Friday Freebie

Have you heard about the upcoming PBS series, The Great American Read? It's an eight part series starting May 22 that talks about 100 of America's best-loved novels (as chosen in a national survey). The reading list is wide and varied, and the series examines the how and why behind the authors' trade, the reasons readers gravitate toward certain titles, and what each of these titles has to say about us. Curious to see how many you've read? Take their quiz! (I've read 60, in case you were curious.) You might just find yourself inspired to pick up one, or more, of the titles on their list. If so, please stop by your local library! I look forward to reading, and watching, along with you.

Top 10 on Tuesday: Monster Mash

You may remember that last October, the blog was filled with all things scary, from bowing to the King of Horror, to vampires, to the supernatural, among others.  Things that go bump in the night, it seems, tend to come and go in popularity, and right now?  Zombies are it.  Here are my top ten picks if you're looking to become acquainted with the genre of the undead.

1) The Walking Dead, by Robert Kirkman.  If you've been loving on AMC's super-dark series, you owe it to yourself to go back to its roots.  This graphic novel series by creator Kirkman is darkly witty and intense.

2) White Horse, by Alex Adams.  I reviewed this back in the spring when it first came out, and it remains one of my favorites.  If you're looking for a new twist on zombified fiction, this is absolutely one to check out.

3) Gil's All-Fright Diner, by A. Lee Martinez.  Horror fiction tends to be dark, gory and intense, but it doesn't have to be.  Martinez lends a bit of mad-cap humor to a tale of zombies, werewolves and vampires, and the result is a scream.

4) Lords of Salem, by Rob Zombie.  I don't necessarily have an inside scoop on this one, but I am familiar with Zombie's music and movies.  This novel tie-in to his up-coming film about the Lords of Salem, back and out for blood, is sure to be a grisly delight.

5) Zombie, Ohio, by Scott Kenemore.  Is there such a thing as a smart zombie?  College professor Peter Mellor thinks so, after dying in a car wreck and being reborn a brainy and brain-hungry zombie.  Problem is, people keep trying to kill him, again, even as he tries to solve the mysterious circumstances surrounding his accident. 

6) Monster Island, by David Wellington.  First in a trilogy, Monster Island opens a month after a global disaster has rendered Manhattan an island of shambling undead.  When an expedition arrives on the island, the zombies mobilize against the interlopers.  Gruesome and intense.

7) Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith.  Elizabeth Bennet, zombie hunter!  A killer parody, available both in novel and graphic novel format. 

8) The First Days, by Rhiannon Frater.  First in Frater's As The World Dies series, readers meet Jenni and Katie, two ordinary women, on the morning of the day the world ended.  Thrown together by circumstance, they become a team bent on survival, rescue and escape as the zombie horde swarms in.  Riveting.

9) Warm Bodies, by Isaac Marion.  Think zombie novels can't have a little romance?  Think again.  Here, the protagonist doesn't enjoy killing, but loves Frank Sinatra music and riding escalators.  Against the odds, he falls in love...with a human.  Surprisingly moving.

10) Breathers: A Zombie's Lament, by S.G. Browne.  Proof that there is life, and love, after death, this is begins with our undead hero attempting to adjust to his new lot in un-life, and ends in a class-action lawsuit for zombie rights.  By turns gory, sweet and hilarious.

I hope there's a little something in the list for everyone.  If you have a monstrous addition to the list, I'd love to know, just leave me a comment.  I'm back with some gothic classics on Thursday.  In the meantime, happy (scary) reading!

The Downton Abbey Phenomenon

Who would have expected the recent success of UK series Downton Abbey, airing here in the States on PBS?  With a distinct Upstairs, Downstairs feel thanks to writer Julian Fellowes, a phenomenal cast including greats like Maggie Smith, and a unique take on pre-WWI England, it surpassed many expectations to become a television phenomenon its first season.  Both the first and second seasons are now available on DVD, but the new season doesn't air in the US until January 2013.  So what are fans to do during the grueling wait?  Well, if you're interested in delving into a bit more of the history of the series, I can certainly help you out.

