Showing posts with label Aisha. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Aisha. Show all posts

Sunday, January 24, 2016

Staff Review: Carry Yourself Back to Me by Deborah Reed

Alt-country singer-songwriter Annie Walsh needs relief. Under pressure from her record label to write a new album, recently abandoned by Owen, the man she loves, and still stinging from a betrayal by her brother, Calder, she retreats to her Florida tangelo grove with her dog. When Calder is accused of murder, Annie can no longer avoid the two men she’s struggling to forgive.


There is a specter of ruin throughout Carry Yourself Back to Me; so many of the characters are teetering on the edge and you’re not sure which way they’ll land. Most of the story takes place in Florida around Christmas, and the weather is full of fog and ice storms, adding another level of the unexpected and uncertain to the story. Annie spends time trying to save a tangelo crop from the ice storm, and there’s a parallel between her somewhat futile and dangerous efforts to salvage the crop and the ways she does and doesn’t attempt to salvage her own life and the lives of those she loves.

In the novel, Annie’s last album is described as “… filled with vivid tales of love and loss without the slightest hint of sentimentality.” Her songs are “… painful, clear-eyed, storied songs …” and her voice is “… reminiscent of the great Patsy Cline, Lucinda Williams, and Aimee Mann, all spun into one.” Those descriptions can be turned around and rightly used to describe this novel. I listen to a lot of alt-country, and Reed’s lyrical prose reminds me of that genre’s songs of heartache and redemption. This is a very strong novel that layers mystery, drama, family and love, and the story is like a beautiful song that breaks and lifts your heart all at the same time.

~Aisha, Adult Services

Monday, December 14, 2015

One of the Best Books I Read in 2015: Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel


Emily St. John Mandel's Station Eleven came out in 2014 and was on many a Best Book of the Year 2014 list. It sounded interesting, but I didn't read it until April of 2015. And oh, how angry I was at myself for not reading it sooner! This is one of my favorite books EVER.

The novel starts a few hours before a flu spreads across the globe, decimating the population and then moves back and forth between life before the outbreak and fifteen years into the future. Mandel uses her characters to discuss the importance of art and culture and to question the value of remembering the past. It's ambitious, amazing, and awe-inspiring.

~Aisha, Adult Services

One of the Best Books I Read in 2015: Lists of Note: An Eclectic Collection Deserving of a Wider Audience by Shaun Usher

Lists of Note: An Eclectic Collection Deserving of a Wider Audience by Shaun Usher is an enjoyable and engaging book of 125 lists (pros and cons, wish lists, to-do lists, and others) that starts off with what I think is one of the most famous lists in pop culture: a list of “Things to Do Today” by Johnny Cash which includes “not eat too much”, “go see Mama”, and of course, “kiss June” and “not kiss anyone else”. It’s filled with fun lists like “The Fifty Dwarves” which shows the names Disney writers considered for the Seven Dwarves before choosing Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, and Sneezy. Some names that didn’t make it are Chesty, Flabby, Jaunty, and Sappy. It also includes serious lists like “How My Life Has Changed” by Hilary North, a woman who should have been on the 103rd floor of the south tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 except she stopped to vote and was late to work. It’s a moving list of things she will never be able to with her coworkers who perished on that day, including things like “I can no longer smile at Paul”, “I can no longer confide in Lisa”, and “I can no longer take my life for granted".

One of the appeals of the book is that some of the lists are photocopies of the originals so you get to see the handwriting of people like Thelonious MonkDavid Foster Wallace, and Thomas Edison. There's even a list, possibly a shopping list or recollection of past meals, by Michelangelo with illustrations of food. Even if some of the lists don't interest you, there are so many to choose from, you're sure to find one that makes you smile or inspires you to make one of your own. It's a fascinating look at something we all do and shows how a list can show a small part of your personality.


~Aisha, Adult Services

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Books and Movies: The Martian by Andy Weir

Think of some synonyms for "intense" and any one of them will perfectly describe The Martian by Andy Weir. Agonizing. Fierce. Excruciating. Harrowing. (I could go on, but I won't.)



Astronaut Mark Watney is stuck on Mars. (What?) He was with his crew when a dust storm hit, separating them, and the rest of the crew evacuated and headed back to Earth, believing he's dead. (No!) But he's not. He's alive. On Mars. By himself. Watney wakes up, realizes he's all alone, and instead of bursting into tears like I would, he gets to work, attempting to contact NASA and grow food (on Mars!), all while keeping a video log. His crew finds out that he's alive and are torn as to whether or not to go back for him because while they feel guilty about leaving him, going back for him could mean their deaths if they run out of supplies. (Because there are no grocery stores on Mars.)

