Just Ten Books

Ten new dystopias for teens

2012-02-13T19:56:00.000-06:00

Now, I actually like Valentine's Day and had plans to post a lovey-dovey post about Valentine mysteries. However, I was tapped to help a patron with recommendations for dystopias for teens just today so I am killing two birds with one stone! Here is a nice list of *new* dystopias for this blog that will serve nicely as a jumping off point for a patron. The timing is just a little funny because V Day doesn't really scream plagues, zombies, and totalitarian governments to me. Whatever, we're rolling with the punches.

This list highlights some of the great number of dystopia themed novels that have come out in the past couple of years. After the Hunger Games did so well, dystopias got HOT! This was good news for me because a) I love sci fi/fantasy stuff (and yes that makes me nerdy) and b) it is stealing the thunder away from the paranormal romance trend *cough...Twilight...cough, cough*. So, let's put down our Whitman's Samplers and pick up our sawed off shot guns. It is dangerous out there!

10. Ashfall by Mike Mullin

9. The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch

8. Ashes by Ilsa Bick

7. A Crack in the Sky by Mark Peter Hughes

6. Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts

5. The Death Cure by James Dashner

4. Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

3. Divergent by Veronica Roth

2. Blood Red Road by Moira Young

1. Matched by Ally Condie

Holy @#&*-- Ten books about censorship

2012-01-18T10:42:00.000-06:00

Looks like many big internet site are going black today to protest SOPA and censorship of the internet. I don't know a lot about this issue, but I do know a little about censorship. Every fall the ALA presents Banned Books Week to celebrate the freedom of speech by encouraging people to read books that have been censored. Such an ingenious way to get young people to read; tell them it is forbidden!

But this list isn't a compilation of books that have been banned, it is a collection of fictional titles in which censorship plays a crucial role in the plot. For example, Ella Minnow Pea tells the story of an island government that starts outlawing the use of certain letters until only LMNOP are left. Fly by Night explores what would happen if not just a few, but all books are banned.

There is a little something for all ages here because censorship isn't only an adult concept. And in researching this post I found that the potential of censoring the internet would be totally annoying to my life. I think I clicked on the Wikipedia page 3 times today forgetting it was black for the SOPA protest. Keep the information free! I'm too lazy to use the proper channels for research!

10. Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn

9. Maudie and Me and the Dirty Book by Betty Miles

8. Library Wars by Kiiro Yumi

7. Nothing But the Truth by Avi

6. Fly by Night by Frances Hardinge

5. 1984 by George Orwell

4. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

3. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

2. Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie

1.Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Ten books set in boarding schools

2012-01-09T09:35:00.000-06:00

As a product of the public school system, boarding schools always seemed so exotic and interesting to me. No parents! Dress codes! Tom foolery! Perhaps I am not alone because the boarding school is a popular setting for novels. Rarely do I have to prune down my lists because there are so many options, but not today folks. Boarding schools are hot!

As an adult I have met several people who attended boarding schools in their past and their experiences were strikingly similar to mine except for the presence of communal bathrooms. Way to burst my bubble, people. Based on the literature out there, boarding schools are supposed to be filled with mischievous rich kids who break the rules (The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks), poor wretched souls enduring horrible headmasters (Jane Eyre), or exceptional people learning about their amazing skills (The Lightening Thief). Maybe if you don't fit in any of those three categories, you end up in a public school. Can't think about that too long, the cat just spilled my coffee all over my desk.

10. The Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

9. The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan

8. My Name is Not Easy by Debby Dahl Edwardson

7. Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens

6. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

5. Looking for Alaska by John Green

4. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

3. Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

2. Boy: Tales of Childhood by Roald Dahl

1. A Separate Peace by John Knowles

Ten Christmas Craft Books

2011-12-22T19:36:00.000-06:00

There is something about Christmas that brings out craftiness. I even got bitten by the bug and did a guest post for my friend Joy's craft blog Story Crafting about making Hot Cocoa Gift Jars. Check it out! Shameless promotion!

As it turns out, there are roughly 1 billion Christmas craft books. 90% of the books out there are either about Victorian crafts or Swedish traditions*. Apparently the Victorians and Swedes really know how to do the holiday right. Oh, and gnomes. They have their own craft book, too. I wonder what gnome crafts are?

Anyway, I hope all of you readers have a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday season.

10. Fa La La La Felt: 45 Handmade Holiday Decorations by Amanda Carestio

9. Christmas, 1940-1959: A Collector's Guide To Decorations and Customs by
Robert Brenner

8. Two Hour Christmas Crafts: 200 Inspirational Decorating Ideas to
Celebrate the Season by Michele Thompson

7. On Hour Christmas Crafts by Leisure Arts

6. Christmas Crafts Year Round: 60 Great Gifts You Can Make From January
to December by Holly Boswell

5. Christmas Doughcrafts by Elisabeth Bang

4. How to Make a Swedish Christmas! by Helen Ingeborg

3. Heaven Scent: Aromatic Christmas Crafts, Recipes and Decorations by
Julia Lawless

2.'Twas the Knits Before Christmas by Fiona Goble

1. The Gnome's Book of Christmas Crafts by Carol Endler Sterbenz
A note in the library record says "inspired by gnomes." Awesome.

*This statement is 100% correct.

Ten mysteries starring real people

2011-12-15T11:35:00.000-06:00

I know I have posted lists of mysteries many times before, but there is just something about the genre that tickles me. Now, I don't like to read mysteries, but I do enjoy wacky premises and titular puns. I also love mystery readers who will get very attached to one type of mystery (cozy, knitting, cat centered,etc) and read EVERYTHING in it. They are almost as rabid as the romance readers...almost.

Today's list highlights the sub-genre of mysteries that takes a real person (or in one case, a character from a highly popular fiction book) and imagines what they would be like as a super sleuth. For example, Bing Crosby hunts down the man who killed his horse trainer in Fly Me to the Morgue. Come on! That is awesome! Many of these books come with descriptions that include some variation of the line "but soon the body count and tensions start to rise!" I know, I am looking for my library card right now, too!

10. Blue Suede Clues by Daniel M. Klein (Elvis)
 
9.The Adventure of the Ectoplasmic Man by Daniel Stashower (Harry Houdini)
 
8. Nevermore by Harold Schechter (Edgar Allan Poe)
 
7. Groucho Marx, Master Detective by Ron Goulart (Groucho Marx)
 
6. Murder on the Cliffs By Joanna Challis (Daphne Du Maurier)
 
5.The Tale of Hill Top Farm by Susan Wittig Albert (Beatrix Potter)
 
4. The Big Stick by Lawrence Alexander (Theodore Roosevelt)
 
3. Fly Me to the Morgue: A Rat Pack Mystery by Robert J. Randisi ( Bing
Crosby and Dean Martin)
 
2. Poison, Your Grace: A Simon and Elizabeth Mystery by Peg Herring (Queen Elizabeth)
 
1. Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James (Elizabeth Bennett and Fitzwilliam Darcy from Pride and Prejudice)

For more lists and information about mysteries, take a look at:

http://www.stopyourekillingme.com/index.html

Ten books about Google

2011-12-08T11:00:00.000-06:00

Google is taking over our lives, at least mine, anyway. I use a Google product everyday, including the basic search, calendar and, ha-ha, even this blog. It has gotten so big that the company name is now a verb as in, "I don't know the answer, let me google it." I only heard someone try to use the name Bing in the same way and she said, "I've been binging images all day!" It just sounded silly.

The following list illustrates how Google has become a cultural phenomenon and goes far beyond just retrieving information on anything and everything. The books are not how to use Google manuals (and there are many more than ten!), but rather commentaries on their business plan and the tech world. Ironically I didn't use Google to compile the list. Go figure.

10. The Google Resume: How to Prepare for a Career and Land a Job at Apple,
Microsoft, Google or any Top Tech Company by Gayle Laakmann McDowell

9. Search and Destroy: Why You Can't Trust Google, Inc. by Scott Cleland

8. Is Google Making Us Stupid? by Nicholas Carr

7. What Would Google Do? by Jeff Jarvis

6. Planet Google: One Company's Audacious Plan to Organize Everything We Know by Randall Stross

5. Google Bomb: The Untold Story of the $11.3m Verdict that Changed the Way We Use the Internet by John W. Dozier

4. Getting Organized in the Google Era: How to Get Stuff Out of Your Head, Find It When You Need it and Get It Done Right by Douglas Merrill

3. Everything I Know About Marketing I Learned from Google by Aaron Goldman

2. Are You Smart Enough to Work at Google? by William Poundstone

1. Whoogles: Can a Dog Make a Woman Pregnant? - and Hundred of Other Searches
That Make You Ask "Who Would Google That?" by Kendall Almerico

Five books by rappers

2011-11-16T21:27:00.000-06:00

I love ridiculous things! 99.9% of the titles I buy for my library are legit purchases that reflect the wants and needs of the community. 'Tis my job to serve them. But every so often, I cannot help myself and I am compelled to buy something that I think is just silly. One such purchase was the graphic novel Cold Space by Samuel L. Jackson. What is he doing writing sci-fi graphics? I had to have it! Another was the new YA novel Playground by the rapper 50 Cent. Say what? Fiddy wrote a book...for teens? Awesome! The story follows a teen who was bullied because of his weight. He tries to win credibility in the halls by beating another kid with a sock full of batteries. Mission accomplished? Read more to find out!

Fifty Cent isn't alone. Several other rappers have used their way with words not only to create some phat beats, but also fine reading. By "several" I mean I found five. There may be more, but I limited my list to non-autobiographical entries. As an added bonus I have included a video from Flight of the Conchords called "Hurt Feelings" about how rappers aren't all tough guys, but can get hurt just like you and me.

5. Fresh Fly Flavor: Words and Phrases of the Hip Hop Generation by Fab 5
Freddy

4. Queen of the Scene by Queen Latifah

3. Love Don't Live Here No More: a Novel by Snoop Dogg and David E. Talbert

2. Kings of Vice by Ice-T and Mal Radcliff

1. Playground by 50 Cent with Laura Moser

Flight of the Conchords - Hurt Feelings - HD from cricobs on Vimeo.

Ten books in which the characters leave Iowa

2011-10-26T20:08:00.000-05:00

Last time on Just Ten Books, I posted a list of books set in Iowa and then blathered on about my respect for the state. While compiling that list I discovered another trend in literature...the flight from Iowa! Characters leave the state in search of something else. I guess Iowa is the archetype for the quiet farm life and a great setting for a restless soul who dreams of bigger things that only the bright lights of the city can bring. Whatever. Who would want to leave a place that has affordable house prices and Whitey's Ice Cream? Me? Oh, no. I have actually never lived in Iowa, but rather on the Illinois/Iowa border. The only reason I never made it across the Mississippi river to set up camp is because I'm just not cool enough. True story.

10. Reamde by Neal Stephenson

9. Blockade Billy by Stephen King

8. Orphan! by John R. Weber

7. Leap of Faith by Danielle Steel

6. Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson

5. The Year We Left Home by Jean Thompson

4. To the Frontier by E. Cody Kimmel

3. Jinx by Meg Cabot

2. Charlotte's Rose by A.E. Cannon

1. Kira - Kira by Cynthia Kadohata

Ten books set in Iowa

2011-10-20T21:09:00.001-05:00

While reading some reviews for up coming fiction I noticed that there are a fair amount of new titles set in Iowa. Yeah, Iowa, not New York City. This piqued my interest because, truth be told, I'm a fan of the Hawkeye State. What's not to like? It is home to the world's largest truck stop, taco pizza, and some of the friendliest people on Earth.

I am thrilled to compile a list of books set in Iowa that go beyond the YA staple of my-parents-dumped-me-on-my-relative's-farm-for-the-summer plot line. Go Hawkeyes!

10. The Luck of the Buttons by Anne Ylvisaker

9. A and L do Summer by Jan Blazanin

8. Stranded by J.T. Dutton

7. The Mostly True Story of Jack by Kelly Regan Barnhill

6. Rotters by Daniel Kraus

5. Sparks by S.J. Adams

4. Ashfall by Mike Mullin

3. Weeping Underwater Looks a Lot Like Laughter by Michael J. White

2. A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley

1. The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller

Kindles, eBooks and Overdrive

2011-09-27T10:09:00.000-05:00

Kindles can now use Overdrive to check out library ebooks! Finally!

What on Earth is she talking about? Overdrive is a service provided by many public libraries that allows patrons to download ebooks and audiobooks to ereaders and other devices free of charge. All you need is an internet connection and a valid library card. I am very much in love with this service and use it all the time for both my mp3 player and Barnes and Noble Nook Color (which is awesome BTW).

HOWEVER, the Amazon Kindle did not play well with Overdrive and I had to be the mean librarian telling Kindle users to pound sand when they asked about downloading books. This is not the roll I was born to play. Being a super helpful and friendly librarian is more my speed.

But now, Kindles can download ebooks! Hallelujah! For more information on how to get free library books for your Kindle (or any other ereader for that matter) please watch the video below.

Ten YA books with mermaids and sirens

2011-09-21T21:42:00.002-05:00

Like giant squids aren't scary enough, these books tell us that there are other dangers of the sea...MERMAIDS AND SIRENS! Hear that beautiful music that seems to be coming for the shore, don't follow it! It is a siren attempting to lure you to your death! See that ravishing woman bobbing next to your boat? Don't fall in love with her! She'll just try to take you to her underwater kingdom and you won't last long. Did you see the Little Mermaid? That kingdom ain't that great and appears to be filled with dinglehoppers and whos-its (forks and bowling trophies).

Thankfully YA writers are slowly leaving vampires and werewolves behind and exploring other mythical creatures. I'm all for it! Fantasy books with strong female characters? Hot dog!

10. Ripple by Mandy Hubbard

9. Siren's Storm by Lisa Papademetriou

8. Emily Windsnap and the Siren's Secret by Liz Kessler

7. Forbidden Sea by Sheila Nielson

6. The Mermaid's Mirror by L.K. Madigan

5. Keeper by Kathi Appelt

4. The Islands of the Blessed by Nancy Farmer

3. Aquamarine by Alice Hoffman

2. Sirena by Donna Jo Napoli

1. The Girl with the Mermaid Hair by Delia Ephron

Ten football books for kids

2011-09-13T09:57:00.001-05:00

Do you hear that? It's a cheer coming from couches all across America! Football season is here! Whether you like to play the game or watch it from home, the fall is the time for you. And if you are a kid, this new season must be a welcome distraction from the adjustment of going back to school. Here is a list of children's books about the game to help set the mood for the season. Go Bears! Go Pats! Can I root for two teams? Is that sacrilege?

So, why make a list of children's books about football? Great question! The idea came from my very good friend Joy who is an elementary school librarian and super crafty lady. She made a PVC goal post for her school library and wanted a list of books to go with it. Pictures are available on her uber cute blog Story Crafting with Joy. Thanks for the idea/challenge, Joy!

10. Baily School Kids: Bogeymen Don't Play Football by Debbie Dadey and Marcia Thorton Jones

9. Kick the Football, Charlie Brown! adapted by Judy Katschke

8. Football Genius by Tim Green

7. Cori Plays Football by Christine Florie

6. The Million Dollar Throw by Mike Lupica

5. The Dog that Stole Football Plays by Matt Christopher

4. Red Zone by Tiki and Ronde Barber with Paul Mantell

3. Gunner, Football Hero by James E. Ransome

2. Footballs and Falling Leaves: A Fall Counting Book by Rebecca Fjelland Davis

1. T is for Touchdown: a Football Alphabet by Brad Herzog

Ten children's books celebrating their 50th anniversaries in 2012

2011-09-08T19:32:00.000-05:00

1962 was a big year for children's publishing because a whole heap of wonderful books came out that year and are still read today. In 2012, these titles will celebrate their 50th anniversaries and still hold up today. In fact, three (yes three!) of my all time favorite children's books show up on the list (Chicken Soup With Rice, A Wrinkle in Time and The Snowy Day). I don't know why this time period produced some great books, but it did and now we are still reaping the rewards 50 years later.

As a bonus I have included a video of Carole King singing Chicken Soup with Rice which I had on a tape cassette as a child and listened to ad nauseum. Now I haven't heard this song since I was a wee thing, but you better believe I just sang along! Why do I remember the words to this song, yet can't get my work phone number right? I know it has a lot of 7's.

10. Chicken Soup With Rice by Maurice Sendak

9. On Board Noah's Ark by Ludwig Bemelmans

8. Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni

7. The Berenstain Bears and the Big Honey Hunt by Jan and Mike Berenstain

6. D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths by Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire

5. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr. Illus by Eric Carle

4. A Wrinkle in Time by Madleine L'Engle

3. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

2. The Phantom Toolbooth by Norton Juster

1. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

Librarians and Libraries in music videos (and one TV show)

2011-09-01T16:06:00.001-05:00

Let's take a break from books and visit the the land of pop culture. Here we will see how libraries and librarians are viewed through the lens of music video. Cardigan sweaters? Check. Shushing? Check. Tight buns (both the hair do and the physical form)? Check. Uptight biddy who suddenly lets down her hair and loosens up? You better believe it. If I had a nickle for every time that scenario played out at work I would have zero nickles. We also have the trend of bizarre stuff happening around people who are trying to study. Poor George Harrison is just trying to rock out and he has to deal with all of the knick knacks on his shelves coming to life. The folks in Tears for Fears not only have a studious monkey, but also a guy in a gas mask. I know some libraries are really dusty, but come on!

Please enjoy the following music videos and I encourage you to click on the Hulu link at the bottom of the post. This is a full episode of Parks and Recreation in which the plucky government agency has to deal with their arch nemesis...the library!

To quote deputy director Leslie Knope: "Are you even listening to yourself? You're defending the library now? Ron, the library. Of all the horrifying miserable things in the world."

George Harrison "I've got my mind set on you"
His library comes to life!

