Best Books of 2012 - Staff Picks, Part II

Welcome back! Last week we gave you some of our favorite books of 2012, and since we're all such voracious readers, we have even more!

Allison, Adult Services:

Code Name: Verity by Elizabeth Wein. Of all the great books I read this year, Code Name: Verity stands out as the most engrossing, well written and moving of them. Taking place during World War II, the story is told in two parts each from the perspective of the two main characters. One is an undercover Scottish (not British, mind you) spy for the Allied Forces, the other, a pilot. On a mission over Nazi-occupied France, their plane crashes and what follows is a gripping story of friendship, loyalty and war. The novel, especially the ending, stayed with me for days afterwards. While it's not for the faint of heart, it is an amazing read.

Kristen, Circulation:

American Nations: a History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America, by Colin Woodard. As a lover of history and a family genealogist, this book really helped me to imagine what the lives of my early American ancestors were like and what was important to them. It also gave me some insight as to why different areas of the country have such differing social, economic, and political views to this day.




Michelle, Circulation:
My most favorite book of the year was The Street Sweeper by Elliot Perlman. I think I liked it more than most of my “bookie” friends, but again, I loved the writing and got totally caught up in the story of these interwoven lives and really wanted to find out how they were all connected and how it all turned out. The descriptions of the concentration camps were very hard to read, but in the end I was not disappointed.  (Michelle also enjoyed Sacre Bleu: A Comedy d'Art by Christopher Moore and Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver.)

Michelle, Adult Services:

My two favorites for 2012 are Eowyn Ivey’s The Snow Child and Louise Erdrich’s The Round House. I listened to the audio versions, and the narrators are splendid. I haven’t finished Erdrich’s book yet; I have 3 disks to go. Gary Farmer is the reader, and he is Wolf Clan Iroquois which adds to the authenticity of the story. He is also an actor. I want to go back and re-watch Smoke Signals and figure out which character he portrays. His narration has a mesmerizing cadence.


Mary, Youth Services:

I enjoyed reading Sandra Dallas’ books True Sisters and Alice’s Tulips. Both are historical fiction. I also enjoyed Diary of a Mad Fat Girl by Stephanie McAfee; it’s humorous chick lit.







Sharon, Youth Services:

I absolutely loved An Unquenchable Thirst: Following Mother Teresa in Search of Love by Mary Johnson – I thought it was wonderful and really enjoyed meeting her when she was at the library. One book I didn’t want to put down.





Brian, Information Technology:

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo. From the jacket: "Orphaned by the Border Wars, Alina Starkov is taken from obscurity and her only friend, Mal, to become the protegé of the mysterious Darkling, who trains her to join the magical elite in the belief that she is the Sun Summoner, who can destroy the monsters of the Fold."




 Angie, Circulation:
A few books I read and enjoyed this year were: A Discovery of Witches, by Deborah Harkness. Audio book read by Jennifer Ikeda - fabulous listen, great narrator. Literary, but easy to read. The Passage, by Justin Cronin. Both the book and and the audio (narrated by Scott Brick) were great. The end of the world as we know it, scary and disturbing, yet Cronin doesn't forget to show us some humanity in the midst of the chaos. Big read, but epic in a good way. The Mark of Athena, by Rick Riordan - Exciting, clever, fun, dramatic. Great third book in Heroes of Olympus series, Riordan seems to get better with each book.

Laura, Circulation:

Hannibal, by Thomas Harris - Yes, as in Hannibal Lector. A lot like the movie, only much, much better. The first time you see him "on-screen," it's like you're right there. Also, An Echo in the Bone, by Diana Gabaldon - The latest in a series about a woman thrown back in time 200 years to the Scottish highlands, where everything is an adventure and she tries hard not to fall in love. With wonderful characters and lots of action, the latest book describes one family's reluctant involvement in the American Revolution. Don't expect the story to be resolved, though; you'll be anxiously awaiting the next book in the series.

