Reader's Banquet

Recent Nonfiction Recommendation

2011-07-19T17:22:00.001-07:00

The author is an English descendant of a fabulously wealthy Jewish family who traveled from a shtetl in the Ukraine to Odessa and then spread their business interests out to Vienna, Paris, London and St. Petersburg. Beginning with grain, they evolved into banking and finance and built mansions in Vienna and Paris. They hobnobbed with the Rothschilds and were friends of many socially and intellectually prominent people throughout Europe. Tracing his family's rise and fall and survival by the fate of a collection of Japanese netsuke put together by an artistic French relative, the author creates a fascinating social history of Europe, especially Jewish Europe, of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Recent Nonfiction Recommendations

2011-07-15T12:09:00.000-07:00

Another winning history title from Erik Larson. I think a good subtitle for this book would be: Innocents Abroad. History professor Dodd was not cut out for the cut-throat opposition he faced as the new ambassador to Germany just after Hitler's victory at the polls. What was his qualification to be ambassador? He studied in Germany in the 1890's and thus had some familiarity with the country though times had changed so much by the 1930's. Larson shows us that Dodd was basically a good man who tried to persuade the Americans in power in Washington that Germany was itching for conquest but, like the rest of Europe, America chose to see the "good side" of the Nazis. Dodd fought a losing battle against the Nazis and the good old boy network in the State Department. And then there was his daughter who enjoyed her role as the ambassador's daughter perhaps a bit too much. This is a fascinating tale of a man who tried to do good at a time when a lot of evil was going on.

Recent Nonfiction Recommendation

2011-03-25T15:21:00.001-07:00

Most of us are familiar with the major battles of World War II through books and films. Not many books focus on the home front--especially the home front in Nazi Germany. Though Hitler was Austrian, he had to set up his Nazi establishment in Berlin, the capital of Germany. If you have seen the film Caberet, you probably have an idea of the freedom of 1920's Berlin. As a large cosmopolitan city, it had many intellectuals and leftists who opposed the Nazis. However, once the Nazis were established in power, opposition was largely squashed. The Nazis helped to enforce conformity by enlisting students and regular citizens to spy on each other. After the initial euphoria (and looting) from the quick victories in Poland and France, life changed for the worse in Berlin. Through diaries, letters and books, the author conveys just how difficult it was for Berlin's inhabitants to live through war in a city that was a primary target for British and American bombers.

Recommended Nonfiction

2011-01-18T10:29:00.000-08:00

Written as a follow-up to Nicolson's earlier book
The Perfect Summer: England 1911 Just Before the Storm, this book follows the same format with her illuminating study of the the two years following the Armistice of 1918. Although greater weight is given to the intellectuals and society leaders--primarily because they wrote journals and memoirs of their lives--the life of commoners is not totally forgotten. Nicolson's wealth of detail serves to put the reader back into this time. The great losses, regrets, sadness and the social changes that brought an end to one era also served to celebrate life a new way with the beginnings of the Jazz Age.

Recent Nonfiction Recommendation

2010-10-25T18:09:00.001-07:00

Craig Childs writes about Southwest (mainly) archaeology again. This is a very thoughtful look at why we humans feel compelled to collect. The larger question he poses is: Who "owns" the past? Childs grew up in the Southwest where many people are amateur archaeologists--or at the very least--collectors. Because of his love for the cultures who left behind their artifacts, he has become a person who most desires to leave the found artifact in situ. Why is this? One reason is the fact that museums have become warehouses stuffed with artifacts. Yes, the artifacts are probably protected in the museums but they have also lost their context and have become too numerous to be displayed. Perhaps instead of collecting more, we should allow some of these objects to be discovered by future generations. The bottom line: Childs is a fine writer and his work is always thought provoking.

2010-07-05T11:19:00.000-07:00

Mistress of the Monarchy tells the story of the long love affair between John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster, and Katherine Swynford who was a fairly humble woman. Daughter of a knight serving at the English court, she became a governess to royal children. This is how she met John of Gaunt. Though married, John fell in love with Katherine and their love lasted until his death. Their children were "legitimized" and would become rulers and wives of rulers in turn. Her brother-in-law was Chaucer. Weir has to piece together Katherine's life from small tidbits of information and it is a heroic job of research.

