Next read recommendations

Yesterday, I went to my local public library and came across something that struck me as odd. Let me qualify that statement. It was odd to me. You see, the library put a suggestion list for your next read. Because I don't have the capability to scan it, I will simply type it here so you can see what I saw.

WHILE YOU'RE WAITING FOR
YOUR FAVORITE AUTHOR'S NEXT
BOOK . . . TRY THESE!

Heartless by Diana Palmer
Burn by Linda Howard
Relentless by Dean Koontz
I Can See You by Karen Rose
Medusa by Clive Cussler
Skin Trade by Laurell K. Hamilton
Intervention by Robin Cook
Mama Dearest by E. Lynn Harris
Hardball by Sara Paretsky

For some of you, this list may seem alright. But it struck me as odd and I will tell you why. If it wasn't for this class, I would not have the slightest idea as to who a few of these authors are. Is it typical to put a list together such as this and assume the patrons will know? Or is the library hoping patrons will ask a librarian? If that is the case, don't they know that some people simply won't ask because they don't wish to look stupid? I know we, as librarians, would never treat them as such, but they wouldn't know that. So if you would let me know your thoughts, I would appreciate it.

Books as good as TV

Evil Under the Sun

by Agatha Christie

Over the years, PBS has brought to us so many classics and one of those is the Masterpiece Mystery series. And that is how I met Agatha Christie and her detectives. Though Miss Marple has a certain charm about her, I simply love Hercule Poirot. Well, the television Poirot that is. You see, until now, I have never read any of Christie's books. So in choosing the books for this class there could never be any doubt that a Hercule Poirot mystery would be one. The question to be answered is whether I would be any better at solving the crime. I certainly couldn't do any worse. You see, out of all the mysteries I have watched on Masterpiece Mystery, I haven't solved any. Not a one!

Evil Under the Sun opens at the Jolly Roger Hotel on Smuggler's Island in Leathercombe Bay. We find Poirot, in his white duck suit and Panama hat, resting on the beach in search of a well-deserved rest. But his reputation, naturally, draws others around like flowers draw bees. And then the body of a young and very beautiful actress Arlena Stuart Marshall is found - strangled. Was it her husband who knew she loved the attention of other men? Or was it the infatuated Patrick Redfern who spent more time with Arlena than his own wife? Arlena's stepdaughter wishes to be rid of her as well, but then we can't forget about Rosamund Darnley. She's been in love with Arlena's husband most of her life. But then was it the spurned wife of Redfern? They all have alibis. So who could have possibly murdered this woman?

Don't look at me 'cause I'm not telling. The one thing I will tell you is that I could see David Suchet as Hercule. For me, he is the quintessential Hercule Poirot. Yes, I enjoyed the story. For what it's worth, Agatha Christie's work contains all the characteristics of mysteries.
Solving Arlena's murder drives the plot and I was only one step behind Poirot as he was sifting through the clues. Part of a series? Oh, yes. Including this book there are 37 Poirot mysteries. Because all of the supporting characters have reasons for wanting Arlena gone, the reader doesn't overlook any of them. This murder isn't really dark and I wouldn't call it lighthearted. It fell somewhere in between. The setting is England this time around and Poirot adds a touch a flair coming from Belgium. Her books take place all over the world. Don't tell anyone, but I had a hard time putting down the book because I wanted to know who done it.

Well, just so you know, my record of solving mysteries is still the same. Even with the clues right in front of me, I still missed them! I made assumptions instead of evaluating the details and couldn't see the forest for the trees.
Oh, well. I guess I will just have to leave the solving to Poirot.

Read-Alikes (from Readalike.org): Dorothy L. Sayers (Lord Peter Whimsey series); John Dickson Carr (Gideon Fell), Josephine Tey (The Man in the Queue), Margaret Allingham's Albert Champion series, Michael Pearce's Mamur Zapt series, Jeanne M. Dams' Dorothy Martin series, M. C. Beaton (Agatha Raison and the Quiche of Death), Carolyn G. Hart (Dead Man's Isle) although set in the United States, Kate Kingsbury's Death is in the Air, and Styx and Stones by Carola Dunn.

Fiction and the quality argument

We have had a couple discussions concerning quality vs. demand in class. They have been interesting discussions to say the least, at least from where I sit. But isn't it interesting to know that the old saying is true, "The more things change, the more they stay the same"?

I sometimes research newspaper archives in my genealogy research. My reading has led me to an article in the NY Times archive with a press date of December 20, 1902. Here we are over 100 years later, and the issue presented in this article still resonates today. You will find it at http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9802EED71E3DEE32A25753C2A9649D946397D6CF. It is titled "Public Library Problems."