Barb, Circulation:

I just finished Make Believe: an Edna Ferber Mystery, by Edward Ifkovic. I thoroughly enjoyed it not only for the historical fiction aspect about Hollywood but also because it was extremely eloquent.






So what was your favorite read of 2012? Tell us in the comments below, or on Facebook, G+ or Pinterest, and happy reading!

An Audiobook Resolution

My 2012 New Year's resolution was simple, read one audiobook every month. I've dabbled in audiobooks since starting my career in librarianship, but I needed a push to step outside my routine. Audiobooks weren't part of my regular schedule, so I needed to learn how to make time to listen. I'd read Read on... Audiobooks by Joyce Saricks, an excellent guide to the variety of narrators, genres and styles available at the Recommendations Desk, but I needed to learn what I liked to listen to.

Overall, I'd call this experiment as success. I wouldn't think of setting out on a long trip without an audiobook or two (CD for the car, OverDrive downloadable for a plane). If I have a headache or insomnia, curling up in bed with a quieter audiobook is perfect. The right narrator improves the experience: the jokes are funnier, the scary bits are more terrifying, and the characters come alive.

More than anything, I'd recommend you try setting a reading resolution for 2013, and maybe pick up an audiobook! If you were wondering what I've listened to, keep reading for my list.

January
Cinder written by Marissa Meyer, narrated by Rebecca Soler

A science-fiction retelling of Cinderella with cyborgs? Sign me up! The book itself didn't quite live up to my expectations, but it also didn't discourage me from trying more audiobooks. It's also possible that I was a little annoyed to find out that this was only the first book in a series. 


February
State of Wonder written by Ann Patchett, narrated by Hope Davis

I'd had this on my To Read list since writing the Ann Patchett Read Alikes post, and it didn't disappoint. I passed some relaxing evenings with this book and a cup of tea. There were a few discs that were scratched to the point of annoyance, but I mentioned it to a coworker when I returned the disc and we got it cleaned up.

March
The Cinderella Deal written by Jennifer Crusie, narrated by Susan Boyce

I generally love Jennifer Crusie (and was on a romance/chick lit kick at the time), but I learned that listening to a narrator reading a steamy love scene aloud is far more embarrassing than reading it in the quiet of my own head.

April

The Scorpio Races written by Maggie Stiefvater, narrated by Steve West and Fiona Hardingham
I adored this book. I loved the story, the characters, and especially the narrators. I'd thought it might be confusing to have multiple narrators voicing the same characters, but because the chapters alternate perspective with the narrators, it worked very well. And okay, I'll admit it. I developed a bit of a crush on Steve West's voice. I even attempted to listen to him read The Grand Design by Steven Hawking.

May
Lock and Key written by Sarah Dessen, narrated by Rebecca Soler

I may not have loved Cinder, but I did enjoy Rebecca Soler's narration, add in my enjoyment of Sarah Dessen's writing, and this was a winner. Ruby's journey from fiercely independent and somewhat destructive to someone with family and hope for the future was definitely compelling.

June
Heartsick written by Chelsea Cain, narrated by Carolyn McCormick

I don't know what I was thinking. I don't like to watch horror movies. I tend not to read scary books. I'm one of those people who would only watch Criminal Minds with my hands over my eyes. I think I almost drove off the road listening to the serial killer describe how she tortured her victims. Ms. Cain wrote a suspenseful story, and Ms. McCormick is a skilled narrator, but I was not the right reader to fully appreciate their work.

July
Ready Player One written by Ernest Cline, narrated by Wil Wheaton

I'd checked out the print book, but hadn't gotten past the first chapter before it was due back to the library again (the peril of being surrounded by more good books than you have time to read). Then Andrew wrote his glowing review which includes the fact that Wil Wheaton was the narrator, and I had it on my hold list again. Did not regret that.

