My 2009 Favorites

Looking over the books I've read this past year, I decided it's been a good reading year. With about 36 hours to go until 2010, I looked over the list I keep on Goodreads and pulled out 5 to share. Although they were not necessarily published this past year, I greatly enjoyed reading them in 2009. Alphabetically by author they are:

Home: A Memoir of My Early Years by Julie Andrews - Chronicles the years 1935-1960 in Andrews' life and rising career, including My Fair Lady and Camelot on Broadway.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - A dynamic story of life on near future earth, where teens must compete on a televised game where they are both hunter and prey.

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier - "Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again." A new bride is haunted by the dark shadow of the first Mrs. de Winter.

Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction by David Sheff - Sheff recounts how he and his family struggled with his son Nic's methamphetamine addiction (also read Tweak by Nic Sheff).

The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger - For anyone who's ever had the boss who demands the impossible. And expects you to make it happen anyway.

Happy New year everyone! I'll see you in 2010!

The Help and Other Suggestions

The Help by Kathryn Stockett is set in 1962 Jackson, Mississippi. In this still segregated world, a young white woman just out of college decides to write about the lives of two black maids, a potentially dangerous venture at the time. Told in the voices of the three women, The Help has become one of the most popular fiction books of 2009. If you're waiting for a requested copy, or already enjoyed the book, here's a few other titles to try (book descriptions are from the database EBSCO Novelist):

We Are All Welcome Here by Elizabeth Berg
Stricken by polio, Paige Dunn, a woman of remarkable free spirit, beauty, and intelligence, continues to raise her daughter, Diana, with the help of her caretaker Peacie, in a novel set against the backdrop of Tupelo, Mississippi, in 1964.

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
After her "stand-in mother," a bold black woman named Rosaleen, insults the three biggest racists in town, Lily Owens joins Rosaleen on a journey to Tiburon, South Carolina, where they are taken in by three black, bee-keeping sisters.

A Gesture Life by Chang-rae Lee
Lee's most recent novel explores ideas of alienation and assimilation through the life of a multinational protagonist. Franklin Hata was born to Korean parents, raised in Japan, and finally settles in the United States. His struggles are twofold: dealing with his adopted daughter's conflicting values and life choices, and struggling with dark secrets in his own past, gradually revealed over the course of the story.

I'm heading to Buffalo for Christmas. Weather looks good and let's hope it stays that way.

Happy Holidays!

The woman at Macy's asked, "Would you be interested in full-time elf or evening and weekend elf?"
I said, "Full-time elf."
I have an appointment next Wednesday at noon.
I am a thirty-three-year-old man applying for a job as an elf.
~From Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris

It's 9 days until Christmas. My tree is up and decorated, the majority of my shopping is done, and I've managed to avoid the mall entirely! While I enjoy the holiday season - wrapping presents, opening presents, watching It's a Wonderful Life, spending time with family - one of my all time favorite Christmas stories is a dark little tale called "SantaLand Diaries", in the Holidays on Ice collection.

Authored by the wickedly funny David Sedaris, "SantaLand Diaries" tells the story of the season he worked as an elf in Macy's department store. Having been turned down for a UPS job, Sedaris figures he was hired as an elf mostly because he is short. He experiences first hand the children who cry when placed on Santa's lap; parents who spend all their time posing their kids for photos and never let the child talk to Santa; the corner where over excited kids tend to get sick; elves who flirt with other elves; and the Macy's Santa who claims to live at the North Pole - for real! The stories he tells are just plain strange, a bit risque, and terribly sarcastic, but I think this is a pretty realistic description of what goes on behind the scenes at the huge department store capitalizing on Christmas. There are 11 other short stories in this collection you may enjoy, but I think "SantaLand Diaries" is the best.

Looking for Holiday Favorites?

