Nine Cat Books for Cat Lovers

It's a bit of a cliche that librarians are cat people, but it's definitely true that cats and libraries are a great combination. So whether you're a cat fanatic or just someone who thinks they're cute, we've put together a list of nine books that we think are purrfect!

You Need More Sleep: Advice from Cats by Francesco Marciuliano

(818.602 MAR) Our feline friends have spent eons observing, napping, pondering, napping, and taking notes about the human condition. In between naps, they've realized that we humans could use some catlike guidance when it comes to handling the ups and downs of life. In this book they've condescended to share their invaluable wisdom in short advice columns.

Cat is Art Spelled Wrong

(818.602 CAT) Fifteen writers, all addressing not just our fascination with cat videos, but also how we decide what is good or bad art, or art at all; how taste develops, how it can change, and why we love or hate something. It's about people and technology and just what it is about cats that makes them the internet's cutest despots.

Cat Zodiac: An Astrological Guide to the Feline Mystique by Maeva Considine

(133.5 CON) Brand-new cat owners, or those who have lived with a feline companion or two for years, need only look to the stars to demystify cat behaviors. This zodiac collection delves into the inner lives of cats, exploring each sun sign and offering character traits, lifestyle insights, and relationship inclinations to help cat owners learn to live in harmony with their unique pets.

Junji Ito's Cat Diary: Yon & Mu by Junji Ito
(MANGA Ito) Master of Japanese horror manga Junji Ito presents a series of hissterical tales chronicling his own real-life trials and tribulations in becoming a cat owner. Junji Ito has recently built a new house and has invited his fiancée, A-ko, to live with him. Little did he know ... his blushing bride-to-be has some unexpected company in tow: Yon, a ghastly-looking family cat, and Mu, an adorable Norwegian forest cat.

Cats Galore: A Compendium of Cultured Cats by Susan Herbert
(759.2 HER) Susan Herbert's delightful feline reimaginings of famous scenes from art, theater, opera and film have won her a devoted following. This unprecedented new compilation of her paintings provides an irresistible introduction to her world of cats, featuring previously unpublished images as well as a wide selection of her best-loved pieces.

Tiny Hats on Cats: Because Every Cat Deserves to Feel Fancy by Adam Ellis
(745.54 ELL) A fun and creative book for cat lovers, crafters, and pop-culture devotees alike. Readers will learn how to craft colorful and creative feline headgear from the book's step-by-step instructions. And in case you can't get enough feline haberdashery, you should also check out Cats in Hats: 30 Knit and Crochet Patterns for Your Kitty by Sara Thomas.

Shake Cats by Carli Davidson
(636.8 DAV) The fur flies in this irresistible third installment in the bestselling Shake series by popular pet photographer Carli Davidson, featuring adorable and hysterical color photographs of more than sixty cats caught mid-shake.

Catify to Satisfy: Simple Design Solutions for Creating a Feline-Friendly Home by Jackson Galaxy & Kate Benjamin
(636.8 GAL) In this book, Jackson Galaxy and Kate Benjamin show cat guardians everywhere how to use home design tricks to address everyday cat care issues. Featuring the amazing projects cat guardians from around the world have shared with Jackson and Kate -- design strategies for solving even the most daunting kitty challenges -- this book is the ultimate guide to creating a happy home for cat guardian and cat alike.

Simon's Cat: Off to the Vet by Simon Tofield
(741.5 TOF) In this brand new book we see Simon’s Cat face any feline’s most dreaded scenario – he’s off to the vet. And he’s not at all happy about it.

Nine Books that will Inspire You to Explore Nature

Did you know that June is Great Outdoors Month? It's hard to resist the call of the outdoors in the early days of summer, whether you're strolling the River Walk, hiking through the Mines of Spain, or just relaxing in your own backyard.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, though our first National Park (Yellowstone) is even older. Whether you're planning a visit to a National Park this summer, or just interested in reading up on their history, we've put together a list of helpful books to get you started.

If you're looking for some inspiration for outdoor fun (or if the weather's just too muggy for your taste), we've gathered together a list of Nine Books that Will Inspire You to Explore Nature!

Following the Wild Bees: the craft and science of bee hunting by Thomas D. Seeley
(595.799 SEE) Following the Wild Bees is a delightful foray into the pastime of bee hunting, an exhilarating outdoor activity that used to be practiced widely but which few people know about today. Thomas Seeley, a world authority on honey bees, vividly describes the history and science behind this lost pastime and how anyone can do it.