New Nonfiction Recommendations

2010-06-09T16:12:00.001-07:00

The Sisters of Sinai by Janet Soskice is a tale of twin sisters who grew up with an affinity for learning languages and a desire to travel. Though they grew up in Scotland, they ended up living in Cambridge. Intelligent and with a hunger for learning, as women they were shut out of university life in the 19th century. However, they managed to pursue their studies privately and found an interest in Middle Eastern languages, especially the ancient languages such as Syriac. Unknown manuscripts were being discovered in Middle Eastern markets and churches and they decided to make a trip themselves. Despite being women and amateurs, they succeeded in uncovering important manuscripts and aided in their preservation, particularly at the ancient Greek monastery of St. Catherine's in the Sinai. Mixing adventure with biblical studies, this book will appeal to lovers of history and travel adventure.

Recent Nonfiction

2010-01-05T17:51:00.000-08:00

The artist Peter Paul Rubens seems very dated today with his large canvases filled with buxom blond beauties and obscure historical or mythological themes. However Rubens was highly successful in his own time. It would be wrong to think of him as a "starving artist in a garret". Though he lived in a turbulent era--the 17th century--and in a land beset with conflict--the Low Countries, he managed to find his way thanks to his talent, his charm and his good looks (that's him on the cover of this book). Mark Lamster takes us into Rubens' artistic career and even deeper into his second career as a kind of diplomat or even spy for the Spanish who ruled his homeland. His main goal was to bring peace to the land that had suffered so much. Lamster tells his story with great skill. This title will appeal to lovers of history and/or art.

Recommended Nonfiction

2009-12-21T10:22:00.001-08:00

If you have ever visited Pompeii or contemplated a visit, this book will answer many of your questions. I wish I had read it before my visit but it has inspired me to go again. Mary Beard is a well-known British historian who specializes in Roman history. In this book she looks at all phases of life in this city frozen in time--from food to sex, from politics to religion, from commerce to hygiene. She writes for the general reader and succeeds in bringing this history alive. Despite all the recent finds and scholarly investigations, there is still much that we don't know and perhaps never will know. But this site remains fascinating for that very reason.

2009-10-09T10:02:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for an inspirational book, choose this one. It's the story of a young man from Malawi who wanted to study and improve himself but his parents couldn't afford the tuition for school. He tried to listen in on classes until they caught him and then he continued his education by using the meager collection of books from his school library. Only 2% of the people of Malawi have electricity so after finding a book on how to harness the wind to produce electricity, that became his goal. He had to endure a lot of teasing and doubts but he did succeed in building a windmill by scrounging various cast-off parts. What this meant to his village is a way to pump water for irrigation in the dry season and lighting so people could read after sunset. It's a small thing in the larger scheme of things but it's a big step towards self-sufficiency. It also shows the power of ingenuity and persistence.

Recommended Nonfiction

2009-09-04T13:12:00.000-07:00

Picked by USA Today as a "Fall sleeper title", this one is sure to be favorite for anyone who enjoys animal stories. It was written by Gwen Cooper who adopted a four-week old eyeless kitten (the eyes had been removed by a sympathetic veterinarian after the kitten suffered an infection). At first Cooper thought that it would be difficult to interact with an eyeless cat but she found that Homer was ready and eager to embrace life and human company despite his handicap. The author believes this eyeless kitty has some super-feline abilities which he demonstrates by his leaps into space and his chases through rooms since every step he takes is by faith and courage because he lives in a world without light. This is sure to tug at your heart.

Recent Nonfiction

2009-07-02T12:31:00.001-07:00

Factory Girls: From Village to City in a Changing China by Leslie T. Chang is a book that we all need to read because it's the story of the people who are making so many of our everyday products. How many of us think about the person who makes our shoes, our cell phones, our hair dryers, etc.? This is about the hundreds of thousands of young people who are lured to the vast cities that have grown up (mainly in Southeast China) where so many of our consumables are being produced. Their life is not easy. They work sometimes 6 days a week and 10 hours a day. They live in dormitories and their pay is meager. Only the most ambitious are able to better themselves and move up. Yet for so many it is an adventure away from a simpler rural life in the country. Discrimination is also rampant and jobs are given to taller men, prettier girls, etc. Imagine working in a shoe factory that employs 70,000 people--it is like a good sized city itself! This book is a real eye-opener.