August
The Flight of Gemma Hardy written by Margot Livesey, narrated by Davina Porter

Davina Porter is one of my favorite narrators (someday I will listen to the second half of Outlander), and Jane Eyre is one of my favorite books. The escape to cold, rainy Scotland was great in the middle of hot, dry August.

September
Beauty Queens written by Libba Bray, narrated by Libba Bray

This was my first foray into downloadable audiobooks; an iPod is much easier to carry on an airplane than a box of 14 cds. The story starts with a plane crash, which I found hilarious. In fact Ms. Bray's narration (including a wide range of voices to distinguish the very large cast) kept me laughing my entire vacation.

October
First Grave on the Right written by Darynda Jones, narrated by Lorelei King

Another downloadable for my vacation. This was a perfect mix of humor, action, and steamy romance. It's dark, but still fun. I will definitely be checking out the second book in the series. I'm leaving out the cover art because I find it bland.

November
For the Win written by Cory Doctorow, narrated by George Newbern

This book was a trick. I was expecting something along the lines of Ready Player One, and yeah, there was action and video games, but there was also a lot of information about economics. However, it turned out to be the perfect companion on a weekend when I put a few hundred miles on my car. I'm not sure everyone appreciated my desire to talk about credit default swaps.

December
The Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare, narrated by Jennifer Ehle

I picked this series up in audiobook form at the suggestion of a coworker. Technically I haven't finished the book yet, but I will this weekend! This is definitely a fun example of steampunk, and it doesn't hurt that the narrator is also the actress who played Elizabeth in the BBC Pride and Prejudice miniseries!

Best Books of 2012 - Staff Picks, Part I

It probably comes as no surprise that people who work in libraries love to read. While we don't have time to read at work, sadly, we do manage to squeeze reading into our schedules. Our interests cover a wide range - from history to sci-fi, graphic novels to young adult. We've picked out the best books that we've read in 2012 and listed them here. Some are new, some are old, but each are memorable in their own ways. Enjoy!

Mike, Adult Services:
My favorite book this year was a 1948 Penguin paperback edition of W. Somerset Maugham's novel, Cakes and Ale. The flimsy copy I found by chance is inscribed, "Don T. Anderson, August, 1948, London." The story is a roman à clef about English writers at the turn of the century. While I didn't understand all of the allusions, Rosie, a married woman who dates a lot of men, was a very compelling character, and I especially enjoyed the chapters in which the narrator Ashenden returns to his childhood village on the Kentish coast:

It was cold and cheerless in the commercial room where I ate my dinner alone at a large table laid for six.
I was served by the slatternly Katie. I asked if I could have a fire.
"Not in June," she said. "We don't 'ave fires after April."
"I'll pay for it," I protested.
"Not in June. In October, yes, but not in June."

Lisa, Circulation:
I think I will probably have to say (my favorite is) Still Alice by Lisa Genova. Even though it is a work of fiction, the author's experience and research in the field of Alzheimer's disease gave a very believable and valuable perspective. As someone who has a person close to me living with this disease, I really found it valuable to hear an account from the diseased person's point of view. The narrative, while heart-breaking, gave much insight as to how the progression of Alzheimer's disease affects the person, and sheds light on how the person copes with the daily struggles, from minor, to debilitating in the later stages. I chose this book because of its lasting value and relevance.

Sarah, Adult Services:
Lauren Beukes' Zoo City has wormed its way into my imagination. Months after reading it, I'm still thinking about the strange, yet familiar world Ms. Beukes created. The Zoo City of the title is a slum region of Johannesburg, South Africa inhabited primarily by the animalled. The plot is a hard-boiled mystery with twists, betrayals, muti, and a flawed, reluctant detective. (Read Sarah's full review here).




Abbey, Technical Services:
Letters from Berlin : A Story of War, Survival , and the Redeeming Power of Love and Friendship, by Margarete Dos and Kerstin Lieff . When Kerstin Lieff encouraged her mother to speak about the past, she had no idea what an epic story she would uncover. This book provides a fascinating and unsettling glimpse of life in Germany during the Third Reich and World War II, as well as the uncertain times immediately following the war.