Happy Home Outside: everyday magic for outdoor life by Charlotte Hedeman Guéniau
(747.49 HED) Taking in garden rooms, outdoor spaces such as cabins, canopies, and dining areas as well as moveable spaces such as vintage vans and tents, Charlotte brings her everyday magic and glorious sense of relaxed living with bright color to every corner of the garden.

Vitamin N: The Essential Guide to a Nature-Rich Life by Richard Louv
(155.91 LOU) Vitamin N is a one-of-a-kind, comprehensive, and practical guidebook for the whole family and the wider community, including tips not only for parents eager to share nature with their kids but also for those seeking nature-smart schools, medical professionals, and even careers. It is a dose of pure inspiration, reminding us that looking up at the stars or taking a walk in the woods is as exhilarating as it is essential, at any age.

The Rarest Bird in the World: the search for the Nechisar nightjar by Vernon R.L. Head
(598.99 HEA) In 1990, a group of research scientists performed a survey of birds in the Plains of Nechisar in Ethiopia, returning with hundreds of specimens, including a single wing from a bird unlike any ever seen before. Vernon Head joins an expedition two decades later that will attempt to locate the rarest bird in the world.

The Wander Society by Keri Smith
(153.35 SMI)  Several years ago when Keri Smith discovered cryptic handwritten notations in a worn copy of Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass, her interest was piqued. Little did she know at the time that those simple markings would become the basis of a years-long, life-changing exploration into a mysterious group known only as The Wander Society.

Patterns in Nature: why the natural world looks the way it does by Philip Ball
(500.2 BAL) Though at first glance the natural world may appear overwhelming in its diversity and complexity, there are regularities running through it, from the hexagons of a honeycomb to the spirals of a seashell and the branching veins of a leaf. Revealing the order at the foundation of the seemingly chaotic natural world, Patterns in Nature explores not only the math and science but also the beauty and artistry behind nature’s awe-inspiring designs.

The Book of Camping and Woodcraft: A Guidebook for Those Who Travel, in the Wilderness by Horace Kephart
(796.54 KEP) In the early 20th century, travel writer Horace Kephart published a series of articles in Field and Stream, which served as the foundation for this classic book on wilderness camping. His work as an outdoorsman led to the establishment of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The Parkour & Freerunning Handbook by Dan Edwardes

(796.046 EDW) An illustrated introduction to parkour--freerunning--that provides step-by-step instructions on basic moves, which include landing, rolling, jumping, mounting, balance, and more, along with tips to avoid injuries. The book also discusses clothing, culture, and other related topics.

GoatMan: how I took a holiday from being human by Thomas Thwaites
(BIOG Thwaites) A research grant offers Thomas Thwaites the chance to take a holiday from the complications of being human--by transforming himself into a goat. What ensues is a hilarious and surreal journey through engineering, design, and psychology, as Thwaites interviews neuroscientists, animal behaviorists, prosthetists, goat sanctuary workers, and goatherds.

One of the Best Books I Read in 2015: The Dirty Life by Kristin Kimball

Kristin Kimball and her now-husband Mark are the founders of Essex Farm in upstate New York. The CSA (community-supported agriculture) shares they sell to their members provide a diet for an entire year - meats, eggs, vegetables, grains, syrup and beans. They raise all of this on their 500 acres of land. The Dirty Life is the story of how Kristin and Mark met, fell in love, and made this incredible farm come into being with very little funding, even less experience, and enough enthusiasm and dedication to make up for it.

Kimball's narration of the first years of the farm and her relationship with Mark is mesmerizing. Within months, she goes from living in the East Village, to a home without electricity or toilets, to leading a team of draft horses, and everything in between. Her style is witty and descriptive, and I often had trouble putting the book down. I was captured on the first page by a mouthwatering depiction of a home-grown, home-cooked meal. There is plenty of adventure and suspense as well: although Kimball states from the beginning that she is now married to Mark, reading about the many months that planning their wedding took the back burner to farm chores was nerve-wracking. I understood how they became so distracted, though, with farm life. Kimball and her fiance barely had time to sleep between caring for the animals, staying ahead of the weather, and acquiring complicated equipment to manage their land.

Every chapter offers a new anecdote: juicy gossip among small-town neighbors, a frigid day at an Amish auction, visits from skeptical mainstream friends, and various misadventures with animals, including Kimball being charged by a bull, are just a few of my favorites. Within pages, Kimball swings from heartwarming to hilarious to heartbreaking and back again, luring you to read on and continue the cycle. Whether you're a foodie, a farmer, a vegetarian city-dweller (as Kimball was before she met Mark), or just someone who finds yourself captivated by a sunset or a birdsong, Kimball's story will keep you cozy and entertained on a long, cold winter evening.