Now I don't know if I will ever find myself in a position to have to make these decisions because I hope to work in a state library or an archive or a historical library. But as a patron, I feel slighted by my public library because the non-fiction section, at least the American history selection, can be very lacking. In other words, I have to do a lot of ILL (yes, I am jealous of the fiction readers). I know I might catch some flak for saying this, but if a fiction patron doesn't get every book in their library that they want, I just can't feel any sympathy. I hear Andrea's argument that libraries are not bookstores and I agree. But even if they aren't collection wise, libraries are just like bookstores in all their attractions. I am referring to the loud patrons (because being respectful of others is now taboo) and the coffee shops. I am become confused as to where I am, whether I should get out my money or my library card out of my wallet. I know - my neighbor has already told me I was born 100 years too late. But I am frustrated too and I pay taxes just like everyone else.

So pardon me while I bow out of this argument, because I have already figured out that one way or another I will find the books I want to read. My thought is that there is more than on e way to skin a cat. Perhaps it's time for fiction readers to figure that out as well.

The gentle yet strong woman

Anathema
by Colleen Coble
2008

After sneaking out of the house to meet up with her forbidden Englisch boyfriend Reece, Hannah Schwartz returns home only to find her Amish parents murdered by strychnine poisoning and her mother's beautiful quilts stolen. It is Hannah's fault. All her fault - at least according to Hannah. Convinced that God is now punishing her, Hannah runs away from her Parke County Indiana home and marries Reece. But she jumped from what she perceived to be the frying pan into the fire. Five years of marriage to Reece has been filled with verbal and physical abuse. The final straw is a fall down a flight of stairs just two weeks before the baby she carries within her is to be born. When Hannah wakes up in the hospital Reece, who never really wanted to have children, tells her the baby is dead. And so she runs again, vowing to never return to a life of abuse. But she can't go back home unless she begs forgiveness from the bishop. But it would also mean that she cannot divorce her Englisch husband.

Another five years pass and Hannah still cannot run from the past fast enough. It's lurking in the shadows. She receives a letter from Reece (sent through Hannah's aunt) stating their daughter is alive. Can it be true? The only way to know for sure is for Hannah to return to Parke County and face the very things that made her run in the first place. And forgive. And love herself.

I have had a bit of trouble determining the right genre for this book. So I have had to really look at the big three and our course book for assistance in its proper placement. Colleen Coble, an Indiana author, brings us a look into a woman who has lost her way and is trying to find her way back. Hannah is a conflicted woman because she has not yet faced the past. She's a woman who is quite good at beating on herself, making all of the sacrifices, and leaving nothing for herself. As in many novels in the women's lives and relationships genre, the big issues in Anathema are love (for oneself in this case), trust, and the importance of family. Yes, there is a mystery to be solved and the question as to whether her baby is alive or not. But she isn't the detective such as in those books that make up the mystery genre. The real story is Hannah and the issues that she, and so many other women, face. And that is why Anathema belongs in women's lives and nowhere else.

I would call this a likable book, but not great. An easy read if that is for what you are looking. I am surprised as to who committed the murders and why. And Coble does leave you wondering about Reece. The character is developed just to the point leaving the reader to decide on the part he plays in the events, his motive in all of this. It did bother me, though, that Hannah runs from her husband, the idea (I thought) to live in obscurity. But then she writes a book. And if anything catapults a person into the limelight with interviews and press releases, it's writing a book! So ....... But all in all, it's a nice little read.

Read-Alikes (Fiction Connection): Coming Home by David Lewis; Joy by Victoria Christopher Murray; Waking Samuel by Daniel Coyle

Recommended Authors (Fantastic Fiction): Lori Copeland, Lori Wick, Tracie Peterson, Wanda E. Brunstetter, Terri Blackstock, Laurine Snelling, Kim Vogel-Sawyer, Cathy Marie Hake, Karen Kingsbury, Beverly Lewis, Dee Henderson, Shelley Shepard Gray, Beth Wiseman, Tamera Alexander, Cindy Woodsmall.

Laugh 'til you drop

Garrison Keillor is at it again with another whimsical story in his Lake Wobegon series. This time lifelong resident Evelyn Peterson dies unexpectedly. But that isn't the only shock her daughter Barbara (who tries to please everyone) suffers. Evelyn's death reveals a secret life of gallivanting around (and heaven only knows what else) with her boyfriend Raoul who resides in Las Vegas. And Barbara thought she was visiting relatives all those times! Then there's Evelyn's funeral request: no church service, no singing, no prayers. Just have the body cremated, place the ashes in a hollowed out bowling ball given to Evelyn by Raoul, seal it, and then drop it into Lake Wobegon. And if things couldn't get worse, Barbara's son Kyle decides it only fitting for him to drop the bowling ball for Barbara as he parasails over the lake.