With Christmas rapidly approaching, we get lots of requests at the library for holiday movies and books. Something to remember is that if you like the story, your Christmas favorite is often available in different formats. For instance, I just love to watch A Charlie Brown Christmas- it was on television the other night and I literally clapped my hands for joy! Fans of the special should definitely check out A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Making of a Tradition which includes the original script, talks about the making of the show, interviews some of the children who performed the Peanuts voices, and presents tons of other interesting information about the now classic holiday special.

The 1947 beloved tale of believing in Santa Claus, Miracle on 34th Street, was released simultaneously with a delightful book version by Valentine Davies. Look for In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash by Jean Shepherd; it's the book and audiobook that is the basis for A Christmas Story. And of course there are many versions of the time-honored A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. From an in depth annotated book including historical background and old-time illustrations; the 1951 film featuring Alastair Sim; The Muppet Christmas Carol with Michael Caine as Scrooge and Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit; and Patrick Stewart's one man Christmas Carol on audiobook, or presented on DVD with additional cast memebers. Choose one or choose them all- just enjoy the holiday season!

Festively Funny!

My goodness, December is here! We're decorating at the library, making nifty decorations, putting up the tree, and generally getting into the holiday spirit. I put together a display featuring lots of our Christmas books (and of course there are more on the shelves!), so please take a look the next time you're here.

One of my favorite holiday books is about Christmas, yet not about Christmas. Let me explain. The book is called Hogfather and it's by humorous fantasy writer Terry Pratchett. Pratchett has created a series of books set on Discworld, and things there always seem quite familiar. On Discworld they celebrate Hogswatch, a festive time when the Hogfather flies in a sleigh pulled by four large hogs named Gouger, Tusker, Rooter, and Snouter and delivers presents to the people. When the Hogfather goes missing, who could possibly take over climbing down chimney duty but the ever helpful Death? Death puts on the red suit and does his best "HO HO HO", while his granddaughter Susan works to solve the mystery of what happened to the big guy. Along the way you will meet Violet the undertrained Tooth Fairy; Bilious, the God of Hangovers; and of course Death's favorite cohort, the Death of Rats, who says only SQUEAK. It sounds weird (and it is), but I find Hogfather, and the rest of the Discworld series, very, very funny!

KCPL also carries a highly entertaining DVD of Hogfather.

For Tomorrow We Feast!

I'm going out to dinner on Thanksgiving. My brother is coming to visit and I told him I'd be happy to take him out for a fine turkey day meal (my cooking tends toward "quick & easy"). Thinking about what I might feast upon put me in mind of a few food books I've come across recently. Not necessarily cookbooks; rather about where food comes from, buying food locally, nutritional value in today's food, and why one cookie never seems like enough:

The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite by David A. Kessler

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver

In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan

Eat This, Not That!: The Best (& Worst) Foods in America by David Zinczenko

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

All Creatures Great and Small

It's nice to read a book that feels like someone is telling you a story. Just as if you were listening to a friend chat away by the warmth of the fireplace, or sitting on a front porch on a lovely afternoon. Tales are told that are happy and sad, joyful and a little romantic.

All Creatures Great and Small takes the long and winding road to tell the tale of country veterinarian and author James Herriot (the pen name for James Alfred Wight). Set in 1940's Yorkshire, the book begins with Herriot joining the practice of Siegfried Farnen and his younger brother Tristan. His work encompasses both farm and domestic animals and he describes much of the animal care in correct medical terms (aka "a little gross"). But it's all part of life in the country, including some of the oddball characters he introduces us to- I just love Mrs. Pomfrey and her pampered little dog Tricky-Woo! This is the kind of book that the word "heartwarming" was invented for. Look for other books in the series, as well as James Herriot's Dog Stoires and James Herriot's Cat Stories.

I would also recommend watching All Creatures Great and Small the BBC TV series, filmed in the 70's, but still highly enjoyable and entertaining to watch.

Girl With a Pearl Earring

Have you ever looked at a picture and made up a story to go with it? I sometimes do this with friends when we walk through museums. We will see a portrait, or a painting of people gathered together, and there may be a descriptive title and information about the picture which can be interesting. But sometimes we choose to create a background for these painted people ourselves, or consider what stirred the artist to capture a particular moment. I find such fabrication delightful!