Tears for Fears "Head Over Heels"
This is the "literal version" called such because the lyrics have been changed to describe what is going on in the video. Is that Dave Coulier?

Red Jumpsuit Apparatus "You Better Pray"
Why must they always dance on the furniture?

Cascada - Everytime we touch

Cascada "Everytime we touch"
She falls for the rare and elusive guy-brarian!

Toto "Africa"
They are playing a concert on a hardback book. What more can be said?

Van Halen "Hot for Teacher"
Eddie Van Halen has a rockin' solo in the library! Again, why must they dance on the furniture?

University of Washington School of Library Science "Librarians Do Gaga"
What a wonderful spin on Lady Gaga's "Poker Face"! My favorite line is "don't forget the databases!" Because, seriously, we often forget about the databases.

Parks and Recreation - The Library (on Hulu)

Ten books I haven't finished

2011-08-23T11:26:00.000-05:00

In the past, I have mentioned that if a book doesn't grab my attention after about 40 pages, then I don't feel the need to finish it. This stems from the feeling that there are a lot of great books out there and I don't want to spend my time on the mediocre (with notable exceptions like Megan Macafferty's Bumped).

Now I have a new future reader in my life who gets the majority of my attention during the day (and I love it! He just started smiling which now completes the feedback loop! Hallelujah!) With less time to read, any book I pick up must be of *quality*. "Quality" is a relative term and to me it means strong characterizations or unique story lines or enthralling fact. I don't have much time to spend on anything that can be described as "OK." That means I have been discarding books left and right lately and here is a list if books that I thought would be awesome, but didn't live up to that expectation. These come from my reading log of everything I've picked up. This started in April of 2011 and of the 30 books I have picked up in that time, I haven't finished 13 of them. That's 43%. Huh. That's a lot.

10. I am Number Four by Petticus Lore - I so wanted to like this book and then like the movie. Poor writing quelled that hope.

9. Ape House by Sara Gruen - Water for Elephants was so good! What happened? Oh, right. Studying monkey behavior is boring.

8. Ashes - Kathryn Lansky - YA historical fiction about Germany after World War 1, you would think it would be a home run. Then they introduced Albert Einstein as a character...

7. Nothing Daunted by Dorothy Wickendon - This is the biography of two New York society ladies heading out to teach in rural mountain schools in the early 20th century. I might try this one again, but was stymied the first round by a lot of tangential detail about *everything*. Ask me about industrial age Auburn, New York! I know a lot about it now!

6. Coraline by Neil Gaiman - Boo! I like his stuff, but got really creeped out by this one. I might try this one again, but only read it during daylight hours.

5. Miss Peregrine's School for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs - This one really doesn't belong on this this list, but technically I did not finish it. This is a great conceptual book that interweaves real turn of the century photography into a fantastical storyline. It had wonderful characters, great settings in 1940's Wales and a fun conversational voice, but I put it down once I figured out where it was going. Granted it I only had 20 pages left, but was starting to lose interest and then an awesome book that I had on hold came in. Fair weather friend.

4. A Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale - I LOVE her writings and books, but I don't like plots similar to Cyrano de Bergerac in which love triangles spring from false identities. And this books was centered on that.

3. Sex on the Moon by Ben Mezrich - He wrote Bringing down the House and The Accidental Billionaires which had stories that were so compelling they almost wrote themselves. This story was a little bit more dry even though it is about a man who worked at NASA and decided to steal a piece of the Moon for his lady. Maybe it was too soon to read this after the ending of the shuttle program *sniff sniff.* Why can't NASA be as awesome now as it was back then?

2. Eargon by Christopher Paolini - Great story, but too long to read when you have a newborn. I will definitely pick it up in the future when feeling the need to escape to another land where there be dragons!

1. Unlovable by Esther Pearl Watson - Wow. This graphic novel is based on a diary of a insecure 1980's high school girl that the author found in a gas station bathroom. It was so depressing I only got 6 pages into it.

Now that you have read a litany of my complaints here a a couple books that I have read (and finished) that absolutely RAWKED. We can end on a positive note.

Bossypants by Tina Fey
Stork by Wendy Delsol
Jane Eyre by Emily Bronte
How to Shop for Free by Kathy Spenser (I quote this one almost daily. DH may want to strangle me)
American Rose by Karen Abott
In the Shadow of the Lamp by Susan Dunlap
Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King (perhaps my favorite from the list. I won't say anything about it as to not spoil the book).

Ten titles that patrons always get wrong

2011-07-27T15:05:00.000-05:00

Ever step up to a reference desk, online catalog or even set foot into a book store and completely blank on what you are looking for? That happens to me all the time and I blame it on the vulnerability of the human memory! What's worse than forgetting what you are looking for entirely is having an incorrect title at your disposal and believing with your whole heart that it is correct. This happens everyday in the library. A patron comes up to the reference desk with a title that is about 80 percent correct and has trouble finding that book in the catalog. The unforgiving catalog doesn't work with just 80 percent. What follows is a list of common titles and some real patron requests.

10. The Kids are All Right - The Children are OK

9. The Help by Kathryn Stockett - The Maids, The Kitchen Help

8. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese - Cutting Stones, Cracking Stone, Cutting with Stone

7. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand - Unbridled, Undaunted, That one by the lady who did Seabiscuit

6. Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder - Mountains and Mountains

5. Hitman: The Untold Story of Johnny Martorano by Howie Carr - Hit Squad, Mafia Man, Whitey Bulger's book

4. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson - The Dragon Girl, The Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who is Lisbeth Salander.

3. The Emperor of Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee - The Emperor of Cancer

2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - The Hungry Gamer

1. Origin of Species by Charles Darwin - Oranges and Peaches (now this might just be library school legend, but I think I would just fall to pieces if someone asked for Oranges and Peaches at the reference desk. If only I could be so lucky!)

I Can't Believe I Read the Whole Thing

2011-07-12T13:33:00.000-05:00

Usually readers have a threshold for how many pages they will give a book before they give up. Some will stick with a book for 100 pages, 75 pages, etc before throwing in the towel on a truly dreadful piece of dreck. I won't even comment on folks who torture themselves by feeling the need to finish book that they start. They have my pity. I, on the other hand, have a lower tolerance and usually will chuck a book if it hasn't grabbed me by page 40. Maybe I have a shortened attention span because I am part of the MTV generation, who knows? I just know that if the book doesn't make me want to pick it up again, then forget it. We're done.

Every so often I will be surprised by a seemingly not-so-fantastic book and Bumped by Megan McCafferty certainly did that. In short, the book is set in a future filled with social media gadgets and a virus that makes everyone infertile by the time they hit 18 (if they can have kids at all). Teen ladies then act as surrogates for wealthy couples who give them cars, money for college, etc. By page 40 I was thinking, "another dystopia? More viruses? Wealthy couples exploiting the fertile? I know where this is going and I'm not ready to watch it play out. Heck, I have already read A Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood."

But then I kept reading. And I am glad that I did because some surprising things popped up. A long lost twin! Religious fervor! Blatant mockery of American consumerism in the form of a hunky, hunky stud being marketed as a man-brand! The book actually turned around and went from "why bother?" to "more, please!" Such a happy surprise and in short, I read the whole thing and liked it.

Perhaps I should be more patient with books or perhaps authors should make their first 40 really boffo. Maybe a combination of both. That might be a lot to ask of both of us. I guess readers will just have to wait for expectation defying books like this one.

Ten Off-Beat Parenting Books

2011-07-10T14:39:00.000-05:00

I am about to be a parent in roughly 3 days. This will be a big change in my life for sure so you would think that I have been reading numerous parenting books in preparation. You would think. However, I have actually been reading an obscene amount of trashy young adult novels (bad skin! no boyfriends! salty language! so good!). So 3 days before showtime, I decided to see what kind of books are out there and boy, there are a lot!

As it turns out, there are many guides on how a modern lady can survive and thrive as a new mom. Many of the books tout being fabulous and fashionable as a goal one can achieve while others basically say outright that the only way to keep your sanity is to hit the bottle (and I'm not talkin' formula). There is also a HUGE does of snark. From what I can glean from these titles, I am going to need a good pair of heels, a bottle of wine and enough sarcasm to put any trashy YA novel heroine to shame.

10. Preggatinis: Mixology for the Mom-To-Be by Natalie Bovis Nelson

9. Bump it Up: Transform Your Pregnancy into the Ultimate Style Statement by Amy Tara Koch

8. I Killed June Cleaver: Modern Moms Shatter the Myth of Perfect Parenting by Deborah Werksm

7. Didn't I Feed You Yesterday?: A Mother's Guide to Sanity in Stilettos by Laura Bennett

6. Sippy Cups are Not for Chardonnay: And Other Things I had to Learn as a New Mom by Stefanie Wilder-Taylor

5. The Three Martini Playdate: A Practical Guide to Happy Parenting by Christine Mellor

4. Raising the Prefect Child Through Guilt and Manipulation by Elizabeth Beckwith

3. Stop Dressing Your Six Year Old Like a Skank: A Slightly Tarnished Southern Belle's Words of Wisdom by Celia Rivenbark

2. Nap Time is the New Happy Hour: And Other Ways Toddlers Turn Your Life Upside Down by Stefanie Wilder- Taylor

1. Let's Panic About Babies!: How to Endure and Possibly Triumph Over the Adorable Tyrant who Will Ruin Your Body, Destroy Your Life, Liquefy Your Brain and Finally Turn You into a Worthwhile Human Being by Alice Bradley

***Here is a ridiculous bonus! It is a clip from the Bravo show Pregnant in Heels in which a mom to be tells her "pregnancy concierge" that she wants to be have her portrait done while she is naked on a horse. I can't make this stuff up.

Ten Harlequin Romances

2011-06-24T21:54:00.000-05:00

Romance books. At first blush they seem cheesy and pure fluff. I mean, they are paperbacks that you can buy for super cheap with lots of emphasis on weddings, babies and various types of men. There are lots of Sheiks, Highlanders, Tycoons and Cowboys that have brides, surprise babies and "one night". Perhaps these topics are not high literature, but romance books have the market cornered on escape and they are just fun to read. Yeah, I said it. I've read some and I'm not ashamed!

But romance books don't deserve our respect because they are easy and fun to read. Aw, heck no. They deserve our respect because they are monsters when it comes to the publishing world. People just love to buy them in print and as ebooks which means that there is money in these stories, cowboy! Some our the highest circulation among the library's ebooks are the romance books. I could back this up with citations, but I'm too tired to look them up. Just trust me. So, three cheers for romance books and their success in the publishing industry! Here is my tribute to the grand-daddy of the romance publishers, Harlequin.

As an added bonus, I have added a book trailer of The Master and the Muses by Amanda McIntyre at the bottom. Me-ow.

10. Dangerous Lord, Innocent Governess by Christine Merrill

9. From Daredevil to Devoted Daddy by Barbara McMahon

8. Promoted to Wife? by Paula Roe

7. The Littlest Marine and the Oldest Living Married Virgin by Maureen Child

6. Real Men Wear Plaid! by Rhonda Nelson

5. Innocent in the Sheikh's Harem by Marguerite Kaye

4. With this Fling...by Kelly Hunter

3. The Cowboy's Bonus Baby by Tine Leonard

2. To Have the Doctor's Baby by Teresa Southwick

1. Resisting Mr. Tall, Dark and Texan by Christine Rimmer

Ten YA books about survival

2011-06-12T19:38:00.000-05:00

Like being a teen isn't hard enough, what with chemistry tests, frequent school dances, and catty frenemies, imagine going on a pleasure cruise only to be stranded on a life raft (Sharks and Boys). Or going on a school field trip and ending up surrounded by alligators (Lost in a River of Grass). Or flying to a beauty contest only to crash land on an island with a gaggle of pageant queens (Beauty Queens). The following books tell the stories of what happens when teens have to fight for their lives, not just for social standing. Well, some of them have to fight for social standing. At least that is what I think I was supposed to glean from Lord of the Flies...

10. Nim's Island by Wendy Orr

9. Nation by Terry Pratchett

8. Lord of the Flies by William Golding

7. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell

6. The Cay by Theodore Taylor

5. Are You Going to Kiss me now? by Sloane Tanen

4. Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

3. Lost in a River of Grass by Ginny Rorby

2. Sharks and Boys by Kristen Tracy

1. Voyage of the Frog by Gary Paulsen

Ten books about thieves

2011-05-30T10:47:00.000-05:00

What is more annoying that having something stolen from your person? Perhaps a lot, but getting robbed is a real bummer. Lose your wallet and suddenly a lengthy trip to the Department of Motor Vehicles is in your future. Some miscreant stole the GPS right out of my glove compartment which, after a lengthy debacle, caused me to buy a new car (he stole my car key as well, but left the car...)

In honor of those jerks who take things that do not belong to them, I have compiled a list of books on thievery. But why? Come to find out that the number one book on the list The Icon Thief by Alec Nevala- Lee just showed up on Amazon for pre-order! This is momentous because Alec is a talented writer and happens to be a friend of mine. To get a taste of his writing style and aesthetic, check out his blog at http://nevalalee.wordpress.com/

10. The Coral Thief by Rebecca Stott

9. The Memory Thief by Rachel Keener

8. The Nightmare Thief by Meg Gardiner

7. The Apostrophe Thief by Barbara Paul

6. The Map Thief by Heather Terrell

5. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

4. The Thief of Time :a novel of Discworld by Terry Pratchett

3. The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke

2. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

1. The Icon Thief by Alec Nevala-Lee

Ten titles that start with "The Man With..."

2011-05-29T09:25:00.000-05:00

The other day I was helping a patron in the library (stay with me, this isn't as boring as it sounds). He saw a book on our new releases table called The Man with the Baltic Stare and asked, quite rightly, what on Earth is a "Baltic Stare." I did a cursory internet search and didn't come up with anything. This patron said, "Well, I think I have the Mediterranean stare. We're always looking in the distance for more wine!" Now, that is something I can get behind!

In honor of this most witty patron, I have compiled a list of books that have titles that start with "the Man With..." Some are funny like The Man with the Squirrel and some are just weird like The Man with Two Arms, but all tell the tale of some guy who did something. Tenuous link? You bet. Enjoy!

10. The Man with a Tan by Anna Maxted

9. The Man with Two Arms by Billy Lombardo

8. The Man without a Face by Isabelle Holland

7. The Man with a Load of Mischief by Martha Grimes

6. The Man with a Squirrel by Nicholas Kilmer

5. The Man with No Endorphins: and other Reflections on Science by James
Gorman

4. The Man with the Barbed-Wire Fists by Norman Partridge

3. The Man with Two Left Feet by P.G. Wodehouse

2. The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit: a Jewish Family's Exodus from Old
Cairo to the New World by Lucette Matalon Lagnado

1. The Man with the Baltic Stare by James Church

Hmmm...looks like we have twins

2011-05-05T19:24:00.000-05:00

The FitzOsbornes in Exile by Michelle Cooper (April 2011)

Consequences of the Heart by Peter Cunningham (May 2011)

Ten upcoming movies based on books

2011-05-01T20:25:00.000-05:00

Aw shoot. As I have mentioned in past posts, one of my FAVORITE things to do is read a book and then see the movie adaptation. There is a bumper crop of literary films coming up which means my dance card is filling up rapidly as is my hold list at the library. Cannot wait! March 23, 2012 can't come soon enough!

10. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See July 15, 2011 IMDB

9. Something Borrowed by Emily Griffin May 6, 2011 IMDB

8. Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater June 17, 2011 IMDB

7. One for the Money by Janet Evanovich Jan 21, 2012 IMDB

6. Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay July 22, 2011 IMDB

5. The Help by Kathryn Stockett Aug 12, 2011 IMDB

4. Nim Chimpsky by Elizabeth Hess (Project Nim) July 8, 2011 IMDB

3. Judy Moody Goes to Hollywood by Megan McDonald June 10, 2011 IMDB

2. The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (Hugo Cabret) Nov 23, 2011 IMDB

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins March 23, 2012 IMDB

Good news for Kindle user and libraries

2011-04-27T12:31:00.000-05:00

Amazon.com will soon allow Kindle users to check out ebooks for free from their public libraries! This is great news! For a while now (years?) many libraries have offered free downloadable ebooks and audiobooks for patrons with valid library cards through programs such as Overdrive. Find a book online, download it and enjoy it on your Sony Reader, B&N Nook, etc. So wonderful. The downside was that the Kindle (a market leader) was not compatible with these types of systems and Kindle users were shut out from the awesome resource offered by their library. Not the fault of the library, but rather a business decision made by Amazon. Librarians across America have been forced to break this terrible news to eager Kindle owners...until now. Thank you, Amazon, for freeing librarians from the shackles of being the bearers of bad news!

So what's next?

According to Library Journal, we don't know when the Kindle will be able to start downloading from library sites. So for now, we anxiously hold our breath.
There are roughly 1 trillion* Kindle users out there who will soon be able to download with abandon from their local libraries. Since ebook publishers are rather strict about purchasing and lending policies of their materials (which is a whole 'nother post), libraries only have a certain number of copies of a particular title to lend out at one time. Very similar to paper books, like when there is only one paper copy of a book, only one person can have it at a time. This means that libraries will have to invest WAY more money into buying digital copies of books to keep up with the increase in demand.
I am going to have to learn how to use another ereader. Not so much a problem from the wider public, but something to consider.

*I made this figure up.

Want to learn more?

Amazon to Allow Library Lending of Kindle Books - Library Journal
Amazon announces e-book loans for the Kindle - CNN
Kindle Users to Be Able to Borrow Library E-Books - New York Times

Ten young adult books by bestselling adult authors

2011-04-21T09:44:00.000-05:00

There are some authors in this current publishing climate that seem to release a book every time there is a full moon. Generally they are bestselling adult authors with long running series books like Robert B. Parker and James Patterson. Haven't heard of them? Then apparently you haven't been to an airport, grocery store check out line, or crowded train in a while. Everyone is reading them and in turn, my guess is that these authors (and publishers) are diving into pools of money a la Uncle Scrooge. The best way to make more money is to sell more books and many of these authors with solid adult readership are tapping into a burgeoning and lucrative new market, young adult readers! The following is a list of very popular adult authors who have taken a stab at the young adult market.