~Rachel, Circulation

Staff Review: Etta and Otto and Russell and James by Emma Hooper

Etta and Otto and Russell and James by Emma Hooper

As soon as I started this book I knew I was going to care about these characters. I was drawn into their story immediately, and while it left me with many questions, I enjoyed the ride.

Journeys are an integral part of this story.  Etta, Otto and Russell have known each other since their teens.  While they each have their own journey, they intersect in many ways.  Otto and Russell grow up like brothers, Etta and Otto get married after mainly getting to know each other through letters while Otto is away at war, and Russell buys the farm next to theirs and spends 50 years quietly in love with Etta. The story jumps back and forth between the beginning of these relationships and the present so most of the in between years are left blank.  You are given small insights into the lives of the main characters but so much is left up to the reader's imagination.

The book opens with Otto reading a note from 83 year old Etta telling him that she is off to visit the ocean--she has never seen the water and feels compelled to make this sojourn on her own.  She tells Otto she will return if she can remember.  From that point on you never know for sure what Etta's reality is.  Otto and Russell each cope in their own way with Etta's leaving and this is where I started having questions. Why does Otto decide not to look for Etta and instead spend his sleepless nights creating a papier-mâché menagerie and what does it represent? Why is Russell always waiting for deer--is his waiting representative of something else? Russell does track Etta down, but gives up on bringing her home and goes instead to the north to study deer and caribou.  Does he feel like Etta has released him in some way?

The story actually develops a sort of dreamy quality as Etta travels over thousands of miles on foot and runs into a talking coyote named James who joins her as a kind of spirit guide and protector. As her dementia increases and she slips in and out of reality Etta comes to depend on James to remind her of who she is.  By the end of the story the writing changes into very short passages of just a paragraph or a couple of sentences per page rotating between each character. At times it seems like Etta and Otto have merged into each others dreams and minds until they almost become one.

When all was said and done I thought to myself, "What the heck?"  I liked it so much, but felt like I needed to talk to someone else who had read it.  In stepped my sister and we had a quick book discussion and came to the conclusion that the author wanted the book to be ambiguous and open to interpretation. Together we were able to answer some of our questions. I think this would be a great book club book, but if you are a reader who wants things tied up in a nice package and with a clear ending, then Etta and Otto and Russell and James might not be your cup of tea.

~Michelle, Circulation

Books for a Blizzard

We've pulled together a few favorites for you to check out before the first real winter storm of the season hits. Stop by the Recommendations Desk on the first floor to grab one from the display.

Glitter and Glue by Kelly Corrigan

I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella
Also available as an OverDrive eBook.

Kitty Cornered by Bob Tarte

Marley and Me by John Grogan
Also available as an OverDrive eBook.

Native Tongue by Carl Hiaasen

On Dublin Street by Samantha Young

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

The Rook by Daniel O'Malley
Also available as an OverDrive eBook.

Scott Pilgrim by Bryan Lee O'Malley

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

If You Liked Rocket Raccoon, Try Airplane Monkey!

Sarah and I were both huge fans of Ann Leckie’s Ancillary Justice (you can read Sarah’s review here). We’ve spent the last several months watching the literary awards roll in for Leckie’s singular and inventive story of a former spaceship out for revenge. When the British Science Fiction Association announced the choice for Best Novel of 2013, Ancillary Justice had tied with Ack-Ack Macaque by Gareth L. Powell, a book whose synopsis made “former spaceship out for revenge” sound positively pedestrian. From the back cover:

In 1944, as waves of German ninjas parachute into Kent, Britain’s best hopes for victory lie with a Spitfire pilot codenamed ‘Ack-Ack Macaque.’ The trouble is, Ack-Ack Macaque is a cynical, one-eyed, cigar-chomping monkey, and he’s starting to doubt everything, including his own existence.

To be honest, that’s the sort of pitch that usually elicits a chuckle but then disappoints me. With so many self-consciously far-fetched ideas in play, it’s no mean feat to keep a book from spinning wildly out of control. But if the British Science Fiction Association said Powell’s Nazi-fighting monkey pilot book was actually one of the two best sci-fi novels of the year, then I’d give him the benefit of the doubt.