Tracy Chevalier's Girl With a Pearl Earring is inspired by the famous painting by Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer. Little is known about Vermeer or who the actual girl in the painting was. In the novel, Chevalier has created young Griet, sent to work for the painter and his growing family as a maid and laundress. However, as she cleans Vermeer's studio and watches as his paintings evolve, Griet begins to understand the use of colors, and has an eye for balance in the images. In time, Vermeer teaches her to grind paint colors and has her stand in as a model. Finally, he responds to the demand of his most reliable (and lecherous!) patron who wants to possess a painting of Griet. In a scandalous move, Vermeer insists Griet pierce her ears to wear his wife's pearl earrings for the portrait. And Griet knows that though she may lose her position, she must wear them to make the portrait complete.

EssentialVermeer.com has a wonderful online catalog of his work, including Girl With a Pearl Earring.

Mystery Fan Highlights

Once a year, mystery authors and fans converge on a city to stage the World Mystery Convention, also known as the Bouchercon (rhymes with “voucher.”) This year’s event was held in Indianapolis from October 15-18. It’s hard to sum up how much fun this event is, but we’ll try to hit the highlights in just a few sentences:

Awards: Bouchercon attendees vote on the Anthony awards in several mystery categories. Michael Connelly won the Best Novel award for The Brass Verdict, a terrific bookl that pairs his long-running hero Harry Bosch with his newest anti-hero Mickey Haller. Stieg Larsson was posthumously awarded the Anthony for Best First Novel for his blockbuster The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Supernatural Stuff: Add a vampire to your mystery, and presto, you’re a genius. Heather Graham, Charlaine Harris, and Carolyn Hart shared a common experience: the large number of readers who come up to them, claiming to be vampires. Genial and unassuming Harris (Club Dead, Dead Until Dark, etc.) was the star of this show; her Sookie Stackhouse vampire series is the basis for HBO’s “True Blood.”

Discovering New Authors: Meeting new authors is always great fun. Everyone was abuzz over noir revival writers such as Sean Chercover (Big City, Bad Blood and Trigger City) and Megan Abbott (Bury Me Deep and Queenpin). Queenpin is not for the queasy, but, wow, what a book.

~ Contributed by John Graham, Adult Services Coordinator at the Mary Ann Mongan Branch

Happy Halloween!

One summer (many moons ago), I went to a temp agency seeking a short term job. The agency in turn sent me to a candy factory. For two months I put biscotti into plastic trays, wrapped Santa Claus shaped chocolates in foils, and put ribbons on holiday candy boxes. People kept telling me that by being around candy so much, I would no longer want to eat it. Didn't happen! Chocolate peanut butter cups still top the list of favorite foods- and I wouldn't sneeze at some fine dark chocolate or a box of truffles either. I'm still waiting for an incredible craving for carrots to kick in. Maybe next year.

A man completely unabashed about his love for candy is Steve Almond, who authored Candyfreak: A Journey Through the Chocolate Underbelly of America. Within the first pages, he tells you he eats a piece of candy "every single day of his entire life," "thinks about candy at least once an hour" and "has between three and seven pounds of candy in his house at all times." Denied access to the likes of Hershey, Mars and Nestle, Almond visits the independent candy makers: Pittsburgh (Clark Bars), Sioux City (Twin Bing), Nashville (Goo Goo Cluster), Boise (Idaho Spud). Warning: the imagery of "the enrober" pouring chocolate may make you break out in a sweat if you don't have something sweet nearby!

Another candy lover is Hilary Liftin, who chronicles her sweet obsessed life in Candy and Me: A Girl's Tale of Life, Love, and Sugar. Or if you're interested in the more corporate world of chocolate, you might try The Emperors of Chocolate: Inside the Secret World of Hershey and Mars by Joel Glenn Brenner. For more history and trivia check out Chocolate: A Bittersweet Saga of Dark and Light by Mort Rosenblum.