2009-05-26T10:37:00.000-07:00

If the idea of travelling across Central Asia from the River Don to Beijing appeals to you, this is a good choice. I find a good travel book with some political commentary and history is a way to update my knowledge of countries that may not be on my top travel destination list. Taylor has lived in Russia for over 15 years and speaks Russian, Turkish and some Chinese so he was able to converse with many of the people he met along the way. He travels rough using trains or by hiring local drivers. He hangs out with young people by drinking and clubbing where possible learning about their attitudes to the changes that have been happening after the fall of the Soviet Union. He makes interesting observations about the natives' preference for strong leaders--even despotic ones. He believes that the Soviet system has created a populace of survivors who excel in secrecy and criminality and who are unwilling to confront their governments to demand what is owed them. Contrast this with his perception of a changing China which has opened up to the world in a way still "unimaginable in Russia." In Russia Lenin's mausoleum stands deserted, his ideology discredited but a new Slavic nationalism is replacing it.

Recommended Nonfiction

2009-03-25T11:35:00.000-07:00

Wedlock: The True Story of the Disastrous Marriage and Remarkable Divorce of Mary Eleanor Bowes, Countess of Strathmore by Wendy Moore tells about this wealthy and selfish heiress (no model of morality herself) who was duped into marriage by a cruel abuser. Women of the 18th century were pretty much at the mercy of their husbands but after years of abuse, Mary decided to sue for divorce--something a "proper" lady of her time would never consider. Her court case gripped the imagination of English society and helped establish precedents for other women facing such conditions. Fans of the film The Duchess and the book Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire will be especially interested in this book.

Recommended Nonfiction

2009-03-05T15:34:00.000-08:00

The Horse Boy: A Father's Quest to Heal His Son by Rupert Isaacson is a fascinating look at the connection between animals and autists (persons with autism). When their young son was first diagnosed with autism, Rupert and his wife explored the various theories of treatment but found little success until Rupert discovered his son's reaction to horses. Rupert was already a horseman and living in Texas, they had a sympathetic neighbor who allowed them to use his horse. During and after their horseriding, the young boy would become more responsive. After an encounter with some native healers on a trip to California, Rupert decided that a trip to Mongolia could possibly bring a breakthrough since Mongolia had a traditional horse culture and still had many practicing shamans. This book grips the reader and won't let go!

The family took along camera and sound men as they hoped to document their experience. Check out the link on Amazon for a short video.

Recent Nonfiction

2008-12-29T14:25:00.000-08:00

While I don't normally read true crime books, I do recommend The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston and his Italian journalist co-author Mario Spezi. Spezi had been involved with reporting a series of murders in the hills around Florence for many years before meeting the American author Douglas Preston. Preston, like many of us, dreamed of living in Italy and moved his family to Florence in 2000. While becoming acquainted with his new surroundings, he met Spezi, learned about the murders and discovered that he lived near one of the murder sites. Soon the authors were working together and developing their own theories about the serial murders. What this book does is bring into question the Italian legal system while causing the reader to ponder how justice is meted out both here and abroad.

Recommended Nonfiction

2008-10-14T17:17:00.000-07:00

If you are a fan of Spanish food or just curious to know more about it, check out two new books. Everything but the Squeal: Eating the Whole Hog in Northern Spain by John Barlow describes how a professed glutton tested his stamina with a year of eating in Spain. Barlow lives in Galicia, a beautiful spot in Northwest Spain, kind of like the Pacific Northwest in the way of climate and scenery. Although I visited Galicia in the summer, it was still green and moist while other parts of Spain were brown and dry. When I lived in Spain for 6 months, I was in Castile (around Madrid) and the specialty in Castile is roast meats of all types. Several times I ate roast suckling pig where you are served virtually the whole pig. It was delicious but slightly appalling at the same time.

The other new book about Spanish food is called Spain: A Culinary Road Trip by Mario Batali and Gwyneth Paltrow. It is a companion to the PBS series which follows these two, along with Mark Bittman and a Spanish actress, traveling around Spain sampling culinary specialties. I checked the PBS schedule and it looks like the first episode aired last week on KCTS. There are sure to be repeats as well. Spain has interesting food and beautiful scenery so both the book and the TV series should be worth catching.

Recommended Nonfiction

2008-09-10T11:07:00.001-07:00

Traversa: A Solo Walk Across Africa, from the Skeleton Coast to the Indian Ocean by Fran Sandham is a fascinating tale written by an Englishman who decides he needs to accomplish something meaningful in his comfortable but meandering life. He takes his inspiration from the traversas (cross continent walks) of Livingstone and Stanley and other early explorers. Starting out in the deserts of Namibia where he struggles with the weight of his pack, heavy with the necessary water, through the heat and humidity in Malawi, he pulls us along with him on his battered feet as he stubbornly refuses offered rides and insists on walking the whole way. He intersperses his experience with those of his 19th forerunners so that the reader learns a great deal about the countries he traverses. His respect and admiration for the people he meets along the way is obvious. Most of us will never attempt such an astounding trek but we will be inspired by Sandham’s indomitable spirit.

