Best Books We Read in 2011

Not every book we read and loved this year came from the New Shelf. Here are some of our favorite reads in 2011 that were published in 2010 or earlier. To see our favorite new books of 2011, follow this link.


Angie, Circulation - The Magicians by Lev Grossman
This fantasy novel is the coming-of-age for a sarcastic, sardonic, and flippant young man who finds that dreams sometimes do come true. The audio book brings the characters vividly to life.


Amy, Youth Services - Stolen Lives: Twenty Years in a Desert Jail by Malika Oufkir
A true story about the daughter of the king of Morocco's closest aide. In the 70's, her father was accused of trying to assassinate the king, and their family was imprisoned for two decades. Such a good book.



Lisa, Circulation - The Help by Kathryn Stockett
The characters and their intricate relationships, the rich descriptions of the merging Civil Rights movement, and the style of the writing all make The Help my favorite book of 2011. The book was both uplifting and entertaining, as well as shocking and heartbreaking at times. The character of Skeeter shows a determination that is inspiring, as she navigates her new role as a college graduate in 1960s Jackson, Mississippi, who sees that change in necessary and inevitable. The Help is a page-turner, and tells a story that needs to be told.



Michelle, Circulation - Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
I read this story about the great runner Louis Zamperini's WWII experience as a POW in a Japanese camp to my Dad, who was also a WWII veteran and flyer. Dad did not see action but could really relate to all of the descriptions of the planes and being in the military. He and I both had tears in our eyes as we read of the courage and spirit these POWs displayed. Though they may have been "unbroken", many of the men (boys) came back permanently damaged in ways most of us can not imagine. It was a beautiful story made even more special to me having shared it with my dad.



Brooke, IT - Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon
The story line was very detailed, in a fictional landscape. I love to read books about strong independent women. Paksenarrion overcomes great odds, and you are constantly growing with her as she becomes a Paladin.



Sarah, Adult Services - Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal
A Jane Austen inspired romance with a literal touch of magic. Not too serious, or too dark, it was the perfect escape from the stresses of the Real World.



Andrew, Adult Services - Fifth Business by Robertson Davies
This is a bit of a cheat, because while I did read this book this year it was maybe the fourth time I'd read it. Fifth Business is a novel crammed full of saints, stage magicians, and Jungian archetypes. Davies's clear and unpretentious prose keeps to book from getting bogged down by its heaps of larger-than-life ideas.



Michelle, Circulation - Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Ok so I'm jumping on the Dragon Tattoo band wagon. After the first 75-100 pages of the first book I was completely sucked in. Sometimes the narrative got a bit detailed for me and I found myself skimming to get to the action, but I usually didn't have to skim for long because there was more action right around the corner. I found the vigilante justice to be a guilty pleasure since it was balanced by the fact that there was a price to be paid for all the characters actions, both good and bad.



Amy, Youth Services - The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
A book about zombies, but in a way that's compelling to read about. This series would make a great movie.

Reading NaNoWriMo: "Shades of Milk and Honey"

The bulk of my attention for November has turned to NaNoWriMo, which means less time for reading (even if I'm woefully behind target for my word count). Luckily there are many books that I've enjoyed, but haven't had a chance to review here on the blog, so today I'm here to sell you on the novels of  Mary Robinette Kowal, who happened to write the first of her Glamourist Histories series, Shades of Milk and Honey, during NaNoWriMo.

[Side note: If you're participating in NaNoWriMo this year, we're having a Come Write In session tomorrow (Tuesday) at 6 p.m. and then at 7 p.m. the book club is discussing another NaNoWriMo book, The Night Circus, which Andrew reviewed here.]

I first read Shades of Milk and Honey in 2011, and I picked up the most recent in the series, Without a Summer, this past August. I really enjoy the way Kowal mixes Jane Austen-like Regency romance with a system of magic that fit naturally with the setting. Even better, this has proven to be a series that holds up well to rereads. A fourth book, Valour and Vanity is scheduled for publication next year, and I'll probably be pre-ordering a copy.