Happy Halloween everyone! May all your candy wishes come true!

The Exorcist

I'm in a Halloween kind of mood. My socks have pumpkins on them, I'm getting ready to get out my Norman Bates "Psycho House" t-shirt, and I am definitely ready to be frightened. Last week's Shirley Jackson book is decidedly creepy, but today I will take it a step further and go into the world of scary. Just so you know, I am a fan of Stephen King and Dean Koontz, as well as books about vampires, zombies, and many other things that go bump in the night.

Potentially the scariest book I've ever read is The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty. After watching the fantastically horrifying film, I sought out the book to find out if it could possibly be as frightening. Answer: Yes it is! Apparently the story of the young girl considered to be under demonic possession is loosely based on a true account from the 1940s. Chris MacNeil watches as her 12 year old daughter Regan becomes sick, deteriorating from something that cannot be diagnosed by doctors. She curses in evil voices, thrashes violently, and claims to be the devil. When Chris makes the desperate choice to have an exorcism performed, Jesuit priest Father Karras exhausts all options before bringing in Father Merrin who thought he had defeated the demon years ago. But the dramatic exorcism must take place. The Exorcist delves into both the the religious and the demonic, and the result is quite shocking.

I don't recommend this for those who are easily offended, or who don't like to have the living daylights scared out of them. But if you've seen the movie, I think you'll like the book, and vice versa.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle

Merricat, said Connie, would you like a cup of tea?

Oh no, said Merricat, you'll poison me.
Merricat, said Connie, would you like to go to sleep?
Down in the boneyard ten feet deep!
~Shirley Jackson, We Have Always Lived in the Castle

I can't believe I had forgotten about Shirley Jackson! In high school, we read Jackson's short story called The Lottery, which provoked quite a bit of discussion among my classmates. It is a disturbing tale in which it is definitely not a good thing to be the "winner". In addition to being very well written, I liked it because it unnerved me in it's subtle horror, and gave me chills with it's startling ending.

Recently, I came across and read another wonderful Shirley Jackson title. We Have Always Lived in the Castle is narrated by 18 year old Merricat Blackwood, who tells us about her life with her sister Constance and Uncle Julian. We learn that she and her family are shunned in their town because 6 years earlier, Constance was suspected of poisoning their mother, father and brother by putting arsenic in their food. However, this strange family has stayed together and lives mostly in solitude, until their cousin Charles arrives. Charles deceptively plans to steal their father's fortune, but Merricat is not fooled and uses drastic and questionable methods to deter him. The story is creepy and may cause your spine to tingle- just great for Halloween!

Rapid Reads

Fall is an active time, and that means looking for books that read fast. I mean page-turning, don’t-bother-me-I’m-busy fast. Harlan Coben really delivers. Tell No One (2001) features a New York physician who is quite surprised to receive an email with a webcam image of his wife. Problem is, she’s been dead for eight years, and the doctor actually witnessed her murder. Any more tips would ruin the book, which would be a shame. Tell No One was adapted as a satisfying and very much page-by-page retelling of the book in 2008. Only one thing was changed: the setting. The movie was set in Paris, with the French countryside as a stand in for upstate New York action in the book.

In other rapid reads recommendations, I really enjoyed Blue Heaven (2008) by C.J. Box. Two young children witness the execution-style murder in the Idaho wilderness. Oops, then the killers spot them and give chase. (2008) by Lots of local color plus many different sleuths (amateur and professional) and bad guys rolled into one. Harlan Coben’s Just One Look (2004) is terrific, too. The book opens with a convicted killer confessing to the arson murder of a U.S. Attorney’s sister 15 years earlier. Oh, just one thing. Her death had been ruled an accident long ago. That’s just the first chapter. I dare you to read just that much and stop. Can’t be done! Just One Look features martial arts assassin Eric Wu. Wu is one of those only-takes-yes-for-an-answer kind of fellows, a character Coben also used in Tell No One.

And speaking of book vs. movie, consider the “Reel Reads” book club in Covington. Join us the first Saturday of the month as we watch a movie and discuss the book on which it was based. Popcorn anyone?

~ Contributed by John Graham, Adult Services Coordinator at the Mary Ann Mongan Branch

One Book, One Community

The idea of everybody reading one book was developed by librarian Nancy Pearl in Seattle in 1998, and spread rapidly across the country. Northern Kentucky One Book, One Community is a "reading program built around the shared experience of people reading and talking about the same book. Through public and private discussions, the program promotes a sense of community by facilitating the enjoyment of a great story."

This year's book choice is The Jazz Bird by Craig Holden, a gripping historical thriller based on the true story of Cincinnati lawyer turned bootlegger George Remus, who was put on trial for the murder of his wife Imogene. The story starts as Remus goes to turn himself into the police and chooses to act as his own defense lawyer against prosecutor Charlie Taft, son of former president William Howard Taft. As the trial proceeds, George and Imogene's life together is told through flashbacks- how they met, Imogene becoming "the jazz bird", their acquired fortune, the lavish and opulent parties they held, and the imprisonment of Remus that pulled them apart. Set in 1920s Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, The Jazz Bird is an evocative noir period piece, filled with local mystery, history, and crime.

KCPL will be hosting a series of Jazz Bird book discussions- please join us!

At Erlanger:
Monday, Oct. 5 at 7pm
Monday, Oct. 19 at 2pm
Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 7pm
Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 7pm

At Covington:
Monday, Oct. 26 at 7pm

You should also check out our many 1920s themed programs in October and November. More information is available on the Northern Kentucky One Book, One Community website.

One True Thing

"At the end she was both child and mother, both teacher and student, both strength and supplicant."

Anna Quindlin, One True Thing

When I decide on a book to read, I am often influenced by my mood. Perhaps I'm in the mood to laugh out loud, or work on a puzzling mystery, or to have chills run down my spine. But sometimes I just want a book to create a visceral response- joy, anger, sadness- a genuine feeling of connection.

One True Thing by Anna Quindlin is an intimate and emotional story of a daughter who becomes the caregiver for her dying mother. At her father's insistence, 24 year old Ellen leaves her career and moves home because her mother has been diagnosed with cancer. Unsure in her nursing abilities and never comfortable dealing with feelings, the close proximity and shortness of time force Ellen into really seeing her mother's life, understanding it. And as her mother becomes sicker, and in pain, Ellen is forced to make the decision- does her mother have the right to die? Although the book may be difficult to read because of it's intense emotions, it is beautifully written and amazingly insightful.

Don't Wait! Thrillers for right now

It's finally here! The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown arrived on September 15th. The fast paced follow up to Angels and Demons and the mega popular Da Vinci Code, the story features Robert Langdon (our favorite symbologist) deciphering mysterious codes and racing through 12 tension filled hours in Washington, D.C.

If you've requested The Lost Symbol and are waiting for your copy, or loved The Da Vinci Code and want to read more books featuring intrigue, secrets, adventure, puzzles, and conspiracies, here are some reading suggestions:

Steve Berry - The Templar Legacy; The Charlemagne Pursuit; The Amber Room
Ian Caldwell & Dustin Thomason - The Rule of Four
John Case - The Eighth Day; The Genesis Code
Umberto Eco - The Name of the Rose
Katherine Neville - The Eight; The Fire
Jonathan Rabb - The Book of Q; The Overseer
Javier Sierra - The Secret Supper
Daniel Silva - The Kill Artist; The Confessor

Look for these titles and others by the listed authors. Hold on to your hats, the ride is about to start!

If Chins Could Kill

After we took the final AP English exam in 12th grade, there were still 3 weeks of school left. The teacher told us we could watch two movies during the last classes. He chose The Lion in Winter, a classic play which was turned into a great film. And one of the students brought in The Evil Dead starring Bruce Campbell. Not what you'd call an educational film, but it did make me a lifelong fan of Bruce.

