The sad thing about my job is that it doesn't leave me a whole lot of time to read everything I'd like to. I know about all sorts of books, and want to read lots of them, but just don't get the opportunity; and often I don't get to actually read the new books I purchase for the library's collection until long after everyone else has. So, when I thought I'd do a list of my favorite 2012 releases, it didn't take long to realize I didn't (yet) read all that many titles released this year. However, I did read a couple I thought were outstanding, and these I will share with you.
My favorite book of 2012 was Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl. This was the creepiest, most addictive book I've read in a long time, one of those books I resented having to put down in order to do things like sleep, feed my family--oh, and work.
Nick and Amy are a married couple who have recently undergone a stressful life change in moving from Manhattan to Missouri. On their fifth wedding anniversary, Amy disappears from their home in what appears to have been a violent manner. The first part of the book alternates between Nick's narration and Amy's diary entries, and the reader is left wondering who to believe. Neither Nick nor Amy seem to be telling the whole story, and the reader begins to distrust both of them and wonder where the truth lies. As you move further into the story, you begin to realize just how flawed--even unlikable--both Nick and Amy are. This doesn't detract in any way, however, from the story; on the contrary, it adds to the dark, voyeuristic atmosphere Flynn has created.
The second part of the book--well, I can't tell you any more without giving everything away. Flynn concocted a suspenseful story about the disintegration of a marriage, but its brilliance lies in the fact that the reader is entirely in her hands. Between the plot twists and the unreliable narrators, you have no idea where the book is headed; I can tell you that the ending is chilling, completely unexpected, and perfectly satisfying.
I also adored Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein. This young adult novel is also told from two points of view: two young women who meet and become friends during World War II, and who are both unconventional for the time--one is a pilot, and the other a spy. On a mission into occupied France, their plane is shot down. The first section of the book is the spy's (Julie's) perspective; she has been tortured into telling her story to her Nazi captors, but manages to sneak paper and write the "true" version of the events that led to her capture and, she believes, her friend Maddie's death.
In the second section, Maddie gives her version of their botched mission, which differs markedly from Julie's secret version. Again in this book, the reader is left wondering about the truth and the reliability of the narrator; Julie is, after all, someone who regularly pretends to be different people and indeed lies. The reader is eventually able to piece together what really happened, and Maddie brings us through the conclusion of the story.
An aside: I've recommended Code Name Verity to several people who have had trouble with it; the reaction, in fact, was similar to that of The Hunger Games, where an adult thinks the subject matter is too graphic for teenagers and objects to the book on that basis. But as adults we must remember that teenagers want and need to read about how other young people handle challenges in their lives, so just about every young adult novel will have this as its theme. Read this book without constantly thinking about its intended audience, and if you love a character-driven novel with surprising plot twists, and especially one that deals with friendship and loyalty, you will like Code Name Verity.
With both Gone Girl and Code Name Verity, I greatly enjoyed the feeling of being in the hands of the author. Both books were unsettling, even at times confusing; both left me wondering if I should "believe" what I was reading. But when I gave up control and went along for the ride, it was exhilarating. What impressed me most with both books was the author's ability to sustain the edginess, suspense, and tension all the way to the very satisfying, perfect ending.
Did you read either of these books? Please share your comments, or share your favorites from 2012!
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Monday, December 10, 2012
The Season of Giving
I'd like to share two items that may be of interest. First, Maine has a new checkoff on the state income tax form that allows taxpayers to make a donation to public libraries. The donations will benefit all public libraries in the state, but a threshold must be crossed so the checkoff pays for iteslf. If you pay income tax in Maine, please consider participating! For more information, click here:
http://www.maine.gov/msl/tax/index.shtml
Here is a wonderful opportunity to share your favorite book or your love of reading:
http://www.us.worldbooknight.org/
Applications to be a Book Giver for 2013 are now being taken; if you are chosen, you get to give away free copies of a book you love. I did it last year, and it was a blast! I love getting the opportunity to talk about the book I gave away, The History of Love by Nicole Krauss. Those of you who know me well enough know that I will talk about this book whenever I get an opportunity--i.e., "Hi Kathleen, isn't it a nice day?" "Yes, and that reminds me, what did you think of the ending of The History of Love?" The list of the 2013 books can be found on the World Book Night website; if there's one you feel strongly about, apply for the opportunity to play Santa Claus on April 23!