In fact, I liked Shades of Milk and Honey so much, that I named it my favorite book of 2011 (I generally try to read at least a few of the Hugo and Nebula nominees each year). Months later I remembered to add a (very) short review to my Goodreads account, and then was floored when Ms. Kowal (or some person in charge of her Goodreads profile) "liked" my review.

It was a helpful reminder that these days it's not uncommon for social media savvy authors to interact with their fans, and not just the fans who sought out their mailing address, email, or blog comment section. It's fairly easy to use keyword tracking to find mentions of your name (especially if a library @ tags the author), or the title of your most recent novel.

In fact, we now have a half-serious joke about trying not to look like we're stalking Rainbow Rowell on Twitter. We aren't. We swear. Though, speaking of, did you know her most recent novel, Fangirl, is also a NaNoWriMo novel?

Of course, it seems unlikely that a group of librarians encouraging readers to love a favorite book as much as we do would be mistaken for creepers. But the other side of an author's ability to connect with fans online, is that it's astonishingly easy for readers to learn about the lives of their favorite authors. Long gone are the days when a young reader might pour over the about the author paragraph in the back of a favorite paperback trying to guess if the author is a cat or a dog person.

For example, we all recently learned how (not so) easy it is to (apply a rigorous research method and) impersonate Patrick Rothfuss on Twitter. In fact, Ms. Kowal applied some of the same methods she used to achieve a writing voice similar to Jane Austen's in order to out Rothfuss Rothfuss (who, it should be noted, failed to hit the 50,000 word mark during NaNoWriMo, and that's okay).

I also learned, in the course of writing this blog post, that Ms. Kowal is an accomplished voice actress, who has narrated several audiobooks. If you'd like to learn more about the author, she keeps a blog on her website: www.maryrobinettekowal.com
She also tweets as herself: @MaryRobinette

~Sarah, Adult Services


One final note: I couldn't think of a way to work in a link to my review of Shine, Shine, Shine by Lydia Netzer, which was also written during NaNoWriMo.

The Boy in the Suitcase by Lene Kaaberbol and Agnete Friis

I don't read many books shelved in mystery these days, so I've largely missed the Scandinavian mystery craze. I take mysteries home, but once I figure out who done it, I tend to pick something else out of my ever growing TBR (To Be Read) pile. So I was surprised to find myself staying up way too late after opening The Boy in the Suitcase.

Before turning to crime novels, both Lene Kaaberbol and Agnete Friis were the authors of books aimed at children and young adults (most of which are, unfortunately, not available stateside). While The Boy in the Suitcase may appeal to some older teens, it's definitely not a children's book.

You may've seen Andrew's Facebook link to S.S. Van Dine's "Twenty-two rules for writing detective stories," and I'm happy to say that The Boy in the Suitcase breaks almost every rule. It's no spoiler to say that the very young boy in the suitcase is the victim of kidnapping, and not murder.

The novel is delightfully fast-paced, as the various narrators are drawn together. I enjoy this technique, especially when the characters are compelling. Despite damaged Red Cross nurse Nina Borg's billing as the heroine, even minor side characters are given color and personality. An important fact in a novel where there is no secret as to who placed a 3 year-old Lithuanian boy in a luggage locker in Denmark train station, and the reader is instead asked to guess why.

The book jacket promises that this is the first in a series of novels featuring the adventures of Nin Borg, but I haven't been able to find any hint as to when a second book will be out in English. So, while I'm waiting, I plan to try The Exception by Christian Jungersen and Sun Storm by Asa Larsson, reviews of which promise fast-paced mysteries with strong female characters. It's never too late to jump on the Scandinavian bandwagon!