Amy, Youth Services:
The best book I read this year was Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. It’s definitely not a new book, but it was so good. It’s a time travel, action packed, historical, and steamy love story set during the 1700’s in Scotland. I’ve never read anything like it, and couldn’t wait to read the sequels. I really fell in love with the characters in this story. There are 5 books in this series and they are all about 900 pages each, so you need to read these when you have some time. They are worth it.




Andrew, Adult Services:
Nao of Brown by Glyn Dillon. Beautiful, intelligent, and moving, Dillon's graphic novel tells a quiet and honest story of modern life intercut with an intriguing fable of magic and war. Read my longer review here, but even that doesn't manage to spell out all the things that made this book my hands-down favorite of the year.






Becca, Circulation:
I just read The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan. It was very good, but I hate cliff hangers and this one ended in a literal cliff hanger. So now I am impatiently awaiting the next book in the Heroes of Olympus series.








Jackie, Circulation:
Mystic City by Theo Lawrence. If Hunger Games and Matched had a baby, it would be Mystic City!









Amy, Adult Services:

G.A. Aiken's Dragon Kin series is a paranormal romance series about - you guessed it - dragons! Dragons who can take on the form of human beings and live in an alternate reality future (or possibly past, hard to tell) where there are all kinds of wars going on and battle hardened generals with really horrible names (like Annwyl the Bloody). There is magic, a lot of bloody battles and really strong female characters. What I loved most about this series is the laugh-out-loud funny dialogue. I'm not kidding, I really did laugh out loud in all of the books. Make sure you read them in order because there are some really crazy character names and somewhat complicated family relationships that won't make much sense if the books are read out of order.

Come back next Monday when we'll have more of our favorite books of 2012! In the meantime, what was your favorite read of 2012? Tell us in the comments below, or on Facebook, G+ or Pinterest!

Books for the apocalypse

As anyone who knows me or who follows my blog postings, I'm a fan of the apocalypse. No, I'm not looking forward to it, nor do I believe in it*, but I am a fan of all the books that have been written about the subject.

There's been a wave of books that take place in some sort of future dystopia, places and worlds where, after some great cataclysm (known or unknown) humanity has remade itself. Many of these new books are written for young adults, but by no means limited to them.

I could go on, but since we're supposedly facing the end of the world this Friday, here are some highlights from some of the best apocalyptic fiction I've read this year:

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War & The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks - I'll admit, I'm not a big fan of zombies. I avoid books and movies about them, since they tend to emphasize the gore factor a bit too much for my taste. But then I heard that a movie was being made based on the book, and that fans of the book were up in arms about it. I had to read it.

World War Z (the book) is told, true to it's subtitle, as an oral history. Divided into chronological sections, the story is told through interviews with survivors of the war. The people interviewed range from military to doctors to ordinary people, and follow the spread of the plague, the governments' responses (or lack thereof) and how people managed to survive and, ultimately, beat back the zombie hoards. The first-person narration is gripping and brings you to the heart of the crisis. The raw terror, the helplessness and the desperation are tangible, as is the toll both the war and the terrible solution that won it took on what remains of humanity.

Brooks' companion nonfiction book, The Zombie Survival Guide, is referred to a few times as a "civilian survival manual" during World War Z and is written as such. Offering practical advice from where to go to what to bring with you, the guide is written in the same world as World War Z. It also offers more information about the virus that causes people to turn and a retrospective of recorded attacks dating back to 60,000 B.C. to the attacks that set off the global war. I'd recommend reading it after you've finished World War Z, as the history, advice and scenarios will hold more meaning.

Wool: Omnibus & the Shift series by Hugh Howey
The Wool series began as a one-off Kindle single by science fiction writer Howey. But, as the novella became a best seller, fans demanded more. Wool: Omnibus collects the five novellas that have been published so far. Howey has also written two short stories in a planned trilogy (the Shift series) that fill in the history of the world of Wool. Once the third book is published, Howey has promised to continue with Wool 9, and the Shift series should definitely be read after Wool: Omnibus. As a bonus, the Kindle edition of Wool 1 is now free!