http://www.maine.gov/msl/tax/index.shtml
Here is a wonderful opportunity to share your favorite book or your love of reading:
http://www.us.worldbooknight.org/
Applications to be a Book Giver for 2013 are now being taken; if you are chosen, you get to give away free copies of a book you love. I did it last year, and it was a blast! I love getting the opportunity to talk about the book I gave away, The History of Love by Nicole Krauss. Those of you who know me well enough know that I will talk about this book whenever I get an opportunity--i.e., "Hi Kathleen, isn't it a nice day?" "Yes, and that reminds me, what did you think of the ending of The History of Love?" The list of the 2013 books can be found on the World Book Night website; if there's one you feel strongly about, apply for the opportunity to play Santa Claus on April 23!
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Christmas Picture Books
With Christmas in Harrison coming up, I set myself a challenge of picking my 5 favorite Christmas picture books to share with you. It was harder than I thought it would be to limit myself to just 5! But here are my choices for great reads while cuddled up with your favorite small person(s).
The Gingerbread Pirates written by Kristin Kladstrup; illustrated by Matt Tavares
This is an immensely silly story (and I mean that in the best way). A little boy and his mother bake gingerbread cookies on Christmas Eve; the little boy decides to make the gingerbread boys a pirate crew, and when his mother tells him to leave some for Santa, he can't bear to part with his favorite, "Captain Cookie", who has a toothpick peg leg. Captain Cookie accompanies the little boy to his bedroom and waits for him to fall asleep, then sets off through the sleeping house in search of his crew before "that cannibal, Santa Claus", gets to them. Hilarious!
The Polar Express written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg
I love this story. I think it perfectly captures the anticipation, the shadowy hush of Christmas Eve, as well as the doubt and uncertainty experienced by older children. I love the story, I love the illustrations; I do not, however, love the movie, which is rather creepy. Skip it and stick with the book.
The Christmas Magic written by Lauren Thompson; illustrated by Jon J Muth
Santa and his reindeer prepare for the big day (without any of those pesky elves) and wait for the Christmas magic to come, "as it always has, and it always will". I love the depiction of Santa as alone, but not lonely, and absorbed in his work.
Night Tree written by Eve Bunting; illustrated by Ted Rand
A young family follows their Christmas Eve tradition of hiking into the woods to decorate "their" tree with treats for the forest animals.When it's finished, they spread a blanket, drink hot chocolate, and sing carols in the night. The charming story ends with the little boy imagining all the animals that will visit the tree.
Lighthouse Christmas written by Toni Buzzeo; illustrated by Nancy Carpenter
This story, by Maine author Toni Buzzeo, was inspired by the story of the Flying Santa Service, a tradition begun in Maine in 1929 by a floatplane pilot to deliver holiday gifts to lighthouse keepers, often isolated at the holiday season by bad weather. A widowed father had brought his two young children to a remote lighthouse to begin their new life, and we follow the story through his two children. The young boy waits impatiently for all the joys of Christmas, and his older sister must decide if the children will go to the mainland without their father to spend the holiday with an aunt, thus insuring presents, sweets, and singing, or if they will remain on the island with their father, where the supply boat--and Santa-- may or may not arrive in time.
Here are my also-rans:
The Spirit of Christmas by Nancy Tillman
My Wonderful Christmas Tree by Dahlov Ipcar
Who's That Knocking on Christmas Eve? by Jan Brett
Voices of Christmas by Nikki Grimes; illustrated by Eric Velasquez
The Third Gift by Linda Sue Park; illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline
One of these titles is sure to get you in the holiday mood! All are currently available at the library.
The Gingerbread Pirates written by Kristin Kladstrup; illustrated by Matt Tavares
This is an immensely silly story (and I mean that in the best way). A little boy and his mother bake gingerbread cookies on Christmas Eve; the little boy decides to make the gingerbread boys a pirate crew, and when his mother tells him to leave some for Santa, he can't bear to part with his favorite, "Captain Cookie", who has a toothpick peg leg. Captain Cookie accompanies the little boy to his bedroom and waits for him to fall asleep, then sets off through the sleeping house in search of his crew before "that cannibal, Santa Claus", gets to them. Hilarious!