Once I got into the book, things became even more complicated with the addition of a modern day plot built around alternate history, domineering corporations, transhumanists, and nuclear zeppelins. With all these elements crammed together, I’d have been impressed if Powell simply pulled off a crash he could walk away from. Instead, he soared effortlessly. The characters are fun and believable. The plot is engrossing and cohesive (though really hard to convey to a third party -- just ask my wife). There were moments where it's exactly as silly as a warrior monkey book should be alongside moments of genuine suspense and emotional weight.

My title for this review suggests Ack-Ack Macaque as a good follow-up for Guardians of the Galaxy. Despite the shared theme of cybernetically-enhanced mammals with big guns and aircraft, I don’t know that I’d say one is a good match to the other. Ack-Ack Macaque is fairly dark and spends a lot of time considering questions of humanity in a world of cybernetic implants. Guardians of the Galaxy certainly has some heart and sci-fi chops, but keeps things loose and funny. All that said, both works share an important feature of successful high concept media: despite the superficial absurdity of their premise, they play things straight. They don’t wink to the reader or viewer, trying to make sure we know that they know that a talking monkey is silly. Nor do they veer toward grim and gritty excess in order to grind out any trace of silliness. To some degree, both works succeed because their creators believe they can -- no extra support or justification required.

If, after Ack Ack Macaque, you’ve still not had your fill of uplifted animals, try one of these:

• Hive Monkey by Gareth Powell -- The sequel to Ack-Ack Macaque. I haven’t read it yet, but it seems an obvious place to turn.

• We3 by Grant Morrison and Frank Quietly -- If you want to read a thrilling and gory action comic that will have you weeping bitterly at the end, I’ve got the book for you!

• Duncan the Wonder Dog by Adam Hines -- For those who like their talking animal comics with a more philosophical bent.

• Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIHM by Robert C. O’Brien -- A classic and personal favorite, this children’s novel is quieter and lighter on the sci-fi, but no less engrossing.

Staff Review, picture books for people who like chickens

Since I am a certified chicken geek, here are two more reviews of picture books featuring hens who have adventures.

Louise, the Adventures of a Chicken by Kate DiCamillo and Harry Bliss

Louise was bored with life in the chicken coop.  She went to sea and was saved from becoming dinner for pirates by a storm.  After seven days at sea Louise returned home, but not for long.  She became a high wire act in a circus until a close call with a lion made her miss the safety of the henhouse.  Louise decided to visit a faraway bazaar for her next trip.  When a fortune-teller said a dark stranger was in her future, Louise didn’t know that meant the stranger would kidnap and imprison her with a bunch of other chickens.  She picked the lock and freed the hens, who made her miss her home.  Her flock mates asked where she had been, and Louise told them of her travels.

While I found the main character appealing if not fully developed, the plot elements stretched my credulity.  Maybe the supporting characters will have larger roles in future installments.

Daisy Come Home by Jan Brett

Like Louise, Daisy longed for adventure.  As the smallest hen in Mei Mei’s flock, Daisy was picked and pecked by the other chickens.  One dark and rainy night, Daisy decided she had had enough and went outside to find a place to sleep away from the flock.  She didn’t realize the market basket she used for her nest would float away down the river.  Along her journey Daisy encountered a dangerous dog, a wallowing water buffalo, monkeys, and a fisherman who thought he would sell Daisy at market along with his fish.  When Mei Mei went to market to sell eggs, a friend told her that a fisherman had a basket from her farm.  No spoiler alert needed; you’ll have to read the book to learn the outcome.

Daisy’s story is more realistic than Louise’s, both in its plot and illustrations. The relationship between Mei Mei and Daisy adds depth to the characterizations.  The setting of Daisy Come Home is more limited than the broader scope of Louise’s exploits, but I particularly enjoy its local color.  Both reviewed titles offer a similar perspective; a weltanschauung from a chicken-eye view.  I recommend both stories for fans of chick lit.

 - Michelle, Adult Services

Our Favorite Books of 2013, part two

It's time once again for the staff of Carnegie-Stout Public Library to pick our favorite books of 2013. It's a mix of books new in 2013, and books new to us in 2013. This is the second half of our list, you can check out the first set of our favorite books of 2013 by clicking here. If you're wondering what other patrons have been reading this year, you can check out the What Dubuque is Reading Pinterest Board. We'd love it if you'd share your favorite books from this past year in the comments

Andrea, Circulation: Growing up, I did not read many books that are considered “the traditional classics.” Trying that now as an adult, I finally picked up To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee.  Published in 1960 and set in the South, this is a time that I do not know very well.  Aware of this fact, I wanted to keep reading it once I started.  Seeing the world through the eyes of Scout and Jem in 1930s Alabama, I was able to learn many lessons about inequality and justice.  I can't imagine this is how people used to live, yet this was a normal occurrence to them with change slow in coming.   Now I am finally able to understand all of the nuances brought out by this book in the world today and how many actual Boo Radleys there are in our own lives.  I am now thankful for my first journey into the classics and I am waiting for my next trip very soon. 