First, there's Below Stairs: the classic kitchen maid's memoir that inspired "Upstairs, Downstairs" and "Downton Abbey", by Margaret Powell.  It is, quite literally, a behind the scenes view of one of the great houses of England in the early part of last century, from the drudgery of blacking stoves in the pre-dawn chill to romps with errand boys to the heartbreak bound to occur when a wandering eye led to a cross-class tryst.  Absolutely fascinating.

Then, from the other side of the coin, there's Mrs. Robinson's Disgrace: the private diary of a Victorian Lady, by Kate Summerscale.  If you think that ladies had an easier time than their female servants, you would be only partially correct.  Isabella Walker, a widow at 31 in 1844, was left with nothing--her husband's son from a previous marriage inherited everything.  Her second husband, Henry Robinson, moved his family to Edinburgh in 1850, traveling frequently for business.  When he was home, he was cold and remote.  Isabella, left to her own imaginative devices, recorded her fantasies in a private diary, most often starring an upstanding, and married, Dr. Edward Lane.  In 1858, her husband, chancing upon this book and appalled at his wife's perceived infidelity, petitioned for a divorce on the grounds of adultery.  And of course, her diary was read during the court, making the trial international news and ruining Isabella's reputation permanently.  Extremely eye-opening and riveting.

I'm back next week to start wrapping up what I've read the last two months.  In the meantime, happy reading!

What I've been reading: July 2012

It felt like I was reading up a storm this month, and somehow, it doesn't feel quite as momentous as last month.  Granted, there are a couple in the list with pretty significant page-counts, so maybe that's why?  Who can say.  In any case, here we go.

The Apprentice, by Tess Gerritsen.  I'm a huge fan of TNT's Rizzoli & Isles series, which is based on the books by Tess Gerritsen, so I decided to go back and read the series from the beginning.  Some of it is quite different, and some of it is spot on between the books and television adaptation, which is true of most adaptations, in my experience.  The first in the series, The Surgeon, introduced Boston homicide detective Jane Rizzoli, and The Apprentice, which is the second, is where readers meet medical examiner Dr. Maura Isles.  I read The Surgeon a number of years ago, and Gerritsen is quite good at giving readers enough framework at the beginning of a novel so as not to make us feel left behind if we've missed a book, so I got right into the case and the story.  The Surgeon, Rizzoli's arch-nemesis serial-killer in the first book, appears to be back.  Only this time he has, you guessed it, an apprentice, which changes the signature of the killings and means that Rizzoli is now out to catch a diabolical duo.  A serious page-turner.  400 pages.

Flirt, by Laurell K. Hamilton.  Another book from the middle of a series, and yes, over the years I have read the seventeen books in the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series prior to this title, which is actually a novella.  And, as a novella, the situation is meant to be brief, which is clear from the outset.  Yet Hamilton, who typically writes novels of 350+ pages, seemed unable to let go of longer, more convoluted plotlines and so this felt rushed, without much detail and somehow still too many story elements crammed in.  I loved earlier books in the series, and critics and fans alike adore the series through the first fourteen or so titles about Anita and her man-harem of vampires and wereanimals, as she raises the dead as a professional necromancer in addition to solving matters of vamp- and/or were-politics at the side of one or more love-interests.  If you're looking for a series to fill in time outside of Sookie Stackhouse's adventures, this would certainly be one to try.  171 pages.