-Sarah, Adult Services

Dubuque Tournament of Books: Meet the Contestants

Voting for the first ever Dubuque Tournament of Books begins on Sunday, March 3rd. There's still time to enter the contest with your picks for the winning books. Entry brackets are available in the February 28th issue of 365Ink, you can download one from our website, or you can pick one up at Carnegie-Stout. All entries must be returned to Carnegie-Stout by March 8th to be eligible for the drawing.

Of course we don't expect you to have had a chance to read all the entrants in the contest, so today we're providing you with a brief introduction for each title!

Wild: from lost to found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed 
Wild is a deeply personal and inspirational memoir about grief, hiking, and personal growth. This was the first title selected for Oprah's new book club, and was the topic of a Read Alike post on our blog. 

Are You My Mother? by Alison Bechdel 
Are You My Mother? is the second witty and intellectually challenging graphic memoir by cartoonist Alison Bechdel. Her first, Fun Home, will be the book under discussion at the April 9th meeting of Graphic Content here at C-SPL.

The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett
This stand alone novel by the prolific fantasy author is a thought-provoking exploration of parallel worlds told with Pratchett's trademark humor. The main character's journey starts out in a Madison, WI orphanage stretches to the bounds of reality.

Redshirts by John Scalzi
Scalzi is an award-winning author known for both his science-fiction and his blog. Redshirts is a darkly humorous and thought-provoking examination of many popular science fiction tropes with great appeal for any Star Trek fan.

Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich
How could we not include the latest installment in Evanovich's hilarious mystery series featuring hapless bounty hunter Stephanie Plum? Be sure to check out our Janet Evanovich Read Alike list if you haven't. 

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn 
Most readers hadn't heard of Gillian Flynn before the publication of her third novel, Gone Girl, but this suspenseful story of a dysfunctional relationship kept readers turning pages long into the night. Flynn's weeks at the top of the best seller lists earned her a Read Alike post as well.

Building Stories by Chris Ware  
Ware's unconventional take a graphic novel captured the attention of many critics, landing Building Stories on several Best of 2012 lists (as well as Andrew's Graphic Novels for People Who Don't Read Graphic Novels post). Melancholy and complex, the way the reader approaches the 14 pieces changes the experience.

Batman: Court of the Owls by Scott Snyder
Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, and Jonathan Glapion team up for a new look at an old comic book favorite: Batman. If you've never read a Batman story, this gritty murder mystery would be a good volume to start with.

50 Shades of Grey by E.L. James 
Everyone and their mother has heard of the self-published erotica turned #1 best seller that is the 50 Shades trilogy. This steamy read has convinced legions of readers to explore their inner goddess, or maybe just given them the giggles. This was the 2nd place choice in our November voting.

Bared to You by Sylvia Day
The popularity of 50 Shades brought long time steamy romance author Sylvia Day to wider recognition due to the similarities in her Crossfire trilogy: a dominant business man, a young woman just starting her career, and their steamy (and somewhat kinky) passion. Bared to You has also spent significant time on the best seller lists.

Killing Kennedy by Bill O'Reilly 
Librarians across Iowa will tell you that Bill O'Reilly and coauthor Martin Dugard's dramatic exploration of President Kennedy's assassination is a popular title. A follow-up to their earlier Killing Kennedy, readers shouldn't doubt the host of Fox News Channel's O'Reilly Factor's continuing popularity.

Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo
This beautifully researched book about life in one of India's slums by journalist Katherine Boo was the winner of the 2012 National Book Award for Non-Fiction. You can read more about this book in Sarah's staff review.

The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling 
The first novel from the author of the wildly successful Harry Potter series was bound to receive attention. The Casual Vacancy is a character-driven and darkly humorous novel of small town politics with not a single wizard. It also tied for 5th place in our November voting.

Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel
Bring up the Bodies is the sequel to Mantel's Man Booker winning Wolf Hall, the first two novels in a proposed trilogy about the life of Thomas Cromwell in King Henry VIII's court. In fact, Mantel was also awarded the Man Booker for Bring Up the Bodies. She is only the fourth novelist to receive two, and the first woman.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Wein's haunting novel about friendship in WWII received a Printz Honor for 2013, as well as being a C-SPL staff pick for the best books of 2012. Suspenseful, with moments of dark humor, and a powerful twist near the end, this is a great pick for readers old and young. 