This particular phenomenon causes two issues for me in library land. The first being the rabid adult followers who will read anything by a particular author. They see that Jodi Picoult has a new book and they want to reserve a copy post haste. They are then disappointed when I explain that the book isn't a social commentary with a surprise twist ending, but rather a Wonder Woman graphic novel. Cue small rain cloud over their heads. The second issue concerns the actual young adult readers. One of my colleagues likened James Patterson writing young adult books to giving teens cigarettes and getting them hooked young. Actually replace "cigarettes" with "crack" and that is more likely what she said.

10. Chasing the Bear: a Young Spenser Book by Robert B. Parker

9. Wonder Woman: Love and Murder by Jodi Picoult

8. Abarat by Clive Barker

7. Whispers Down the Lane by Beverly Lewis

6. Just Take My Heart by Mary Higgins Clark

5. Maximum Ride by James Patterson

4. Shelter by Harlan Coben

3. Virals by Kathy Reichs

2. Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer by John Grisham

1. The Carrie Diaries by Candice Bushnell

Bizarre book on the horizon - The Boy with Pink Hair

2011-03-30T19:29:00.000-05:00

I love when celebrities write books as illustrated by past posts about celebrity poetry, memoirs and children's books. Well, another children's book is coming down the pike and should be here in September. Come to find out, gossip blogger Perez Hilton is set to pen a book about being an individual called The Boy with Pink Hair.

I wouldn't have pegged him as writer for children, but hey, Madonna's first book Sex was followed up with the kiddy tale The English Roses. Perhaps Perez can jump from drooling over Britney and Glee to writing about being different and proud.

My guess is that my library will not purchase this book (we've been burned before, Tori Spelling!) But who knows? It could become a story time favorite like Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. That's unlikely, but could happen.

Ten special needs main characters

2011-03-30T19:12:00.000-05:00

April is almost here and happens to be National Autism Awareness Month. The following is a list if books that showcase people with special needs as the main character. Some are on the autism spectrum (Curious Incident, Marcelo...) while others deal with different issues such as blindness (Tangerine) and Down Syndrome (Free as a Bird).

I would love to say that I had the foresight to know that next month promotes awareness of autism and subsequently created a book list. Sadly no; it was just coincidence. However, I do feel it is very important for these types of books to exist. Not only do they give readers an insight on what it is to have a special need, but also shows those with special needs that they are not alone.

Notably absent is the book The Memory Keeper's Daughter in which a father gives up his daughter with Down Syndrome most callously and then proceeds to make awful life choices for himself and his family for the rest of his life. I hated this book and could not in good conscience put it on the list. The movie was worse than the book. Why did I watch it? Who knows? Just heed my warning and avoid it.

10. The Condition by Jennifer Haigh

9. A Face in Every Window by Han Nolan

8. Tangerine by Edward Bloor

7. Sparks by Graham McNamee

6. The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd

5. House Rules by Jodi Picoult

4. Mindblind by Jennifer Roy

3. Free as a Bird by Gina McMurchy-Barber

2. Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork

1. Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

Ten teen angel books

2011-03-21T09:27:00.000-05:00

I read a lot of book reviews, mainly for young adult titles because that is part of my job.
It is a great way to spot trends in publishing. These days it seems like every other review has the subject heading of "paranormal romance" no thanks to Bella and Edward. Don't know who they are? Then you obviously have been living in a cave or don't have regular exposure to screaming preteens.

What's the new trend? It is still paranormal romance, but we're heading away from vampires (thankfully). Now we're venturing into angel territory! Picture this, a young lady goes to high school and finds she is drawn to a mysterious and seemingly troubled young man. Come to find out, he is a fallen angel! Love and teen torment ensue. Not all the teen angel books follow that story line (especially my number one pick), but it gives you an idea of what I wade through for my job.

10. Halo by Alexandra Adornetto

9. Fallen Angel by Heather Terrell

8. Kindred by Tammar Stein

7. Angel Kisses by Cherie Bennett

6. Meridian by Amber Kizer

5. Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

4. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

3. Fallen by Lauren Kate

2. Angelfire by Courtney Moulton

1. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett

Five noteworthy things in library land

2011-03-03T20:38:00.000-06:00

Ah the library, an ever evolving place. Yes, there are still books there. Yes, you will get shushed if you are too rowdy. And yes, you will still sometimes find hilariously out dated materials on the shelves as seen in the blog Awful Library Books. However, there is some pretty hip stuff going on in library land. And I don't mean free DVD check out (although, that is rather hip). Nope. The library is an awesome place where no matter how small the budget, they still offer some pretty awesome stuff. Here is a list of what is new and, IMHO, awesome.

5. Rwanda's first public library: You read that right. Rwanda has raised the funds to build its first ever public library in the capital city of Kigali. What a wonderful step for this country that has seen strife and genocide in the recent past. While the website says that they planned to open in 2010, I recently saw and ad for a Library Director which makes me think that opening day is yet to come. For more information, please visit the Kigali Public Library website

4. Playaway View: Ever wish you had a small, portable TV that was preloaded with shows that you could just check out from the library? I can't say I have, but somebody obviously did and made the Playaway View. This product is made by the same folks who introduced the preloaded mp3 player into the library and saw great success. It appears that most of the players are loaded with kids' shows like Sesame Street and are intended for use by parents on the go. The promotional materials show a pleased little girl watching one whilst riding in a shopping cart. When they start loading them with Project Runway, I'll be 100% on board.

3. Flocabulary: Snoop Dogg - esque rap + SAT vocabulary lessons = Flocabulary. What more can be said? Just see for yourself.

2. Movie Stick: Made by the Library Ideas, who brought us Freegal music (awesome, awesome, awesome) the Movie Stick is a preloaded USB drive that allows you to play a full length movie. Simply check out the USB drive, plug it into your computer, iPad, Blu Ray player, etc and get a movie! So small, so portable. What a great idea. Don't look on your library's shelves yet. I hear they are still at the factory.

1. Overdrive App: Have I mentioned that I love audiobooks? I do, but now that I am an ereader owner, I also love ebooks. And subsequently, I love Overdrive, the free service that allows me to download audio books and ebooks for my various devices. With the new Overdrive App, patrons can now download these files to their Apple or Android devices directly! From anywhere! I don't get paid by Overdrive, but I should!

Bizarre book on the horizon - Gossip Girl: Physcho Killer

2011-02-18T12:10:00.000-06:00

Ok. I don't have ten books today, just one. Remember when Pride and Prejudice was overrun with zombies? How about Dick and Jane played with vampires? Last year brought us the new literary genre of the "mashup" which takes a classic book and then injects a subplot involving some sort of monster into the original text. Kitchy, ironic and very, very popular.

We are now about to be blessed with the second generation of mashups! Behold Gossip Girl: Psycho Killer by Cecily von Ziegesar. Von Ziegesar is the original author of the Gossip Girl series in which very wealthy New York elite high school students drink, fight and look fabulous. She will now re-release her first book, but interjecting new text in which the two main frenemies not only fight, but release their stress as serial killers. Yes, Blair and Serena not only know how to rock a headband, but also various killing implements!

So at first I bawked when I saw this new mashup thinking, "That isn't a classic! Those aren't monsters!" But when I presented this new title to my teen book group, all of the seventh graders assured me that it will be "awesome" and "totally cool." What do I know?

Ten books of celebrity poetry

2011-02-13T20:52:00.001-06:00

Valentine's day is here and all things lovey are de rigueur. Personally, I like the heart shaped box of chocolates, but some prefer to share their feelings through verse. Are you looking for the right poem to share with your beloved? Why read the masters of Lord Byron or Elizabeth Barrett when you can turn to pop culture celebs? Charlie Sheen not only acts and acts up, but also writes! (Who knew?) Leonard Nimoy gained fame as Mr. Spock, but also tickled trekkies with his words. Check out the following list celebrities who not only entertain us on stage or on screen, but also delight us with the English language.

On a sad note, I couldn't find the perfect video for this post. When our number one place holder, Jewel, was on TV promoting her book of poetry, she made an appearance on MTV. Chris Connelly, the interviewer, corrected one of Jewel's poems in a "I don't think this word means what you think it means" kind of way. She basically replied, "stuff it." TV gold. If only I could find this little gem to share. *weep weep*

10. The Lords and the New Creatures by Jim Morrison

9. Always a Reckoning and Other Poems by Jimmy Carter

8. A Peace of My Mind: Poems by Charlie Sheen

7. Blinking with Fists: Poems by Billy Corgan

6. Touch Me: The Poems of Suzanne Somers by Suzanne Somers

5. Yesterday I Saw the Sun by Ally Sheedy

4. Ten Last Night by Viggo Mortenson

3. Will I Think of You (poetry) by Leonard Nimoy

2. Palo Alto: Stories by James Franco

1. A Night Without Armor: Poems by Jewel

***Awesome Update ***
I found the video! It wasn't Chris Connelly (too nice, I suppose). It was Kurt Loder who was coerced Jewel to get all snippy about her poetry! Check it out here. Still good after all of these years!

Ten off beat yarn based craft books

2011-01-29T11:36:00.000-06:00

I don't know if it was the fact that it is twelve degrees outside and there is roughly 1 trillion inches of snow on the ground, but I just felt like I needed to get back into crochet. So, what the first thing I do? Why, I cruised through my library's online catalog for yarn craft books! Not only did I find a slew of great crochet books, but I also found a whole host of books for that hip, not-your-grandma's-knitting-needles kind of crafter. Stay with me; this isn't going to be a post that uses terms like "gauge" or "worsted". Instead, let's visit some of the more unique titles.

Each book on the list has a brief annotation for why it is on the list. Through my search I found numerous uses of atrocious puns such as "knitty-gritty" and "dyeing" to do something. There is also is a trend from Japan called Amigurumi, which is the art of knitting very tiny and cute things. From what I can tell these tiny, cute things are usually animals, food and everyday objects. Their purpose? No idea. Enjoy!

10. Radical Lace and Subversive Knitting by David Revere McFadden, Jennifer Scanlan and Jennifer Steifle Edwards
Find out what modern artists are doing with fiber arts. Not a sweater to be found.

9. Creepy Cute Crochet: Zombies, Ninjas, Robots and More! by Christen Haden
Amigurumi with tiny fictional characters! My inner hipster would like to check out this book.

8. Funky Knits: Knitting Know-How for Hip Young Things by Carol Meldrum and Julie Marchington

It contains instructions for how to dye yarn with Kool Aid and how to make and easy care cactus (whatever that is).

7. The Knitting Sutra: Craft as a Spiritual Practice by Susan Gordon Lydon
No patterns included, but rather essays outlining how to turn your knitting time into meditation time.

6. Yummi 'Gurumi: Over 60 Gourmet Crochet Treats to Make by Christen Haden
Some example patterns: cauliflower floret, Camembert, bacon. Thank goodness! I thought I would have to make my own pattern for bacon!

5. Zombie Felties: How to Raise 16 Gruesome Felt Creatures from the Undead by Nicola Tedman

The cover has a tiny felt Michael Jackson from Thriller with sequin brains! I'll take two!

4. Pretty in Punk: 25 Punk, Rock, and Goth Knitting Projects by Alyce Benevides

Lots of union jacks and chokers, Rock on!

3. Vampire Knits: Projects to Keep You Knitting from Twilight to Dawn by Genevieve Miller

Favorite pattern name: The Prim Reaper's Corset

2. Knockdown Knits: 30 Projects from the Roller Derby Track by Toni Carr aka Joan of Dark

A festive arm sling and a hangover kit! It screams "niche book!"

1. Yarn Bombing: the Art of Crochet and Knit Graffiti by Mandy Moore and Leanne Prain

This books has several things going for it. First of all the author's name is Mandy Moore! Not THE Mandy Moore, but still awesome. Secondly, the book's premise is how to create graffiti with knits. That means that it gives instructions for how to knit a cover for a parking meter or give a giant statue winter weather clothing. My personal favorite is the step by step instructions for creating a pink blankie for a full sized tank. "Tank" as in Sherman Tank. Finally, the Dewey subject heading is: Knitting -- Political Aspects.

Ten kids' books about dinosaurs and bedtime

2011-01-22T11:01:00.000-06:00

Paleontologists have discovered quite a bit about the lives and deaths of the mysterious dinosaurs. We now know when they lived, what they ate and how they cannot be controlled when resurrected for a island theme park a la Jurassic Park. But do we know how juvenile dinosaurs behaved at bedtime? The answer is yes, yes we do. According to the following list, tiny T Rex's were prone to pouting, stalling and throwing fits just like modern human children! Not much has changed!

This list is just a sampling of the dino themed bedtime stories out there. My number one choice, How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? is a story time favorite. Thanks to the internet, I have included a 7 minute video of the story in its entirety. Enjoy!

10. Dinosnores by Kelly DiPucchio

9. Good Night, Dinosaurs by Judy Sierra

8. Mama Rex and T Stay Up Late by Rachel Vail

7. Dinosaurs After Dark by Jonathan Emmett

6. Dippy's Sleepover by Jane Clarke

5. I Dreamt I was a Dinosaur by Stella Blackstone

4. Dinosaur's Binkit by Sandra Boynton

3. Snore, Dinosaur, Snore! by John Bendall-Brunello

2. Dinosaur vs. Bedtime by Bob Shea

1. How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Jane Yolen

Ten books written by football players

2011-01-18T14:01:00.000-06:00

It's that time of year when everyone gets a little Superbowl crazy. We're down to four teams playing in the championships and now a typical conversation starter is "did you see the game?" For me, the answer is generally no. I'm not a real football fan, but will still happily attend a Superbowl party because a) trash talking is fun and b) the snacks are usually top notch.

In the past, I have made lists of celebrity authors of various stripes. It seems only appropriate to have a list of books written by our favorite football players. Most are autobiographies, but we have the exceptions of the Manning family and Barber family who wrote children's books. Joe Montana wrote a self help book! Take a look at some of the game's more literary players.

10. My Life in Football by Dan Marino

9. Never Say Never by Doug Flutie with Greg Brown

8. Favre: for the Record by Brett Favre with Chris Havel

7. It's Only a Game by Terry Bradshaw and David Fisher

6. Namath by Joe Namath

5. Go Long! by Tiki and Ronde Barber

4. Bo Knows Bo: the Autobiography of a ballplayer by Bo Jackson and Dick Schaap

3. Comeback Kid by John Elway with Greg Brown

2. The Winning Spirit: 16 Timeless Principles that Drive Performance Excellence by Joe Montana

1. Family Huddle by Peyton, Eli and Archie Manning

-1. Never Die Easy: The Autobiography of Walter Payton by Walter Payton and Don Yaeger

Huh? -1? What's up with that? Actually, it is a nod to the 1985 Bears Winning team, who not only won the big prize, but made the best song in the NFL...The Superbowl Shuffle! Go Bears!

Ten narrative non-fiction titles: food edition!

2011-01-06T20:21:00.000-06:00

In library land the art of recommending a book for pleasure reading to a patron is called "Reader's Advisory." I know, library theory is boring, but reader's advisory is so not! Imagine pushing all of your favorite books onto other people all day. It is super fun until someone comes back and tells you that the book you suggested sucked. Then you turn to some wonderful library tools to help you recommend suitable books to people, not just what you think they should read.

Where am I going with this? In reality, there is no way that one person can read everything and then recommend the perfect book to a patron. Not possible (not even Nancy Pearl can do it.) Finding fiction books is easy. Sites like GoodReads and Novelist are awesome for that. But what about the poor forgotten genre of narrative non-fiction? It's non-fiction that reads like fiction! That is where lists like this next one come in. Here you shall find some winning non fiction that one can take on a plane or enjoy on a Sunday afternoon. If you are like me, you will read these books and then totally crave the subject matter. Curse you, highly suggestible self!

10. The Lost Ravioli Recipes of Hoboken: A Search for Food and Family by Laura Schenone

9. Banana: The Fate of the Fruit that Changed the World by Dan Koeppel

8. Candyfreak: A Journey through the Chocolate Underbelly of America by Steve Almond

7. The Fortune Cookie Chronicles: Adventures in the World of Chinese Food by Jennifer 8 Lee

6. Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Anthony Bourdain

5. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: a Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver

4. Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise by Ruth Reichl

3. Salt: a World History by Mark Kurlansky

2. Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All American Meal by Eric Schlosser

1. Dark Tide: the Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919 by Stephen Puleo

Ten books about the French Revolution

2011-01-02T20:17:00.001-06:00

Inspiration hit me yesterday. I should make a list of fictionalized accounts of the French Revolution! Why? I just so happen to be reading one right now and enjoy it greatly enjoy it (it is number one on the list). And because Oprah picked one as her new book club book! Thank you, Oprah for championing the cause!

The French Revolution is so important to world history because it really sounded the death knell for the aristocracy and inspired a bevy of other revolutions including our own*. The subject matter really lends itself to novelization because it is steeped in ideas, art, personalities and literature. Seriously, it is so fun to love/hate Marie Antoinette and empathize with the breadless masses. Heck, the French Revolution gave high school boys all over the world an excuse to make model guillotines to decapitate their sisters' Barbie dolls for class presentations on the Reign of Terror. I might have seen a couple in my day. So, aux armes, citoyens and enjoy this list!

10. The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy

9. The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette by Carolly Erickson

8. Marie Antoinette: The Journey by Antonia Fraser

7. A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel

6. The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner

5. The Gods are Thirsty: A Novel of the French Revolution by Tanith Lee

4. City of Darkness, City of Light by Marge Piercy

3. Scaramouche: a Romance of the French Revolution by Rafael Sabatini

2. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

1. Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Hey! You forgot Les Miserables by Victor Hugo! No, I didn't. Here is my community service announcement about Les Mis. Yes, it is about A French revolution, but not THE French Revolution of 1789 as many believe. It was actually centered around the June Rebellion on 1832 in which a group of students barricaded the streets of Paris for one day to protest a poor economy and general upset.

