Hardcover Fiction
1. The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides
A love triangle between recent Ivy League graduates.
2. The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan
New battles await Percy Jackson as he returns to a Roman half-blood camp.
3. The Cat's Table by Michael Ondaatje
A young boy's sea voyage in the early 1950s from Sri Lanka to England.
4. The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach
The complicated nature of relationships revolving around a gifted college baseball player.
5. Aleph by Paulo Coelho
A crisis of faith prompts a journey of self-discovery from Africa to Asia.
6. Reamde by Neal Stephenson
A former marijuana smuggler is at the center of a recently hacked online game in this techno thriller.
7. Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
A year in the social life of three twentysomethings set in jazz-age New York City.
8. The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
A tale of Ernest Hemingway and his first wife, Hadley, set in 1920s Paris.
9. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Two dueling magicians fall under the spell of love.
10. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
A teenager stumbles upon an abandoned children's home whose former occupants were a bit odd and dangerous.
Hardcover Nonfiction
1. Boomerang by Michael Lewis
How the financial crisis transformed Global economies such as Greece, Ireland and Iceland.
2. Dear Cary by Dyan Cannon
The near fairy tale May-December romance between the ingenue and Cary Grant.
3. Go the F-- to Sleep by Adam Mansbach
A comical not-for-kids picture book on the perils of bedtime.
4. The Secret Lives of Wives by Iris Krasnow
Strategies for staying married from women who are in it for the long haul.
5. War of the Worldviews by Deepak Chopra and Leonard Mlodinow
A prominent physicist and renowned spiritualist ponder worldviews and the human experience.
6. Happy Accidents by Jane Lynch
Glee's Jane Lynch tells of her childhood, struggles with alcohol, her sexuality and profession.
7. Rin Tin Tin by Susan Orlean
The true-life tale of the Hollywood superdog.
8. It's So Easy and Other Lies by Duff McKagan
A harrowing rock-n-roll journey from the Gun's n' Roses bass player.
9. Killing Lincoln by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
The dramatic events in the spring of 1865 leading up to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
10. Wicked Bugs by Amy Stewart
A go-to guide to diabolical insects.
Tuesday, November 01, 2011
Wednesday, October 05, 2011
LOS ANGELES TIMES BEST SELLERS WEEK OF OCT. 2, 2011
Hardcover Fiction
1. The Night Circus / Erin Morgenstern
Two dueling magicians fall under the spell of love.
2. Rules of Civility / Amor Towles
A year in the social life of three twentysomethings set in jazz-age New York City.
3. The Paris Wife / Paula McLain
A tale of Ernest Hemingway and his first wife, Hadley, set in 1920s Paris.
4. State of Wonder / Ann Patchett
An atmospheric tale of two medical researchers and the many shades of truths they find in the Amazon.
5. The Art of Fielding / Chad Harbach
The complicated nature of relationships revolving around a gifted college baseball player.
6. A Dance With Dragons / George R. R. Martin
The Seven Kingdoms are imperiled again in the fifth “Song of Ice and Fire” book.
7. Pirate King / Laurie R. King
Mary Russell and husband, Sherlock Holmes are plunged into the world of silent films.
8. Wonderstruck / Brian Selznick
Two alternating stories, 50 years apart both leading to the American Museum of Natural History.
9. The Buddha in the Attic / Julie Otsuka
A story of young Japanese women brought to San Francisco as ‘picture brides’ nearly a century ago.
10. The Leftovers / Tom Perrotta
A twist on the Rapture revolving around those left behind.
11. Darth Paper Strikes Back / Tom Angleberger
The sequel to "The Strange Case of Origami Yoda."
12. The Last Werewolf / Glen Duncan
A 21st century story of a distraught and lonely werewolf.
13. The Cut / George Pelecanos
Meet Spero Lucas, an Iraq war vet and suave investigator in Washington D.C.
14. Catching Fire / Suzanne Collins
Hunger Games winners face the consequences of their victory.
15. Mockingjay / Suzanne Collins
No one is safe in the final installment of the Hunger Games trilogy.
16. Stone Arabia / Dana Spiotta
Middle-aged siblings cope with their own realities and their mother's dementia.
17. New York to Dallas / J.D. Robb
An escaped child molester seeks vengeance against Lt. Eve Dallas.
18. Ready Player One / Ernest Cline
A key to a fortune is hidden in a virtual reality world.
19. The Sookie Stackhouse Companion / Charlaine Harris
A closer look at the otherworldly life and people in Sookie Stackhouse's universe.
20. Kill Me if You Can / James Patterson
An art student is hunted by an assassin after finding a diamond-filled duffel bag,
Hardcover Nonfiction
1. Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy / Caroline Kennedy
A series of recorded interviews after JKF's death reveal a shocking side of the former first lady.
2. That Used to Be Us / Michael Mandelbaum and Thomas Friedman
A manifesto for American renewal and rediscovering valuable traditions.
3. The Eighty-Dollar Champion / Elizabeth Letts
A beat-up horse named Snowman's rise to the top in show-jumping.
4. Unbroken / Laura Hillenbrand
The story of Louis Zamperini, a World War II bombardier, POW and Olympian.
5. Go the F-- to Sleep / Adam Mansbach
A comical not-for-kids picture book on the perils of bedtime.
6. Just My Type / Simon Garfield
A detailed history of the world of fonts.
7. Happy Accidents / Jane Lynch
Glee's Jane Lynch tells of her childhood, struggles with alcohol, her sexuality and profession.
8. In My Time / Dick Cheney
The former vice president defends the Bush administration's policies after 9/11.