Amy, Youth Services: Pure Trilogy by Julianna Baggott (Pure, Fuse, and Burn): These books take place during the post-apocalyptic future world.  A cataclysmic event has happened and all of the people outside the "dome" suffer from fusing's of materials and other people that were near them at the time.  Pressia has a doll head fused to her hand.  She meets up with Partridge who is an escaped "pure" dome-dweller.  Together they brave the desolate and treacherous countryside to find her mother that she is sure survived the cataclysm.  They also search for the secret that will free the Wretches (those outside the dome) of their fusing's forever.  I'm anxiously awaiting the 3rd installment of this trilogy.  It's due to be released in February 2014.  I liked the fast pace of these books and the intriguing story.
You might also enjoy checking out Allison's review of Pure.

Sarah, Adult Services: It's hard to pick just one book for this list, which is why it's nice that I get to post reviews for my favorites throughout the year.  Even so, I'm picking two books. A friend insisted that World War Z by Max Brooks was worth reading despite the zombies, and while I did have zombie themed nightmares, it was an amazing audiobook. It's a full cast recording, so each narrator who shares their experiences in the zombie war has a unique voice and character. Zombie stories, like much of science fiction, are used as metaphors for the problems in modern society, and Brooks does a brilliant job of that. My second choice is The Human Division by John Scalzi. I read this in a standard print copy, as opposed to its original release as a series of short stories. I think this was the strongest title in his Old Man's War series, but I'm a sucker for collections of interconnected short stories. If I have a complaint, it's that the ending is a little too open, but I'm hopeful that means there will be a book six.

Michelle, Adult Services: Jan Brett's brand new book Cinders: a chicken Cinderella is my Christmas present to myself.  Cinderella is not my favorite fairy tale, but Jan Brett's spin on the story and her illustrations are incredible.  The four page center foldout is a magical ballroom scene that gives new meaning to "chicken dance"!  I love looking at the details in the borders around each set of pages.  Brett knows chickens; this is evident in her drawings and her description of the flock's pecking order.  Cinders, her Cinderella, reminds me of Doofus and Dorcas, my Silver Gray Dorking hens.

Angie, Circulation: The House of Hades is the 4th book in the Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan– a secondary series that follows the original Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. Much like the Harry Potter series, the heroic adventures in this book appeal to a wide audience - middle-grade through adult readers. For those unfamiliar with the Percy Jackson world - the setting is the modern world, with a twist: The gods of Olympus (Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, etc.) and the monsters of mythology like giants, the Titans and Tartarus, are real and causing chaos) and it is the job of a group of 7 demi-gods (teens who have one mortal parent, one godly parent) to defeat those monsters who are out to destroy the human race. This book takes a darker turn than some of the other books in the series, but the demigod characters really come into their own in this book. With humor and daring, the demigods come to believe that they might be able to pull off the impossible when they work as a team.I listened to the audiobook version of this book– and the performance by narrator Nick Chamian was commendable. I highly recommend anyone listen to the entire series on audiobook. The stories are exciting and funny.

Emily, Youth Services: Gulp by Mary Roach. One would not expect a "journey through the alimentary canal," which is what we now call the digestive tract, to be an enjoyable, let alone funny, read but it is! The subject is well researched with both historical and modern references. Mary Roach covers every - yes, every - aspect of the digestive process with facts, stories, and humor. Gulp is a thorough yet light-hearted examination of a serious and often unpleasant subject.

Our Favorite Books of 2013, part one

It's time once again for the staff of Carnegie-Stout Public Library to pick our favorite books of 2013. It's a mix of books new in 2013, and books new to us in 2013. And if you just can't get enough of librarian reading suggestions, check out the Twitter hashtag #libfaves13 for the favorite reads of librarians across the nation and around the world. We'd love it if you'd share your favorite books from this past year in the comments!