*Blogger's note 11/19/2011: Did I really write that? I am ashamed and an idiot. I was even a French Major in undergrad! For shame! No, the French revolution was inspired by our own, not the other way around. Thank you to the astute readers who called me out on the one.

Ten New Year's Eve Books

2010-12-31T09:56:00.000-06:00

The new year is just hours away. I'm sure celebrants all over are searching for champagne flutes and dusting off their noise makers. What better way to get into the spirit than to read a book set on New Year's Eve?

I have found some books that do just that; all or part of the action occurs on the first night of the year. It was very easy to find roughly 1 trillion mysteries called "The New Year's Eve Murder" and perhaps the same number of romances in which the lonely heroine finds love at the stroke of 12. I attempted to find books that use NYE in other fashions to mix it up a bit. In The Midnight Twins, two sisters are born on either side of midnight on NYE, which, as it turns out, gives them special powers for good or evil. dun dun DUN! One of my favorites, Bridget Jones's Diary starts off with a list of New Year's resolutions to cut back on alcohol, cakes and cigarettes and find the perfect man. Things don't go as planned which makes for a v. good read. My number one pick, is perhaps the most depressing children's story ever written, The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Anderson. A poor street urchin is forced to sell matches on a frigid New Year's Eve only to use up her wares trying to stay warm. It only gets worse from there. So...(poor transition coming) enjoy the list and have a happy new year!

10. New Year's Evil (Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys Super Mystery) by Carolyn Keene

9. The Deal by Timothy Lambert

8. Seven Mile Beach by Tom Gilling

7. The Assassins Gallery by David Robbins

6. Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding

5. The New Year's Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini

4. New Year's Eve by Caroline B. Cooney

3. A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby

2. The Midnight Twins by Jacquelyn Mitchard

1. The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Anderson

Ten retellings of Alice in Wonderland

2010-12-13T12:26:00.000-06:00

Lewis Carroll's book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is, of course, very well known. The story behind the story is that the titular Alice was based on a real little girl in Lewis Carroll's life named Alice Liddell. Also, this is very well known and Ms. Liddell would speak publicly about her role in the creation of the story.

Fascination with Alice and her Wonderland went beyond that of the tales within the book and the public has taken an interest in Carroll's exact relationship with Alice. In itself, it makes for a good story! Alice Liddell has morphed from simply being a writer's muse to a character fit for novelization herself! The following list is of books that have stepped beyond the walls of Wonderland and tell the story of Alice Liddell life and her point of view. Some are non fiction and others are fictional accounts of what she must have experienced. The Problem of the Surly Servant only has a cameo by Ms. Liddell who pops up when Sir. Arthur Conan Doyle and Charles Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll) attempt to solve mysteries together. It is a whole series. People will read anything.

10. Beyond the Looking Glass, Lewis Carroll's Dream Child by Anne Clark

9. The Real Alice in Wonderland: a Role Model for the Ages by C.M Rubin

8. The Other Alice: The Story of Alice Liddell and Alice in Wonderland by Christina Bjork

7. The Problem of the Surly Servant: a Charles Dodgson and Arthur Conan Doyle Mystery by Roberta Rogow

6. The King in the Window by Adam Gopnik

5. She Still Haunts Me by Katie Roiphe

4. Alice at 80 by David Slavitt

3. Hatter M: the Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor

2. Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin

1. The Alice Behind Wonderland by Simon Winchester

Ten pairs in children's literature

2010-12-09T10:34:00.000-06:00

Some things just go together like peanut butter and jelly or shoes and socks. Yes, they can stand on their own, but they work better as a team. How would Batman get through his day without Robin aiding him with bon mots such as "Holy sardine, Batman!"?

There are many, many great pairs in children's literature. Pairs where it would be hard to imagine the characters completing a worthwhile story arc without their compliment or in some cases, foil. Mr. Putter certainly would not enjoy his retirement without Tabby the cat there to cheer him on as he snacks and takes naps. Calvin would just be one weird kid without being joined by his imaginary friend Hobbes. And finally, Mike Mulligan would simply be unemployed if he didn't have the companionship of his steam shovel, Mary Anne.

**As an added bonus, I've included the scene from the 1966 film "Batman: The Movie" from which the "Holy Sardine!" line came from. In short, Batman is dangling from a helicopter attempting to thwart a shark that has completely swallowed his leg. They don't make 'em like this anymore. **

10. The Adventures of Ook and Gluk: Kung-fu Cavemen from the Future by George Beard and Harold Hutchi

9. Elvis and Olive: Super Detectives by Stephanie Watson

8. Mr. Putter and Tabby Series by Cynthia Rylant

7. Judy Moody and Stink by Megan McDonald

6. Bink and Gollie by Kate DiCamillo

5. Hansel and Gretel by The Brothers Grimm

4. Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson

3. Henry and Ribsy by Beverly Cleary

2. Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows

1. Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton

Ten books written by people with famous relatives

2010-11-30T21:05:00.000-06:00

When I was in graduate school, there was a very heavy emphasis on "networking." Use the people in your life as potential career contacts and who knows? Your dentist's second cousin twice removed might be able to get you a career in the Library of Congress. This was, of course, library school so the plum dream job was at the Library of Congress. Your future success is all in who you know, right? Works in the mob, why not real life?

The following authors have used their own contacts (I'm surmising) to help them secure a book deal. Their own contacts are their very own famous relatives! Famous people can make things happen and I'm sure having the last name of Schwarzenegger helped Arnold's daughter, Katherine get her book published. I have not passed judgment on whether the books are good or not, but I did include the authors relationship to someone famous. The only one I have even skimmed was Tom Parker Bowles book about adventurous eating. I had to see what it was all about because a library patron told me is was less about food and more about Mr. Bowles' spoiled whining. She was right!

10.Raising PG Kids in an X-Rated Society by Tipper Gore
Wife of Al Gore

9. Sisters by Lynne Cheney
Wife of Dick Cheney

8.Bodies of Water : Short Fiction by Rosanne Cash
Daughter of Johnny Cash

7. It is Hard to Be Five by Jamie Lee Curtis
Daughter of Tony Curtis

6. Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
Wife of Charles Lindbergh

5. The Truth About Diamonds by Nicole Richie
Daughter of Lionel Richie

4. The Daughters by Joanna Philbin
Daughter of Regis Philbin

3. The Year of Eating Dangerously: a Global Adventure in Search of
Culinary Extremes by Tom Parker Bowles
Son of the Duchess of Cornwall Camilla Parker Bowles

2. World War Z by Max Brooks
Son of Mel Brooks

1. Rock What You've Got: Secrets to Loving Your Inner and Outer Beauty
from Someone Whose Been There and Back by Katherine Schwarzenegger
Daughter of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver

Ten authors who also wrote song lyrics

2010-11-19T12:52:00.000-06:00

Artists. Many are very versatile and actually carry many titles on their CV such as writer/actor/musician/gourmet chef/ unicycle enthusiast. It only makes sense that some authors have ventured boldly into the word of music and written lyrics for music. What is poetry really but a song without a back beat? Below is a list of authors who penned the words for the songs of others.

Some of the authors purposefully set out to write a song such as Shel Silverstein did for the Irish Rovers and "The Unicorn" or Nick Hornby did for the entire Ben Folds album "Lonely Avenue." In other instances, musicians simply plucked a chunk of prose from a published work and set it to music. The most notable example of this was the Byrds who took a Bible verse and made it into the pop standard "Turn! Turn! Turn!" Very clever! Now, the band Ambrosia did this multiple times. At some point that ceases to be clever and starts being lazy. Just sayin'

10. Kurt Vonnegut - "Nice, Nice, Very Nice" by Ambrosia
Lyrics come for the book Cats Cradle

9. A.A. Milne - "The House at Pooh Corner" by Kenny Loggins
Lyrics from the book by the same name. Best known for When We Were Very Young

8. James Joyce - "Re-Joyce" by Jefferson Airplane
Lyrics from Ulysses

7. Samuel Taylor Coleridge - "The Rime of the Ancient Marnier" by Iron Maiden
Lyrics from a poem of the same name. Best known for Kubla Khan

6. King Solomon (The book of Ecclesiastes) - "Turn, Turn, Turn (to
Everything There is a Season) by the Byrds
The Book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible

5. Lewis Carroll - "Mama Frog" by Ambrosia
Lyrics from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

4. W. B. Yeats - "Crazy Jane on God" by Van Morrison
Lyrics from the poem of the same name.

3. Dave Eggers - "The Ghost of Rita Gonzolo" by One Ring Zero
Best known for A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

2. Shel Silverstein - "The Unicorn" by The Irish Rovers
Best known for A Light in the Attic

1.Nick Hornby - "Lonely Avenue" Album by Ben Folds and Nick Hornby
Wrote the lyrics for the whole album! Best know for High Fidelity

Ten parodies

2010-11-14T15:57:00.000-06:00

Mimicry is the sincerest form of flattery, right? What about mimicry with a humorous twist? Still flattering? The following list is some very popular works that have been revised by others into something that is supposed to poke fun at the original text. If done well (Harry Potty and the Deathly Boring), we all get a laugh. If done poorly (The Da Vinci Cod), you get a mystery centered around fish. Every review I read of that book was scathing. It has something in common with the work it is based on! (zing!)

Each entry has a a sample of what makes it funny written in red below it. I think I chuckled over He-Whose-Prices-Can't-Be-Beat for a good fifteen minutes. Comic gold!

10.Barry Trotter and the Unauthorized Parody by Michael Gerber
Starring Barry Trotter, Ermine Cringer, and Lon Measly

9. What Color is Your Parody?: A Self Harm Manual for Job-Hunters and
Career Changers by Charlie Haas

8. Furious George Goes Bananas by Michael Rex
George rebels after being exploited by a "man in a funny hat."

7. Twilite: a Parody by Steven Jenner
Starring Stella Crow and Edweird Sullen

6. Diary of a Stinky Dead Kid by Stephan Petrucha
Greg turns into Glugg, a zombie third grader

5. Who Moved my Secret?": the Ancient Wisdom that Tells You it's Okay to
be Greedy: a parody by Jim Gerard
Chapter 2 "Life- Its all your fault"

4. The Da Vinci Cod: a Fishy Parody by Don Brine
"Fishclaimer:
This book has not been authorized or endorsed by Dan Brown or his
publishers, but it is much, much funnier."

3. Bored of the Rings: a Parody by Henry Beard
The small and hairy Frito takes on an epic journey in Lower Middle Earth.

2. The Zombies of Lake Woebegotten by Harrison Geillor
The back cover reads, "I honestly thought that if there was going to be a zombie outbreak in Minnesota, it would be at the Mall of America...Harrison Geillor has proven me wrong.-The Minneapolis Daily Times"

1. Harry Potty and the Deathly Boring by Stephan Petrucha
Starring Lord Value-Mart (He-Whose-Prices-Can't-Be-Beat)

Ten Dick and Jane variations

2010-11-08T20:00:00.000-06:00

To live the United States is to know the early reader books of Dick and Jane. Two terribly cute 1950's style children act out wholesome adventures in short simple sentences. They are so pervasive that the two have worked their way into the collective unconscious of the United States. Because of the time when they were popular (the fifties and sixties), their themes (boys do boy things and girls do girl things), along with their pastel washed innocence, the whole Dick and Jane universe is used to describe the typical fifties childhood.

Because the Dick and Jane personae are so loaded with cultural meaning that their use in other theaters is a shortcut to describing what is was to be a child of the post war era. The following authors have used the Dick and Jane franchise as a way to point out what was wrong with that era (Dick and Jane as Victims: Sex Stereotyping in Children's Readers) or as a foil to their book's story (See Dick and Jane Lie, Cheat and Steal: Teaching Morality to Kids). This list only scratches the tip of the ice berg. There must be a class in creative writing programs called "How to work 'Dick and Jane' into your book's title."

10. Let's Kill Dick and Jane: How the Open Court Publishing Company Fought
the Culture of American Education by Harold Henderson

9. On the run with Dick and Jane by Robert Gover

8. Dick and Jane and Vampires by Laura Marchesani and Tommy Hunt

7. Scrooge meets Dick and Jane by Roger C. Schank

6. Dick and Jane as Victims: Sex Stereotyping in Children's Readers by
Women on Words and Images

5. Dick and Jane Don't Live Here Anymore: Trends in Georgia Education from
1971-2008 by Ellen Crowne

4. Growing up with Dick and Jane: learning and living the American Dream
by Carole Kismaric

3. See Dick and Jane Lie, Cheat and Steal: Teaching Morality to Kids by
Arnold Shapiro

2. Dick and Jane: Pre-Marriage Discussion with Youth and Others by Kenneth
W. Smith

1. Yiddish with Dick and Jane by Ellis Weiner, Barbara Davilman

Ten things to consider when buying an Ereader

2010-11-06T20:01:00.001-05:00

With the holiday season approaching, I've been getting questions at the library about ereaders. Are they good? How do they work? What's the best one? Usually I like to tell people that ebooks are awesome and the wave of the future, but I do not name one particular reader as one that I recommend. Not because there isn't a stand out reader, but rather there are so many flavors and features to consider that the perfect ereader is different for everyone. Below is a list of ten things to consider when buying an ereader. The best thing you can do for yourself is to be well researched before setting foot in a store.

Disclaimer: The following are my opinions as to what is helpful. I am a librarian and I am really cheap. These two factors certainly color my opinion about what is important (access to free materials) and what is not (cuteness factor- However, if someone made one that looked like a cat, I would buy it in a heartbeat).

10. Price
     This is an easy one. Figure out how much you would like to spend and try to hit that mark. The Borders Kobo sits at the low end of about $140 while the Apple iPad starts at $499. If you plan on buying titles from online book stores, it doesn't hurt to find out what an average price would be. Each title purchased contributes to the overall investment you will be making.

9. Memory or memory card access
   More baseline memory means it holds more books! Being able to add an additional memory card can only increase that number.

8. Share books with friends
    Some ereaders such as the Barnes and Noble Nook allow you to share books you have purchased through them with other Nook users. Amazon's Kindle will start to offer this function soon.

7. Ability to play audiobooks vs machine like reader voice
    Some readers allow you to download audiobooks as well as ebooks. This is great because there is a huge market of high quality audiobooks out there read by talented actors and narrators. Other ereaders offer a function that will read the book to you, but sounds like a machine. This can be handy if you are interested in hearing how certain things are pronounced or you want to read and listen to the book at the same time.

6. e-ink screen vs. LCD or LED
    The screen is hugely important because it is what you will be staring at for hours and hours. Most ereaders (Nook, Kobo, Alex, Kindle...)have the e-ink screen which looks very similar to ink on paper. The benefit to this type of screen is that it can be read in direct light and doesn't fade. The drawback is that it cannot be read in the dark and requires a reader to have a book light or lamp. LED screens (iPad) are back lit and can be seen in almost any kind of light except direct sun light. These screen are the same as laptop screens.

5. Touch screen
    Totally personal preference.

4. Color screen
    Can add to the illustrations and reading experience, but can also drain battery life.

3. Battery charging and battery life
    This is very important. How an ereader is charged can be a deal breaker. Some can plug into the wall while others have to plugged into the computer to charge through them (Kobo). Like any other battery operated device, the duration of a charge can very greatly. Some ereaders have batteries that can be replaced when they wear out while others do not. Once the battery no longer holds a charge, it's curtains for that device.


2. Connectivity - Wifi vs. 3G vs. computer connection
    How your ereader downloads content is very important. Wifi is shorthand for a wireless internet connection. If you have wireless at home or at your library you are golden. 3G connects through cell towers like a cell phone so you can download titles anywhere there is a signal, inside or out. Some companies (Apple) charge you for 3G while others (Amazon) do not. The more simple ereaders need to be connected to a computer to download content. First you need to download whatever titles you want onto your machine and then transfer them over to your ereader.

1. Ability to download ebooks from outside sources such as a public library
    Several times a week I get asked how to check out ebooks from the library. It can be done and many libraries offer titles for free if you have a library card. However, there are a few companies that do not allow these files to be downloaded to their ereaders and instead want you to buy books from them. The iPad and Kindle are two examples. That's not to say that it will be this way forever, but be forewarned. I feel like a grinch everytime I tell an enthusiastic Kindle user that Amazon does not play nice with the library.

For more information...
Amazon Kindle
Apple iPad
Barnes and Noble Nook
Borders Kobo
Sony Reader
Spring Designs Alex

Ten steampunk books

2010-11-04T10:56:00.000-05:00

We've got a healthy trend regaining popularity. Steampunk books! They were hot in the 80's and now they are back! So, what is steampunk? It is a subgenre of science fiction that is characterized by Victorian era technology being used to in innovative ways. Many of the works have amazing machines in them such as blimps and submarines that are run with steam and intricate networks of gears. The characters wear corsets or top hats and create robots and time machines out of steal and ingenuity.

For some good examples of Steampunk machines and fashions, check out the article in wikipedia. Or get hip with the trend and make your own steampunk inspired crafts. It's science fiction so it doesn't matter how anachronistic it is! Personally, I like the steampunk cell phone. It has screws for buttons!

10. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

9. The Dream of Perpetual Motion by Dexter Palmer

8. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore

7. The Brimstone Key by Derek Benz

6. Invisible Things by Jenny Davidson

5. The Time Machine by H.G. Wells

4. The Affinity Bridge by George Mann

3. Dreadnought by Cherie Priest

2. Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

1. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

Craft Book Bonus:

Steampunk Softies: 8 Scientifically- Minded Dolls from a Past that Never Was by Nicola Tedman

Ten books based on Shakespeare's plays

2010-10-27T19:36:00.000-05:00

Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by this list of books inspired by William Shakespeare! These books have taken a particular play by the bard and then adapted it to it's own story. These aren't books that tell the further adventures of particular characters or share the story from another perspective. For example, much like the Jets and the Sharks danced it out as rivals in the movie West Side Story, Sharon Draper updated Romeo and Juliet in Romiette and Julio as young loves torn apart by modern gangs. It has the same framework as the original play, but without all of the "oh, happy dagger"-ing.

Below each title is paired with the play that inspired it marked in red. As an added bonus, I've included the "When you're a Jet" song from West Side Story at the bottom. One of the finest films ever made.

10. The Madness of Love by Katharine Davies   Twelfth Night

9. Romiette and Julio by Sharon M. Draper   Romeo and Juliet

8. Starcrossed by Mark Schreiber   Romeo and Juliet

7. A Girl, A Ghost and the Hollywood Hills by Lizabeth Zindel   Hamlet

6. Exposure by Mal Peet   Othello

5. A Winter Night's Dream by Andrew Matthews   A Midsummer Night's Dream

4. Love in Idleness by Amanda Craig   A Midsummer Night's Dream

3. Something's Rotten in the State of Maryland by Laura Sonnemark   Hamlet

2. Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty by Jody Elizabeth Gehrman   Much Ado About Nothing

1. A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley   King Lear

Is this the future of book marketing?

2010-10-20T20:37:00.001-05:00

Uber prolific author, James Patterson, is offering the first 30 chapters of his new book Don't Blink, which came out last month, for free on his website. Yes, for free.

Why is this interesting? He and his publisher are offering it as either an ebook or an audiobook. Download it to your machine and voila, you have the first part of a book! No paper required! Is this a glimpse of what is to come down the pike? If so, I'm in. I love, love, love audiobooks and ebooks and if publishers are going to make more of them and make them more accessible, then more power to them. Does this mean that print lovin' libraries are doomed? Pfft. Get hip, grandpa. Libraries are at the forefront of the digital media revolution by providing these resources to anyone with a card.

Check out two of my fave digital media vendors, Overdrive and Freegal. Overdrive provides free audiobooks and ebooks to library card holders. Freegal, which I desperately wish was at my local library, allows library patrons to download songs from the Sony music catalog for free. Chances are one or the other is at a library near you.

http://www.overdrive.com/
http://www.freegalmusic.com/

Ten candy books

2010-10-19T20:56:00.000-05:00

With Halloween just around the corner it is that time of year when you can't spit in a store and not hit a bar of "fun sized" candy. It is everywhere in anticipation that people like me will buy a huge bag way before Halloween, eat all of it and then have to buy more candy on the 31st. It's not a bad way to live.

In honor of the upcoming holiday that celebrates all things chocolate and nougat, I have compiled a list of candy books. These books are not about how to make candy (of which there are quite a few), but rather are stories in which candy plays a big role in the plot. I have also included some odd finds that came up while I was using search terms like candy, chocolate, etc. They aren't about candy, but are still awesome enough to recognize.

10. Chocolate Fever by Robert Kimmel Smith

9. Chocolat by Joanne Harris

8. The Candy Corn Contest by Patricia Reilly Giff

7. Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum by Lisa Wheeler

6. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier

5. Death is Semisweet by Lou Jane Temple

4. Goody Goody Gunshots: a Candy Shop Mystery by Sammi Carter

3. True Confections: a Novel by Katharine Weber

2. Candyfreak: a Journey into the Chocolate Underbelly of America by Steve
Almond

1. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Odd finds when searching for "candy"
Dad's E-mail Order Bride by Candy Halliday
Candy Girl: a Year in the Life of an Unlikely Stripper by Diablo Cody
The Great Outdoors starring (wait for it...)John Candy!

Here is a link to the finest scene in the movie the Great Outdoors. They don't make them like that anymore.
The Great Outdoors - The Old 96er

Ten teen mysteries

2010-10-15T18:45:00.000-05:00

Move over, Nancy Drew. There are some new teenage super-sleuths in town! Ok, maybe Nancy can stick around. She's just so charming and IMHO, way cooler that Frank and Joe Hardy.

In all honesty, I don't like reading mysteries. Many times the characters treat death in a very cavalier way which then bothers me to the point of distraction. For example, at one point in the adult mystery The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley, the 12 year old heroine Flavia announces at the breakfast table, "I found a dead body in the cucumber patch!" Rather than react with shock and sadness to this news, her salty older sister says something to the effect of, "you would." At that point the callousness of the characters began to needle me and it was curtains for that book.

However, these teen mysteries deal less with wanton disregard for the seriousness of death and focus on the riddle aspect of the genre. Peeling back the layers of the story and picking out suspects create for some truly great reads.

10. Pretty Little Liars by Sara Sheppard

9. Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz

8. A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly

7. Paper Towns by John Green

6. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

5. The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney

4. What I saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell

3. Bad Kitty by Michele Jaffe

2. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon

1. The Red Blazer Girls: The Ring of Rocamadour by Michael D. Beil

Ten children's books written for adults

2010-10-12T12:21:00.000-05:00

Oh, they look like children's books. They have colorful covers, big pictures and even pop ups, but these books are most decidedly written for adults.

Either parodies of well know children's books like Goodnight Moon or just a reinvention of the classic alphabet book, the Gashlycrumb Tinies, these books look like something junior would love to get into, but really are appealing to the child in all of us. The rather ironic, sarcastic and slightly grim child in all of us.

10. Politically Correct Bedtime Stories: a Collection of Modern Tales of our Life and Times by James Finn Garner
Riding Hood's Granny fights the wolf off by herself as a modern womyn.

9. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and the Undead by Don Borchert and Mark Twain
    The front cover shows the iconic whitewashed fence splattered with blood.

8. Fables: Legends in Exile by Bill Willingham
   Fairytale characters are exiled to modern New York only to pick up smoking habits and divorces.

7. Going Rouge: The Sarah Palin Rogue Coloring and Activity Book by Julie Sigwart
    Example: give the pig colorful lipstick

6. The Book of Bunny Suicides: Little Fluffy Rabbits Who Just Don't Want to Live Anymore by Andy Reilly
These rather cute rabbits find every way under the sun to end it all. I suppose this would fall under the category of "wicked humor."

5. All my Friends are Dead by Avery Monsen and Jory John

Read the book here at http://www.nomorefriends.net/

4. Pat the Husband by Kate Nelligan

Just like Pat the Bunny, but instead of petting a soft bunny you get to poke a no good hubby's beer belly.

3. Good Night Bush: a Parody by Gan Golan and Erich Origen
Goodnight Moon gets political.

2. The Gashlycrumb Tinies by Edward Gorey
"A is for Amy who fell down the stairs.
B is for Basil assaulted by bears."

1. Dick and Jane and Vampires by Laura Marchesani and Tommy Hunt
The Publisher's Weekly review of this book really sells it.

Ten books about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire

2010-10-01T19:39:00.004-05:00

So I was reading review of books I might like to purchase for my library and I came across Threads and Flames a fictionalized account of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire that occurred in New York at the turn of the century. The story is that of a young immigrant girl who goes to make ladies' blouses at the infamous factory with deplorable working conditions only to be caught in one of the most deadly fires of the time. The devastating fire brought the plight of the factory workers to light and help spur on labor reforms.

After reading the review I thought to myself, "I have totally read this same story before. At least twice." And indeed there are a slew of fictional books that play out very similar stories. In fact, I *easily* found ten which are listed below! For more information about this terrible tragedy, check out the short video from the PBS at the end of this post.

10. Ladies of Labor, Girls of Adventure by Nan Enstad

9. Bobe Mayse: a Tale of Washington Square by Nancy Bogen

8. East Side Story by Bonnie Bader

7. Dreamland by Kevin Baker

6. Triangle by Katharine Weber

5. Lost by Jacqueline Davies

4. The Locket: Surviving the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire by Suzanne Lieuance

3. Threads and Flames by Esther Friesner

2. Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix

1. Ashes of Roses by Mary Jane Auch

Ten banned books were required reading in my high school

2010-09-29T11:07:00.004-05:00

Happy Banned Books Week! This week libraries all over are celebrating the right of free speech by highlighting books that a have been threatened to be banned in the United States. Sometimes you see a title on the list of most frequently challenged books and you think, "Oh, I could totally see that. That book is all sorts of racy/violent/racist..." Others you see on the list and you think, "Wha!?! Where's Waldo? What is objectionable about that?" You'd be surprised. That Waldo has lots of scantily clad women cavorting through the pages. Check it out for yourself here.

Below is a list of books that I was required to read in high school that show up on the most frequently challenged book list. Either in the late 1990's my high school was very progressive or these challenges went unnoticed. Or perhaps parents and teachers realized that high school students very rarely actually read anything assigned to them so heck, assign anything you want.

As a bonus, I've included a list of frequently challenged books I wish I was required to read in high school! A special thanks to the American Library Association for compiling these statistics and lists. To see more banned/challenged titles, visit their website here.

10. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

9. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

8. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

7. 1984 by George Orwell

6. A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway

5. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

4.The Call of the Wild by Jack London

3. The Awakening by Kate Chopin

2. A Separate Peace by John Knowles

1.To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Five more banned books that I *wish* I was required to read in high school

5.The Witches by Roald Dahl

4.The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

3.The Face on the Milk Cartonby Caroline Cooney

2.The Giver by Lois Lowry

1.Where’s Waldo? by Martin Hanford

Ten epically long series

2010-09-26T18:21:00.004-05:00

As of late series of books have gotten a lot of press, most namely the Twilight Series and the Hunger Games Series. People just have to know what happens between Bella and Edward or between Katniss, Gale and Peeta. I, myself, got caught up in the Hunger Games frenzy and read perhaps 1 million blog entries dissecting the choices Katniss Everdeen must make. (Worth every minute!)

Series books have a huge importance in a library setting. We plan for them when arranging our shelves. The James Patterson shelf needs lots of room to grown because that man churns out a book every 30 seconds. Below is a list of series that take a a HUGE footprint in libraries because they have large numbers of volumes. Each entry has the series name, number of volumes and the title of the first book in the series. The number one entry, Sweet Valley High, kind of isn't fair because I included all of the spin off series as well for a whopping 143 books! Whatever. I made the list so at the top it goes!

10. Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire Series - 10 and counting...
Dead until Dark by Charlaine Harris

9. Dresden Files - 12 and counting...
Storm Front by Jim Butcher

8. A Series of Unfortunate Events - 13
The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket

7. Stephanie Plum Series - 16 and counting...
One for the Money Janet Evanovich

6.Alex Cross Series - 17 and counting...
Along Came a Spider by James Patterson

5. Redwall Series - 21
Redwall by Brian Jaques

4. The Alice Series - 22 and counting...
The Agony of Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

3. The Discworld Series - 33
The Color of Magic by Terry Prachett

2. The James Bond Series - 40
Casino Royale by Ian Flemimg

1. Sweet Valley High Series - 143
Double Love by Francine Pascale

Ten example of Southern Lit

2010-09-08T12:15:00.002-05:00

I just finished The Help by Kathryn Stockett and loved it! If you haven't heard, The Help is the parallel stories of white families and their African American help in Civil Rights era Mississippi. It had so many attractive qualities to the writing which made it hard to put down and one of those aspects was the setting...The South!

There is just something very intriguing about reading literature that is heavily rooted in a region. The setting itself becomes a character. The South comes to life by putting peanuts into a coke, the attending a junior league meeting, or desperately waiting for the heat to break. The following are examples of Southern Lit that really use the setting as a corner stone to the storytelling. Could the Ya Ya's thrive in Rockies? Hardly. I'm glad they landed in the Bayous complaining of heat instead chopping wood on a mountain in silence.

10. Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks

9. South of Broad by Pat Conroy

8. We are All Welcome Here by Elizabeth Berg

7. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

6. Miss Julia Speaks her Mind by Ann B. Ross

5. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

4. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg

3. Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Siterhood by Rebecca Wells

2. The Devil in the Junior League by Linda Francis Lee

1. The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Ten books about thirteen

2010-09-01T11:23:00.003-05:00

There is just something about the number thirteen, bet it the age or its mystical properties. A lot of books have been written about this number and I've found they generally fall into two camps, how hard it is to be a newly minted teen or how the number is just darn right sinister. Never one to like numbers myself, I haven't given 13 a lot of thought, but if I were to chose between pre-adolescent angst and creepiness, angst wins every time. I also found out that given the opportunity, I will misspell "thirteen" every.single.time.

Further research showed that authors LOVE the title The Thirteenth Apostle. As a bonus, I've included a list of those books at the bottom of the page. Oh, cruel fate! I could only find 12! How perfect to have 13!

10. My Thirteenth Season by Kristi Roberts

9. 13: Thirteen Stories that Capture the Agony and the Ecstasy of Being
Thirteen by James Howe

8. The Thirteenth Child by Patricia Wrede

7. Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich

6. 13 1/2 by Nevada Barr

5. Thirteen by Lauren Myracle

4. Thirteen Days: A Memoir of the Cuban Missal Crisis by Robert F. Kennedy
and Arthur Schlesinger Jr.

3. The Thirteen Problems by Agatha Christie

2. Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

1. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Thirteenth Apostle: What the Gospel of Judas Really Says by April De Conick
The Thirteenth Apostle by Michael Benoit
Saint Paul: The Thirteenth Apostle by Mary Lea Hill
The Thirteenth Apostle by Eugene Vale
The Thirteenth Apostle by Richard Johns
The Thirteenth Apostle by Gloria Gonzalez
The Thirteenth Apostle by Robert B. Baldwin
The Thirteenth Apostle by Denise Casillo
The Thirteenth Apostle by Robert T. Littell
The Thirteenth Apostle by Arthur Hagopian
The Thirteenth Apostle: The Coming Transubstantiation by Michael Jude
The Thirteenth Apostle by Bernie Smith

Ten up coming movies based on books

2010-08-19T19:45:00.004-05:00

One of my favorite things in the whole wide world is to read a book and then watch the movie based on said book. Love it! It ranks up there with eating chocolate covered pretzels and finding five bucks in your coat pocket. This fall there are a lot of movies coming out that are based on books so my "to read" list is gonna be full! What is surprising is the mix of genres that will be represented on film. We've got classics (Gulliver's Travels), graphic novels (RED),memoirs (Hard Sell) and non-fiction (Freakonomics). Well done, Hollywood! This assortment makes up for your gaff in trying to take the non fiction book Fast Food Nation and turn it into a very long and very dull fictional film. It has taken a long time for me to forgive Hollywood for that one. I still want those two hours back.

Some of the movies have different titles from the books that they came from. In those instances, the title of the movie is highlighted in purple. Let's check the movie lisitings, it's time to go to the multiplex!

10. Freakonomics by Stephen Dubner and Steven Levitt (October 1)

9. The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich (The Social Network October 1)

8. Never Let me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (September 15)

7. RED by Warren Ellis (October 15)

6. Hard Sell by Jamie Reidy (Love and Other Drugs November 24)

5. True Grit by Charles Portis (December 25)

4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1 by J.K. Rowling (November 19)

3. Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift (December 22)

2. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis (December 10)

1. The Tempest by William Shakespeare (December 10)

Ten Boston books for every age

2010-08-14T15:36:00.003-05:00

Its time to unearth the Red Sox tee and start dropping my r's because I've got a big weekend in Boston coming up.

What a great town. Depending on your views it can be high brow (Harvard Yard, the Museum of Fine Arts), Brimming with blue collar pride (Southie), pious (a rather Puritan history), or rebellious (the Boston Tea Party). I like to think of it as hard to drive in. In any case, Boston is a diverse town with diverse books. Here is a list with a little something for everyone. Did I miss anything?

10. Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas by Ben Mezrich

9. Johnny Tremain: a Novel for Old and Young by Esther Forbes

8. All Souls: A Family Story from Southie by Michael Patrick MacDonald

7. Hundred Dollar Baby (Spenser for Hire series) by Robert B. Parker

6. You Can't Take a Balloon into the Museum of Fine Arts by Jacqueline Preiss Weitzman

5. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

4. Mystic River by Dennis Lahane

3. The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White

2. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

1. Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey

PS- We've reached over 1,000 visitors! Thanks, guys!

Ten 80's rocker memoirs

2010-08-06T11:01:00.004-05:00

The 80's are back! This is rather evident by the sheer number of 80's music icon memoirs that are being published this summer and fall. In fact, these titles leapt out at me while I was compiling the last post about minor celebrity memoirs. I just could not be happier because these books combine two of my favorite things; biography and 80's music.

Now that we've had 25 to 30 years distance from the decade, these memoirs can take us back to the excess and Devil-may-care attitude of the rising MTV stars. I'll take a Diet Rite with a side of juicy details, please.

Take note: 9 out of the 10 books are traditional memoirs. The book by David Byrne of the Talking Heads, The Bicycle Diaries, is actual a travel log of his many trips through cities of the world while riding a fold-able bike. The Amazon review hints that it is full of social and architectural commentary. I would expect nothing else from a man who has penned lyrics such as "psycho killer, qu'est que c'est?"

10. Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir by Dave Mustaine (August 2010) Megadeth

9. Roses and Thorns: The Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy to My Reality by Bret Michaels (February 2011) Poison

8. Between a Heart and a Rock Place by Pat Benetar (June 2010) Sang "Love is a Battlefield"

7. Does the Noise in my Head Bother You? by Steven Tyler (October 2010) Aerosmith

6. The Bicycle Diaries by David Byrne (September 2010) The Talking Heads

5. Neon Angel: A Memoir of a Runaway by Cherie Currie (February 2011) Joan Jett and the Runaways

4. Late, Late and Night by Rick Springfield (October 2010) Sang "Jesse's Girl"

3. Tattoos and Tequila: To Hell and Back with One of Rock's Most Notorious Frontmen by Vince Neil and Mike Sager (September 2010) Motley Crue

2. My Appetite for Destruction: Sex, and Drugs, and Guns N' Roses by Steven Adler (July 2010) Guns N' Roses

1. Lips Unsealed by Belinda Carlisle (June 2010) The Go Go's

***Bonus Title***
Already in my hold queue at the library is:
Video Slut: How I Shoved Madonna Off an Olympic High Dive, Got Prince into a Pair of Tiny Purple Woolen Underpants, Ran Away from Michael Jackson's Dad, ... So I Could Bring Rock Videos to the Masses by Sharon Oreck

Ten memoirs by celebrities cashing in on their 15 minutes

2010-08-02T20:58:00.003-05:00

I have a prediction! I have seen the future in my crystal ball that tells me that the subjects in the following list will very likely and very quickly fall into obscurity! That is the curse of the brief shining moment called the "fifteen minutes of fame." Fame can fade as quickly as it shines.

But all is not lost! One of the great aspects of the library model is that it is a repository for books. Because of the nature of the beast, books that have long since vanished from store shelves live on in the stacks. A visit to the biography section especially is like going on a trip down memory lane where people who were hot several years back live on. When weeding (systematicly getting rid of old and unused books) in the youth biography section of a public library, I was able to reaquaint myself with all sorts of names I hadn't heard in a while. What's up, Jonathan Taylor Thomas? How's it going, Scottie Pippen? Did things turn out for you, Oliver North?

The following memoirs are by or about people who are H-O-T right now, but *might* not have staying power. Who knows, ten years from now Bernie Madoff might be the answer to a trivia question and Angelina Jolie will have retired and started wear Norma Desmond-like turbans. It doesn't matter if a star of 2010 loses their shine, their story will live on in the library.

10. My Booky Wook 2: This Time It's Personal by Russell Brand (Get Him to the Greek) January 2011

9. The Tattoo Chronicles by Kat Von D (Miami Ink) October 2010

8. I'm Not High (But I've Got a Lot of Crazy Stories About Life as Goat Boy, a Dad, and a Spiritual Warrior) by Jim Breuer (SNL) October 2010

7. I Do, Now What?: Secrets, Stories, and Advice from a Madly-in-Love Couple by Giuliana Rancic and Bill Rancic (E! News) Septmeber 2010

6. uncharted terriTORI by Tori Spelling (Beverly Hills 90210) June 2010

5. Suck It, Wonder Woman!: The Misadventures of a Hollywood Geek by Olivia Munn (Attack of the Show) July 2010

4. Angelina: An Unauthorized Biography by Andrew Morton (Salt) July 2010

3. Sliding into Home by Kendra Wilkinson (The Girls Next Door) July 2010

2. The Woman I Was Born to Be: My Story by Susan Boyle (The X Factor) October 2010

1. Betrayal: The Life and Lies of Bernie Madoff by Andrew Kirtzman (Giant Ponzi Scheme) August 2010

Ten questionable audiobooks

2010-07-29T15:40:00.005-05:00

In a past post, I mentioned that I wanted to do a list of awful audiobooks, but did not have enough to make a whole list (kudos, recording industry!). Well, I still don't have enough for a whole list of AWFUL audiobooks, but certainly found enough for a list of QUESTIONABLE audiobooks.

What makes for a questionable audiobook? For one, it is a book that is not 100% awful. Perhaps the text is wonderful, but the reader is not right. Or there is one glaring issue with the reader that it makes it hard to listen to (here's looking at you, Disreputable History...). Maybe the mere fact that it is an audiobook defies logic such as the whole catalog of graphic novel inspired recordings. It sounds weird, right? Well, frankly it is, but I have listened to two of them because I was flummoxed by the very notion of a graphic novel audiobook. As it turns out, this company has taken some very famous characters such as those from DC Comics and made radio plays with updated story lines. It was a mix of retro and contemporary. I liked it.

In short, for our purposes, questionable does not mean bad, but rather that there is something up with the project. Lucky for you, dear readers, I have annotated the list so you know what struck me as different about these titles. Can't wait, right?

10. David Sedaris: Live for Your Listening Pleasure by Daid Sedaris read by author
IT WAS ONLY ONE DISK! I like listening to David Sedaris' delivery and amusing subject matter, but this book did not even last the drive from Chicago to Bloomington.

9. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell read by the author
Great subject matter and generally a good delivery by the reader/author. One exception, the pronunciation of Michigan as "Mish-GUN" drove me batty.

8. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart read by Tany Eby
Again, great story but is it pronounced "study carrels" not "study corrales."

7. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indaian by Alexie Sherman (read by author)
I am so torn by this one! It was one of my favorite books of 2007 and had such a real voice as well as fun illustrations. By listening to it, you miss the illustrations, BUT the lilting voice of Sherman Alexie bring the character to life. Gah! I had to experience both.

6. The Lincoln Douglas Debates by Abraham Lincoln
Uh, I guess I do not have the patience of a 19th century voter. I got so bored!

5. A long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah read by the author
Such a tragic and important story, but I had trouble understanding the reader. :(

4. The Series of Unfortunate events books 3-5 by Lemony Snicket read by the author
All of the other books in the series were read by Tim Curry. No one can top that maniacal laugh. No one.

3. Hot Flat and Crowded by Thomas Freidman read by Oliver Wyman
The reader read every sentence as if it was a surprise or as if he was reading to small children. Annoying.

2. The Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
The pictures make the book! I guess this is a good tool for reluctant readers who can listen and fallow along in the books, but still...

1. Superman: The Never-Ending Battle by DC Comics read by full cast
As mentioned above, this is a audio version of a graphic novel. But more like a radio play. With sound effects. Listen to a sample here.

Ten "thousand" books

2010-07-23T16:22:00.003-05:00

We've almost made it! We're almost to 1,000 visits by you, the reading public! The actual number of visits is 876, but I figured I wouldn't remember to do a commemorative blog at that point, which frankly, could be a couple months away. So let's celebrate now!

Here is a list that highlight the number 1,000. Other than the number, nothing really unifies these books other than awesomeness (even that is debatable because I have actually only read A Thousand Acres and The Book of a Thousand Days. The others could be bunk.) On that note, enjoy!

As a bonus, here is a link to the two most read posts from this blog:
Ten weird craft and hobby books
Ten awesome audiobooks

10. A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley

9. One Thousand White Women: The Journals of Mary Dodd by Jim Fergus

8. A Thousand Days; John F. Kennedy in the White House by Arthur M. Schlesinger

7. A Thousand Cuts by Simon Lelic

6. Land of a Thousand Hills: My Life in Rwanda by Rosamond Halsey Carr

5. The Boy of a thousand Faces by Brian Selznick

4. A Thousand Country Roads: an Epilogue to the Bridges of Madison County by Robert Waller

3. The Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

2. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

1. One Thousand Beards: a Cultural History of Facial Hair by Allan Peterkin

Ten TV star memoirs

2010-07-22T16:42:00.003-05:00

Who loves to watch TV? I do! I do! All my life I have loved to watch TV, but only recently have I discovered the wonder of the TV star memoir! Everyone has a story to tell about what happened behind the scenes of xyz show and it is usually juicy. Things aren't always a squeaky clean as they are on TV and can not usually be tied up after 30 minutes. There are themes of stalled careers (sTORI Telling), drug addiction (Killing Willis) and general cast back stabbing (Behind the Bell). While many of the stories sound tragic, the mere fact that the actor/tress has written a book generally means that they were able to climb out of their personal crisis. That makes for a great story! Redemptive stories always deliver.

While this list is plum full of great stories from TV shows of the past, I cannot wait for the memoirs spawning from the shows of today! I wonder if Jon Hamm will write a book about how fun it is to be hunky on Mad Men or if Jennifer Carpenter will write about how weird it is to be married in real life to her on screen brother on Dexter. Dare to dream!

10. unSweetined: a Memoir by Jodie Sweetin (Full House)

9. Behind the Bell by Dustin Diamond (Saved by the Bell)

8. Confessions of a Prairie Bitch: How I survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love being Hated by Alison Arngrim (Little House on the Prairie)

7. Killing Willis: From Diff'rent Strokes to the Mean Streets of the Life I Always Wanted by Todd Bridges and Sarah Tomilson (Diff'rent Strokes)

6. Here's the Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding my True Voice by Maureen McCormick (The Brady Bunch)

5. Room to Grow: an Appetite for Life by Tracey Gold (Growing Pains)

4. C'mon Get Happy: Fear and Loathing on the Partridge Family Bus by David Cassidy (The Partridge Family)

3. sTORI Telling by Tori Spelling (Beverly Hills 90210)

2. Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist by Michael J. Fox (Family Ties)

1. Don't Hassel the Hoff: The Autobiography by David Hasselhoff (Knight Rider, Baywatch)

Bonus Books: While these books are not memoirs, they are just too fantastic to pass up!

Steve Urkel's Super-Cool Guide to Success! by C.M Appleton (Family Matters)

Vanna's Afghans A to Z: 52 Crochet Favorites by Vanna White (Wheel of Fortune)

Ten epistolary novels for teens written with IM's, blogs and emails

2010-07-19T12:39:00.004-05:00

OMG! Today's list is a collection of books told in letter form (epistolary novels), but instead of using actual mail, the books are told in the form of IM's, blogs and emails. An update of a classic (and my favorite) form!

There are some tough acts of follow in the young adult epistolary genre, such as Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky and Dear Bruce Springsteen by Kevin Major (jk about the Springsteen one, but it really is a novel!) Many of this new wave of novels are written for girls and the protagonists learn that the wild west of the internet is not as private as they think. "Oh no! My personal blog about the cute boys in social studies just got forwarded to the whole school!" Clearly, there are lessons to be learned through the tragedy of others. At least the Gossip Girl embraced the public nature of the internet and used it to ruin the lives of her friends...on purpose. In short, the format is developed, but the content of these books needs to mature some more.

I am all for these updates because letter writing is certainly on the wane and kids can connect to this type of format. When was the last time I received an actual letter without being written on a piece of paper to conceal a check? I can't even remember. When was the last time I got an email or text? About 20 seconds ago. On that note, g2g I've got a text to return.

10. Gossip Girl: A Novel by Cecily Von Ziegesar

9. Snail Mail No More by Paula Danziger

8. ChaseR by Michael Rosen

7. Little Blog on the Prairie by Cathleen Davitt Bell

6. Click Here (to Find Out How I survived Seventh Grade) by Denise Vega

5. 24 Girls in 7 Days by Alex Bradley

4. Something to Blog About by Shana Norris

3. Confessions of a Boyfriend Stealer by Robynn Clairday

2. A Tale of Two Summers by Brian Sloan

1. TTYL by Lauren Myracle

Ten fictional books based on paintings or painters

2010-07-16T14:40:00.017-05:00

Today at the library, I plunked myself down right next to the art book section. All those glossy pages and colorful spines gave me an idea, why not create a list of fictional books inspired by a painting or a painter? Come to find out, there are a few. A lot of the stories are the same: young ingenue is discovered by famous painter and the poses for a famous painting (Girl with the Pearl Earring, I, Mona Lisa, Dancing for Degas...). Others simply use the paintings a s springboard for a unique story arc. The Girl in Hyacinth Blue follows that particular painting as it travels through history in the homes of various owners. So good! Norman Rockwell's Greatest Painting tells the story of six people who posed for a painting many years ago and then have an unexpected reunion. Fun!

Along with each title I have posted an image of the painting that stars in the story. How can one talk about these arty books without the visuals to back them up? You can't, so here they are. I think I was halfway through The Girl in Hyacinth Blue before looking up the painting. Knowing what all the characters were talking about definitely helps.

10. I, Mona Lisa by Jeanne Kalogridis

Leonardo Da Vinci

9. Luncheon of the Boating Party by Susan Vreeland (renoir)

Pierre-Auguste Renoir

8. Norman Rockwell's Greatest Painting: a Novel by Hollis Hodges
(Sadly, I could not find the painting referenced in the book)

7. Sunflowers: A novel of Vincent Van Gogh by Sheramy D. Bundrick

Vincent Van Gogh

6. The Cezanne Chase by Thomas Swan (self portrait)

Paul Cezanne

5. Dancing for Degas by Kathryn Wagner

Edgar Degas

4. Mademoiselle Victorine by Debra Finerman

Edouard Manet

3. Lydia Cassatt Reading the Morning Paper by Harriet Scott Chessman

Mary Cassatt

2. The Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier

Johannes Vermeer

1. Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland

Johannes Vermeer

For more art fun, check out Simon Schama's "Power of Art" series. Here is a clip of the Caravaggio segment. Doesn't it make you want to watch the whole series? Seriously, the Van Gogh one was amazing!

I Write Like...

2010-07-14T12:34:00.002-05:00

I write like
Stephen King

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

Good heavens, I hope this is not true. I went to this very clever site and pasted in my text from "Ten books about journeys" and got this response. No where to I mention ghouls, blood, or creepy clowns yet apparently Stephen King and I share a style. Who knew?

Ten books about journeys

2010-07-09T13:24:00.003-05:00

Pack your bags, we're going on a journey. Not a Steve Perry "when the lights go down in the city" kind of journey, but one where you're leaving home and perhaps never coming back. I just took my own journey across half of the country with two cats in the back seat and a car that petered out halfway. While that sounds stressful (it was), it does not hold a candle to escaping to the woods because you found out your government will alter your brain at 16 (Uglies) or being shipped off to the US from China as a way to pay off your father's debts (Shanghai Girls). I think I lucked out in comparison.

This is by no means a comprehensive list, but rather some examples that I personally like. There are so many ways that this category could go such as personal growth journeys, sea journeys, survival stories, fleeing war, etc. I might revisit those in future lists. For now, I'm packing a cooler and getting ready to get out of town...through literature.

10. Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt

9. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

8. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

7. Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne

6. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

5. A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute

4. Away by Amy Bloom

3. Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

2. The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi

1. On the Road by Jack Kerouac

Ten books about plagues both real and imagined.

2010-07-05T13:40:00.003-05:00

Having a summer cold is the worst. Not that I have one, but I recently sold a bike to a lady who did. She was kind enough not to shake hands with me. But it got me thinking about plagues both real and imagined. Not that a cold virus can be considered a plague, but let's just go with it.

Plagues in literature take on many strains (pun intended). The non fiction or historical fiction variety detail the ravages of past disease such as the bubonic plague, yellow fever or cholera in which illness tragically kills many and strikes fear in the rest. Terrifying stuff. The fictional variety not only brings infection to the masses, but in many cases makes the ill threatening to the survivors in a zombie-eque kind of way. Sometimes these plagues come from other planets (The Host), science gone awry ( The Stand) or sadly, from the US government (The Andromeda Strain). My choice for the number one book is scary for multiple reasons. First of all it is a true account of a plague of yellow fever in Philadelphia. Secondly, it has several gruesome pictures. And finally, it is written for kids! They love that stuff.

10. The Stand by Stephen King

9. The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton

8. I am Legend by Richard Matheson

7. Run Far, Run Fast by Timothy Decker

6. The Plague by Albert Camus

5. The Ghost Map: The Story of London's Most Terrifying Epidemic- and How it Changed Sceince, Cities, and the Modern World by Steven Johnson

4. The Host by Stephenie Meyer

3. The Hot Zone by Richard Preston

2. A Journal of the Plague Year by Daniel Defoe

1. An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 by Jim Murphy

**Fun Note: if you are doing a Google images search for "plague", but misspell it as "plage" as I did, you get a lot of beach pictures. The French word beach is plage. Much more pleasant to look at!

Ten Revolutionary War Books for the Young

2010-07-03T14:24:00.002-05:00

As an English major I loathed the colonial section of any American lit class. Oh, how very sedate and crisp. The poetry of Anne Bradstreet made me yawn which is just such a shame because that era of history is so very interesting! To think, the colonists were staging a coup against one of the most powerful empires of the time. What!?! They must have really hated that tea tax.

So, tomorrow we will celebrate our nation's break from Britain with great aplomb. Fortunately we do not have to rely solely on the primary sources of the day to learn about the revolution. There are plenty of wonderful books, both in fiction and non fiction that really capture the tenor of the time. I have chosen some books for younger readers which really bring the past to life or simply put a personal spin onto a very abstract time. Let the fireworks of the past help you celebrate this fourth of July.

10.The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

9. George Washington, Spymaster: How the Americans Outspied the British and Won the Revolutionary War by Thomas B. Allen

8. Oh Say, I Can't See by Jon Scieszka

7. The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation: The Pox Party by M.T. Anderson

6. George vs. George: the American Revolution as Seen by Both Sides by Rosalyn Schanzer

5. Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

4. My Brother Sam is Dead by James Collier

3. John, Paul, George and Ben by Lane Smith

2. America: A Patriotic Primer by Lynne Cheney

1. George Washington's Teeth by Deborah Chandra, Madeleine Comora and Brock Cole

**on a side note**I love, love, love George Washington's Teeth because it shows such a human side to Washington and is written entirely in verse! Dear Publishers, produce more books like this one, please.

Ten Dairy Queen Books

2010-07-01T09:43:00.003-05:00

One summer when I was younger, my family took a road trip through Wisconsin. It was a great trip that included a visit to the world's largest six pack and an accidental visit to Minnesota. Thoughout the trip my sister and I craved ice cream from Dairy Queen. All we wanted was a nice melty frozen treat. As luck would have it, the route we took was devoid of DQ's. So cruel, Wisconsin! Because of that trip, now I view the DQ as a summer staple and a nostalgic light at the end of the tunnel.

Come to find out, there are many books that play up the nostalgic/summery appeal of the DQ. Either the books about DQ talk of a summer gone by, a woman who is somehow linked to cows or the business strategies of the company...or Marie Antoinette (I don't quite get that one). So dig into your Peanut Buster Parfait and enjoy!