Recommended Nonfiction

2008-08-04T17:18:00.001-07:00

First Stop in the New World: Mexico City, the Capital of the Twenty-First Century by David Lida portrays Mexico City in all its colorful richness and squalor. Lida has lived in Mexico City for over 10 years and obviously loves it despite its frustrations. Early in the book, he talks about Mexico City being typical of many of the large cities in the developing world. These cities are attracting large populations so quickly that existing services cannot really accomodate the populace. Usually the growth has come without any government planning to help guide the way. The amazing fact is that such cities work at all. Lida covers all facets of Mexico City from traffic to housing, from food to poverty, from crime to culture. If you have every been to Mexico City, or plan to go there in the future, grab this book and read it! Lida has worked as a journalist for Mexican publications as well as American and he has talked to people from all walks of life. His book is full of personal stories of people he has encountered. Because of this, the reader comes away with a greater insight into life in this fascinating city.

Recommended Nonfiction

2008-07-21T10:05:00.000-07:00

Vermeer's Hat; The Seventeenth Century and the Dawn of the Global World by Timothy Brook is a very interesting way to look at history by studying the objects found in Vermeer's paintings. For Europeans displaying foreign objects like beaver hats, Chinese porcelain dishes or Turkish carpets was symbolic of their positive relationship with the world. They were the adventurers and explorers who were bringing back wealth and beautiful objects from their travels. It does seem somewhat ironic today to read how 17th century Europeans were shipping vast quantities of silver, mined in Latin America, to China in order to buy gold and other commodities like textiles cheaper than they could be had in Europe. Silver was in short supply in China and Europe had little else that the Chinese wanted. Enterprising merchants like the Dutch made the long voyage east to bring back Chinese goods to sell in Europe. This, in turn, created a Golden Age of Dutch Art as a greater wealth tempted merchants to decorate their homes with art.

What this book proves is that globalism is not a new phenomenon and that global trade had profound effects on countries providing and receiving the goods that were in demand.

2008-06-26T16:04:00.000-07:00

Although being personally very squeamish about snakes, I think this story is very appealing. It's about a professional herpetologist who dies in the Burmese jungle after being bitten by a krait, one of the most poisonous snakes in the world. For one who avoids even the sight of snakes, I guess I am curious about someone whose life was dedicated to studying and seeking out contact with snakes. This is not only a biography of a scientist but also an adventure story of searching through jungles and wild areas for exotic specimens. The author is Jamie James.

Touching History: The Untold Story of the Drama that Unfolded in the Skies over America on 9/11 by Lynn Spencer is a minute-by-minute chronicle of how air-control and air-defense personnel tried to deal with the unknown--just how many planes had been hijacked and where were they heading? Airline pilots had to reassure passengers and crew as well as air traffic controllers that they were not hijackers. Meanwhile Air National Guard fighter pilots scrambled to defend against a threat of unknown scope. This is an exciting and inspiring story.

2008-06-13T13:13:00.000-07:00

Apples are from Kazakhstan by Christopher Robbins provides an entertaining introduction to this little known land. Although I have never seen the film Borat, I can imagine his land of origin was chosen precisely because Kazakhstan seems so remote and outlandish. After all, who knows anything about this country which is about the same size as Western Europe? Although Kazakhstan was used for horrible gulags during Soviet days when political prisoners were expected to work there under terrible conditions, the native peoples of this area also suffered a great deal. The land is rich in resources but was never developed so that the resources could be processed there. Instead, the natural resources were shipped to Russian areas to provide jobs and incomes. As a result, the natives remained trapped in poverty. In addition, other ethnic minorities like Germans, Ukrainians, Chechens and Koreans were shipped to exile in Kazakhstan. Despite the harshness of the climate and the depressing history of Soviet repression, the recently independent Kazakhstan seems to be doing quite well these days. In addition to learning about the history and culture of the land, Robbins provides the readers with descriptions of some of the gorgeous scenery and unique botany, including the notion that apples originated here.

2008-05-13T11:14:00.000-07:00

China's Great Train: Beijing's Drive West and the Campaign to Remake Tibet written by Abrahm Lustgarten is useful to understand what is happening in Tibet now. For fifty years, China has planned this great railroad project in order to control their Western lands and integrate Tibet into Greater China. It is puzzling for us in the West to understand why China wants to dominate this mystical, remote land. However, Tibet does have mineral resources and having control of "the top of the world" provides China with a geographic supremacy over South Asia. Also, the Han Chinese are moving into Tibet to control major positions in government and business. Because Tibetan culture is threatened, the uprising will continue to be the only outlet for native Tibetans.

