If you like historical fiction with a bit of whimsy, check out a new teen novel, A Brief History of Montmaray by Michelle Cooper. Sophia and her cousin, sister and brother are the last of the FitzOsbornes, a royal family, who live in a crumbling castle on an island off the coast of England. Also living in the castle is their reclusive uncle, the mad King John and his caretaker, Rebecca. The year is 1936. One day, they spy a boat with two Germans who declare themselves historians there to do research on the island. But the peace of the island is about to be broken. Sophie records daring escapes, romantic yearnings, murder and betrayals in her journal.

Manuscript Bible
Today I had the opportunity to visit the current exhibit in the Audubon room of the Hatcher Graduate Library, A History of the Bible from Ancient Papyri to King James. As a bibliophile, I loved seeing the ancient papyrus manuscripts dating back almost to the very beginning of Christianity, as well as the illuminated medieval manuscripts. The history of the Bible is a fascinating microcosm for the evolution of the written word. One of the highlights of the exhibit for me was a leaf from a Gutenberg Bible, which was printed in the 1450s by Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of movable type. I also enjoyed seeing the progression of the language in the English Bibles on display from Middle English into Early Modern English in the 15th century. Another interesting piece in the exhibit is a 1611 King James Bible, which had such an impact on the Christian world that it is still considered the standard translation of the Bible by many Protestant churches today. The exhibit will be open everyday until the end of March and is located inside the Library Gallery, which is just off the North Lobby of the Hatcher Library.

Naturalists and artists may also be interested in another codex on display in the Audubon room. It is John James Audubon's famous Double Elephant Folio, Birds of America. It contains hand colored, life sizes engravings of many American birds and is now worth more than $8 million, although when it was purchased new, as the first book in U of M's collection (before the University opened), it cost $970. If you want a closer look at some of the illustrations, check out The Audubon Society baby elephant folio.

A Southern debut novel sparkling with humor, heart and feminine wisdom, Beth Hoffman's Saving CeeCee Honeycutt* is about a vulnerable young girl who loses one mother and finds solace in the “perfume world of prosperity and Southern eccentricity, a world that seems to be run entirely by women".

12 year-old CeeCee Honeycutt finds it hard to grieve for her mother (a loony former beauty queen) who walks in front of an ice cream truck. Her father offers no comfort. In fact, he promptly packs her off to Savannah to live with Great Aunt Tootie.

In this Steel Magnolias (1989) meets The Secret Life of Bees, Saving CeeCee is "packed full of Southern charm, strong women, wacky humor, and good old-fashioned heart. It is a novel that explores the indomitable strengths of female friendship", and the promise of new beginnings. A feel-good read with wide appeal.

Teens will find it easy to relate to CeeCee's struggle to reclaim a "normal" childhood, anger of abandonment, and her yearning for a place to call home. Recommended. (100,000 first printing)

* = Starred review

showcase cinemas

Did you know that you can watch a newly released feature film that is described for people with visual impairments? Showcase Cinema in Ypsilanti shows a film with described video every week. It is noted by the letters RWC or DVS next to the film that will have this feature. Go to nationalamusements.com, enter the zip code for Showcase Cinemas (48197). This week the film being shown is Dear John. Beginning Friday, February 5 through Thursday February 11. Show times are: 11:45 AM, 2:20, 4:55, 7:30 and 10:05 pm. DVS films are always shown in theater 14. Running time: 1 hour 48 minutes.showcase cinemas

pandorum

Following are descriptions of four movies that are hot new releases on Amazon that are either available or on order at the Library:

The Invention of Lying. A man played by Ricky Gervais becomes unable to tell a lie but his newfound ability gets him in trouble when he meets the woman of his dreams.

Pandorum Two astronauts on a spacecraft realize they are not alone.

Outrage This documentary reveals the hidden lives of gay policymakers and the media's attempts to keep their secrets.

According to Greta Hilary Duff plays Greta, an alienated teen who vows to commit suicide before her 18th birthday. But a romance and the discovery of a tragic family secret get in the way.