If Chins could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor is not only Bruce Campbell's autobiography, but a fabulous and funny tale about the "countless working stiffs... out there, grinding away every day at the wheel of fortune." Raised in Detroit, Bruce starts working with Sam Raimi on 8mm movies in high school. They raise funds, produce, write, direct, act and do their own stunts. Devoted to making films any way they can, Bruce and Sam collaborate on the low budget Evil Dead movie, which turns out not only to be a success, but spawns two other films in a highly popular series. The book conveys the spirit of commitment and determination needed to make a truly independent film. And page 108 has a useful recipe for fake blood- it's never to early to think about Halloween!

Women of Arthurian Legend

The story of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table is well known throughout the world. One of the classic tellings of the tale is T.H. White's The Once and Future King, which follows young "Wart" as he meets Merlin the Wizard, pulls the magnificent sword Excalibur from the stone, and rules as the King of England.

But Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Mists of Avalon spins the story from the female point of view. In this book, the main character is Morgaine (Morgan Le Fay), Arthur's half-sister. Taken to Avalon as a child, she is raised with magic and charms to be a pagan priestess. Determined that the old pagan ways must not be ousted by the new Christian religions, Morgaine acquires the allegiance of Arthur. However, once the religious Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere) steps into position as Arthur's great love and queen, the women struggle for power in an epic battle for control of England. Although The Mists of Avalon is chronologically the last book in the Avalon series, it is highly recommended as the starting point on your journey into Camelot.

"Even in high summer, Tintagel was a haunted place; Igraine, Lady of Duke Gorlois, looked out over the sea from the headland. As she stared into the fogs and mists, she wondered how she would ever know when the night and day were of equal length, so that she could keep the Feast of the New Year."
~Opening line from the first book of The Mists of Avalon

Guest Book Review: Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

Though many know Jhumpa Lahiri due to the success of her first novel, The Namesake, which was adapted to film in 2006, Lahiri is perhaps a more powerful short story-teller. Her Pulitzer Prize-winning collection, Interpreter of Maladies, is an amazing compilation of stories all having to do with the experiences of Indians and Indian-Americans.

Lahiri possesses a sharp attention to detail and simultaneous focus on the big themes that connect human life. For example, the story “This Blessed House” includes precise descriptions of religious trinkets found in hidden corners of a newly bought house. The story is given depth beyond the tangible, however, by allowing the discovery of the trinkets to shed light on the hidden elements of the married homeowners’ relationship.

The story that shares the book’s title is a powerful presentation of the clash between a vacationing Indian-American family and the country that has given them their ethnicity. Though the vacationers share skin color and physical appearance with the Indians around them, their difference in culture is strong enough to lead to a moving and tragic climax.

It is this quality of heart-wrenching tragedy that connects many of the stories in Interpreter of Maladies. But whether a story’s flavor is tragedy or joy, every tale in this collection is sure to evoke the reader’s emotions and imagination. I recommend this book to anyone willing to glimpse into a stranger’s heart, and consequently, their own.

-Ryan Barnette, Reference Assistant

An Affectionate Portrait of Britain

One of these days I'm going to visit Great Britain. London and its environs have been on my list of places to see since I was a kid who enjoyed Doctor Who and Monty Python (still do, actually). Most of my plans for a first trip are organized around cities, towns and tourist attractions, mainly because I doubt I'll be able to take more than a few weeks for vacation, or afford more for that matter.

Now, living in England is another matter. But that's what author Bill Bryson did for 20 years. Before returning to the U.S., Bryson took a kind of farewell "lap" and wrote up his experiences in Notes From a Small Island: An Affectionate Portrait of Britain. He made the trip mostly on foot or by public transport, traveling through England, Wales and Scotland. On his tour, he vividly describes regions, landscapes and architecture, and his interactions with the locals and fellow travelers are both humorous and highly entertaining. Written with a great deal of affection, Notes From a Small Island is not only for anglophiles, but anyone looking for a uniquely delightful read.