Mutiny: The True Events That Inspired the Hunt for Red October by David Hagberg and Boris Gindin. Hagberg is known for his military fiction but Gindin is a former Soviet naval officer who has provided the inside story of this actual event. This should be extremely popular for Navy buffs of all types and ages.

2008-04-18T16:23:00.000-07:00

The Soul of a Horse is sure to please horse lovers and animal lovers of all kinds. Joe Camp has written about dogs for many years (the Benji books and movies are his creation) but now writes about his discovery of horses. Camp was plunged into the world of horses when he received a horse as a birthday gift. He and his wife were totally inexperienced and had to learn everything about horses. This book documents what he learned both from books and from his own communication with his first horse Cash. If you have ever owned a horse or dreamed of owning a horse, this book is for you.

A Voyage Long and Strange: Rediscovering the New World by Tony Horwitz stems from pondering what happened in American history between the voyage of Columbus in 1492 and the founding of Jamestown over 100 years later. Wondering why we don't know much about this early period following Columbus, Horwitz takes a look at the history, myth and adventures that mark early exploration and settlement in America. Horwitz is know for his colorful and humorous travel writing so this should be a lively view of early American history.

2008-04-14T17:42:00.000-07:00

God's Middle Finger; Into the Lawless Heart of the Sierra Madre by Richard Grant is about the author's fascination with the mountains that form a backbone down through Mexico starting near the American border and ending near Guadalajara. Grant is a Brit who has lived in the U.S. for many years. He became interested after hearing about the Sierra Madres--the fact that they are so remote that the Apaches hid there in the 19th century and the wildness and remoteness continues today where this territory is not under the control of the Mexican government. Despite warnings from friends to not risk travel here, Grant set off and this book is the result. It is entertaining, sometimes shocking and horrifying, and helps explain the exodus of immigrants from Mexico.

Governess: The Lives and Times of the Real Jane Eyres by Ruth Brandon looks at the English governess who inspired some of Victorian literature's greatest stories. The governess was a very unique figure--not really a servant and yet not an equal part of the family. It was a role reserved for women who were talented but poor and unmarried. Brandon uses historical sources such as letters and journals to create a true portrait of the real women whose lives were usually not as romantic as they were portrayed in fiction. Fans of Jane Austen and the Brontes should enjoy this book.

2008-04-04T15:53:00.000-07:00

Tell Me Where It Hurts by Dr. Nick Trout describes one full day of a veterinarian's life at a busy Boston hospital. This is very different from the homespun charm of a vet's life in rural England depicted in James Herriot's books and television series. Modern medicine has reached pets as well as people but the same basic problem remains--how does the human helper know how to diagnose the ailment? This book is perfect reading for anyone who wants to learn about the advances in medical care for pets or for a young person contemplating a career in veterinary science.

Twenty chickens for a Saddle is the story of Robyn Scott's adventures growing up in Botswana. Scott's father is a flying doctor and both parents are eccentric adventurers who moved the family to Africa when Scott was 7 years old. The three children were homeschooled but homeschooling turned out to be mainly reading storybooks and exploring the surrounding bush for various wild animals. The children experienced an idyllic childhood in Africa and don't become aware of some of the real problems of the region (like AIDs and racism) until their teen years when they begin attending conventional schools in Zimbabwe. Read this to experience Africa through the eyes of a child.

New Nonfiction

2008-03-19T17:14:00.000-07:00

Amalia's Tale: A Poor Peasant, an Ambitious Attorney, and a Fight for Justice by David I. Kertzer gives us insight into 19th century Italian society when much of the population lived in poverty. Amalia was a poor peasant who hired herself out as a wet nurse to a foundling home and contracted syphillis from an infant assigned to her. She in turn passed it on to her husband and own children. Rather than accept her fate, her case was taken up by a young lawyer keen to establish a more modern welfare system. In the end, Amalia's lawyer won but he was the only one who gained monetarily (hmm....sounds familiar).

The Fortune Cookie Chronicles: Adventures in the World of Chinese Food by Jennifer Lee gives us the history of Chinese (or is it?) food in America. Going back to the time when Chinese immigrants first came to America, Lee shows how the food they brought became Americanized and now can be found in practically any size town across the land. Lee looks at the continuing immigration and how some Chinese restaurants count on indentured servitude by illegal cooks and other restaurant workers. Since Chinese food is universally loved, this book should be devoured as well.