You can browse our favorite books from past years here:
Staff Picks 2011, new books
Staff Picks 2011
Staff Picks 2012, part one
Staff Picks 2012, part two

 

Andrew, Adult Services: I’d love this book even if it was just a chunk of paper bound together as an excuse to print the clever title, but it quickly becomes apparent that Ryan North knows Hamlet very well and is quite aware of the bizarre genius of making a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure book out of what may be the most famous example of literary indecision. North’s humor is gleeful and smart, alternating between Dungeons & Dragons references and insightful critique of the play. His wry commentary on the treatment of Ophelia is particularly enjoyable. I’ll be playing around in these 600+ pages for some time to come!

Jackie, Circulation: Drinking and Tweeting by Brandi Glanville is exactly what I expected it to be and more! It is an honest, sad, hysterical, sarcastic account of Brandi's life. This book shares her ups, downs, and everywhere (and I do mean everywhere) in between! It is a candid account of her life before Real Housewives of Orange County and her separation from her cheating husband (Eddie Cibrian). She speaks openly about dealing with the loss of her relationship, having a woman move in on her life and children (LeAnn Rimes), reinventing herself, and getting back into the dating world. She briefly discusses her spot on the Real Housewives show but it is not the driving force of the book by any means. This is a great, funny, quick read! If you have ever had relationship blunders you will surely relate to Brandi!

Mary, Youth Services: My favorite read in 2013 was The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat by Kelsey Moore. Excellent book with touching stories and a big splash of humor. It's about the enduring bond of three high school friends though the ups and downs of life. Reminded me of the nostalgia settings in the Fannie Flagg's books.

Laura, Circulation: The Legend of Broken by Caleb Carr. This is a truly unique historical novel with the feel of a fantasy even without any supernatural elements.  Although mostly speculative, it feels natural and believable, mysteriously set . . . somewhere . . . in a post-Roman Europe, in a dangerous culture that has maybe sown the seeds of its own destruction.  Precise, flowing prose and a jaw-dropping plot twist made this my favorite book of the year.  I've never read anything else like it!

Mike, Adult Services: A book I enjoyed this year was Mississippi Solo: A River Quest by Eddy L. Harris. It was published in 1988 and is out of print, so I bought a used paperback copy on eBay. When he was 30, Harris canoed the length of the Mississippi River by himself, and his book takes readers along on the three-month journey, from camping on sandbars to locking through dams to exploring quirky river towns like Dubuque, where Harris ate Yen Cheng egg rolls under the Town Clock. Harris's bubbliness is weird, and he goes overboard with his anthropomorphic descriptions of the river, but his book reminded me of my younger days when I lived three blocks from Ol' Man River in Savanna, Illinois, especially the days I spent with friends in flat-bottom boats. Now at 60, Harris is raising money to paddle the river again, this time with documentary filmmakers in tow: www.eddyharris.com. If Harris makes it back to Yen Cheng, his crew is bound to shoot some interesting footage. If not, he has at the very least inspired one aging river-rat wannabe to save up for a canoe.

Allison, Adult Services: I picked up Love in the Time of Global Warming by Francesca Lia Block expecting a standard YA end-of-the-world survival story, with some teenage love drama thrown in. While there is a world-ending catastrophe and romance, the book was anything but standard. Drawing on Homer's "Odyssey" (which, I'll be honest, I only skimmed in high school. It isn't necessary to be familiar with the tales, but, I appreciated Block's book more after a little review) the story begins when a cataclysmic earthquake destroys the West Coast and a wall of water sweeps seventeen-year-old Penelope's family away. After narrowly escaping death at the hands of looters, Pen sets off on a perilous journey to find her family, encountering human-devouring giants, sirens,  lotus-eaters and witches, and gathering three companions to aid her quest. Magic and the fantastic is woven throughout the narrative, which skims back and forth from Pen's present journey to her life before the Earth Shaker, when she was just on the precipice of discovering her sexuality. Even though the book wasn't at all what I though it was, I was enchanted by the magical realism and love that suffused the story.

Lisa, Circulation: Historical fiction is my favorite genre, so I really enjoyed Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jaime Ford. I learned about part of American history that I never really knew about before. Set in Seattle during World War II, the story centers around the evacuation of Japanese Americans to internment camps hundreds of miles away from their homes. They are denied their belongings and the lives they have established there. It is a story of a shamful part of American hisotry, but also of family ties and bonds between fathers and sons. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. 

Amy, Youth Services, The Ruby Red Trilogy by Kerstin Gier (Ruby Red, Sapphire Blue, and Emerald Green): Gwen has inherited the time-travel gene from her ancestors.  She travels through time in London with Gideon, another time-traveler, to search for the "Circle of Twelve" which are other time-travelers and find out what her own destiny is.  She is the Ruby in the Circle of Twelve and once all the pieces of the puzzle are put together, her own destiny will be revealed.  These books were very interesting and had a refreshing story that separates it from all the similarly written dystopian YA novels of this year.

