclusion, participants will have an opportunity to handle some of the animals.

Saturday, May 3rd, 2008, at 12.30 p.m.

Yoga Saturdays for Children and Teens

Yoga is a great way to develop balance, flexibility, strength, and have fun while doing so. Personal fitness trainer/ Yoga instructor James Abney will be here to teach the basics of yoga.

Participants should wear comfortable and appropriate clothing (loose-fitting pants and top), and should alos bring a non-slip mat and a bottle of water with a lid.

**Parents must arrive at the start of the program to sign a consent and liability waiver in order for a child to participate in the program.**

Middle and High School Students: April 19th, May 10th, and June 21st, from 12.30-1.30 p.m.

Elementary School Students: April 19th, May 10th, and June 21st, from 1.45-2.45 p.m.

Please call 586-751-0770 to register for any of the events listed.

Teens! Be part of an ALA Survey!

YALSA (the Young Adult Library Services Association) is looking for your input! How do you use the internet? What sites do you visit most often? Click here to share!