New Nonfiction

2008-03-05T16:17:00.000-08:00

Long After Midnight at the Nino Bien: A Yanqui's Missteps in Argentina by Brian Winter is the story of a 22 year old college grad who travels to Latin America and finds himself caught up in the tango culture. Readers will learn how the tango seduced Argentina (and the author) and will meet lots of colorful characters who are part of tango culture in Buenos Aires. Passion, lust and romance--who could ask for anything more?

Naked in the Woods: Joseph Knowles & and Legacy of Frontier Fakery by Jim Motavalli. So who was Joseph Knowles and why should we care? Joseph Knowles was an Easterner whose 1913 exploits are featured in this book. Supposedly he lived from August to October 1913 naked and without supplies in the Maine woods. The stunt was sponsored by the Boston Post and drew lots of readers. Later it was proven to be a hoax, one of several examples of nature fakery from the early 20th century that Motavalli discusses. Knowles got a second chance when William Randolph Hearst sponsored a wilderness foray in the California woods. After several such exploits, Knowles ended up living on the Washington Coast for the rest of his life. Kitsap Regional Library owns two of his etchings which depict boats. They were part of the WPA print collection here at the library.

Nonfiction Recommendations

2008-02-26T17:13:00.000-08:00

Dog Man: An Uncommon Life on a Faraway Mountain by Martha Sherrill is the story of a man whose passion for dogs led him to save a breed from extinction. During World War II, dogs with nice, warm fur were being slaughtered for pelts to line officers' coats. Morie Sawataishi was not a dog owner but he was working for Mitsubishi in a remote area of Japan's snow country. Seeing the Akita dogs diminish in numbers, he decided to make it his mission to preserve and revive the breed. This is a book that will appeal to anyone interested in animals and Japanese rural life. It's also a fascinating story of a human determination.

I couldn't resist adding another book about animals: Nim Chimpsky: The Chimp Who Would Be Human by Elizabeth Hess. This is a bittersweet tale of one chimp and his fate at the hands of humans. Nim was the subject of an experiment begun at the University of Oklahoma in the 1970s to determine if a chimp could learn American Sign Language. He was sent to live with a family in New York City and taught human language like any other child. From the beginning, Nim's charm and sense of humor endeared him to all who met him but no one had thought of the long-term effects of raising a chimp like a human. Problems developed when the funds ran out and Nim sadly was bounced around from facility to facility for many years. In the end, his ability to interact with humans saved him from the fate of most of his peers who are subjects of experimentation.

Recommended Nonfiction

2008-02-19T15:40:00.000-08:00

Living Like Ed by Ed Begley is one of the flood of titles coming out these days on living life "greener". Ed always struck me as a kind of lovable doofus in roles on TV but he is very passionate about environmentalism. His book is organized into three levels of effort: little changes (the cost is free up to $50.), not so big changes (cost is $50. to $500.) and big changes (over $500.). His wife acts as his counterpoint questioning the reasons behind his proposals.

Major: A Black Athlete, a White Era, and the Fight to be the World's Fastest Human Being by Todd Balf. When the bicycle was first invented, it was believed to be a major step towards the democratization of transportation. Major Taylor was, however, an unlikely star in an era of segregation and bigotry. If you enjoy reading about great underdogs in American history, this is an excellent choice.

Twittering

2008-02-12T18:33:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure what to think of Twitter. There are not many people that I would want to share my minute by minute account of daily life with nor am I interested in anyone else's. However, I did take a look at Cleveland Public Library's Twitter usage. They are pushing some basic information about library services and events this way. Their latest item was a list of books written by and about the various presidential candidates. Hmmm....maybe this could be of use for reference work. Check it out at:
www.twitter.com/Cleveland_PL
So why are they using Twitter? I am assuming because
1. It's easier to do this than wait for someone else to update your webpage.
2. They're hoping to reach younger folk who are tuned into these new technologies.

Trying to finish on time!

2008-02-08T17:53:00.000-08:00

I created an account in Zoho today. The free presentation application seemed like it would be useful. I haven't gone any further than creating a title page! Since I haven't learned Power Point, perhaps this one could be an easy substitute? Will explore more.....

More January Nonfiction

2008-02-08T12:24:00.000-08:00

Another addition to the growing number of books on food, this one takes a very different approach. It is a tour through American history by examining what we are eating or have eaten as well as what we don't eat. It turns out that odd diets, binging and purging are nothing new. The poor American stomach has been subjected to some kooky ideas going way back through our history!