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
John Green's witty take on first love, and winning online presence, has earned him a wide readership. The bittersweet romance between two teens who meet at a cancer support group had most readers laughing and weeping by turns. Don't miss our March 12th meeting of Let's Talk Books, where Amy will be leading a discussion of this book!

Be sure to check back here on Sunday to cast your votes for the first round of the Dubuque Tournament of Books!

The Books You've Always Meant to Read

Inspired by this WPA-era poster created for an Illinois statewide Library Project we've been thinking about the books we've always meant to read, but haven't yet. Maybe the book is too big, or the subject too complex. Or maybe it's a book enthusiastically recommended by a friend who just knows you'll love it, but you're not quite sure. And there are those books that you think you should read, but, well, you're a busy person and don't have time to sit down and read War and Peace, for goodness sake!

From classic to contemporary, our lists are long. Here are a few highlights from library staff. Leave your list in the comments section, or join the discussion on Facebook and G+!

Allison:

• Twilight by Stephanie Meyer - A neighbor and friend just adores the "Twilight" series, and even lent me her copies of the whole series. But, well, it's Twilight, y'know?
• The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender - My mom, who knows a thing or two about books and about me, really thinks I'd love this book about a young girl who can taste people's emotions in food. It's on my coffee table, but so are about 10 other books.
• Under the Dome by Stephen King - I'm a huge King fan and I've read everything he's written, up until this book. I've tried, but it's just so, so big!

Sarah:

• My official To Be Read list has well over a hundred titles at any given time (Goodreads is both a blessing and a curse). I've had The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls on the list for over five years, and I never hear anything but praise. I think I'm slightly afraid that it won't live up to everyone's enthusiasm.
• A more recent addition to my list is The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach. I have checked it out from the library twice without reading it. I know it's a character-driven story set on the campus of a small liberal arts college in Wisconsin, but I look at the cover and think, "Ugh, 500+ pages of baseball."
• And sitting on my shelf of books that I own, but haven't read, staring at me accusingly is Moloka'i by Alan Brennert. I read the first chapter and fell in love 3 years ago, but somehow books I own just can't compete with library books and their due dates.

Mirdza: I’ve always wanted to read Proust’s Remembrance of Things Past (or In Search of Lost Time)—depending on the translation. I admit I haven’t read it, or baked madeleines. But I will some day!

Jennifer: I love to read "the classics" and these are the ones I had left on my list before I had my kids.

• A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens - Fell asleep by the 2nd chapter.
• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - Can never find the time with three kids.

Amanda:

• War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy - When I was in 8th grade the teacher issued the challenge that if we read this book and wrote a review of it, all of our other reading assignments would be waived. I tried but I just didn't get it - maybe someday.
• The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells - I admire Wells for his stance on suffrage in a time when many men laughed at the idea, but have yet to read any of his work. My great aunt tells the story of hearing Orson Welles' reading The War of the Worlds on the radio in the 30's. She said they were so scared that her mother made the family go into the root cellar.
• Atonement by Ian McEwan - I lost a bet and was supposed to read this. Sadly I haven't yet.
• The Iliad or The Odyssey by Homer: I've SEEN these but have yet to read them. Something that has been around for over 800 years is probably worth reading.

Angie: Moby Dick! It has been my whale for over ten years! I decided I MUST read it when I couldn't answer the trivia question: "What famous book starts with the line 'Call me Ishmael ?'" I have started it no less than 6 times, get to about page 100 and get stuck every time in the section about the physiology of the whale. One day, one day.