Hot Blooded, by Lisa Jackson.   I'll be honest--I read this one on my Kindle while waiting for the library's reordered copy of this New Orleans series opener to come in.  The link for this will take you to Overdrive, which allows library users to check out ebook titles for a number of different devices.  Dr. Sam, popular late-night radio talk-show host in sultry New Orleans, gets home from a botched make-up holiday with her ex fiance in a foul mood.  A boating accident has left her with a sprained ankle, she's lost her keys and wallet, and some creepy hate-mail from a stalker is waiting when she arrives home.  As she attempts to settle back into her routine, the stalking becomes ugly, the city is beset by a series of murders, and a sexy new neighbor makes a play for Dr. Sam.  Then things really start to heat up.  A super-speedy read, with just a few hiccups.  464 pages.

A Discovery of Witches, by Deborah Harkness.  As you know by now, this is a re-read for me, but the timing on this is two-fold.  One, my book club is reading this over the summer for our September meeting.  Two, the sequel, Shadow of Night, just came out this month and I wanted to brush up before I delved into the new book.  You can read my original review from last summer here.  Bonus, the audiobook is phenomenal, read by the extremely talented Jennifer Ikeda.  579 pages.

The Passage, by Justin Cronin.  What's with all the vampires this month?  I'm not quite sure how that happened, either.  First in a trilogy, the secon book The Twelve is due out later this year (on order, just not in our catalog yet), The Passage introduces us to a huge host of characters, multitudes of plotlines, and spans over 100 years.  No small undertaking.  Cronin's strengths lie in the details and the quiet moments--some of his imagery is extremely poignant and sticks with the reader.  However, it's a giant book at 800 pages, and contains a LOT of story.  Imagine vampirism as a virus, which infects millions of Americans.  States secede and set up giant walls.  The outside world cuts off the North American continent.  What would human civilization look like after 100 years in a camp of survivors abandoned by the Army?  Cronin is overflowing with ideas, and I can't wait to see what the next installment brings.  800 pages.

Seating Arrangements, by Maggie Shipstead.  Shifting gears, from vampires to social satire.  A clan of well-to-do New Englanders gather for the nuptials of Daphne Van Meter and her husband-to-be, a handsome young businessman.  But the bride's sister, recently single, becomes the target of the best man's need for conquest.  And rather than being helpful as the wedding planned by Mrs. Van Meter with precision starts to fall to pieces, the family patriarch is busily pursuing one of the bridesmaids.  Mayhem ensues, in this extremely well-written and hilarious novel.  Really enjoyed this one.  320 pages.


July totals:

2,734 pages
6 titles

2012 totals:
18563/50000 pages = 37%
44/100 titles = 44%

It's going to be a fight to the finish this year to see if I can finish both of these challenges!  Any other challengers have some recommendations to share?

See you all back here on Thursday when I start sharing what new titles from your favorite authors you'll get to look forward to reading in September!

The Crimson Petal and the White

Way back in 2002, there was a debut novel written by Michael Faber called The Crimson Petal and the White.  Set in 1870's London, a prostitute finds wealth and power, if not happiness, after becoming the mistress of a powerful patriarch.  The novel received great critical acclaim.  It was beloved by many a reader, myself included, and a darling of book clubs everywhere.  There were some talks of film adaptation.  And then it slowly faded from the minds of readers as new titles came to the fore.

Imagine my shock and awe when I chanced upon a commercial over the weekend for an Encore miniseries in September based on The Crimson Petal and the White.  It was apparently made and released in the UK last year, and now Encore has picked it up.  Notable among the cast is Gillian Anderson, of X-Files fame.

Now, I'm not always a huge fan of film/television adaptations.  Some are popular despite huge departures (True Blood), some are really phenomenal (Game of Thrones, The Help).  I'm not sure where this particular miniseries will fall, but I'm really eager to find out!

Reading for non-readers

Some people are born with a love of books.  I am one of those people.

Some people learn to love reading, usually after they've finished school and are no longer being tested on reading comprehension.  But when in a person's life that happens varies widely by individual.

So, how do you get a reluctant reader interested in reading?