10. Dairy Queen Days: a novel by Robert Inman

9. Chevrolet Summers, Dairy Queen Nights by Bob Greene

8. Dairy Queens: The Politics of Pastoral Architechture from Catherine de Medici to Marie Antoinette by Meredith Martin

7. The Dairy Queen by Allison Rushby

6. Walter Benjamin at the Dairy Queen: Reflections on Sixty and Beyond by Larry McMurtry

5. Treat Your Customers: Thirty Lessons on Service and Sales That I Learned at My Family's Dairy Queen Store by Bob Miglani

4. The Cone withe the Curl on Top: The Dairy Queen Story by Caroline H. Otis, Susan Mundale, Mike Sullivan, and Gordan Huber

3. Dairy Queen Think Tank by W.E. Thorn

2. Dairy Queen: a novel by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

1. Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen: a novel by Susan Gregg Gilmore

Ten books about dogs in the military

2010-06-08T21:26:00.005-05:00

I've heard that a dog is man's best friend, but who knew that dogs are also soldiers' best friends? Whether kept for official use or tended to under the radar, dogs have made what seems like a favorable impact on the military. Here are ten books that detail how Scruffy has affected not only warfare, but also military life. I almost teared up when reading the brief synopsis of Nubs the dog. He crossed a desert to find his Marine "pack." I can't imagine Crouton the Cat would do the same thing. Not unless sliced turkey was involved.

10. One Dog at a Time: Saving the Strays of Afghanistan by Pen Farthing

9. Always Faithful: A Memoir of the Marine Dogs of WWII by William Putney

8. A Soldier's Best Friend: Scout Dogs and Their Handlers in the Vietnam War by John C. Burnam

7. Cracker! The Best Dog in Vietnam by Cynthia Kadohata

6. Saving Cinnamon: The Amazing True Story of a Missing Military Puppy and the Desperate Mission to Bring Her Home by Christine Sullivan

5. Until Tuesday by Capt. Luis Carols Montalvan

4. From Baghdad, with Love: a Marine, the War, and a Dog Named Lava by Jay Kopelman

3. General Patton's Best Friend: The Story of General George S, Patton Jr. and His Beloved Dog, Willie by Richard Joseph Stillman and Mary Riggs

2. Sergeant Squiffy, Army Dog by Arthur Charles Bartlett

1. Nubs: the True Story of a Mutt, a Marine and a Miracle by Brian Dennis

Ten unconventional survival books

2010-06-03T22:15:00.003-05:00

In these uncertain times, there is a lot to be worried about. What if I'm a victim of a predatory loan? Will my car's accelerator get stuck? Is my Congressman lying to me? With a little bit of research, the modern American can usual find answers and solutions to these problems. But what about monsters, zombies and aliens? Just because we haven't seen any of them does not mean we shouldn't be concerned about their existence. I want to be fully prepared for the coming zombie invasion. Thankfully we have a goodly number of survival manuals for just such an occasion. We can read up on what to do if confronted with an evil robot or how to cope with being a newly minted werewolf. I have compiled a brief selection of survival titles and included my favorite chapter heading for each one. Now is the time to get prepared.

Not content with simply reading as preparation? Then you can get physically fit for the coming invasions with an intense cardio and endurance workout through ZombieFit-Chicago. The best defense is running away.

10. The Alien Invasion Survival Handbook: A Defense Manual for the Coming Extraterrestrial Apocalypse by W. H. Mumfrey
Chapter 1: Know Your Enemy: The Hollywood Alien

9. How to Survive a Robot Uprising: Tips on Defending Yourself Against the Coming Rebellion by Daniel H. Wilson
How to Escape from a Smart House

8. Yokai Attack!: The Japanese Monster Survival Guide by Hiroko Yoda
Chapter 3: Annoying Neighbors

7. The Vampire Survival Guide: How to Fight, and Win Against the Undead by Scott Bowen
Chapter 3: Your New Job: Killing Vampires

6. The Werewolf's Guide to Life: A Manual for the Newly Bitten by Ritch Duncan
Chapter 17: So You've Attacked Someone

5. The Zombie Survival Guide: How to Live Like a King After the Outbreak by Etienne Guerin DeForest and Arthur Gelsinger
Chapter 4: The Outbreak - Something Seems Amiss

4. The Government Manual for New Wizards by Matthew David Brozik
Chapter 1: The Onset of Wizardry: Birthmarks and What they Mark you For

3. A Paranoid's Ultimate Survival Guide: Dust Mites to Meteorites, Tsunamis to Ticks, Killer Clouds to Jellyfish, Solar Flares to Salmonella by Patricia Barnes-Svarney
Lightning: When Nature Flashes Us

2. Donner Party Cookbook: A Guide to Survival on the Hastings Cut Off by Dr. Terry Del Bene
Slapjacks, Flapjacks, Pancakes, Flat Jacks

1. The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead by Max Brooks
Chapter 1: The Undead: Myths and Realities: The Voodoo Zombie

10 Curious Cookbooks

2010-05-29T21:47:00.003-05:00

As kids, we all knew that one dare devil who would eat anything. Glue? Sure. Ketchup and mustard packets straight? Wouldn't break a sweat. That kid loved everything, even cooked spinach. Now that kid is all grown up and writing cookbooks...and they are weird.

The cookbook section of the library is a big one. Laced in between all of the traditional how-to's and bread bibles exists a race of very niche cookbooks that cater to the more specific and/or adventurous chef. Here is a list of some unusual cookbooks and a sampling of their unique recipes. I myself am anxious to try the Boba Fett-uccine from Wookie Cookies: A Star Wars Cookbook or guacamole stuffed nasturtiums from Flowers in the Kitchen. Who is hungry for dinner?

10. 125 Best Toaster Over Recipes by Linda Stephen
Shrimp with Pesto

9. Herbal Vinegar by Maggie Oster
Pickled Cherries with Hyssop

8. Napkins: 60 Easy Folds by Norma Starts
60!

7. The Healthy Bird Cookbook: A Lifesaving Nutritional Guide and Recipe Collection by Robin Deutsch
Chili Pumpkin Cornbread

6. The Fifth Quarter: an Offal Cookbook by Anissa Helou
Pig's Trotters

5. Bite at Twilight: Vampires, Forks and Knives by Gina Meyers
Harry's Famous Fish Fry

4. Marijuana Herbal Cookbook: Recipes for Recreation and Health by Tom Flowers
Stony Hemp Carrot Cake

3. Flowers in the Kitchen: A Bouquet of Tasty Recipes by Susan Belsinger
Guacamole Stuffed Nasturtiums and Pasta with Daylily Buds and Mushrooms

2. Wookie Cookies: A Star Wars Cookbook by Robin Davis
Han-burgers and Boba Fett-uccine

1. Eat-a-Bug Cookbook: 33 Ways to Cook Grasshoppers, Ants, Water Bugs, Spiders, Centipedes, and their Kin by David G. Gordon
Chirpy Chex Mix

Ten books starring robots

2010-05-22T20:00:00.005-05:00

Author Douglas Adams said, "I think a nerd is a person who uses the telephone to talk to other people about telephones." To me, this rings very true. However, today I believe I have one upped that definition by participating in a Tech Fest at the public library. Not only was I at a public library (pretty nerdy), I was there geeking out over library related computer programs. The nerd mantle can firmly be placed on my shoulders.

To continue the tech infused day, I have compiled a list of books that contain either a robot or super computer as a pivotal character. How very interesting that at least five of the titles have been made into feature films. Perhaps America digs a good android and they really are taking over...

10. Daemon by Daniel Suarez

9. The Minority Report by Phillip K. Dick

8. Prey by Michael Crichton

7. Utopia by Lincoln Child

6. Player Piano by Kurt Vonnegut

5. Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

4. The Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy by Douglas Adams

3. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Phillip K. Dick

2. I, Robot by Isaac Asimov

1. The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin

***Super Cute Bonus***Here is a trailer from the event I worked at today.

Ten books starring librarians

2010-05-06T22:37:00.003-05:00

There are three things that I hear most often after telling someone that I am a librarian: 1. Do you get to read all day? (sadly, no.) 2. You need a degree for that? (sadly, an expensive one) and 3. That's hot. (Darn tootin' it is!). What that tells me is that the job of the librarian is largely a mysterious one to those outside the field. In literature land, librarians are a diverse group of characters, perhaps not unlike real life. When not in the stacks, they are solving mysteries (Out of Circulation) or moonlighting as call girls (Black Cat) or being hunky studs who travel through time (The Time Traveler's Wife). We sound interesting!

My number one pick for this list is the book about the library cat, Dewey Readmore Books, who charmed a small town in Iowa. This book is hugely popular and will soon be a film starring Meryl Streep! I find the idea of a cat living in a library to be a wonderful idea and apparently I am not alone. Here is a site that has a map of all the libraries in the world that have a resident cat or at least did at one time. I know how I'm planning my next vacation...

10. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

9. The Librarian by Larry Beinhart

8. Real Murders by Charlaine Harris

7. Black Cat by Martha Grimes

6. Stones from the River by Ursula Hegi

5. The People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

4. True Believer by Nicholas Sparks

3. Out of Circulation: A Miss Zukas Mystery by Jo Dereske

2. The Dewey Decimal System of Love by Josephine Carr

1. Dewey: The Small- Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron

Ten books with forewords by celebrity guests

2010-05-02T11:37:00.004-05:00

Ah, star power. It helps things sell. Who would have bought a George Foreman Grill if was simply called a "Grill"? Not I. However, since it had celebrity cache, I somehow ended up with two, a blue one and a red one. I suppose the same logic can be tied to the publishing industry. There is a book without a lot of buzz around it. Have a famous person write a foreword and voila! The chances of sale increase!

While looking up these titles for this post I found that my choices fell into three categories when it came to the choice of person to write a foreword. 1. Ah, that makes sense-as in Harlan Ellison and Stephen King both write very creative fiction so that duo makes sense. 2. Huh, that doesn't make sense - as in what does Brad Pitt know about Steve McQueen? And finally 3. S/he can write? paging Viggo Mortensen and Jennifer Aniston. Even though I am well aware of this tactic, I have totally fallen for it when purchasing books for the library. I bought Do Hard Things with $18 of the library's money simply because Chuck Norris wrote the foreword. And it was worth every penny!

10. For the Love of Mike: More of the Best of Mike Royko by Mike Royko Foreword by Roger Ebert

9. The Family Chef by Jewels and Jill Elmore Foreword by Jennifer Aniston

8. On their Own: What Happens to Kids When they Age Out of the Foster Care System? by Martha Shirk Foreword by Jimmy Carter

7. Letters from a Nut by Ted L. Nancy Foreword by Jerry Seinfeld

6. Stalking the Nightmare by Harlan Ellison Foreword by Stephen King

5. The Complete Stories of Franz Kafka by Franz Kafka Foreword by John Updike
4. The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2004 Ed. by Dave Eggers Foreword by Viggo Mortensen

3. Unforgettable Steve McQueen by Henri Suzeau Foreword by Brad Pitt

2. Tall Tales by Al Jaffe Foreword by Stephen Colbert

1. Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations by Alex and Brett Harris Foreword by Chuck Norris

Ten literary Redheads

2010-04-26T20:49:00.004-05:00

So I heard that if you run into a redhead first thing on May 1, then you will be cursed with bad luck. My husband will be cursed with bad luck. He runs the risk of running into me OR our marmalade cat, Red Sonja on the first of the month. Poor guy.

With that said, redheads aren't all bad! No matter what South Park or some mean kids in California say! Literature has produced a great mix of gingers including some beloved characters like Pippi Longstocking and Anne Shirley of Anne of Green Gables. My favorite is Madeline who charmed Paris as a small girl who could not stay out of trouble. While reading this book to a Kindergrarten class one student was very confused by Madeline's dog, Genevieve. She raises her hand and says, "wait, what is a Gene-beeb?" It took epic restraint not to die laughing.

10. Fancy Nancy by Jane O'Connor

9. The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand (Howard Roark)

8. Raggedy Ann and Andy by Johnny Gruelle

7. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling (The Weasley Family)

6. Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink

5. Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

4. Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren

3. Freckleface Strawberry by Julianne Moore

2. The Red Headed League by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

1. Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

Five reasons...library of the future UPDATE!

2010-04-22T20:29:00.003-05:00

Since my last post about the library of the future, two organizations kindly emailed me and commented on the post! A big thank you to Evanced Solutions, creator of the Branch Anywhere and to Library Ideas, LLC, the minds behind both Freegal Music and the Redbox distribution!

The folks at Evanced Solutions directed me to a demo of their product on Youtube. Check out how the robotic arm moves in such a tiny space. I could use one of those in my house to keep the cats in line.

Five reasons I want to go to the library of the future

2010-04-20T18:53:00.004-05:00

Library of the future? pfft! Pretty soon everything will be digitized and all those old library buildings will be converted into trendy loft style apartments, right? Perhaps no. Gone are the days of rubber stamps and paper card catalogs. The library is evolving right along with technology, but still aiming to serve it's community. Now patrons can download eBooks to their eReaders, instant message with a librarian and check out a top name DVD for free! And that is today! What about the future?

From what I have seen coming down the pike, I want to go to the library of the future. Chances are since being a librarian is my job, I will certainly be in a this library of tomorrow. Lucky me! However, for those of you who may not head out to the library everyday, here are some things to look forward to.

5. eReader check outs - Many libraries are purchasing Kindls, Nooks, and Sony Readers to lend out to their patrons! What a great way to a) try before you buy and b) promote the free downloading services that many libraries already have! I was pleased to find out that the very progressive University of Maryland is one of the early adopters of this practice. Go terps!

4. Virtual Supermarkets - In a lot of places there is not a supermarket on every corner which in turn makes it very inconvenient to purchase food, especially for those who live in urban areas or have limited access to transportation. These locations are called "food deserts." The Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore (Maryland again! Holla!) has partnered with a local supermarket to set up kiosks at the library in which residents can place grocery orders to the supermarket and have them delivered to the library the next day free of charge. Find out more in this article from the Baltimore Sun.

3. Branch Anywhere - Libraries are expensive to build and expensive to maintain so in turn, many towns have one branch even if it may not be easily accessed by all residents. Evanced Solutions, a library tech company, has developed the Branch Anywhere concept which is a large vending machine for library books. No employees, just a touch screen and a robot. It looks SO COOL and would be perfect for libraries looking to serve those who can't make it to the brick and mortar building. As an added bonus, you can help them pick a name for the robot inside the machine! I kind of like Sir Cut. get it? get it?

2. Redbox DVD Rental Kiosks - Total no brainer! Have a Redbox at the library and increase the DVD choices 1 million fold (or close to it). Libraries already check out DVD's and many times they are free, but a frequently, new releases come with very long waits. Having a Redbox would cut down the waits and let libraries buy a more diverse collection of DVD's instead of 40 copies of The Pineapple Express. Right now several libraries across the country are trying out this marriage. If everything goes well, there could be one at a library near you!

1. Freegal Music Downloads - omg. I truly hope that this concept catches on. Freegal Music is a *free* music downloading service that would allow library card holders to download mp3's directly to their home computer. No DRM, no fees, just free music. Oh, and they have access to the ENTIRE Sony catalog. What's the catch? For patrons, nothing. The library purchases a set number of downloads and then each card holder is allowed to download a set number of songs per week. Library Journal has a wonderful article about this product. This could be a real game changer. and it could change my life.

I can't wait to see what comes next!

As a bonus, check out this short, yet awesome video about Tech Fest 2010. My heavens! I'm excited!

Ten books inspired by classics

2010-04-18T11:46:00.003-05:00

Inspiration runs rampant in the publishing world. Right now there is a writer sitting in an editor's office saying "I'd like to write a book based on a beloved classic, but tell the story from another character's perspective!" To this the editor will undoubtedly green light the project, at least I think so based on the abundance of books that follow the same path. Don't get me wrong, I think it's a cool idea. Really cool. Now we can find out what happened to Daisy's husband, Tom, after the car accident in The Great Gatsby. Come to find out, he becomes a diplomat in Central America. We also find out what Hester Prynne did after sporting a scarlet letter. She goes to England! Probably muttering the whole way "I left the persecution of England only to be persecuted!" I don't know for sure and I think the book is either coming out soon or has just recently been released. At any rate, catch up with some of your favorite classic characters told from a different angle.

10. Becky by Lenore Hart (The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn)

9. Hester: The Missing Years of the Scarlet Letter by Paula Reed (The Scarlet Letter)

8. Banana Republican: From the Buchanan File by Eric Rauchway (The Great Gatsby)

7. A Monster's Notes by Laurie Sheck (Frankenstein)

6. Lavinia by Ursula K. LeGuin (the Aeneid)

5. Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire (Cinderella)

4. Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry (Peter Pan)

3. The Picture of Morty and Ray by Daniel Pinkwater (The Picture of Dorian Gray)

2. Finn by Jon Clinch (The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn)

1. March by Geraldine Brooks (Little Women)

Ten drug manifestos for teens

2010-04-12T20:08:00.003-05:00

Teens gravitate towards books with heavy themes. I cannot count how many times I have handed A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer, which is about child abuse, to a high school student. Incidentally, it is a book that the libraries where I have worked had to replace frequently. That and ASVAB book which is a prep book for the Army entrance exam. Make your own assumptions.

What was I saying? Drug books. They are very popular. Here are some young adult books that deal with very real and very hard situations. Some are true and some are not, but they all have high circulation numbers. Or did at one time. I think kids would have a hard time relating to A Hero Ain't Nothing but a Sandwich today because of the very 1970's nature of it. While The Twilight series may seem addictive, it's dependent behavior ain't got nothing on these titles.

