Inspiring Stories

Fri, 01/20/2006 - 6:54pm by Maxine

On Martin Luther King Day, I had the privilege to hear the two doctors and one dentist who make up The Pact and wrote the book by the same name. Sampson Davis, George Jenkins and Rameck Hunt grew up in Newark, New Jersey and never in their wildest dreams thought they'd be doctors or dentists. But the opportunity came to attend Seton Hall University and then medical and dental school. In their book, they describe the hard times in their childhood and teenage years and the thin line they walked to steer clear of drugs and other temptations. It was only in forming "the pact," a tight bond of friendship and support, that they were able to make it through. All three of them are now practicing medicine and dentistry in the Newark area. They also have formed a foundation to support inner city youth and their families and to provide scholarships for aspiring college students.

Their second book, We Beat the Street, jointly written with Sharon Draper, tells the same story but is directed more to middle and high school students. Following stories of each individual's challenges, the three offer advice to young people who are on the brink of making those same choices.

Both are inspirational and important books.

Booklist names its Top of the List for 2005

Fri, 01/20/2006 - 4:53pm by sernabad

Booklist, one of the most prestigious reviewing sources used by librarians and booksellers in book selection, has announced its 16th annual Top of the List choices for 2005.

The winners and their categories are:

Adult Fiction
The March, by E.L. Doctorow

Adult Nonfiction
American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin

Youth Fiction
Elsewhere, by Gabrielle Zevin (this also won in the Young Adult category for the 2005 Borders Original Voices Awards – see below)

Youth Nonfiction
Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow, by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Youth Picture Book
Michael Rosen’s Sad Book, by Michael Rosen (illustrated by Quentin Blake)

Reference Source
Encyclopedia of Religion, edited by Lindsay Jones

Video & DVD
Einstein’s Big Idea

Audio
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, written by Susanna Clarke, and narrated by Simon Prebble

Booklist is published by the American Library Association.

Borders announces the winners of its 2005 Original Voices Awards

Fri, 01/20/2006 - 4:09pm by sernabad

Yesterday Borders Books and Music announced the winners in its 9th annual Original Voices Awards. The mega bookstore chain bestows $5000 on each of the winners in five categories. The members of the selection process are all Borders employees, both store and Corporate. Their mission is to recognize writers and musicians for…”their outstanding achievement in crafting creative original books and music.” (The music category was just added this year.)

The categories and their winners are:

Fiction
Nicole Krauss for The History of Love

Nonfiction
Emma Larkin for Finding George Orwell in Burma

Children’s picture book
Robb Scotton for Russell the Sheep

Young Adult
Gabrielle Zevin for Elsewhere

Music
Madeleine Peyroux for Careless Love

All recipients will be honored at the Book Expo America convention in Washington, D.C. in May.

Dr. W. Scott Westerman Jr. to Speak on No Child Left Behind

Fri, 01/20/2006 - 1:07pm by Van

Dr. Westerman will speak Tuesday, January 24, at 7:00 p.m. in the Downtown Library Multi-purpose Room. Please come to learn about the No Child Left Behind Act.

For further reflections on this legislation, consult these books:

America’s Failing Schools: How Parents and Educators Can Cope with No Child Left Behind by W. James Popham
Leave No Child Behind: Preparing Today’s Youth for Tomorrow’s World by J. P. Comer
Many Children Left Behind: How the No Child Left Behind Act is Damaging Our Children and Our Schools edited by Deborah Meier and George Wood
Saving Our Schools: the Case for Public Education: Saying No to “No Child Left Behind” edited by Ken Goodman
What Every Teacher Should Know about No Child Left Behind by Nathan Essex

Venice Shines in Films

Fri, 01/20/2006 - 11:42am by ulrich

The recently released movie Casanova was made even more enjoyable by its luscious setting in Venice, Italy. Of course, Venice has been used as a setting in numerous films. Some of the most memorable are Death in Venice, Summertime, Wings of the Dove, Bread and Tulips and The Talented Mr. Ripley. Venice also appears prominently in less 'arty' films ranging from the James Bond vehicle Moonraker to Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Are there others that appealed to you? What's your favorite Venice film?

Falling into a Million Little Pieces

Sun, 01/15/2006 - 1:03pm by amy

James Frey admitted last week that he fabricated parts of his best-selling memoir A Million Little Pieces. His publisher didn't mind. Oprah didn't mind (Frey's book was recently chosen for Oprah's Book Club). And during an appearance on Larry King, Frey suggested that fabricating personal history is an accepted American literary tradition in the manner of Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Bukowski and Keruoac. Do you agree? If not, are you still planning to read the book or will you be canceling your hold?

Fabulous Fiction Firsts #4

Sat, 01/14/2006 - 7:55pm by muffy

Paris, 1847, the ailing Louis Daguerre (from years of exposure to mercury), inventor of the Daguerreotype photographic process, searched of a model willing to pose nude for a set of 10 images he wished to immortalize before the approaching apocalypse he envisioned.

“Dreamlike, thoughtful, and impressive”, first-time novelist Dominic Smith skillfully interweaves Daguerre’s urgent quest with the memories of his lost love, Isobel, in this “touching tale of youthful love regained in maturity”.
The Mercury Visions of Louis Daguerre is “…(a) compelling psychological study, …and an atmospheric portrait of 19th century France”. (Kirkus Reviews). For readers of historical fiction and students of photography. (February release)

No New Titles on the New York Times Bestseller List (1/8/06)

Fri, 01/13/2006 - 2:51pm by Mazie

There has not yet been a new title making the List in 2006. Once again I can recommend a book "off-list".

Some fans of Prime Suspect may not know that Lynda La Plante created the series and its memorable heroine. Her new mystery Above Suspicion has just been released in the States and in it she introduces Anna Travis. While not as experienced or world weary as Tennison, this young detective bravely risks her life to catch a vicious serial killer.

Historical Stock Prices

Wed, 01/11/2006 - 11:55am by Van

AADL Select Sites: Money and Investing

With the arrival of income tax preparation season comes the need for historical stock quotations to arrive at the basis for determining gain or loss from the sale of securities.

Two websites may help. Both have historical stock quotations available. The dates of coverage are not uniform for all stocks. Both have symbol lookup searches to help find out the stock symbol.

Big Charts has historical stock quotations available from as far back as January 2, 1970. Just enter the stock symbol and the date to find out the opening, closing, high, and low prices for that date.

Yahoo! Finance has historical stock quotations available from as far back as 1962. Enter the stock symbol in the search window, press "GO". The next screen has a link under "Quotes" for "Historical Prices".

Jon Stewart is going to host WHAT?!?!?!

Sun, 01/08/2006 - 1:08pm by sernabad

In a stroke of brilliance (or is it ratings-despair?), the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has tagged Jon Stewart to serve as Master of Ceremonies at this year's Academy Awards show, airing Sunday, March 5 on ABC.

It is hoped that Stewart, best known for his longstanding role as the deliverer of fake news on Comedy Central, and for his award-winning America (the Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction will pull in the young hip viewers who are devoted followers of Stewart's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, but who avoid the oft-perceived-as-stodgy Oscars.

Stewart's brand of rapier-sharp wit is particuarly effective because it doesn't stray far from the truth. In fact, in 2004, the Annenberg Public Policy Center conducted a survey which found that Stewart's young viewers were far more astute about current events than non viewers.

With tongue firmly planted in cheek, Stewart, 43, announced that he was a little disappointed" by this year's selection for Oscar's host.