Wool takes place in an underground silo where generations of people have lived after an unknown global catastrophe made the surface of the planet uninhabitable and deadly. The story of Wool 1 begins with the sheriff of the silo, Holston. Beyond that, it's difficult to describe further without giving major spoilers. One hint, though: people do leave the silo for "cleaning," however, they do not come back. And often times, they volunteer.

The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster - Written in 1909, this short story is amazingly prescient. Forster imagines a world in which people live in vast underground structures and have lost the ability to live independently. People are dependent on the Machine, which cares for their every need, and the vast majority of life is spent in isolated cells. Exile from the Machine means death and very few question the Machine's existence or actions. The story follows Vashti and her son Kuno, who wants to see the world outside of the Machine. And, as the Machine begins to malfunction, Kuno might get his wish. It's a great story, especially considering it was written 103 years ago, and it's available for as a PDF EPUB or Kindle book. (Hat-tip to Mike for recommending it!)

Good luck and happy reading!

~ Allison, Adult Services

* Although if anyone wants to buy me a spot in one of these, I won't object.

Draco casts claudit librocella!

Carnegie-Stout Public Library will be closing at 4 p.m. today (Thursday, December 20th) due to the ongoing blizzard conditions. We hope that you are all bundled up safe and warm at home!

As you snuggle up with your cocoa, or recover from shoveling the front walk, we've put together a few snow related links to keep you entertained and informed.

First up, Brian in our IT Department captured this time lapse video of the snow falling on Locust St as seen through the windows on the second floor.



If you're wondering about the title of this blog post, the Weather Channel has decided to give names to winter storms this year (just like hurricanes!), and the blizzard that has brought the tri-states to a halt shares a name with a certain Harry Potter character.

Of more practical use, the government has tips for weathering a blizzard safely (http://www.ready.gov/winter-weather). You can check out the latest snowfall totals from the National Weather Service (http://www.nws.noaa.gov/climate/index.php?wfo=dvn), or play around with interactive snow maps (http://www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/).

And never fear Dubuquers! Even though the library is closing early, our OverDrive collection is available 24/7 (barring blackouts)!

Check out more Grumpy Cat here: http://www.grumpycats.com/

Read Alike: The Hobbit

The Hobbit: an unexpected journey, the first film in Peter Jackson's planned trilogy, opens in U.S. theaters today. The film is an adaption of J.R.R. Tolkien's novel, The Hobbit, or, There and Back Again. The book's popularity led to Tolkien's trilogy, The Lord of the Rings, which was, in turn, the source of Jackson's first popular Middle-earth trilogy.

Many of you have probably seen all or part of Jackson's film adaptions of The Lord of the Rings, and hopefully you've read the books as well. If you haven't yet, we definitely recommend picking up The Hobbit whether or not you'll be going to the theater this weekend. If you're curious about how the book became the movie, check out this interview where Peter Jackson talks about some of the decisions he made in the process of filming.

If you've already read The Hobbit a dozen times and are looking for something new, we've pulled together a few suggestions for you. Of course, it's easy to argue that most modern fantasy owes a debt to Tolkien's influence, and because this upbeat adventure novel has appeal for readers young and old, we've included titles from the youth, young adult, and adult collections! 

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K Le Guin
A fantasy classic that remains popular with readers from tween to adult. Earthsea is a world dominated by the seas, and where names hold great power. The story follows Ged as he grows in his skills as a wizard from a boyhood as a goatherd to his time as a student in the wizard's school. Much like Bilbo, Ged's journey teaches him to think beyond himself to the larger threats of evil in the world.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien met while teaching at Oxford and formed a friendship that shaped their literary careers. Lewis and Tolkien shared a love of mythology, and that love shines through in different ways in each of their writing. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia has adventure, a battle between good and evil, and is popular with younger readers. You can read more about Lewis and Tolkien's friendship here.