Mike: I’ve always meant to read the German novel Austerlitz by W.G. Sebald: This stylistically complex, lyrical story employs a first person, stream of consciousness narrative to richly describe the struggle of Jacques Austerlitz to uncover his identity as he follows the memory of his childhood back to the heart the Holocaust in war-torn Europe. Although the pace is relaxed, the storyline is character-driven and intricately plotted, and the tone is haunting and melancholy. Or so I’ve heard. Wikipedia says Austerlitz is notable because of its lack of paragraphing, digressive style, and very long and complex sentences, including one sentence which is nine pages long. Along these lines, I like to believe I’d also enjoy reading H. L. Mencken’s Prejudices: The Complete Series, and The Education of Henry Adams by Henry Adams, and Ulysses by James Joyce. “Scutter, he cried thickly!”

Andrew: I’ve been meaning to read Orlando by Virginia Woolf for an awfully long time. I’ve made a little progress into it in the past year, maybe a quarter of the book. It’s not that I don’t enjoy it or it’s a chore to read, but something always distracts me . . .

Michelle: The classic Russians. I have not read Dostoyevsky or Tolstoy. No Brothers Karamazov. No Crime and Punishment. No Anna Karenina. No War and Peace. I haven’t even watched the movies. I have to save something to do in retirement. If I read one page a day, it would only take about 10 years to get through all four!

What book have you always wanted to read? What's keeping you?

I Read Banned Books: Fun Home by Alison Bechdel

This year for Banned Books Week I read Fun Home: a family tragicomic by Alison Bechdel, a graphic novel which has lingered on my TBR (to be read) list for almost a decade. A combination of recent controversy, an award winning Broadway adaptation, and some friendly encouragement finally tipped the scales.

Fun Home was first published in 2006, and was almost immediately challenged in a Missouri public library. Due to the images depicting sexual acts, specifically sexual acts featuring LGTBQ participants, there have been several other challenges over the years. You can read more about its controversial history in this article from the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

Fun Home is a memoir about Bechdel's relationship with her father, his death, and her journey to understanding her own sexuality. It is not an easy read. This book is dense with complicated emotions, not uncommon when considering how our relationships with family change as we grow older. However the added tragedy of her father's sudden death (or possible suicide) hard on the heels of Bechdel coming out as a lesbian and the revelation that her father had spent his life in the closet, creates a sort of drama that colors every other aspect of their relationship. She examines her memories for hints and signs overlooked, unable to continue their conversation directly.

In the most recent controversy, students at Duke University objected to Fun Home's selection as a title all incoming first-year students were encouraged to read. As far as I know, no one has called for Fun Home's removal from the library shelves or syllabi at Duke. However, it's interesting how several of the students who refused to read this book said that they would've read it in print, but the graphic novel format made the content too objectionable. It's not uncommon for a challenge to a graphic novel to be based in part on the fact that the objectionable material has been illustrated, rather than simply described in words.

There are three graphic novels on the American Library Association's list of Top 10 Most Frequently Challenged Books for 2014:

• Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi: a memoir about growing up in Iran
• Saga by Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples: a sort of science-fiction romance (read my review)
• Drama by Raina Telgemeier: a story about a first love and a middle school play (read Andrew's review)

Like those Duke students, I avoided reading Fun Home -- not for some moral reasons, but simply because I knew this wasn't a fun book and I prefer happy endings in my books. However, it is important to push myself outside of my comfort zone sometimes because each time I have, I've discovered something wonderful. That said, I'm glad I waited until I was ready to read this book, and I'd reached a point in my life where I had the perspective to really appreciate Bechdel's memoir. Nine years ago I might have fixated on the tragedy and missed the quieter advice that it is damaging to force yourself to live within the confines of expectations, even your own.

~Sarah, Adult Services

Staff Review: Vegan Cheesecake Recipes

It started as a joke. My friend Jackie was describing a complicated cheesecake recipe she was baking for a party while I was browsing through the smoothie recipes on a vegan blog, when I stumbled across a recipe for Raw Vegan Strawberry Cheesecake*. I immediately suggested she switch recipes, to which she responded, "How can it be cheesecake if there isn't any dairy!?" 