The Polar Express written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg
I love this story. I think it perfectly captures the anticipation, the shadowy hush of Christmas Eve, as well as the doubt and uncertainty experienced by older children. I love the story, I love the illustrations; I do not, however, love the movie, which is rather creepy. Skip it and stick with the book.
The Christmas Magic written by Lauren Thompson; illustrated by Jon J Muth
Santa and his reindeer prepare for the big day (without any of those pesky elves) and wait for the Christmas magic to come, "as it always has, and it always will". I love the depiction of Santa as alone, but not lonely, and absorbed in his work.
Night Tree written by Eve Bunting; illustrated by Ted Rand
A young family follows their Christmas Eve tradition of hiking into the woods to decorate "their" tree with treats for the forest animals.When it's finished, they spread a blanket, drink hot chocolate, and sing carols in the night. The charming story ends with the little boy imagining all the animals that will visit the tree.
Lighthouse Christmas written by Toni Buzzeo; illustrated by Nancy Carpenter
This story, by Maine author Toni Buzzeo, was inspired by the story of the Flying Santa Service, a tradition begun in Maine in 1929 by a floatplane pilot to deliver holiday gifts to lighthouse keepers, often isolated at the holiday season by bad weather. A widowed father had brought his two young children to a remote lighthouse to begin their new life, and we follow the story through his two children. The young boy waits impatiently for all the joys of Christmas, and his older sister must decide if the children will go to the mainland without their father to spend the holiday with an aunt, thus insuring presents, sweets, and singing, or if they will remain on the island with their father, where the supply boat--and Santa-- may or may not arrive in time.
Here are my also-rans:
The Spirit of Christmas by Nancy Tillman
My Wonderful Christmas Tree by Dahlov Ipcar
Who's That Knocking on Christmas Eve? by Jan Brett
Voices of Christmas by Nikki Grimes; illustrated by Eric Velasquez
The Third Gift by Linda Sue Park; illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline
One of these titles is sure to get you in the holiday mood! All are currently available at the library.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
November Book Club Meeting Notes
This month's title, Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague by Geraldine Brooks, provided material for lots of spirited discussion. Kathleen facilitated this meeting, as it was her pick. Of the seven participants, 6 liked the book and one hadn't yet read it.
The book is a fictional account of an actual event; during an outbreak of bubonic plague in 1666, the residents of an English village, led by their pastor, decide to quarantine themselves to prevent the spread of the contagion and face head-on the judgement of God that the appearance of the disease seems to be. The story is told from the point of view of Anna Frith, a widow and maid in the household of the rector, and we watch Anna blossom into a healer and--as much as is possible given the time--empowered woman over the course of the plague year.
Most agreed that it took a while to get into the book. For a couple of readers, the language was initially challenging; a few words needed context to be able to understand, but eventually everyone was able to be drawn in to the story and initial difficulties were surmounted. Everyone enjoyed witnessing Anna's transformation into a strong woman, and almost all of us were taken by surprise at the dark secret lurking in the Mompellions' marriage.
Kathleen brought up the decision of the villagers to cut themselves off from the rest of the world and rely on their patron to deliver needed supplies, and asked how many of us would willingly do such a thing in the present time. Of course, it would be more challenging nowadays to convince a village that an outbreak of disease was God's judgement to be endured; but how many of us would be willing to sacrifice ourselves and our families by staying put in order to contain the spread of disease? Most of us admitted we would have a hard time doing this, especially when it came to the safety of our family. Dianne pointed out that in Harrison, many people are isolated by choice and do not possess even the capability to transport themselves to Portland, so in a sense we are not as far removed from the villagers of 1666 as we might think. Betty commented that the tone of dread, of Anna and her neighbors not knowing who would be struck down next or how the disease was being spread, reminded her of the polio epidemic.
