Ages 18+.
Blog Post
The classic coming of age story
by Maxine
It was on December 29, 1916 that James Joyce published his first novel, Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. The book was originally serialized by Ezra Pound in the periodical, The Egoist. Semi-autobiographical, the novel describes the early years of Joyce's alter ego, Stephen Dedalus. The first section is written in childlike language reflecting Stephen's early years, moving on to the final fifth section where he uses his stream-of-consciousness style. This technique has since become an established writing tool used to evoke a rich interior monologue.
Blog Post
The same but different
by RiponGood
After reading the Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien, Terry Brooks wrote The Sword of Shannara. The story follows Shea Ohmsford's adventures to recover the Sword of Shannara and defeat the evil Warlock Lord. The story shares many elements of Middle Earth, but takes place on a alternate world in the distant future, after the downfall of the high tech society. Published in 1977, this was the fantasy novel to ever to appear on the New York Times bestseller list.
Blog Post
Never trust a computer...
by RiponGood
"Born" on 12 January 1992, the HAL 9000 plays a critical part in four stories written by Arthur C Clark, beginning with 2001: A Space Odyssey. The book was actual written at the same time that Stanley Kubrick was making the movie. In the story, David Bowman and Frank Poole are astronauts on their way to Saturn, with the HAL 9000 and three hibernating astronauts. The only member of the crew to know the true mission is the HAL 9000, to explore a mysterious black monolith similar to one discovered on the moon. The conflict between supporting the crew and keeping its secret causes the computer to malfunction. The HAL 9000 reappears in the three sequals to the story, 2010: Odyssey Two, 2061: Odyssey Three, and 3001: The Final Odyssey.
Oh, one final note on the movie. For all of the praise the movie gets, it put me to sleep. The only part of the movie I really enjoyed was the opening.
Blog Post
Going on a bug hunt.
by RiponGood
It was the 1960 Hugo Awards winner for Best Novel. The novel has been criticized for overt its social and political themes, which some call militaristic, racist, and fascist. The novel is Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein. The story follow Juan Rico from his enlistment in the Mobile Infantry through his eventual promotion to lieutenant during the Bug War.
Despite all of the controversy around the book, I must say I really enjoyed it. Accoridng to Wikipedia, the book is on the reading lists for several branches of the military. I was required reading for actors playing marines in the movie Aliens.
Blog Post
Fabulous Fiction Firsts #93
by muffy
This engrossing British police procedural marks the debut of Elena Forbes and her Detective Inspector Mark Tartaglia – a stubborn cop who mystery fans will no doubt grow to love – much like Ian Rankin’s Inspector Rebus.
When 14 year-old Gemma Kramer's broken body is found on the floor of a church, the official ruling is suicide, that is - until a witness saw her kissing a much older man and the toxicology report comes back showing traces of GHB. Before long, Tartaglia has three more suspicious deaths on his hands and is looking at a charismatic psychopath with a terrifying predilection for lonely girls and deadly heights.
Critics are calling Die With Me* “an intelligently plotted, convincing and nicely textured read”, and Forbes is “definitely one to watch”. Fans of the television series Prime Suspect might want to check this one out.
One more thing... if you are not already a fan of David Lawrence's Detective Stella Mooney series, we also highly recommend the latest : Down Into Darkness*.
* = Starred Reviews
Blog Post
Alternate Histories
by RiponGood
Thanks to Patrick O'Brian, Aubrey–Maturin series, and Bernard Cornwell, Sharpe series, my interest has been piqued regarding the Napoleonic Wars. One of my coworkers suggested Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell and His Majesty's Dragon to me as great fantasy stories set in the same time period. In one, England uses magic to help defeat Napoleon and his armies. In the other, it's dragons.
I must say, I loved one of the books and really hated the other. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell was boring. It started boring and didn't get any better. The only reason I finished the book was that I hoped it would get better. It didn't. Oh well.
On the other hand, His Majesty's Dragon is a great book. It reads fast. There is just enough background information to give the story some depth without dragging you through a lot of pointless stuff. Best of all, it's only the first book in a series! I can't wait to get my hands on the Throne of Jade.
Blog Post
Silver Bells: a Holiday Tale by Luanne Rice
by Van
Need to generate some real Christmas spirit?
Full of incident, local New York City color, and excitement (both romantic and suspenseful) Silver Bells is a lovely, quick Christmas read.
Christopher Byrne, widowed Nova Scotian Christmas tree farmer, brings his trees to Manhattan each December, bringing his son and daughter. Last year his teen-age son ran away while in New York.
Catherine Tierney, widowed New York librarian, lives in a row house in Chelsea near Christy Byrne's treelot.
Might they meet, might the son reappear?
Hurry, there are eight copies on the shelf right now.
Blog Post
Canadian author does it again
by Maxine
Canadian author Martha Brooks has come out with another winner. Brooks, the winner of The Governor Generals Literary Award for True Confessions of a Heartless Girl has given us in Mistik Lake another beautifully done character study, this time of three women from different generations who all hold a secret. The main character is Odella who lives in Winnipeg but summers in the small vacation town of Mistik Lake. Her mother, Sally, flees the family to live with her lover in Iceland, trying to escape from the guilt of a tragic accident. It is only through Odella's connection with Jimmy, her first love, and his grandparents that secrets are revealed. Brooks says of her writing: "Each book takes me where I never expected to go. For this reason the process is organic rather than planned. I don't plot. The energy is all in the internal workings of the character and the external workings of place." Although designated "Teen Fiction," the book could have wide appeal.
Blog Post
2008 Michigan Notable Book winners announced
by sernabad
The Library of Michigan today released the twenty winners of the 2008 Michigan Notable Books; all titles focus on Michigan events, places, or people.
Among the winners are:
Beloved children’s author Christopher Paul Curtis who won for Elijah of Buxton whose eponymous 11 year old protagonist, born free in Canada 1849, heads to Michigan to track a thief.
Jim Harrison whose novel, Returning to Earth, chronicles the last days of 45 year old Donald Burkett, dying of ALS.
Elmore Leonard, for Up in Honey’s Room, a Detroit mystery, set in 1945. Honey’s ex-husband is hiding two German POWs and U.S. Marshal Carl Webster is going to find them.
For a full list of all the winners, linked to the library's catalog, click here.
Blog Post
Saturnalia.
by Maxine
Today, December 17 marks the beginning of the seven day festival of Saturnalia in honor of Saturnus, the Roman god of seed and sowing. Saturnalia was a celebration of the winter solstice and a time for revelry and mischief. In a reversal of roles, slaves were served feasts and wore their masters' clothes. It was also a time of gift giving and prayer but celebration was the main event.
To read fictional portrayals of Saturnalia and ancient Rome, try the Marcus Falco mysteries of Lindsey Davis.