The Martian has been made into a movie starring Matt Damon as Watney. It also stars Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels, Chiwetel Ejiofor (starring in his second book-to-film of the year, the first being Z is for Zachariah) and Kristen Wiig. Check out the trailer and read the book if you haven't already. The movie comes out on October 2.

Thursday, September 24, 2015

What Should the Characters of "Scandal" Be Reading?

Season five of Scandal starts tonight!



Sure, it can be a completely unbelievable show at times and I'm usually saying, "That did not just happen!" when I watch it.



But, come on, it's also the most awesome completely unbelievable show and it's filled with epic monologues, forbidden love, and pretty people. Feel free to have a dance party!



To celebrate the return of its awesomeness and the awesomeness of books, here are some book recommendations to help Olivia, Mellie, and Fitz deal with what happened in season 4.


Season 4 spoilers ahead!


Olivia
At the end of season 4, Fitz kicked Mellie out of the White House so he could be with Olivia. Fitz and Mellie have two children. Given the way Olivia decorates her apartment and dresses, it seems like she doesn't spend any time with children at all. Learning how to get stains out of a mostly white wardrobe might be a good skill to pick up.

  


Green-up Your Cleanup by Jill Potvin Schoff

And she also might want to drink a little less.



Rewire: Change Your Brain to Break Bad Habits, Overcome Addictions, Conquer Self-Destructive Behavior by Richard O'Conner

Mellie
Mellie is not the type of woman to give up. I doubt she'll roll over and quietly take Fitz's banishment, but she's been through some hard times before.



Just in case she needs a reminder...

You are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero


I'm not really worried about Mellie. She's tough and knows how to deal with disappointment.



Rising Strong by Brene Brown


Fitz
Oh, Fitz. I don't envy his position. (Not the Presidency. Being President of the United States seems far easier than his Olivia-Mellie predicament.)

Yep. Nothing but trouble ahead for the President. Figuring out why he's repeatedly in a bad place might be a good idea, yes?



Blunder: Why Smart People Make Bad Decisions by Zachary Shore

While Fitz does many things that are annoying, kicking Mellie out of the White House for doing something very similar to something he did (killing lots of people mostly by accident) was extremely aggravating. He may want to remember that a person who lives in a glass house should not throw stones.



Bartlett's Familiar Quotations: A Collection of Passages, Phrases, and Proverbs Traced to Their Sources in Ancient and Modern Literature by John Bartlett and Geoffrey O'Brien


Yeah, you do, Fitz. Repeatedly.

The gladiators are back and I couldn't be happier.








2015 National Book Award Fiction Longlist


In search of great fiction? Try some of these books on the 2015 National Book Award Longlist for Fiction. All summaries taken from our catalog.

Refund: Stories by Karen E. Bender

In Refund, Bender creates an award-winning collection of stories that deeply explore the ways in which money and the estimation of value affect the lives of her characters...Set in contemporary America, these stories herald a work of singular literary merit by an important writer at the height of her power.

Did You Ever Have a Family by Bill Clegg

On the eve of her daughter's wedding, June Reid's life is completely devastated when a shocking disaster takes the lives of her daughter, her daughter's fiancé, her ex-husband, and her boyfriend, Luke--her entire family, all gone in a moment.

The Turner House by Angela Flournoy

A powerful, timely debut, The Turner House marks a major new contribution to the story of the American family...It's a striking examination of the price we pay for our dreams and futures, and the ways in which our families bring us home.


Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff

From the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of The Monsters of Templeton and Arcadia, an exhilarating novel about marriage, creativity, art and perception...Profound, surprising, propulsive, and emotionally riveting, it stirs both the mind and heart.



Fortune Smiles: Stories by Adam Johnson

In six masterly stories, Johnson delves deep into love and loss, natural disasters, the influence of technology, and how the political shapes the personal.






The other titles on the Longlist are A Cure for Suicide by Jesse BallWelcome to Braggsville by T. Geronimo Johnson, Honeydew by Edith PearlmanA Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara, and Mislaid by Nell Zink.

Monday, September 21, 2015

2015 National Book Award Nonfiction Longlist

Looking for excellent nonfiction to read? Try some of these books on the 2015 National Book Award Longlist for Nonfiction.

Rain: A Natural and Cultural History by Cynthia Barnett

The ability to write about something common in a fascinating way is a skill and Cynthia Barnett uses her skill in this book that combines well-researched science with the everyday effect rain has and has had on humans.  If you enjoyed other microhistories like Mary Roach's Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, Siddhartha Mukherjee's The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer, or Mark Kurlansky's Salt: A World History, take a look at Barnett's book.



Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Ta-Nehisi Coates writes for The Atlantic and Between the World and Me is his second book. Written as a letter to his son, he writes about what it is to be black in America today. James Baldwin's The Fire Next Time inspired this fiercely personal yet universal work.







Hold Still: A Memoir with Photographs by Sally Mann

In this intimate memoir, Sally Mann takes old and new photographs and combines them with her memories of loved ones to create an amazing book that speaks of family, history, and her Southern heritage.







The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration Into the Wonder of Consciousness by Sy Montgomery

Sy Montgomery's friendship with an octopus was the catalyst for this book. Montgomery studied octopi in aquariums and the sea and came to see that they, not unlike humans, have personalities and can be playful and intelligent. If this book interests you, you should also check out her book The Good Good Pig: The Extraordinary Life of Christopher Hogwood, the story of a pig that won over her heart and the heart of the small town in which she lived.


The other titles on the Longlist are Mourning Lincoln by Martha Hodes; Paradise of the Pacific by Susanna Moore; Love and Other Ways of Dying: Essays by Michael Paterniti; If the Oceans Were Ink: An Unlikely Friendship and a Journey to the Heart of the Quran by Carla Power; Ordinary Light by Tracy K. Smith; and Travels in Vermeer: A Memoir by Michael White.

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Books and Movies: Black Mass by Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill

Black Mass: Whitey Bulger, the FBI, and a Devil's Deal by Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill is the story of John Connolly and James "Whitey" Bulger. The pair knew each other when they were children and grew up to take different paths (Connolly becoming an FBI agent and Bulger becoming a career criminal) until they met again when Bulger became an FBI informant. While working together to dismantle the Italian mafia in Boston, their plans lead to multiple murders, drug dealing, and racketeering and they both, eventually, (Bulger was able to evade capture for 16 years) end up in prison.



The intriguing, crime-filled lives of Whitey Bulger and John Connolly are perfect for a movie so of course, one was made. Black Mass opens in theaters tomorrow, September 18, and has a great cast, including Johnny Depp as Bulger, Joel Edgerton as Connolly and, Benedict Cumberbatch as Bulger's brother Bill. Dakota Johnson, Kevin Bacon, and Adam Scott also star.

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy: A Handbook for Girl Geeks by Sam Maggs

The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy: A Handbook for Girl Geeks by Sam Maggs has everything you need to start being a girl geek (or boy geek) or enhance your already established geekdom. (It even has a litany!)

It discusses:

There's a chapter on conventions that includes a how-to guide so you stay hydrated, get that photo with your favorite celebrity, and rock a costume like no one else.
It also has interviews with women working on some of your favorite TV shows and writing your favorite books. Jill Pantozzi, editor in chief of The Mary Sue; Jane Espenson, writer and producer of shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Battlestar Galactica, and Once Upon a Time; Laura Vandervoort, star of Bitten and Smallville; Beth Revis, author of the Across the Universe trilogy and others answer questions on the positive influence of geekdom in their lives and advice for geek girls.

The book also recommends media where you can find kick-ass female characters.

Comics
Batwoman: Elegy written by Greg Rucka, artwork by J.H. Williams III, colors by Dave Stewart

Ms. Marvel written by G. Willow Wilson, illustrated by Adrian Alphona and Jacob Wyatt (Check out Sarah's review of Ms. Marvel here.)

Rat Queens by Kurtis J. Wiebe

Television and Movies
Firefly

Haywire

Sanctuary






Books
Huntress by Malinda Ho

The Immortals Quartet by Tamora Pierce









Anime
Attack on Titan

Slayers









When you're done reading The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy: A Handbook for Girl Geeks, check out some other related books.

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

You Read the Book (Maybe), Now See the Movie (Maybe): Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

Gillian Flynn, author of the bestseller Gone Girl, made into a movie starring Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike, now has another book that's been made into a movie.

Dark Places tells the story of Libby Day who was seven when her mother and two sisters were murdered. Libby testified that her 15-year old brother, Ben, was the killer. Twenty-five years later, she is leading a troubled life and is contacted by The Kill Club, who believe Ben is innocent and that the actual killer is free. Starting to doubt what she saw on the night of the murders, Libby agrees to work with the group and goes back to her hometown to relive the murders.



It's another thriller from Flynn and the movie (see the trailer here), starring Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, and Corey Stoll, looks to be as tense and riveting as Gone Girl. The movie opens on August 7.

Monday, August 3, 2015

#MCM Man Crush Monday- Carlos Arturo Torres

Who is Carlos Arturo Torres? He's a designer who's making some children's lives much more exciting.