There was much discussion about Michael Mompellion's motive in suggesting the quarantine, and whether it was driven by his inner demons or was truly selfless. We eventually decided it was a combination, that Michael was a truly complicated, tortured character--Kathleen likened him to Hamlet--whose good and bad parts were so intertwined that both informed all his actions. We also discussed whether Anna's transformation was a bit of a stretch, given the times; Alice pointed out that throughout history, in general, males did not nurse the sick. At this period in time, there were women practiced in the art of healing who actually were capable of doing so, and there were surgeons who were equally incapable, so it made sense that Anna, taking up the place of the dead healing women of the village, and becoming even closer to her mentor and tutor Elinor Mompellion, should take advantage of a disruption in the natural order of her society to educate herself and rise above the station of her birth.
Everyone was very interested to learn more about the actual plague village of Eyam, so here is the link to their website: http://www.eyamplaguevillage.co.uk/
There will be no meeting in December; the next meeting will be January 5 to discuss The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom.
The book is a fictional account of an actual event; during an outbreak of bubonic plague in 1666, the residents of an English village, led by their pastor, decide to quarantine themselves to prevent the spread of the contagion and face head-on the judgement of God that the appearance of the disease seems to be. The story is told from the point of view of Anna Frith, a widow and maid in the household of the rector, and we watch Anna blossom into a healer and--as much as is possible given the time--empowered woman over the course of the plague year.
Most agreed that it took a while to get into the book. For a couple of readers, the language was initially challenging; a few words needed context to be able to understand, but eventually everyone was able to be drawn in to the story and initial difficulties were surmounted. Everyone enjoyed witnessing Anna's transformation into a strong woman, and almost all of us were taken by surprise at the dark secret lurking in the Mompellions' marriage.
Kathleen brought up the decision of the villagers to cut themselves off from the rest of the world and rely on their patron to deliver needed supplies, and asked how many of us would willingly do such a thing in the present time. Of course, it would be more challenging nowadays to convince a village that an outbreak of disease was God's judgement to be endured; but how many of us would be willing to sacrifice ourselves and our families by staying put in order to contain the spread of disease? Most of us admitted we would have a hard time doing this, especially when it came to the safety of our family. Dianne pointed out that in Harrison, many people are isolated by choice and do not possess even the capability to transport themselves to Portland, so in a sense we are not as far removed from the villagers of 1666 as we might think. Betty commented that the tone of dread, of Anna and her neighbors not knowing who would be struck down next or how the disease was being spread, reminded her of the polio epidemic.
There was much discussion about Michael Mompellion's motive in suggesting the quarantine, and whether it was driven by his inner demons or was truly selfless. We eventually decided it was a combination, that Michael was a truly complicated, tortured character--Kathleen likened him to Hamlet--whose good and bad parts were so intertwined that both informed all his actions. We also discussed whether Anna's transformation was a bit of a stretch, given the times; Alice pointed out that throughout history, in general, males did not nurse the sick. At this period in time, there were women practiced in the art of healing who actually were capable of doing so, and there were surgeons who were equally incapable, so it made sense that Anna, taking up the place of the dead healing women of the village, and becoming even closer to her mentor and tutor Elinor Mompellion, should take advantage of a disruption in the natural order of her society to educate herself and rise above the station of her birth.
Everyone was very interested to learn more about the actual plague village of Eyam, so here is the link to their website: http://www.eyamplaguevillage.co.uk/
There will be no meeting in December; the next meeting will be January 5 to discuss The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
A Day in the Life
After I made the decision to begin this blog, I struggled with the direction the blog should take. Should I write book reviews? Talk about library issues? There's so much to choose from! I decided to devote this first post to giving readers a glimpse of what happens beyond the view of the public on an ordinary day here at HVL. Most of you see me at the circulation desk, checking out your books and answering questions. But as you will see, my day entails much more...
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
11:30 a.m.: On my way to work, I make a couple of stops. First I head to Gilman Electric to pick up the light bulbs I requested last week. (Our beautiful lighting design, alas, requires special order bulbs.) Next, I stop at Walmart to get some white craft paint for the Christmas ornaments that will be sold as a fundraiser for the Friends of the Library. I also price card tables--we were given an amazing Christmas Village that I want to set up in the meeting room for Christmas in Harrison, but all our folding tables will be in use with the Cookie Walk and Gingerbread Men Decorating. The tables are about $30 apiece; we have some time, so I'll think about this and see if I can come up with any other ideas. Finally, I am on the road. I listen to "Maine Calling" on MPBN on the way; today's topic is old cemeteries in Maine, and the host is interviewing a couple of experts. Hmm... I'll make a note of this, that might be an interesting program for the library.