Facebook assignment

2008-02-05T18:25:00.000-08:00

I am very impressed with Hannah's and Bob's Facebook pages (all I've had time for so far). I thought the article by Meredith Farkas on Libraries in Social Networking Software was very thoughtful and thought-provoking. I took a look at Hennepin County Library and Denver Public's attempts to appeal to the teen contingent. Since both websites have lots of friends added, that must indicate that teens are viewing them and want to be affiliated. I like the way they are pushing new music, dvds and books this way. I also liked the music on Denver Public's page.

January recommendations

2008-01-30T18:16:00.000-08:00

Why do people enjoy reading memoirs when they are about someone's troubles--bad childhood, illness, accident, crisis in life? Probably because people are curious to see how other people cope with such adversity. Perhaps because we like to feel better about ourselves, as in: "Wow I guess my life isn't so bad after all!" Whatever the reasons, memoirs keep turning up on lists of recommended books. Here is one that I would like to recommend:Swallow the Ocean: A Memoir by Laura FlynnThis one takes place in 1970s San Francisco and is about Flynn's childhood. She and her two sisters watched and lived with their Mother's descent into paranoid schizophrenia.

The story is intense and poignant. If you know anyone with a friend or family member trying to cope with mental illness, this book is highly recommended.

Sometimes I choose books because I love their titles! Here's one for you:Your Inner Fish: A Journey Into the 3.5 Billion-Year History of the Human Body by Neil Shubin. Shubin is a paleontologist who in 2006 discovered the "missing link" between ancient sea creatures and us--the first fish to walk on land. Oliver Sacks recommends this book for its clarity and elegance and Shubin's teaching for his humor and enthusiasm. This is a science title for anyone with curiosity about life on earth.

Wikis First Impressions

2008-01-25T17:38:00.000-08:00

I am impressed with the rural library in Eastern Washington that is trying to create an online community center. I can see the value in that. I especially like the list of clubs and organizations in the county. We used to maintain a file and it was going to be transferred online but it never happened. Some organizations can be found with the United Way webpage but that is not complete. Not all organizations have their own webpage either. I think the library could provide a service by doing this.

I can also see the value of using a wiki to provide deeper information for staff or even patrons about particular services such as interlibrary loan or requesting materials. The Collection Management Department is attempting to engage in reader's advisory by sharing reviews of books. We could potentially invite other staff or even patrons to share reviews. I looked at the Princeton Public Library where they seem to be doing that. The reviewer even assigns a rating to the book.

Recommended Nonfiction

2008-01-18T13:01:00.000-08:00

Happiness--What is it? How to find it?

Every year for the last several years I have seen a number of books come out on this subject. Why the continuing interest? It seems everyone wants answers about what brings happiness and how to find it. Here are three new titles on the subject:

The first one is The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner and it is definitely the most off-beat. It is part current affairs, part travel guide, part self-help. I like this description: "Part travelogue, part personal discovery memoir and all sustained delight, this wise, witty ramble reads like Paul Theroux channeling David Sedaris on a particularly good day."

More mainstream are the following two books: The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want by Sonja Lyubomirsky and Happy for No Reason: 7 Steps to Being Happy from the Inside Out by Marci Shimoff. Lyubomirsky is a professor of psychology and she provides a detailed plan for increasing happiness in our lives. Shimoff is a "transformational expert" and she provides a different kind of program for improving your happiness quotient. Both books claim to be based on scientific research and interviews with happy people who have turned their lives around.

Library Thing First Impressions

2008-01-08T17:37:00.000-08:00

I created an account in Library Thing but hadn't really searched for books until this afternoon. I was just working off the top of my head but am still impressed that I could find a lot of my favorite books. I say this knowing that my reading tastes often run to the more obscure. I had fun adding some nonfiction and fiction titles. I need to explore ways to break down lists of books by topics. More to be discovered....

New nonfiction

2007-12-26T14:31:00.000-08:00

In style, Nicholson follows the "chronological countdown" format so successfully used by historians like Barbara Tuchman. But Tuchman wrote about the momentous events leading to World War I in her book August 1914 and Nicholson has no single grand event that happened at the end of the "perfect summer" of 1911. However, I think the format works well because it situates the reader firmly in the midst of events both solemn and slight, significant and trivial, full of details that lead you to feel you have lived amongst the inhabitants of both "Upstairs" and "Downstairs" as they experienced these summer days. Frivolity laced with boredom reigned as usual among the Upstairs inhabitants and they seemed unaware of the precarious life led by the working poor. While there were definite signs of discontent and protests, it would take World War I to transform this entrenched society. The subtitle of this book is "England 1911, Just Before the Storm."