Photo from http://www.wired.com/2015/07/lego-makes-everything-bettereven-prosthetic-kids/?mbid=nl_72815.
Torres created Iko, a prosthetic arm that can be customized with Legos, allowing children to make their arms look however they want and help them feel more comfortable and have fun while wearing the prosthetic. It's a great step in a field where 3-D printers are already making strides in how prosthetic limbs look. It's an awesome idea and for that, Carlos Arturo Torres is our Man Crush.

Read about Carlos and Iko here.

Interested in health and science? Take a look at some of our newer books on those subjects.












Sunday, August 2, 2015

Staff Review: How to Start a Fire by Lisa Lutz

A lot was riding on how I felt about How to Start a Fire by Lisa Lutz. Lutz is one of my favorite authors and wrote my favorite series ever, The Spellman Books, which follows a family of private investigators who investigate each other about as much as they investigate suspects. She wrote that series' final book, The Last Word, in 2013 and I was sad that it was all over. So sad, I actually wrote a sonnet.
Shall I compare thee to another series?
Thou art more beloved by me than most books.
Why this is so I have several theories
And forever in me you have your hooks.
Thou art far more witty and have more heart
Than so many books before you I've read.
You are wacky, wonderful, you are smart.
Reaching the end of you I do so dread.
Lisa Lutz, your author, is wise, 'tis true.
Relationships and family struggles,
Love, grief, regret, hilarity make you
Enthralling for some books full of Muggles.
You are dear to me, Spellman family.
Devoted to you, I will always be.
Clearly, I was broken-hearted. 
I knew Lutz hadn't retired from writing and that her new book would come out eventually, but I was so enamored with the Spellmans that I was nervous about reading it. What if the characters weren't as charming and real as the Spellmans? What if I didn't like it and all I would have left of my Lutz love were books I'd already read and no expectation of future happiness? (I can be very dramatic when it comes to my books.)
After reading the Spellman Books, I knew Lutz's voice very well and as I read the first page of How to Start a Fire, my fears disappeared. This story follows three women, Anna, Kate, and George, for twenty years, starting from their meeting in college. In the hands of another author, I might not have wanted to read this book. A tale of friendship that includes marriages, divorces, affairs, addictions, and a big secret that changes the characters' lives seems all too familiar, but Lutz's sharp, accurate, and darkly funny writing make Anna, Kate, and George stand out when they could have been boring stereotypes.
Look at these three snippets. A lesser author could have made these simple and dull, but Lutz's writing makes them crackle.
Anna understood the customs of these events: a polite question was asked, and a polite answer was provided. She also knew that honesty was often the most direct path to ending a conversation. 
"Do you have a name?" he asked."Doesn't everyone?" she said.
"I'm not asking for your phone number or even a last name. Just give me something to call you," he said.
"I'm Kate," Anna said.
She smiled at her little joke. Miles thought the smile was for him. She had done this before, given Kate's name. She did it because she was doing something Kate would never do.
"A pleasure meeting you, Kate."
"Is it?
"She's incapable of having a normal conversation. I asked if she had any brothers or sisters. She said, 'Yes.' That's all. I asked her what she did for fun. She said, 'Not work.' I asked her what she'd done before coming to Blackman and Blackman, and she said, 'Something completely different.' I even made the mistake of inquiring about the scar on her forehead. It's not like she tries to hide it or anything. Told me she got it in a prison knife fight. Sometimes her only response to a question is 'I don't plan to answer that.'"
The heart, wit, and realness of the characters in her previous books are present in her latest. I no longer have the Spellman family to follow, but because they were a part of Lutz's imagination and immense talent, I haven't really lost anything; I've gained the anticipation of anything she writes. After reading How to Start a Fire, I will no longer fear to read anything new by her.
~Aisha, Adult Services

The Spellman Books



Other books by Lisa Lutz
Heads You Lose, co-written with David Hayward
A brother and sister pot-growing team finds the headless corpse of the sister's ex-fiancé on their property and must figure out why and how to get rid of it. Repeatedly, because after they move the body, it shows up again. Lutz and Hayward agreed to write alternating chapters without discussing what they were working on and would not undo plot written by the other. At the end of each chapter are notes written from Lutz to Hayward and Hayward to Lutz. This adds even more humor and suspense to an already funny mystery.

How to Negotiate Everything written by David Spellman with Lisa Lutz and illustrated by Jamie Temairik
In Trail of the Spellmans, David Spellman writes a book for his younger sister, teaching her how to negotiate. This is the fully realized version of that book.