A year later Jackie has come to Dubuque for a visit, and I immediately realize that this is my chance to have someone who knows how to bake food help me in the creation of the mysterious raw vegan strawberry cheesecake.

Raw Vegan Strawberry Cheesecake, based on a recipe found in Raw Food for Real People

"Wouldn't you rather I show you how to make a real cheesecake?" she asked. No. No, I wouldn't. I can buy real cheesecake at the store or in a restaurant, but a raw vegan cheesecake is a challenge. A quest. An accomplishment. A topic for a book review for the library's blog.

I've seen other libraries post reviews of recipes from their favorite cookbooks, and I knew that our collection includes vegan cookbooks, so all that was left was to identify a recipe and bake a cheesecake.
 

 In the end, we decided to try making two different vegan cheesecakes:

• Strawberry Cheesecake from page 47 of Sweet Vegan: a collection of all vegan, some gluten-free, and a few raw desserts by Emily Mainquist (641.86 MAI)
• Rasberry Vanilla Cheezecake from page 149 of Raw Food for Real People: living veganf ood made simple by the chef and founder of Leaf Organics by Rod Rotondi (613.26 ROT)

Things we learned from our experience:

• Vegan baking is expensive, but it's possible to substitute vegan egg substitute with soy yogurt.
• The reason Sweet Vegan calls for you to make your own vegan graham crackers that you can then crush to use for the crust is likely that there are very few pre-made vegan cookies available in the store. We went with a vegan, nut free, gluten free, cinnamon cookie.
• Simulating regular food with a raw food recipe is far, far too much effort. It would've been so much easier to just fill a bowl with sliced strawberries, mixed nuts, and healthy squeeze of agave nectar.
• All the extra effort does make the reward of taste testing at the end that much sweeter. Plus! Vegan cheesecake has to be healthier than regular cheesecake!

Then came the fun part, bringing the finished product into the library and convincing my co-workers to give it a taste! While several library staff members turned a piece down on the basis of not liking regular cheesecake, or finding the idea of a vegan cheesecake too off-putting, those brave enough to try something new gave both generally positive reviews.

The last piece of vegan cheesecake.

The baked vegan cheesecake was the real winner. Amy said that if I hadn't told her she "would never have known it was tofu or vegan. All I could taste was the vanilla in the cinnamon crust and the consistency seemed very cheesecake-like." Andrew found both cheesecakes to be "entirely cromulent." He also coined the term "nut mush" for the raw vegan recipe, which more accurately describes the cashew butter experience of a raw vegan cheesecake.

And in case anyone was wondering, Jackie and I followed our vegan baking adventures up with burgers at Paul's tavern - to maintain a balanced diet.

~Sarah, Adult Services

*The blog with the original raw vegan strawberry cheesecake is no longer in existence. :(

Staff Picks: The Best Books of 2011

The best books of 2011 as selected by the staff of Carnegie-Stout Public Library, or at least a short list of our favorite reads in fiction, biography, graphic novels, and more!


Amy, Youth Services - Wither by Lauren DeStefano
This book was a neat twist to all the futuristic dystopian society books out there. This book was creepy, romantic, and had an interesting storyline. It's the first in a series.




Michelle, Circulation - Sister by Rosamond Lupton
A mystery surrounding the disappearance of a New York career woman"s (transplanted from England) sister back in England. The story is told from older sister Beatrice's point of view. She is called back to England by her mother because her sister, Tess, has disappeared. Although they are vastly different the sisters have stayed in touch and are very close. Bea narrates the story as if she is talking directly to Tess and also as she tells it to a detective. I found the narration very interesting and did not figure out the surprise ending until nearly finishing the book. Loved the voice and loved the mystery.



Sharon, Youth Services - Life by Keith Richards
I actually listened to this and although it was twenty discs long I had a hard time getting out of my car wanting to know what happened next. Johnny Depp & Joe Hurley do a fabulous job narrating but when Keith himself takes over - well let's just say it's a "hoot"
Keith makes no apologies, sets straight the many rumors surrounding himself and for Rolling Stones fans, like myself, he shares his knowledge and love for his music and his mates.