You can see other Bill Bryson titles by clicking here. Some of them may show up on this blog at a later date!

The Chosen One

“I spent a lot of time wanting to cry while writing the book.”
– Carol Lynch Williams
(from an interview with fellow Young Adult author Shannon Hale on Hale’s blog,
http://oinks.squeetus.com/2009/07/squeetus-exclusive-carol-lynch-williams.html)

Last year, when over four hundred children were seized from the YFZ Ranch in Texas, I wondered what kind of living conditions could lead to such an event. One fascinating explanation has come just recently in the form of The Chosen One, a new novel by Carol Lynch Williams. It’s classified as a Young Adult novel, but don’t let that keep you from picking it up; the beautifully crafted prose and heartbreaking events of this novel transcend labels and keep readers of any age glued to its pages.

The Chosen One is narrated by Kyra, a 13-year-old member of The Chosen. She lives a simple, happy life with her family—one father, three mothers, and twenty siblings—inside The Chosen’s desert compound. When she’s not doing chores, she loves to climb trees, take long walks outside the compound’s fence, and play the piano in the Fellowship Hall. But things change when their Prophet has a vision and says Kyra must marry her 60-year-old Uncle Hyrum. At first, Kyra believes this is a punishment for her secret sins: she has kissed a boy, and she has read books from a library bookmobile she encounters on her walks. She soon learns, however, that she has been saved for Hyrum since her early childhood, that the Prophet keeps pairing young girls with elderly men, and that the girls who disobey are punished…or worse. Kyra struggles with her limited options: should she obey and marry Hyrum? Or should she run, and risk losing her family—or her life?

If Kyra’s story intrigues you, remember: this novel is not for the faint of heart. I found myself crying often during the last third of the book. The Chosen One is full of horrifying punishments, book burnings, and the dark cruelty of certain characters. But there is also a deeply human beauty in many other characters, and Williams has much to say about love and hope. I couldn’t stop reading, and like me you might stay up with Kyra late into the night, hoping for her survival.

-From Melanie Clark, Reference Assistant

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

Shakespeare said "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." Smells can trigger vivid memories almost instantaneously, and the sense of smell has been referred to as the "emotional brain". But what happens when smell is both totally pervasive and non-existent at the same time?

In mid-eighteenth century Paris, Jean-Baptiste Grenouille is born with an incredibly heightened sense of smell. He is able to instantly retain and identify scents, and aspires to become the world's greatest perfumer. But as a young man, he comes to the shocking realization that he has no scent of his own, and thus does not feel fully human. This changes his ambition, as he determines not only to create a scent for his own body, but one that will make the world bow down before him- no matter what the cost, or who must die.

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Suskind is (translated from the German book by John E. Woods) was the 1987 World Fantasy Award Winner. It was also made into a dark and rather disquieting film with Alan Rickman, Ben Wishaw, and Dustin Hoffman.

Read About Carrie and her Companions

No one would call me a fashionista. When deciding what to put on my feet, I'm going to go with the slip on flat sandals or a comfy pair of sneakers. Looking at at Manolo Blahnik shoes, my eyes say "pretty", but my feet say "ouch".

Reading about the world of fashion is much more fun. Before Sex and the City was a popular TV series, it was a book by Candace Bushnell based on her columns from the New York Observer. Some of the stories are told by Bushnell, some by her "friend" Carrie, but they all feature trendy New York lifestyles, with observations about dating and relationships. For instance, one friend attempts to impress a guy with her rollerblading skills, but ends up with a broken ankle! You'll recognize characters from Charlotte, Miranda and Samantha, to the marriage-phobic Mr. Big, Barkley the "modelizer", and many others. For fans of the HBO series, or if you enjoy books and movies like Bridget Jones's Diary or The Devil Wears Prada.