The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander
Alexander's Prydain Chronicles have a solid appeal for younger readers, but the suspenseful adventure, the details from Welsh mythology, and a touch of humor hold up well. There's a colorful cast of characters including Taran, assistant pig-keeper, Eilonwy, runaway witch, Doli the dwarf, and, of course, Hen Wen the oracular pig. The heroes find themselves in a battle against evil that spans five books. 

Dune by Frank Herbert
Frank Herbert is best known as the creator of the Dune series, which, after his death, was carried on by his son Brian. Though the setting for Dune is vastly different from Tolkien's Middle-earth, Herbert's detailed worldbuilding, epic story, and descriptive language capture a similar appeal. Although younger readers might find be uncomfortable with some of the issues raised, adults older teens who are willing to try science fiction should give this series a try.

More for Tweens
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Redwall by Brian Jacques
Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins
Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman
Small Persons with Wings by Ellen Booraem

More for Teens
The Once and Future King by T.H. White
The Tiffany Aching books by Terry Pratchett
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper

Adults should take a look at our Read Alike post for Robert Jordan, which has a mix of modern fantasy authors. You might also enjoy Andrew's review of The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. I'd like to thank Andrew and Emily for their help with this post!

Did you already attend a midnight showing? Give us your movie review in the comments!

Please stop by the Recommendations Desk on the first floor, check out NoveList Plus on the library's website, or visit W. 11th & Bluff next week for more reading suggestions. Or submit a Personal Recommendations request, and we'll create a reading list just for you!

Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan

It began - or at least it seemed to begin - with two small bug bites. Bedbugs? Perhaps. The young Manhattan reporter, just months out of college, searched her apartment for any sign of the pest. Despite finding no trace, she searched again, eventually calling in an exterminator, who also found nothing. Unknown her, this seemingly innocuous event would mark the beginning of an illness that would eventually steal her sanity, mind and nearly her life.

Susannah Cahalan's Brain of Fire: My Month of Madness is her recollection (as much as she is able to remember) of her journey through what initially appeared to be a bad cold, to extreme personality changes, paranoia, mania and vivid auditory and visual hallucinations and seizures. It is also a harrowing journey through the health care system, as she and her parents desperately searched for a diagnosis as Cahalan slipped further and further into catatonia.

Brain on Fire is based on Cahalan's recollections during the first stages of her illness. However, as she admits, the very nature of the disease makes her memory of that time unreliable, and later, simply missing. Cahalan also relies on the recollections of her parents - who kept a shared journal to keep each other updated on their daughter's progress between visits - her boyfriend's memories and stories from her family, friends and coworkers. Cahalan also draws on her extensive medical records and interviews with the doctors and nurses who treated her, including, as Cahalan's mother remarks, "a real-life Dr. House." She also reviews recordings of her time in New York University Hospital's Advanced Monitoring Unit, offering a haunting glimpses of her deteriorating sanity, none of which Cahalan remembers.

Some of the book's most moving passages (of which there are many) are the recollections of her parents and loved ones. Cahalan's parents had divorced and remarried and her relationship with her father - a somewhat reserved and emotionally distant man - had suffered. Her parents, who had not maintained a relationship, vowed early on that their daughter would not be placed in a psychiatric ward. Her father kept a near-constant vigil at her bedside and her mother researched every possible cause of her daughter illness, searching out the best doctors with increasing desperation. The effect of Cahalan's illness - of watching their only daughter fall apart and being powerless to help - was profound. But, as Cahalan acknowledges, she would not have survived without them.