Andrew, Adult Services - Finder Vol. 1 & 2 and Finder: Voice by Carla Speed McNeil
These impeccably crafted science fiction comics establish a complex futuristic world but focus on compelling character and interpersonal relationships. Speed McNeil has obviously accomplished some deep and fascinating worldbuilding but does a masterful job of revealing only what's necessary for each short story, never bogging the reader down with needless factoids or technobabble.



Michelle, Circulation - Falling Together by Marissa de los Santos
This is more of a love story with a little bit of a mystery thrown in. It revolves around the friendship of 3 people who meet in college and form an unlikely bond. Something causes them to agree to end their friendship for 6 years until they are drawn back together for the very sake of that friendship. It has some smart dialogue that made laugh out loud a few times. I found the writing very engaging and finished the book with that feeling of having had a satisfying read.



Sarah, Adult Services - Bossypants by Tina Fey
I know this is one of those books that people have been talking about all year, but this is the first time since Kindergarten that I've really loved an audiobook. Ms. Fey was the perfect companion for an otherwise long and otherwise boring drive. Her self-deprecating humor and obvious balance in a way that made the miles fly by.



Allison, Adult Services -5 Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin in the Mouth (and Other Useful Guides) by Matthew Inman
Written and illustrated by the creator of the blog "The Oatmeal" this book manages to be both hilarious and informative. Learn the proper way to use a semicolon from a party gorilla, why Nicola Tesla was the most awesome geek who ever lived and eight ways to prepare your pets for war (bunnies are ideal for special ops!) Caution: not suitable for work, children or while eating.



Danielle, Youth Services - The Death Cure by James Dashner
The Maze Runner Trilogy by Dashner is a great YA dystopia series that will keep you on the edge of your seat with action and suspense. I highly recommend the audio book versions as the characters really seem to come alive.



Mike, Adult Services - How the End Begins: The Road to a Nuclear World War III by Ron Rosenbaum
Contrary to popular belief, the likelihood that we'll all be incinerated in a nuclear holocaust has actually increased since the end of the Cold War -- it's a matter of when, not if. "At least you can't say you haven't been warned," Rosenbaum concludes.



Mirdza, Adult Services - Pilgrimage by Annie Leibovitz
Photographer Annie Leibovitz (of Rolling Stone and Vogue fame) traveled to locations she could explore and document with no other agenda than curiosity. These included Niagara Falls, Old Faithful, and the homes of Virginia Woolf, Emily Dickinson, Thoreau and Emerson, Elvis Presley, Freud, and Eleanor Roosevelt, among others. “When I was watching my children stand mesmerized over Niagara Falls, it was an exercise in renewal, it taught me to see again.” Leibovitz provides commentary about the history of these places and Doris Kearns Goodwin writes an introduction.



Michelle, Adult Services - Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning
I'm not sure this is the BEST book I read in 2011, but it certainly was the one I was most anxious to read. I absolutely HAD to know what happens to Jericho Barrons. And what exactly is Barrons? Fae? Druid? Seelie or the Unseelie King? A male sidhe-seer? The sixteen month wait between Dreamfever and Shadowfever seemed like forever. This is only book I ever pre-ordered from Amazon.



Amy, Youth Services - Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
This book was such a breath of fresh air this year. It's quite the story and very funny.

A Bride’s Story by Kaoru Mori

Andrew ended his blog post Graphic novels for people who don’t read graphic novels with these words: “Did I not address a genre or topic you're interested in? Did I not name a graphic novel you'd love to see more people read? Speak up in the comments!”  I asked for graphic novels for historical romance fans, and he suggested A Bride’s Story, a shojo manga series with three volumes.