While Barbara is busy learning about her mother's secret life and making the funeral arrangements, the Detmer's strange daughter Debbie, who has made millions as an animal aroma therapist in California, returns home to Lake Wobegon to get married which involves a pontoon boot, two giant fiberglass ducks, a hot air balloon, and a flying Elvis, at the same lake and on the same day as Evelyn's funeral. And to top it off, 26 Danish Lutherans ministers stop in town as part of their U.S. tour. And guess when this is take place? You guessed it! On the same day as Evelyn's funeral!

It's a laugh-out-loud look at small town life, complete with colorful characters, the nosy neighbors and gossipers. You know. All those folks you want to get away from and when you do, you kind of miss them? We do learn a moral or two along the way, something to make us pause and reflect upon our own lives, but laugh until our sides hurt and tears pour down our faces.

Read-Alikes (NoveList Plus): Tom Bodett's End of the Road series and Phillip Gulley's Harmony Series.

Similar Authors (recommendations from libraries): Rita Mae Brown, Peter DeVries, Clyde Edgerton, Fannie Flagg, Lorna Landvik, Billie Letts, Howard Frank Mosher, Cathie Pelletier, Adriana Trigiani

Let freedom ring

Last night, on my way home from my other class, I turned the radio onto station WICR. This station is out of the University of Indianapolis. For those who are not familiar with WICR, the station plays jazz during the day, amidst some talk shows, and classical music during the rush hours and at night, unless there's a basketball game. Anyway, last night, the featured composer was Aaron Copland, one of my absolute favorite American composers. The piece playing was from "Appalachian Spring" which includes the Shaker song "Simple Gifts".

So where am I going with this? Well, this all reminded me that even with all of our faults, America is a great place to live. It is true we don't get everything right. Even I have had my moments of head shaking and disagreeing with those running our governments. I believe in freedom and I also believe there are times we have taken political correctness just a little too far. I am not naive enough to believe that our Founding Fathers were perfect. but one of the things they did get right was providing us the right to read what we want.

Oh, I know, we still have our naysayers, book burners, protesters, and who knows what all. But that is another freedom we were given. We can say what we want. Well, within limits such as libel. So we can pen what we want, and we can read what we want. Isn't it great? So read to your hearts' content!!!

Just want to say

I just want to say that I am truly enjoying this class. I enjoy listening to what everyone has to say. You all have some very important things to say. So please don't hold back. Although I am a volunteer at the state library, I really have not worked in a library. So your stories are important to me.

I just want to say thank you to all, and that includes our fearless leader, for making this such an enjoyable class. I'm learning lots!

No one beats David McCullough!

I just finished watching one of my favorite programs - American Experience on PBS. Of course, seeing I am a reader of American history, this comes as no surprise. Tonight's episode was about the Donner Party - the crossing of America from Illinois to California, but it wasn't just any crossing. About 30 people (men, women and children) break off from a large wagon train crossing on a path that is to cut off many days from the tried and true path. It takes them three weeks longer instead. Once they reach the Sierra Nevada a snowstorm hits preventing them from going through a pass, now called the Donner Pass. The snow continues and traps them there for nearly 4 months. Attempts are made to get through the pass and, unfortunately, several of the folks who die were eaten as the food was gone and so were the animals. Several rescue attempts are made to no avail until February and they are finally found.

Anyway, the episode is narrated by David McCullough, one of my top three authors. If you aren't familiar with him, he is the narrator of the movie "Seabiscuit" made in 2003 starring Jeff Bridges and Tobey Maguire. McCullough's narrations are just like his writing: smooth, clear, thorough, precise, and complete. If i had to choose just one book as a favorite, which is nearly impossible because I don't really have favorite anythings (not even color), it would be McCullough's John Adams. The reader gets an absolute complete history of the 2nd President of the United States. Adams is brought to life through his letters to his politically involved wife, Abigail, and hers to him. They seem to have spent most of their married life apart than together. We see Adams through his relationships with other Founding Fathers, specifically Jefferson and Franklin. Even though we already know that their son, John Quincy Adams, becomes a president himself as well, we come away with a complete understanding as to how and why that came about as well.

It's not the suspenseful drama that fiction readers enjoy. But it is a fast page turner for me. The book is a Nobel prize winner. And this isn't McCullough's first Nobel prize either. Librarian of Congress James Billington doesn't refer to McCullough as the "citizen chronicler" for nothing.

So if you want to read an award winning author and you don't mind reading about American history, do yourself a favor and read anything written by David McCullough. If you want to read about John Adams, you won't be able to find any better work than this.