What do they like?  Do they love a particular kind of movie or television series?  Do they have a specific hobby?  There are so many different kinds of fiction out there, with protagonists ranging from quilters to sea-captains, chefs to lawyers.  A Law & Order fan might enjoy novels by John Grisham or Tim Green.  A foodie might enjoy mysteries by Joanne Fluke or a novel like Eat Cake by Jeanne Ray; a wine enthusiast might like The Villa by Nora Roberts or A Good Year by Peter Mayle.  A fan of stand-up comedy might enjoy the Stephanie Plum series (One for the Money, etc.) by Janet Evanovich or a novel by Christopher Moore.

And who says fiction is the only kind of book to read for entertainment?  Rock stars, television and movie actors, and politicians all have memoirs or biographies available on the shelves.  Someone more interested in interior design may prefer to peruse magazines, and superhero movie enthusiasts may prefer graphic novels.  And don't forget about audiobooks--if you're enjoying the story, I still count it as reading!

Lastly, if at first you don't succeed, try and try again.  It may take several different authors or subjects or series to find one that someone likes.  Don't give up!  There is a book out there for everyone--I promise.

Summer Reading Series, Part 3: “The Book Was Better…”

Don’t you hate it when people say that?  You’ve seen the movie, you loved it, and whoever has read it inevitably tells you that the movie got X, Y, and Z wrong, and how the book was so much better.  Annoying, right?  Sometimes, though, it’s worth going back and reading the book, just to see what all the fuss is about.  Trust me on this one.

This spring we saw Water for Elephants be released in theaters to rave reviews.  What some movie-goers might not realize, however, is that the book (by Sara Gruen) on which the movie was based has been a book discussion darling since its release in 2006.  And if you missed Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson on the big screen, you might consider grabbing the book this summer to tide you over until the DVD release later this year.  The premise?  In Depression-era America, a veterinary student abandons his schooling after the death of both his parents, and joins a second-rate traveling circus as their vet.  Poignant and beautifully written, this is a great addition to your stack of summer books.

There’s a lot of hype surrounding The Help, which is coming to theaters in August, and a lot of that stems from the huge love both readers and critics have had for this first novel from Kathryn Stockett since its debut in 2009.  Here at the library, it has been a favorite of patrons and staff alike, well-loved and highly recommended by all.  Stockett chose to make her characters intensely three-dimensional, resulting in readers cheering their favorites and hissing at their foes through to the very end.  The story covers the vast differences among household members in Jackson, Mississippi in 1962, the heart of the South and the middle of the American Civil Rights movement.  Rife with the ironies and hypocrisies that defined the era, the story follows a myriad of characters through struggle and triumph.  I also highly recommend listening to the audiobook, if it’s a format you like—the performance is absolutely riveting.  High praise?  You decide! 

Finally, while not a theatrical release, HBO’s Game of Thrones just closed its first season a few weeks ago, and fans are beyond excited that HBO has picked the show up for a second season, slated to run next spring.  Many fans are using the time between seasons to read ahead in this series, A Song of Ice and Fire, by author George R.R. Martin.  Season 1 stuck very closely to the first book in the series, titled A Game of Thrones, and fans can only hope that the series will continue to do so in seasons to come.  Book 5, A Dance with Dragons, comes out today (July 12), so there’s plenty of reading ahead to be had.  For those not familiar, Martin’s series is reminiscent of England during the War of the Roses, with the houses of Stark and Lannister standing in for the Yorks and Lancasters.  While the struggle between these two families for the Iron Throne is the main story, we also follow stories at the great wall in the north (beyond which lies magic and danger that grows stronger with the coming of a years-long winter) as well as a dragon princess across the sea who leads a tribe of nomads and dreams of reclaiming the Iron Throne for herself.  Engrossing and epic, this is a great series to lose yourself in for the summer!  (Also watch for season 1 on DVD, to be released this winter.)

Next in our Summer Reading Series:  But Megan, what about those of us who don’t read fiction??  Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered!