CSPL Reader of the Month: Thea

The CSPL Reader of the Month for February is one of the Recommendations Librarians, Thea Dement. Thea's verve for adventure, fantasy, and thought-provoking reads come through in her answers to these questions. 

Q & A with Thea

Q. What is the best book you’ve read this year?

A. I haven’t read any noteworthy titles yet in 2019, but my favorite books from 2018 were both from series that I enjoy (and have read every book in).

The first is The Mortal Word by Genevieve Cogman. It is the 5^th book in the Invisible Library Series. This series combines the best of fantasy, science fiction, steampunk, and of course books. It follows Irene, a librarian that works for The Library, which is a place that balances the forces of good and evil by collecting books from worlds controlled by each side. The coolest part of this series is the fact that the librarians are really more like secret agents and get to go on a variety of dangerous missions to help save the world. 

The second is The Demon Crown by James Rollins, which is the 13^th book in the Sigma Force Series. This series follows a secret government agency that works under DARPA and goes on missions to save the world from various threats. The reason I love this series is that Rollins combines actual events, historical knowledge, and scientific facts into very plausible scenarios that are both terrifying and exhilarating (and hopefully remain fiction!). The Demon Crown features an ancient species from prehistoric times being revived using genetic engineering and wreaking havoc upon the world (no, not dinosaurs!). Sigma Force races against the clock to not only survive but neutralize the threat before it destroys mankind. Each book is action-packed and will leave you on the edge of your seat!

Q. What’s your ideal reading environment (location, sound, snacks, etc.)?

A. I enjoy reading pretty much anywhere. I’ve been known to even walk down the street reading (although I do look when crossing at intersections!). My ideal reading environment would include a comfy chair (or bed) that I can read in for hours without getting uncomfortable and the sound of a purring cat (which is most likely sleeping on me somewhere). 

Q. What book are you most excited about reading next and what about it is most exciting?

A. I’m most excited about reading a bunch of fantasy, science fiction, mystery, and action books this year as well as expanding my reading tastes to be able to give better recommendations to others. I also enjoy keeping up-to-date on a number of non-fiction subjects including business and self-help books.

Specific titles I’m looking forward to include the 14^th book in the Sigma Force series by James Rollins, Crucible, and the latest Thomas Harris book, Cari Mora. Both of these books are scheduled to come out later this year so I’m impatiently waiting for them! 

One title that is out that I’m looking forward to reading is called Deadly Rising by Jeri Westerson. It is the 2^nd book in the Booke of the Hidden Series. It is a fun combination of fantasy and a little romance and follows Kylie, a girl who inadvertently releases demonic creatures in her small town and must work to re-capture them. I really enjoyed the first book so I’m looking forward to seeing what happens in this one!

Q. What book do you think more people should read and why do you think they should read it?

A. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. This book is a literary classic and in my opinion should be required reading for everyone. I think more people should read it because it draws many parallels to today’s world and would help answer a lot of questions people have about why things are going the way they are. Even though it was written in 1957, you could easily replace the events in the book with current events, which is very unsettling. Rand gives a vision of what will happen if things continue to go the way they are. Perhaps if more people read the book and understood its implications there would be a greater push to change the society we live in.  

Q. What book has been the most challenging for you to read? How did it challenge you?

A. I have a habit of reading negative utopia books. These are books that look at a futuristic society that generally appears to be wonderful but in reality is horrible for its citizens, who are generally living in some form of slavery. Each one I read is challenging in its own way, mostly because of the parallels I can draw between the book and the real world. I like to read them in order to get a sense of how society could go terribly wrong, in the hopes of doing my part to ensure that it doesn’t become a reality during my lifetime. There are also many life lessons that can be learned from these kinds of books, many of which are challenging to accept, especially when they challenge one’s current worldview.  

Q. When do you decide to stop reading a book?

A. I used to read every book all the way through, but I’ve learned that this isn’t necessary. Now, I usually give a book a few chapters and if I’m not feeling it by then I stop reading it. There are way too many good books that I need to read!

For more titles, check out Thea's Favorite Books list!

Staff Review: The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro

In sixth century England, a mist covers the land that clouds the past, leaving people with only their immediate memories. The Buried Giant, by the 2017 Nobel Prize winning author Kazuo Ishiguro, opens up with a distant landscape of rolling green hills, hazy skies, and humble dwellings. In this medieval village, we meet our protagonists, Axl and Beatrice. When they seem to have a faint memory of being parents, their quest to find their adult son drives the narrative.

A Saxon warrior and his apprentice escort the aging Briton couple as they travel through an England in which Britons recently made peace with nearby Saxon villages, though mistrust and danger are ever present. We encounter old enemies of the Saxons, Monks who may not be who they appear, and a few mythical beasts along the way—though the most looming threat may be what lies behind the mist.

As their journey is on foot, the story moves at a similar pace. Someone looking for high action may abort at this point. Although there are parts with action and suspense, they burn slowly. Someone interested in an atmospheric story full of symbolism and rooted in English lore may proceed. I felt I was walking with the characters—I suppose partly because I was walking while listening to the story—but also because the descriptive text and repetitive dialog had a certain rhythm I found immersive. The resonant voice of the audiobook narrator, David Horovitch, and his skill with dialects certainly played its part in pulling me in as well.

The repetition may be irksome to some. Axl constantly addresses his wife as Princess, which may be cute at first, but happens about every time he speaks to her. There’s also a key character Sir Guwayne, from English lore. How many times can he remind the characters that he fought by King Arthur’s side? The answer is, a lot. With all the repetition and little back-story, some may find the characters flat. Usually, I prefer complex characters, but Ishiguro has a way of revealing complexity by withholding details. The repetitive rhythm and the present-tense characters make them anybody, the stuff of myths. The repetition also has the eerie quality of mirroring our own behavior.