If I had been smart enough to read the catalog note that says “Book reads from right to left in the traditional Japanese format,” I could have saved myself the embarrassment of having to ask Sarah how to read manga, not to mention the time wasted beginning at the end and being very puzzled.  I’m glad I stuck with it because reading Mori’s book was a magic carpet ride.  The detailed art work enthralls; I only wish the inside pages shared the vivid colors of the cover. Kaoru Mori joins Jan Brett and Paul Goble as illustrators whose books I would buy just to ohhh and ahhh over the artwork; sometimes the words distract from the images.

Set in the mid-19th century in the Caucasus region of central Asia, the narrative of A Bride’s Story captives me while I learn about a society where a 20 year old woman marries a 12 year old boy.  I admire Amir, the central character, for her talents as a cook, horsewoman and archer.  The Halgal and Eihon family dynamics intrigue me.

Some critics fault the book for lack of plot and too much anthropology.  I find the richness of the drawings compensate.  It is a visual book, and the details satisfy me.  It’s not a fast food meal in a bag; it’s a slow-cooked feast.

 - Michelle, Adult Services

Deus ex Libro

The paranormal and urban fantasy labels cover a wide variety of books, from bubbly and romantic to dark and gritty. From fairies to vampires, readers will find themselves browsing in the Science Fiction, Young Adult, Romance, Fiction, and Mystery sections to find their next books. That's why we're here to help you narrow down the search.

Recently I've enjoyed several series that feature the interference of the gods in the lives of mortals, especially one particular mortal singled out for the gods' attention and all the chaos that comes with it.  Each of these series are also fast-paced with first-person narration and darker humor, but after that, they're all a little different.

Hounded by Kevin Hearne
The first book in Hearne's Iron Druid chronicles is an action-packed romp through Celtic mythology in the Arizona desert. Atticus O'Sullivan is the last of the druids, and he's been on the run for centuries, what with having stole the vengeful god of love's sword. Despite his great age, Atticus is more of a footloose twenty-something than a wise mystic, but at least he has his trusty partner, Oberon, the wisecracking Irish wolfhound.

Readers may also enjoy: Storm Front by Jim Butcher, see Andrew's review here.


Black Blade Blues by J.A. Pitts
Somewhat more serious and moody, J.A. Pitts' series follows Sarah Beauhall as she struggles to find her balance as an adult. Between student debt, a non-existent relationship with her family, two jobs (blacksmith and prop master for a local b-studio) and relationship troubles with her girlfriend, the last thing she needs is to become the wielder of Gram, an ancient Norse blade made for killing dragons. Personal growth, vast conspiracies, epic battles, and an old homeless man who might be Odin.

Readers may also enjoy: Santa Olivia by Jacqueline Carey.


Urban Shaman by C.E. Murphy
Urban Shaman, the first book in C.E. Murphy's Walker Papers series, is a bit more menacing in tone. Set in the Pacific Northwest, the series starts as Joanne Walker's life falls to pieces. Her mother just died, she's about to be fired from her job as a police mechanic, and the woman she's trying to help claims that she's being hunted by Cernunnos, god and leader of the Wild Hunt. But Cernunnos isn't the only god taking an interest in Joanne's life. It's sarcastic and violent, with interesting characters, and a murder mystery for good measure.

Readers may also enjoy: Moon Called by Patricia Briggs, see Amy's review here.


First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones 
The first book in Ms. Jones' fast-paced series featuring Charley Davidson, private investigator and grim reaper. The story is irreverently funny to balance the darkness of the crimes, and when you add in a deliciously steamy romantic sub plot, you get a fun and suspenseful read. I won't spoil the surprise by revealing the identity of Charley's supernatural lover because the reveal sets up the next book in the series. The narrator of the audio book (available as a download through OverDrive) does an excellent job of matching the novel's tone.

Readers may also enjoy: Undead and Unwed by MaryJanice Davidson.

If you're looking for more books where ancient gods interfere with the modern world try:
Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips
American Gods by Neil Gaiman


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!