12:50 p.m.: I arrive at the library. First, I check for damage from Hurricane Sandy; we don't appear to have suffered a power outage, so the server for the library catalog remained online, yay, as well as our wireless service. I don't need to call the state and have them talk me through resetting the router. Volunteers arrive and need to be given today's jobs, so I get them settled and begin opening my email.
1:00-2:30 p.m.: Open the library. Pull books that have hold requests and put them on the hold shelf. The checks have been signed--prepare bills to be mailed. Fix the printer's paper jam. Renew Inter-Library Loan items on our Portland Public Library account. Talk to a patron about a book he is looking for; we don't own it, so I make an ILL request from Portland using their online system. This reminds me I need to tweak the procedures on our end, and edit the form we are currently using to notify Portland when we receive items from other Maine libraries. I make the changes, explain them to Joy, and have her make copies of the new forms. I realize I have to speak to the ILL supervisor personally, as an item has arrived that we did not request--a mixup at a library in Arizona sent our request elsewhere, and we got someone else's. Back to email; send an email to the Book Club reminding them of this week's meeting. Reply to an email from our computer guy saying he needs a model number off the barcode on the bottom of my laptop to order the new battery it needs--unfortunately for me, there about 6 barcodes on the bottom of my laptop, none of which clearly state they are the model number. Call Trustee Karen Toohey to tell her she has been reimbursed for the turkeys she bought for the Turkey Supper. Call Trustee Bill Wood to tell him the photo he gave me for the newsletter won't work, and I need him to either give me another or stop by for a "mug shot".
2:30 p.m.: The woman who does the newsletter layout has sent me this year's first draft; I review what she's done, answer her questions, and think about what else needs to go in the newsletter. I decide I need some time to think, which I won't get today because it's Halloween, and let her know I'll get back to her ASAP.
2:45 p.m.: Storytime tomorrow! It's also Parent-Teacher Conference day, so no school; this might mean a big group for Storytime, so I check the supplies for the craft I planned and ask Joy to help prep. I review the stories and activities planned to make sure I don't need to make any last-minute adjustments. I think what I planned will be fine, so I won't reinvent that wheel.
3:00 p.m.: Wow...we've already pre-sold 4 ornaments for the Friends' fundraiser. I guess I'd better get the prototypes ready--the Friends will copy the three different ornaments I've made. Time to get out that paint I bought, as well as the glue gun! First, though, I print the list of overdues so Joy can double check the shelves to make sure nothing got put away without being checked in. (I hate sending an overdue notice for something that's already back.)
4:00 p.m.: Request more items through inter-library loan.
4:30 p.m.: Hang the ghost outside and prepare the candy for trick-or-treaters. Bill Wood stops in to have his picture taken.
5:00-7:30 p.m.: Hand out candy and admire costumes. In between trick-or-treaters, I check the inventory list the volunteers have been working on for items that need to be marked as lost, or changed in some way in the catalogue. It's a slow job, but good for when I need to stay at the desk for long periods of time.
7:45 p.m.: 200 people have come through the door since 5:00, and I've given away 5 gigantic bags of candy. I'm beat! Time to head home. I've been trying to listen to non-fiction audiobooks on my commute; I've found being captive in the car is a good way for me to "read" non-fiction, which I tend to put aside in favor of fiction, especially when I'm tired. I finished Outliers, and I'm still waiting for Midnight Rising through inter-library loan, so tonight it's chick lit from the HVL collection: Sophie Kinsella's The Undomestic Goddess. It's actually just the ticket after a day like today...