The science behind the disease Cahalan is eventually diagnosed with is highly complex and not entirely understood. Therein lies the crux of the book - the disease is so rare and difficult to diagnose, its cause so mysterious - that it baffles even the best doctors in the field. Perhaps the most sobering message of this book is, as Cahalan says, how lucky she was. To have been admitted to the right hospital at the right time and referred to the right doctors; the sheer odds against her were astronomical. How many others, she wonders, were not so lucky? How many have been confined to psychiatric wards, long-term care facilities, or have died because they were not as fortunate?

At the close of the book, nearly two years had passed since her admission to NYU Hospital. While she had returned to her job at the New York Post and had, again, moved out of her mother's home, she admits that she isn't entirely sure if her recovery is complete. After such a harrowing journey, after the insults suffered by her brain and body, was is even possible to return to the same person she had been before? Cahalan seems to accept the idea that she might never return to exactly the same person she was before, nor will her parents and boyfriend.

Brain on Fire is both a memoir and a medical thriller, an exposé of the health care system and a tribute to the men and women who work within in,  it is a warning of how fragile our minds and bodies are, and an affirmation of the strength of love and family.

~ Allison , Adult Services

Six Degrees

Usually our Friday posts include a list of books or authors with similar writing styles, characters, genres, or tones. But where's the fun in always doing the expected?

Have you ever played the six degrees of Kevin Bacon? A Madison librarian, Sarah Statz Cords, came up with a variation for those of us better at naming authors than actors. That said, we won't limit you to just books, if a movie or television show helps you connect the dots between your six items, go for it! Post your list here, or on our Facebook Page.

I'll start us off:

1) The Nine: inside the secret world of the Supreme Court by Jeffrey Toobin has been on my To Read list ever since my father, brother, and sister all told me that they loved it.

2) True Believers by Kurt Andersen is a book that I did read this year. The main character, Karen Hollander, has just turned down the opportunity to become a member of the Supreme Court because of a dark secret in her past.

3) Less of a secret was her youthful love for all things James Bond. While Karen and her friends preferred the books, today most of us are more familiar with the movies, including Judi Dench in the role of M.

4) Judi Dench's career has included a number of parts in movie adaptations, including Mrs. Fairfax in the 2011 film of Jane Eyre, my all time favorite book.

5) I can't bring myself to watch any of the movie versions of Jane Eyre, but I did read The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesey. A retelling of Jane Eyre set in the 1950s and '60s.

6) The narrator of the audiobook for The Flight of Gemma Hardy is one of my favorites: Davina Porter. She's also the voice behind Diana Gabaldon's wonderful Outlander.



Think it's too easy? Try to find the connections between your favorite book and favorite movie (no points if your favorite movie was based off of your favorite book), have a friend pick the two titles you have to connect, or see how many lists you can make that include your favorite author.

Best Seller Read-Alikes for the Week of December 2nd

Can’t wait to get your hands on the latest best-seller, but the hold list is too long? To tide you over, every week we’ll offer similar titles and authors to the week’s fiction and nonfiction best sellers.

Fiction

At #1 this week in fiction is Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich.The nineteenth outing for bounty hunter Stephanie Plum finds her working a series of small jobs for her cousin's bail bond business and in serious need of cash. Finally, she lands a case that could put her back in the black: tracking down a con man who has disappeared from the hospital after an emergency appendectomy. When  a second felon goes missing from the same hospital, she must call on Trenton's hottest cop Joe Morelli for help.

Other authors & series similar to Evanovich include:

Lisa Lutz - Lutz’s funny, fast-paced mystery stories feature a large cast of colorful characters. Start with The Spellman Files, the first in her upbeat series following Izzy Spellman and her work at her dysfunctional family’s detective agency. Izzy’s family doesn’t understand the term “boundaries” and she’s had it up to here. She decides to move on with her career, but first she takes on one last case.

Harley Jane Kozak - The author of the humorous Wollie Shelley mystery series, Kozak is known for her witty page turners. The series starts with Dating Dead Men, wherein Wollie Shelley’s research project in dating for a popular talk show host’s upcoming book is complicated by a corpse.