Chick Lit

To celebrate my tenth year of keeping chickens, I’m reviewing four books related to gallus domesticus.  The first two titles focus on the basics of becoming a chicken wrangler; the second two titles are more playful.

As urban flocks and small chicken holdings become more popular, the market for chick lit has greatly expanded.  Instead of technically proper but emotionally sterile writing and presentation, readers of chick lit now demand brightly colored covers, photographs, drawings, pretty graphics and interesting prose.  The front cover of Chick Days features nine chickens in different poses while the back shows five photographs of one chicken from hatchling to laying hen.  Instead of a standard table of contents in outline form, Chick Days has twelve eggs of various hues, each containing the chapter title and page information.  Every set of pages in the book has a color photo, graphic, table or chart similar to glossy magazines, but don’t think the content suffers.  The book manages to present the information necessary to decide which chickens to raise, where to house them, how to feed them and keep them alive.  Three appendices provide a breed chart, details on chicken health and a list of resources.  The stories of Honey, Tilda and Ameila, the hens making up the photographer’s first flock, personalize the text.

Robert and Hannah Litt’s A Chicken in Every Yard is more text heavy than Chick Days.  It’s a longer book with fewer illustrations and photographs, but the pictures are used to good effect.  The contents follow the same pattern as Chick Days; why raise chickens, which breed is best for your situation, how to plan, prepare and then enjoy your flock and keep it healthy followed by a list of chicken resources.  The Litts offer a few more recipes including flan, Sunday morning crepes and perfect poached eggs.  While an average reader might be satisfied to stop reading after Chick Days, a true chick lit fan will devour A Chicken in Every Yard and be searching for more titles.

It’s probably a stretch to include Goblinproofing One’s Chicken Coop as true chick lit since only one chapter deals directly with fowl, but the book is way too much fun to skip or ignore.  In March it won the Diagram Prize from the trade magazine The Bookseller for year's oddest book title.  Author Reginald Bakeley’s tongue-in-cheek style in very proper British form kept me smiling as I read: “Chickens Yes!  Goblins No!  If you believe your hen cottage may be infested with malicious, uncouth goblins, Reginald Bakeley would like to know about it.  He requests your photographs of suspected goblin hens, roosters, chicks and eggs.  For further instructions, visit www.goblinproofing.com.”  I wonder if he knows anything about mice masquerading as goblins.

 The tiny drawings by Lauren Scheuer scattered throughout her book Once Upon a Flock are irresistible to me.  Her illustrations are reminiscent of the Garth Williams’ sketches from the beloved Little House series I’m now reading with my granddaughter.  Scheuer includes actual photographs, too, but irregularly framed and edged as if the pictures were cut out and pasted in a scrapbook.  This is not to slight the prose, which is equally appealing.   Scheuer’s chickens may be anthropomorphized, yet consider that this writing style has sold lots of books recently.  Think of Spencer Quinn’s Chet and Bernie mystery series, nonfiction titles like Marley and Me or the fictional The Art of Racing in the Rain.  Once Upon a Flock is classified as nonfiction; can you believe the flyleaf says “Lauren discovers that love, loss, passion, and resilience are not only parts of the human experience, but of the chicken experience as well.”  Read some chick lit and become a believer!
~ Michelle, Adult Services


Chick Days: an Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Raising Chickens from Hatchlings to Laying Hens by Jenna Woginrich with photography by Mars Vilaubi. 2010. (636.5 WOG)

A Chicken in Every Yard: The Urban Farm Store’s Guide to Chicken Keeping by Robert and Hannah Litt.  2011. (636.5 LIT)

Goblinproofing One’s Chicken Coop and Other Practical Advice in our Campaign against the Fairy Kingdom by Reginald Bakeley. 2012. (818.602 BAK)

Once upon a Flock: Life with My Soulful Chickens by Lauren Scheuer. 2013. (636.5092 SCH)

May Magazines of the Month

We once again have two magazines of the month! Our selections for May are Birds and Blooms and Bird Watching. Spring has finally arrived and the robins and other migratory birds have returned to greet the morning sun with their song. Whether you're an avid bird watcher, a fan of The Big Year, or just curious about what bird built a nest in your tree, you should take an opportunity to flip through Birds and Blooms and Bird Watching.