10. Smack by Melvin Burgess

9. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

8. Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines by Nic Sheff

7. Hole in My Life by Jack Gantos

6. Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen

5. Basketball Diaries by Jim Carroll

4. Dope Sick by Walter Dean Myers

3. A Hero Ain't Nothing but a Sandwich by Alice Childress

2. Go Ask Alice by Anonymous

1. Crank by Ellen Hopkins

Ten books with single fathers

2010-04-11T10:53:00.006-05:00

The term "single mom" is a popular one because there are a lot of single moms out there both in real life and in print. However, the term "single father" is the rarer of the two. In fact, it was a struggle to come up with these ten titles that explore what it is like to lose mom and be raised by dad. Sometimes it was central to the story (A Northern Light and The First Part Last) while other stories simply use the device as an added dimension which affects the plot only a little (The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie and A Great and Terrible Beauty). Number one on the list is the grand-daddy of all single father books, Sarah Plain and Tall. Daddy loses mom and send out for a new one! What elementary school kid hasn't read this book? The pink cover...the line art...the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie...

Now that I think about it, I should have probably posted this closer to father's day. Alas...

As an added bonus (and unfortunate way of completly dating myself) I am including the opening theme to the hit 80's TV show My Two Dads. There isn't just one single father, there are TWO! The premise, so real!

10. A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly

9. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

8. The First Part Last by Angela Johnson

7. Bedtime Stories; Adventures in the Land of Single-Fatherhood by Trey Ellis

6. Hanging on To Max by Margaret Bechard

5. Amalee by Dar Williams

4. Mr. Field's Daughter: A Novel by Richard Bausch

3. Light of Day by Jamie M. Saul

2. A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

1. Sarah Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan

Ten books inspired by art/music/etc...

2010-04-09T12:03:00.004-05:00

I've heard the conundrum of does art imitate life or life imitate art? How gauche. We're going to look at art imitating art. A muse has struck these authors in the form of music, art, or even postcards. Very cool. Admittedly I am very interested in several of these titles. The book Lit Riffs has a short story about the song Rio by Duran Duran. All I know is that her name is Rio and she dances on the sand, but what else? I'm about to find out. The book Had a Good Time is a collection of stories inspired by old postcards that the author had come across. Neat! What a wonderful writing exercise! But the book with short stories inspired by one solitary Bruce Springsteen song? No thank you. I think I'd rather chochet a pop culture inspired project instead.

10. Had a Good Time: Stories from American Postcards by Robert Olen Butler

9. Lit Riffs: Writers "Cover" Songs They Love Ed. by Matthew Miele

8. Paint Me a Poem: Poems Inspired by Masterpieces of Art by Justine Rowden

7. Twice Told: Original Stories Inspired by Original Artwork Ed. By Scott Hunt

6. I Am Marc Chagall: Text Loosely Inspired by My Life by Marc Chagall by Bimba Landmann

5. Meeting Across the River: Stories Inspired by the Haunting Bruce Springsteen Song Ed. by Jessica Kaye

4. Chapters into Verse: Poetry in English Inspired by the Bible by Robert Atwan

3. Noise: Fiction inspired by Sonic Youth Ed. by Peter Wild

2. Food for Thought: An Anthology of Writings Inspired by Food by Joan Digby

1. Vickie Howell's Pop Goes Crochet: 36 Projects Inspired by Icons of Popular Culture by Vickie Howell

Here is a link to Vickie Howell's site. She's got some interesting stuff.

Ten bad ladies

2010-04-07T11:15:00.003-05:00

I should have posted this in March which is Women's History Month, but rest assured I carry a planet of regret because I did not. At any rate, who doesn't like to read about girls gone bad? Carrie Fisher spiraled into drugs! Fascinating! The Marquis de Merteuil makes a bet to defile a young engenue in Dangerous Liaisons! Scandal! The Snow Queen torments Narnia in the C.S. Lewis classic. She's just so wonderful to hate. What a boring world it would be if Katie Scarlett O'Hara was a plain as India Wilkes? BORING! These ladies bring gasps and shock to our lives. Thank you, ladies. Your mission is accomplished.

**Side Note**Check out how many of these are by French authors! Not sure what to make of that...

10. Dangerous Liaisons by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos

9. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

8. East of Eden by John Steinbeck

7. Postcards from the Edge by Carrie Fisher

6. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

5. Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

4. Madame Bovary by Gustav Flaubert

3. Camille by Alexandre Dumas

2. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

1. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Ten books my evening book group will read in 2010

2010-04-05T18:59:00.003-05:00

In all fairness, I have to post what my evening book group will be reading this year as well. Same job, different time and different group of people. We get together the fourth Tuesday of every month for coffee, cookies and fine literature.

This month we will be reading Maus by Art Spiegelman which is a graphic novel. This group has never done one before and I am *dying* to know what they think of the medium. Perhaps a super cool update will be in order once we discuss it! Also, I am including a kitty cat video which does not have anything to do with anything. It just really cracked me up .3 seconds before composing this post.

10. Crashing Through by Robert Kurson - January (thumbs up)

9. Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay - February(thumbs up)

8. The Liar's Club by Mary Karr - March (thumps down)

7. Maus 1: A Survivor's Tale by Art Spiegelman - April

6. Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri - May

5. Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier - June

4. Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner -September

3. The Help by Kathryn Stockett - October

2. Away by Amy Bloom - November

1. That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo - January

Ten books my morning book group will read in 2010

2010-04-04T18:52:00.004-05:00

Every third Thursday morning of the month I get together with a dedicated group of people for an hour long book discussion. As part of my job, I lead the discussion, but the group's members choose the books for the upcoming year. This is the list that they came up with for 2010. Since we've already discussed three books, I included the overall consensus of the title. "Thumbs down" does not quite cover how much they disliked The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, but who really wants to read a long rant about a book?

Why a list of book club books on Easter Sunday? To be honest, I did not come up with a great holiday tie in and the other lists I have prepared are decidedly too depressing to post on such a festive day (shipwrecks and single fathers). Keep watching for those later this week! Happy Easter!

10. The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski - January (thumbs down)

9. The Lost Ravioli Recipes of Hoboken: A Search For Family and Food by Laura Schenone - February (mixed reviews)

8. Rebecca by Daphne Du Mauier - March (thumbs up)

7. Away by Amy Bloom - April

6. Shanghai Girls by Lisa See - May

5. That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo - June

4. The Soloist by Steve Lopez - September

3. The Senator's Wife by Sue Miller - October

2. The Liar's Club by Mary Karr - November

1. Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner - January

Ten books about popular games

2010-04-02T19:37:00.006-05:00

This post is dedicated to those who have suffered through endless rounds of trivia and trivial pursuit with me. I love a good game be it Apples to Apples, Gin Rummy or Trivial Pursuit. In fact I believe that I used referenced Trivial Pursuit heavily in my graduate school entrance essays (and still got in!).

Here is a list of books about playing games or use a popular past time as a plot vehicle. And as an added bonus, I've included the trailer for Word Play, a documentary about the New York Times Crossword Competition. Sounds dry, but was SO interesting. Jon Stewart is in it!

10. Brainiac: Adventures in the Curious, Competitive, Compulsive World of Trivia Buffs by Ken Jennings

9. The Clue in the Crossword Cipher (Nancy Drew) by Carolyn Keene

8. Casino Royale by Ian Fleming

7. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

6. Halo: Evolutions: Essential Tales of the Halo Universe Ed by Karen Traviss

5. Bet the House: How I Gambled Over a Grand a Day for 30 Days on sports, Poker, and Games of Chance by Richard Roeper

4. Word Freak: Heartbreak, Triumph, Genius, and Obsession in the World of Competitive Scrabble Players by Stefan Fatsis

3. The Sudoku Puzzle Murders: A Puzzle Lady Mystery by Parnell Hall

2. Bringing Down the House: How Six Students Took Vegas for Millions by Ben Mezrich

1. Come on Down! Behind the Big Doors at "The Price is Right" by Stan Blits

Ten books tied to Georgia

2010-03-24T10:00:00.003-05:00

I am going to Georgia! Aside from simply doing laundry and buying plane tickets, I did a little research before my trip and compiled a list of authors from Georgia or books set in the peach state. There certainly was no shortage of books that fit the bill. We have everything from antebellum epics to former presidents to cheesy paperback novelists hailing from the state. Talk about an interesting mix. Did you ever expect to see civil rights writer W.E.B DuBois sitting next to fluffy romance writer Anne River Siddons on the same list? Crazy!

10. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt

9. Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

8. Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata

7. An Hour Before Daylight: Memories of a Rural Boyhood by Jimmy Carter

6. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers

5. A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O'Connor

4. The Souls of Black Folk by W. E. B. DuBois

3. Peachtree Road by Anne Rivers Siddons

2. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

1. The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Ten more audiobooks with famous readers

2010-03-19T19:32:00.013-05:00

It is not that I am obsessed with audiobooks (or maybe I am), I just happen to be neck deep in audiobook catalogs at work. Mix that with self imposed pressure to order and you just have a blog post begging to be written. Here are some more audiobooks with celebrity readers who may not have been on the scene in a while.

Based on what we've seen in the last post and this one, Stephen King, James Patterson and Janet Evanovich seem to attract celebrity talent. Perhaps that is because their books have or will be made into films. With that said, it appears that Stephanie Plum is making her debut on the big screen. Score one for the jersey girls!

10. City of Thieves by David Benioff read by Ron Perlman

9. Matchstick Men by Eric Garcia read by Stanley Tucci

8. Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks read by JoBeth Williams

7. Boomsday by Christopher Buckley read by Janeane Garofalo

6. Three plums in One by Janet Evanovich read by Lori Petty

5. High Five by Janet Evanovich read by Debi Mazar

4. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck read by Gary Sinese

3. The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket read by Tim Curry

2. Witch and Wizard by James Patterson Read by Spencer Locke and Elijah Wood

1. Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld read by Alan Cumming

Ten Irish books by Irish writers

2010-03-16T22:00:00.003-05:00

Failte! (Welcome!) We're taking a trip today to the Emerald Isle in honor of the feast of St. Patrick. He taught the pagans about the trinity with a shamrock and drove the snakes from the island. So, what better way to celebrate his life by picking up a book by and about Ireland? It sure beats drinking green beer and attempting to outline your Irish heritage to anyone who will listen.

The number one pick, Round Ireland with a Fridge, is one of my favorite non fiction books ever. A young man loses a bet and now must hitchhike around the country with a miniature fridge as a companion. He picks up many admirers along the way and ultimately becomes something of a local celebrity. Inspired by the book, I thought I would do something similar during my trip to Ireland. Instead I just ate an obscene amount of sandwiches. The lazy route, I guess. At any rate, enjoy!

10. Breakfast on Pluto by Patrick McCabe

9. Brooklyn by Colm Toibin

8. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

7. The Commitments by Roddy Doyle

6. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

5. How the Irish Saved Civilization by Thomas Cahill

4. The Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce

3. Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy

2. Venetia Kelly's Traveling Show by Frank Delaney

1. Round Ireland with a Fridge by Tony Hawks

Ten "whatever happened to?" actors as readers for audiobooks

2010-03-13T11:30:00.015-06:00

I really enjoyed Steven Weber on the show Wings, but whatever happened to that guy? Come to find out, he has been doing voice work for audiobooks! Seeing his name in the "read by" line of a Stephen King book, I wondered if that was the case for many actors and actresses we have not seen in a while. And by gum, it was!

The following is a list of audiobooks read by actors that have had less exposure on the big and small screens in recent years, but are indeed still performing. I have included pictures of them from some of their bigger roles to jog the memory. The only one who doesn't really fit the bill is Harlan Ellison being that he is an author. He's on the list because he's such a bizarre choice for a reader! Enjoy this trip down memory lane.

10. Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black
read by Andrew McCarthy

9. The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe
read by Christopher Walken

8. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin
read by Gwyneth Paltrow

7. Let's Face It by Kirk Douglas
read by Jason Alexander

6. Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton
read by Michael York

5. Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll
read by Harlan Ellison

4. Storm Front by Jim Butcher
read by James Marsters

3. It by Stephen King
read by Steven Weber

2. The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King
read by Bronson Pinchot

1. The Inferno by Dante
read by John Cleese

Ten strong female characters in YA lit

2010-03-08T20:55:00.004-06:00

Spunky girls grow up and then become strong female characters. The urge to be different as a young Junie B. could prove helpful later in life when survival hinges on the ability to go against the tide. An Amber Brown who questions authority might find it easier to see through erroneous rules as Tally sees the danger in the brainwashed care free life she is presented in Uglies.

The following books are for readers who have graduated from the sassy younger lit to the strong females of young adult books. These young ladies have found power in their strength because in most cases their life hangs in the balance as well as those younger and more defenseless. Katniss in the Hunger Games circles her wagons when her younger sister is about to be thrown into a blood bath. Dicey become a mother hen when she and her siblings are abandoned in a supermarket parking lot in Homecoming. There are no shrinking violets here. If we were shipwrecked on an island, I would want these girls at my side.

10. Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

9. Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale

8. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

7. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

6. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

5. City of Ember by Jeanne Du Prau

4. A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

3. Graceling by Kristin Cashore

2. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

1. Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt

**unintentional correlation** just because most of these books are science fiction/fantasy, that does not mean that strong female leads are primarily in those genres. I just happen to read a lot of it. My bias, it shows through.

Ten misfit books for boys

2010-03-07T13:27:00.004-06:00

School age girls are not the only ones with literary anti-heros to look up to! There are plenty of books out there with what I refer to (as of right now) as misfit boys. These misfit boys do not fit into the perfect mold of their respective societies by either being somehow different or perpetual rule breakers, but still manage to accomplish something amazing and noteworthy. For Percy Jackson in The Lightning Thief, his ADHD and dyslexia proved to be assets when battling the various monsters in Greek mythology. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory's Charlie Bucket was able to make it through Willy Wonka's crazy factory by being different from his competitors, namely humble and appreciative even though he was viewed as inferior by virtue of having no money.

These misfits let young readers know that being different or having character quirks can be a wonderful thing. Active imaginations are viewed if as a good thing! And who does not love to root for the underdog? A hobbit pitted against Sauron? I know who I'm backing.

Perhaps the most popular misfit as of late is Greg Hefley in Diary of a Wimpy Kid. He is perhaps not the BMOC of his middle school, but I feel he sets a great example for real life misfits by demonstrating that one can still have a lot of fun even if you are not running with the fast crowd. So much fun, that Hollywood will even make a movie about you! *trailer to follow*

10. The Lord of the Rings: the Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien

9. The Giver by Lois Lowry

8. Bucking the Sarge by Christopher Paul Curtis

7. Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

6. No, David! by David Shannon

5. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume

4. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

3. Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli

2. Captain Underpants by Dav Pilky

1. Diary of Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

For more books suitable for boys check out Guys Read.

And without further ado, the trailer for Diary of a Wimpy Kid (so excited!)

Ten spunky girls in children's literature

2010-03-04T22:19:00.004-06:00

Picture this: a book jacket with the picture of a young girl with her hand on her hip and outrageous outfit. Maybe she has a messy mop of hair or a tiara or a Band aid covering one knee. Right off the bat you know that this girl is spunky. She is bound to have mishaps and adventures and parents who support her and love her just the way she is. By golly, you've got a very popular publishing trend!

Spunky girls are everywhere and thank heavens! Ramona Quimby taught me to embrace what I like and not try to fit in for the sake of fitting in. Maybe wearing bunny ears to the dinner table isn't de rigueur in most households, but being true to oneself should be. Hats off to these ten young ladies who show us and our younger counterparts how to be happy just being me.

10. Amelia's Notebook by Marissa Moss

9. Katie Kazoo by Nancy E. Krulik

8. Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls: Moving Day by Meg Cabot

7. Judy Moody by Megan McDonald

6. Fancy Nancy by Jane O'Connor

5. Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great by Judy Blume

4. Amber Brown is Not a Crayon by Paula Danziger

3. Clementine by Sara Pennypacker

2. Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus by Barbara Park

1. Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary

**On a side note: I owned this edition of Beezus and Ramona and was always bothered by how big Beezus' feet looked on the cover. Is it just me?

Ten long overdue sequels

2010-03-02T22:42:00.004-06:00

How many times have you closed a book you just finished and thought, "Oh man, I cannot WAIT until the sequel comes out!"? Then usually a year or so later, the sequel does come out. Hurrah! Questions are answered, loose ends are tied up and every has a sense of satisfaction. *deep sigh* But sometimes the sequel just does not come out that quickly and readers must wait. And wait. And in the case of these books, wait for ten years or more for a sequel (or series continuation) to be published. Yikes! Think back to what was going on ten years ago in the year 2000. Y2K, The Olympics in Sydney, and and Titanic was huge! It feels like so long ago!

The following books are sequels of series continuations well after the original publication date of their predecessor. In some cases, Hollywood Kids, Imperial Bedrooms and Sweet Valley Confidential, are updates on what the original characters are doing now that they are considerably older. Great concept! The number one pick, The Summer Before, is actually a prequel to the Babysitter's Club series. Just an excuse to get a new generation hooked on the hijinx of preteen entrepreneurs. Marketing genius.

10. Scarlett by Alexandra Ripley (1991)
Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (1936)

9. Rhett Butler's People by Donald McCaig (2007)
Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (1936)

8. Darcy's Story by Janet Aylmer (1996)
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813)

7. The Lion by Nelson Demille (June 2010)
The Lion's Game by Nelson Demille (2000)

6. Imperial Bedrooms by Bret Easton Ellis (May 2010)
Less than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis (1985)

5. And Another Thing by Eoin Colfer (2009)
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (1979)

4. Sweet Valley Confidential by Francine Pascal(Feb 2011)
Sweet Valley High: Double Love by Francine Pascal (1983)

3. Innocent by Scott Turow (May 2010)
Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow (1987)

2. Hollywood Kids by Jackie Collins (1994)
Hollywood Wives by Jackie Collins (1983)

1. Babysitters Club: The Summer Before by Ann M. Martin (April 2010)
Kristy's Great Idea by Ann M. Martin (1986)