All grandparents should know about a recent telephone scam that tries to persuade them to send thousands of dollars to their distressed grandchildren. Michigan’s Attorney General Mike Cox provides information on how to avoid this deception. Everyone wants to help family in trouble, but it's important to know who you're sending money to. Sid Kirchheimer’s book and his AARP Bulletin column Scam Alert will inform you how to handle many rip-offs out there.

I love little kitty her fur is so warm, and if I don’t hurt her she’ll do me no harm. Ms. Rachel did cat & dog stories in Storytime this week at Malletts Creek Branch. Here are some picture books for young kitty lovers and their readers.
Katie Loves The Kittens by John Himmelman
The Cat’s Meow by Warren Kimble
Feathers For Lunch by Lois Ehlert
Kittens First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes
Bad Kitty and Bad Kitty Gets A Bath by Nick Bruel
And you can browse for more cat stories in the web catalog.

Oscar Statuette

The annual guess-fest for the 82nd Academy Awards has begun. The nominees were announced this morning.

Avatar and Hurt Locker tied for nine nominations each, followed closely by Inglorious Basterds, which received eight. Is this the first year that ex-spouses will be vying for gold statues -- directors James Cameron (Avatar) and Kathryn Bigelow (Hurt Locker) were married to each other from 1989-1991.

This year, the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences upped the number of nominees for Best Picture to ten, hoping the bounce will boost sagging sales.

Oscar's big night this year is Sunday, March 7.

Jane Austen's mixed up matchmaker is back. This season PBS's Masterpiece Classic will be airing an all new production of Emma January 24 - February 7 at 9pm. Full episodes of Emma are available to watch online and the library has also ordered several copies on DVD. You might also want to revisit the A&E version of Emma starring Kate Beckinsale or the 1996 version with Gwyneth Paltrow.

Later in February, Masterpiece Classic will also be airing presentations of Persuasion, which the library already carries on DVD and Northanger Abbey (Austen's parody of the Gothic novel) .

On January 12 Haiti was struck by a powerful and devastating earthquake. It is the latest blow to a country that has long struggled, and its aftershocks will continue reach far across space and time. Newspapers, magazines, radio and television news have been vigilant in keeping us updated on this tragedy. By now most of us know that basic story, but how much do you know about Haitian culture and society?

Did you know that Haiti's ancestors were the first slave society to emancipate themselves? As a result of their revolution, Haiti was established: the first republic in the New World ruled by people of African descent. If you're interested in brushing up on Haiti's harrowing but inspiring history, I would recommend checking out Avengers of the New World: the Story of the Haitian Revolution by Laurent Dubois and The Black Jacobins : Toussaint L'Ouverture and the San Domingo Revolution by C.L.R. James. In these excellent books, you will find the historical roots of Haitian society and politics of today.

Haitian Vodou, often misrepresented, is a well-known thread in our cultural fabric. Popular culture has teased out an arguably perverse caricature from the Afro-Caribbean tradition, convenient for children's cartoons and hundreds of zombie movies. (That's not to say Zombie movies aren't totally entertaining; check out the classic I Walked With a Zombie. If nothing else, it is a revealing peek at American culture, circa 1943.) But what is the true nature of Vodou, or Voodoo, as it is more commonly called? Zora Neale Hurston's good research in this field is enhanced by her beautiful writing; see "Tell My Horse," which is in Folklore, Memoirs and Other Writings by Hurston. Mama Lola: A Vodou Priestess in Brooklyn by Karen McCarthy Brown is not owned by AADL, but it is warm, enlightening and one of my favorites. You can get it through MEL. If you're feeling a little less ambitious, you can take a look at a cool DVD that we do have, Divine Horsemen, a ground-breaking (at the time) documentary about Vodou ritual.

On the lighter side, I would recommend Putomayo Presents: French Caribbean, which features music from the French-speaking islands of Guadeloupe, Haiti and Martinique. Putomayo can be counted on to put out a good mix, and this album holds true.

I am amazed by the extent to which people are getting involved in the Crisis in Haiti. Americans have broken records by contributing over $500 million to the relief effort in Haiti. Incredible, right? This is a practical, tangible way to get involved. Another important way to honor Haiti is by learning more about its rich culture and history. You can find the tools to do so here at the AADL.