Nancy Martin - Martin's ongoing Roxy Abruzzo mysteries series also features a sassy heroine running with a motley crew of eccentrics. In Sticky Fingers, Roxy does a little debt collection on the side for her jailed mob boss uncle and refuses a hit job on a former high school classmate — but finds herself accused of the murder anyway. Solving the mystery requires a lot of help from her amusing friends and relatives and the smart dialog and fast pace make this series a good match for Evanovich fans.

Click here for more fiction bestsellers... 

Nonfiction
At #1 in non-fiction is is the presidential biography, Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power by Jon Meacham. The Pulitzer-prize winning journalist and historical biographer presents an exhaustive and glowing portrait of the third president. Tracing Jefferson's path from his family's Virgina aristocracy to his role as a Founding Father and then on to his achievements as a master politician, Meacham paints Jefferson as a philosopher president and a political pragmatist, devoted to the success of democratic republicanism in the United States.

Sarah did an excellent post on historical biographies last Friday. Below, find some highlights that are a good match for Meacham's latest biography:

David McCullough - McCullough's engaging and highly respected histories and biographies, his work as the host of American Experience and as a narrator on several historical documentaries have earned him two Pulitzer Prizes, two National Book Awards, and a Presidential Medal of Freedom. He's known for his positive tone and ability to explain the large events of history through their impact on the individual. Try his biography of John Adams or Mornings on Horseback, the story of Theodore Roosevelt's youth.

Ron Chernow - Chernow worked as a journalist and as a member of a Think Tank specializing in finances before becoming a popular and well-regarded author, receiving a Pulitzer Prize for his work Washington: A Life. His writing has a great attention to detail, and tends to be a little quieter and thoughtful in tone. He often uses his experience in finances to write about those who have had a significant impact on our nation's economics, as in his biography of Alexander Hamilton.

Click here for more nonfiction bestsellers ...

If you'd like more recommendations, stop by the Recommendations Desk on the first floor, check out NoveList Plus on the library's website, or visit W. 11th & Bluff next week for more reading suggestions. Or submit a Personal Recommendations request, and we'll create a reading list just for you!

Mrs. Queen Takes the Train by William Kuhn

I had today's review half-written when I picked up Mrs. Queen Takes the Train last week. I'd only planned to flip through and get a sense of the writing, but instead I found myself giggling, out loud, in the staff room on my lunch break. I did not want to put this book down.

This is Mr. Kuhn's first novel; his previous work has been in biography. This was mostly to his benefit, but there were times when the story did not flow as a novel should. While his research of and familiarity with the history of England's royal family and household helped to create believable characters, occasionally the balance tipped from entertaining to educational.

The characters and their interactions are what make this book work. I was instantly charmed by The Queen and found her depression understandable. At first I was annoyed when the narrative shifted to a different perspective, mostly because it wasn't always obvious that the perspective had shifted, but by the end of the book I wanted to know more about all these people living and working in the background of royalty's glamor.

Many of the reviews suggest that fans of Downton Abbey or The King's Speech will enjoy this book, and speaking as a fan, I'd say they are correct. It's a fairly gentle and overall optimistic peak behind the scenes of the lives of the powerful.

Oh! And if you're looking for more books and movies about the British Royals, check out our post from the Royal Wedding. You might also enjoy this recent photo set of The Queen meeting a soldier in full camouflage and a very large horse.

~Sarah

The Hockey News, December's Magazine of the Month

The Hockey News is Carnegie-Stout's Magazine of the Month. Founded in 1947, it remains one of the best sources for hockey information. Don't get checked into the boards without checking out the latest issue from Carnegie-Stout. The NHL might be in the penalty box, but The Hockey News can give you the stats on the excitement on the rink and off. You can take a look at their website for the latest updates.

Luckily Dubuque hockey fans don't have to go far for their fix. The Fighting Saints are having yet another fantastic season! You can keep up on the action on their website or Facebook page, but we recommend cheering them on in person.