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
11:30 a.m.: On my way to work, I make a couple of stops. First I head to Gilman Electric to pick up the light bulbs I requested last week. (Our beautiful lighting design, alas, requires special order bulbs.) Next, I stop at Walmart to get some white craft paint for the Christmas ornaments that will be sold as a fundraiser for the Friends of the Library. I also price card tables--we were given an amazing Christmas Village that I want to set up in the meeting room for Christmas in Harrison, but all our folding tables will be in use with the Cookie Walk and Gingerbread Men Decorating. The tables are about $30 apiece; we have some time, so I'll think about this and see if I can come up with any other ideas. Finally, I am on the road. I listen to "Maine Calling" on MPBN on the way; today's topic is old cemeteries in Maine, and the host is interviewing a couple of experts. Hmm... I'll make a note of this, that might be an interesting program for the library.
12:50 p.m.: I arrive at the library. First, I check for damage from Hurricane Sandy; we don't appear to have suffered a power outage, so the server for the library catalog remained online, yay, as well as our wireless service. I don't need to call the state and have them talk me through resetting the router. Volunteers arrive and need to be given today's jobs, so I get them settled and begin opening my email.
1:00-2:30 p.m.: Open the library. Pull books that have hold requests and put them on the hold shelf. The checks have been signed--prepare bills to be mailed. Fix the printer's paper jam. Renew Inter-Library Loan items on our Portland Public Library account. Talk to a patron about a book he is looking for; we don't own it, so I make an ILL request from Portland using their online system. This reminds me I need to tweak the procedures on our end, and edit the form we are currently using to notify Portland when we receive items from other Maine libraries. I make the changes, explain them to Joy, and have her make copies of the new forms. I realize I have to speak to the ILL supervisor personally, as an item has arrived that we did not request--a mixup at a library in Arizona sent our request elsewhere, and we got someone else's. Back to email; send an email to the Book Club reminding them of this week's meeting. Reply to an email from our computer guy saying he needs a model number off the barcode on the bottom of my laptop to order the new battery it needs--unfortunately for me, there about 6 barcodes on the bottom of my laptop, none of which clearly state they are the model number. Call Trustee Karen Toohey to tell her she has been reimbursed for the turkeys she bought for the Turkey Supper. Call Trustee Bill Wood to tell him the photo he gave me for the newsletter won't work, and I need him to either give me another or stop by for a "mug shot".
2:30 p.m.: The woman who does the newsletter layout has sent me this year's first draft; I review what she's done, answer her questions, and think about what else needs to go in the newsletter. I decide I need some time to think, which I won't get today because it's Halloween, and let her know I'll get back to her ASAP.
2:45 p.m.: Storytime tomorrow! It's also Parent-Teacher Conference day, so no school; this might mean a big group for Storytime, so I check the supplies for the craft I planned and ask Joy to help prep. I review the stories and activities planned to make sure I don't need to make any last-minute adjustments. I think what I planned will be fine, so I won't reinvent that wheel.
3:00 p.m.: Wow...we've already pre-sold 4 ornaments for the Friends' fundraiser. I guess I'd better get the prototypes ready--the Friends will copy the three different ornaments I've made. Time to get out that paint I bought, as well as the glue gun! First, though, I print the list of overdues so Joy can double check the shelves to make sure nothing got put away without being checked in. (I hate sending an overdue notice for something that's already back.)
4:00 p.m.: Request more items through inter-library loan.
4:30 p.m.: Hang the ghost outside and prepare the candy for trick-or-treaters. Bill Wood stops in to have his picture taken.
5:00-7:30 p.m.: Hand out candy and admire costumes. In between trick-or-treaters, I check the inventory list the volunteers have been working on for items that need to be marked as lost, or changed in some way in the catalogue. It's a slow job, but good for when I need to stay at the desk for long periods of time.
7:45 p.m.: 200 people have come through the door since 5:00, and I've given away 5 gigantic bags of candy. I'm beat! Time to head home. I've been trying to listen to non-fiction audiobooks on my commute; I've found being captive in the car is a good way for me to "read" non-fiction, which I tend to put aside in favor of fiction, especially when I'm tired. I finished Outliers, and I'm still waiting for Midnight Rising through inter-library loan, so tonight it's chick lit from the HVL collection: Sophie Kinsella's The Undomestic Goddess. It's actually just the ticket after a day like today...
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
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