Birds & Blooms began publication in 1995, and includes many reader submitted photographs and articles. The content includes both information for birders and gardeners.

Bird Watching also accepts reader submissions, but their focus is entirely on the world of bird watching. One highlight are regional guides for where the best bird watching can be found.

March Magazines of the Month

On March 3rd, the internet asks you to consider, "What if your pets had thumbs?" If your cat were able to open his own can of food, would he have any need for you? If your dog could text, how astronomical would your phone bill be? If your goldfish had thumbs, would it also grow arms and hands? Is that just the first step to real life mermaids?

As you consider the ramifications, you might find you need to relax with a nice magazine. Never fear! Carnegie-Stout is here with subscriptions to both Cat Fancy AND Dog Fancy!

Dog Fancy's homepage can be found here, and Cat Fancy's can be found at this link. Both magazines are published by BowTie, Inc., an organization responsible for a large number of animal related periodicals. Cat Fancy began publication in 1965. Dog Fancy's first issue was published in 1970.

 You might also enjoy checking out some of our other cat & dog blog posts including a list of mysteries for dog lovers, Allison's review of Kitty Cornered by Bob Tarte, our previous magazine of the month, Bark, or our Pinterest board featuring the cats of library employees!

Mysteries for Dog Lovers

This week was the 137th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, and an Affenpinscher named Banana Joe took home Best in Show. There are more than a few dog lovers on staff at Carnegie-Stout. Our pooches may never win best in breed, but we love them all the same!

Like peanut butter and jelly, dogs and mystery novels are an excellent combination. So for this Friday's blog post, we're highlighting a few of the doggy mystery series available at Carnegie-Stout!

Dog On It by Spencer Quinn
Spencer Quinn’s hilarious mystery series featuring detective duo Bernie and Chet is a Carnegie-Stout favorite. Bernie is a PI, and his partner, and the series narrator, is Chet, a cat hating canine. The series starts with Dog On It, Bernie and Chet take on the investigation of a missing teenage girl. Readers who prefer audiobooks should definitely check out James Frangione's narration. Quinn is a pen name of author Peter Abrahams, who writes psychological suspense as well as books for teens and younger readers.

Elvis and the Dearly Departed by Peggy Webb

The Southern Cousins mystery series by Peggy Webb is another funny series featuring a doggy narrator (who thinks he's Elvis Presley reincarnated). Elvis the basset hound lives with (and shares narrator duty with) Callie Valentine Jones, who does hair for the deceased at her uncle's funeral home in Tupelo, Mississippi. The pages are filled with a colorful cast of characters, and an upbeat atmosphere. In Elvis and the Dearly Departed, Callie and Elvis take on the case of a missing corpse.

Beaglemania by Linda O. Johnston
Linda Johnston's Pet Rescue Mysteries series is not as lighthearted, though there is a touch of romance. The series starts with Beaglemania, and features amateur sleuth Lauren Vancouver, manager of a No-Kill shelter in California. Lauren suspects that a man with a history of animal abuse has ties to a puppy mill when she finds beagle puppies abandoned in a drain pipe. But when that man is found murdered in her shelter, Lauren becomes the number one suspect.

The Dog Park Club by Cynthia Robinson
Cynthia Robinson's offbeat mystery series features a quirky cast of characters, headed by Max Bravo, bisexual opera singer whose dead grandmother is a frequent spectral visitor. Max comes to Berkeley to dog-sit for his friend Claudia (she's going through a rough divorce), and friendships form among the regulars at the local dog park. When Amy, a pregnant dog owner, goes missing, the regulars all suspect her husband's to blame.

Hounding the Pavement by Judi McCoy
Judi McCoy combines mystery, romance, and the paranormal in her upbeat and charming Dog Walker Mysteries series. Hounding the Pavement is the first book in the series. Ellie, recovering from a recent divorce, decides to make use of her new found talent for telepathic communication with dogs by starting a business as a  dog walker. When one of her clients is killed, Ellie works to track down the client's missing Bichon, with the help of an attractive NYPD Detective.

Dead Canaries Don't Sing by Cynthia Baxter
Baxter's Reigning Cats & Dogs is another New York mystery series with appeal for dog lovers: the pages are packed with doggy detail. Dr. Jessica Popper, veterinarian, is almost always accompanied by her pack, Max and Lou. So it's no surprise that her canine companions are there when they uncover a dead body at a horse farm while making a house call. There's a touch of romance, when Jessica teams up with a PI to crack the case.


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!