Anti-2.0?

2007-12-20T11:17:00.000-08:00

Feeling overwhelmed by the 2.0 assignments? Then this book sounds like a perfect antidote. It is coming out in January so be sure to check it out. The cover is very dark but the title is: Against the Machine: Being Human in the Age of the Electronic Mob by Lee Siegel. Siegel is not a Luddite. In fact he is a former New Republic blogger and was a writer for Slate.com. What disturbs him about the Internet is the psychological, emotional and social cost of "high tech solitude". He fears that there is a cost to be paid by living more exclusively online.

2007-12-12T17:50:00.000-08:00

Currently on order, this book is being published in December. Craig Childs wrote one of my favorite books of 2007--House of Rain: Tracking a Vanished Civilization Across the Southwest. He is a true adventurer and wonderful observer of nature. I expect this book to be equally good. If you enjoy nature writing, be sure to check it out!

2007-12-10T17:43:00.000-08:00

RSS
I looked at several examples of libraries that are using RSS feeds. I realize that everyone is experimenting with this technology right now and the finished product may leave something to be desired. So far, I am much more impressed by the possible usage of Blogs to provide book reviews and book lists for patrons than I am with RSS. I can see using RSS for "breaking news" or brief updates on conditions or programs. I signed up for news from the BBC and it is great if you have time to keep up with a service like this.

2007-10-31T18:13:00.000-07:00

This is a book of Northwest interest called Mountain Rescue Doctor by Christopher Van Tilburg. Tilburg is an emergency room physician and ski patrol doctor working out of Hood River, Oregon. His book is full of Mt. Hood rescues from snow and ice recoveries to summer weather falls. It sounds like a book that would appeal to outdoors
fans and adventure fans alike.

2007-10-31T18:05:00.000-07:00

Another November publication is Listening Is an Act of Love: A Celebration of American Life from the Storycorps Project by Dave Isay. Perhaps you have heard some of the stories which are featured on NPR. Up to now 10,000 interviews have been recorded as this van travels around the country. This is a selection of the most compelling excerpts from some of these interviews. Isay is the founder of Storycorps and a radio documentary producer. This is guaranteed to be very moving and compelling reading.

2007-10-31T17:48:00.000-07:00

Can't get enough of Elizabeth? Here's something new to contribute to the vast array of resources: Elizabeth & Leicester: Power, Passion, Politics by Sarah Gristwood. According to the author Leicester was much more than the Queen's favorite, he was ambitious and strong in his own right and exerted much influence over the Queen. Personally, I am still caught up with her father's ambitions because I'm watching The Tudors on CBC. This series seems to be very well done but I'm having trouble reconciling the stout red-headed Henry painted by Hans Holbein with the virile guy playing Henry!

Never read the directions?

2007-10-16T17:08:00.000-07:00

You know those people who try to put things together without reading the directions? I guess I fit into this category because I created a blog without reading the directions! Now I am taking the time to read how to do it. A little backwards I realize, but I was always one for leaping in with enthusiasm.

Here's a tip for anyone looking for more library blogs. Check out Library Journal's group of blogs at www.libraryjournal.com/
Choose Blogs at the top.
Just read how the Open Source ILS system called Georgian Pines, now Evergreen, is being adopted by more and more libraries....
There is another blog called In the Bookroom which is (mostly) about book news.

October Nonfiction Suggestions

2007-10-11T18:30:00.000-07:00

Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain by Oliver Sacks.
You haven't read Oliver Sacks? Then you must try one of his books because Sacks is such a wonderful storyteller that he is able to make modern medicine fascinating to the general reader through recounting stories of patients he has treated. In this book, Sacks tells stories of patients somehow affected by music in illness or health.

Switching Time: A Doctor's Harrowing Story of Treating a Woman with 17 Personalities by Richard K. Baer. According to Library Journal, this book "reads more like a novel than a case study."

Boone: A Biography by Robert Morgan. Morgan is know best for his historical novel "Gap Creek". This should be a sure winner for biography and American history readers.

Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World's Greatest Trips by National Geographic. Beautiful photographs are to be expected in this selection of favorite trips from National Geographic travel writers.

Your recommendations are welcome!

2007-10-10T18:27:00.000-07:00

Please send me your reading recommendations or comment on mine.

Reader's Banquet Welcome

2007-10-10T18:23:00.000-07:00

My intention is to share with readers forthcoming books (mainly nonfiction) which promise to be worth your time and interest.