The moral questions the book raises are fascinating and perennial giving it the feel of a modern myth. Must we bury the past to make peace in the present? Or do we bravely bring the past to light and seek clarity to heal old wounds? Is our conception of self made from internally repetitive myths? These questions make the book one to ponder long after the last page.

~Ben, Adult Services

Bingeworthy TV: Avatar: The Last Airbender

“Water... Earth... Fire... Air. Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony. Then everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar, master of all four elements, could stop them. But when the world needed him most, he vanished. A hundred years passed and my brother and I discovered the new Avatar, an airbender named Aang. And although his airbending skills are great, he still has a lot to learn before he's ready to save anyone. But I believe Aang can save the world.”

This is a lot of pressure for a twelve-year-old boy who just came out of an iceberg. Aang, the last of the airbenders and title character of Avatar: The Last Airbender, has been encased in suspended animation for a hundred years. During that time, a war has raged and the Fire Nation has committed genocide against the Air Nomads, leaving Aang as the last of his people. In order to restore balance to the world, Aang has a year to master the remaining three elements. In each nation there are individuals who can “bend” or control their element through psychokinetic martial arts. The avatar is the only person who can master all four elements and is tasked with maintaining peace and order in the world and acting as mediator between humans and spirits.

Aang sets out on his flying bison, Appa, with his new friends Katara and Sokka to find the water, earth, and fire bending teachers so that he can realize his potential as the Avatar and end the war before it is too late. As awesome as this responsibility is, Aang is still a child and finds plenty of time to have fun and get into all kinds of shenanigans while evading and a couple times escaping Fire Nation custody. This show is fun for the whole family; children and adults alike will be riveted by Aang’s adventures, heartbreaks, and transformation into a young man with the weight or the world on his shoulders.

~Becca, Technical Services

Bingeworthy TV: The Librarians

What’s cooler than being a librarian? Being a librarian that collects and protects the world’s magical artifacts while battling those who want to misuse magic! The Librarians is based off of TNT’s hit movie series starring Noah Wyle as Flynn Carson (Carnegie-Stout has The Librarian: Return to King Solomon’s Mines and The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice).

Wyle reprises his role of Flynn in the TV series. It stars Rebecca Romijn as Colonel Eve Baird, Flynn’s guardian. She’s joined by three new librarians who each have special abilities. Cassandra Cillian (Lindy Booth) has an amazing ability to visualize difficult mathematical equations, Ezekiel Jones (John Harlan Kim) is a master thief, and Jacob Stone (Christian Kane) specializes in art history and architecture. John Larroquette also stars as Jenkins, the caretaker of the library.

The team goes on exciting adventures looking for magical artifacts while going up against super villains such as Prospero (from Shakespeare’s Tempest), James Moriarty (from Sherlock Holmes), and Apep, the Egyptian god of chaos. It has the perfect mix of action, comedy, and drama. What’s even better: this series is very family-friendly!

Unfortunately, TNT recently decided to cancel the series after four seasons. However, producer Dean Devlin is looking for a new venue to host the show… fingers crossed!

-Thea, Technical Services

#ComicsWednesday: The Ancient Magus' Bride by Kore Yamazaki

It's been a while since a manga series caught my eye, but when The Ancient Magus' Bride by Kore Yamazaki came across my desk, I was intrigued. I'm a sucker for strange romances, and this seemed right up my alley.

Chise Hatori hasn't had the best life. Orphaned and then abandoned multiple times, she is approached with an opportunity to make something of her life. Unfortunately, it ends with her being sold to a powerful and frightening magus. The titular magus, Elias Ainsworth, immediately frees Chise, but offers to take her on as his apprentice. He casually mentions his intention to eventually marry her. Chise has powerful magic of her own that has been dormant most of her life, and she accepts Elias's offer to train her. In spite of the title, this romance/engagement thing isn't really mentioned much after the first volume, as the series becomes more about Chise learning about magic and how to use it.

The art in this story is fantastic. Yamazaki's drawings lend an otherworldly air to the story, which I found fascinating. The world she has created is rich and beautiful, while still being creepy. This is a great read for October! You can find the first four volumes in the Teen Zone here at Carnegie-Stout. I suggest you check them out!

- Libby, Youth Services.

#ComicWednesdays: Snow White: a Graphic Novel by Matt Phelan

Matt Phelan's re-imagining of Snow White is dark, but that's not a bad thing. The story isn't gritty or modern, there isn't any unnecessary gore or violence. The liberties he took make sense for the setting - Depression Era New York City. Snow is the daughter of the "King of Wall Street," but when his stocks plummet, they lose everything. The wicked stepmother poisons the father and chases Snow off into Hooverville. The re-imagining of the seven dwarfs as seven homeless kids, and the Macy's Christmas window as the glass coffin really stuck out to me. Phelan put a lot of thought and hard work into this adaption, and it shows.

The book is largely wordless, and Phelan's illustrations are shadowy and wonderful. The shaded black and white of the makes the pops of color stand out. The pinkish red of the pig heart, the bright red apple, Snow's red lips, the frosty blue Macy's window. It makes the happy ending stand out that much more as the last few pages of the book are in full color.

I would recommend this book to readers 10 and up, though it could be enjoyed by anyone who loves a good fairy tale. The themes are a little dark for anyone much younger than 10, and the wordless nature means that lots of context clues are picked up in the illustrations. Shorter attention spans might have a hard time looking for all of them. You can find Snow White by Matt Phelan in the Children's area of the library.

- Libby, Youth Services.