9. In the Garden of Beasts / Erik Larson
Complex ties between the U.S. ambassador’s family and the Nazi elite in 1930s Berlin.
10. Arguably / Christopher Hitchens
A new collection of essays offers a view of the man behind the words.
11. Here Comes Trouble / Michael Moore
The Forrest-Gump like life and times of the provocative filmmaker.
12. The Greater Journey / David McCullough
How Americans in 19th century Paris shaped ideals back home.
13. Prime Time / Jane Fonda
The actress' blueprint for successful living and getting older.
14. A Stolen Life / Jaycee Dugard
A kidnap victim at 11, Jaycee Dugard describes her 18-year imprisonment.
15. Harold: The Boy Who Became Mark Twain / Hal Holbrook
The difficult early life of renowned actor Hal Holbrook.
16. Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness / Alexandra Fuller
A memoir of the author’s mother set in Kenya.
17. Rebels in Paradise / Hunter Drohojowska-Philp
How a few daring young artists changed the contemporary art scene in 1960's Los Angeles.
18. Inside Scientology / Janet Reitman
A modern history of L. Ron Hubbard and his controversial religion-without-a-deity.
19. Strength Finders 2.0 / Tom Rath
An upgraded assessment on how to find your top talents.
20. Bossypants / Tina Fey
How the self-deprecating actress, mom and writer rocked the world of comedy.
1. The Night Circus / Erin Morgenstern
Two dueling magicians fall under the spell of love.
2. Rules of Civility / Amor Towles
A year in the social life of three twentysomethings set in jazz-age New York City.
3. The Paris Wife / Paula McLain
A tale of Ernest Hemingway and his first wife, Hadley, set in 1920s Paris.
4. State of Wonder / Ann Patchett
An atmospheric tale of two medical researchers and the many shades of truths they find in the Amazon.
5. The Art of Fielding / Chad Harbach
The complicated nature of relationships revolving around a gifted college baseball player.
6. A Dance With Dragons / George R. R. Martin
The Seven Kingdoms are imperiled again in the fifth “Song of Ice and Fire” book.
7. Pirate King / Laurie R. King
Mary Russell and husband, Sherlock Holmes are plunged into the world of silent films.
8. Wonderstruck / Brian Selznick
Two alternating stories, 50 years apart both leading to the American Museum of Natural History.
9. The Buddha in the Attic / Julie Otsuka
A story of young Japanese women brought to San Francisco as ‘picture brides’ nearly a century ago.
10. The Leftovers / Tom Perrotta
A twist on the Rapture revolving around those left behind.
11. Darth Paper Strikes Back / Tom Angleberger
The sequel to "The Strange Case of Origami Yoda."
12. The Last Werewolf / Glen Duncan
A 21st century story of a distraught and lonely werewolf.
13. The Cut / George Pelecanos
Meet Spero Lucas, an Iraq war vet and suave investigator in Washington D.C.
14. Catching Fire / Suzanne Collins
Hunger Games winners face the consequences of their victory.
15. Mockingjay / Suzanne Collins
No one is safe in the final installment of the Hunger Games trilogy.
16. Stone Arabia / Dana Spiotta
Middle-aged siblings cope with their own realities and their mother's dementia.
17. New York to Dallas / J.D. Robb
An escaped child molester seeks vengeance against Lt. Eve Dallas.
18. Ready Player One / Ernest Cline
A key to a fortune is hidden in a virtual reality world.
19. The Sookie Stackhouse Companion / Charlaine Harris
A closer look at the otherworldly life and people in Sookie Stackhouse's universe.
20. Kill Me if You Can / James Patterson
An art student is hunted by an assassin after finding a diamond-filled duffel bag,
Hardcover Nonfiction
1. Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy / Caroline Kennedy
A series of recorded interviews after JKF's death reveal a shocking side of the former first lady.
2. That Used to Be Us / Michael Mandelbaum and Thomas Friedman
A manifesto for American renewal and rediscovering valuable traditions.
3. The Eighty-Dollar Champion / Elizabeth Letts
A beat-up horse named Snowman's rise to the top in show-jumping.
4. Unbroken / Laura Hillenbrand
The story of Louis Zamperini, a World War II bombardier, POW and Olympian.
5. Go the F-- to Sleep / Adam Mansbach
A comical not-for-kids picture book on the perils of bedtime.
6. Just My Type / Simon Garfield
A detailed history of the world of fonts.
7. Happy Accidents / Jane Lynch
Glee's Jane Lynch tells of her childhood, struggles with alcohol, her sexuality and profession.
8. In My Time / Dick Cheney
The former vice president defends the Bush administration's policies after 9/11.
9. In the Garden of Beasts / Erik Larson
Complex ties between the U.S. ambassador’s family and the Nazi elite in 1930s Berlin.
10. Arguably / Christopher Hitchens
A new collection of essays offers a view of the man behind the words.
11. Here Comes Trouble / Michael Moore
The Forrest-Gump like life and times of the provocative filmmaker.
12. The Greater Journey / David McCullough
How Americans in 19th century Paris shaped ideals back home.
13. Prime Time / Jane Fonda
The actress' blueprint for successful living and getting older.
14. A Stolen Life / Jaycee Dugard
A kidnap victim at 11, Jaycee Dugard describes her 18-year imprisonment.
15. Harold: The Boy Who Became Mark Twain / Hal Holbrook
The difficult early life of renowned actor Hal Holbrook.
16. Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness / Alexandra Fuller
A memoir of the author’s mother set in Kenya.
17. Rebels in Paradise / Hunter Drohojowska-Philp
How a few daring young artists changed the contemporary art scene in 1960's Los Angeles.
18. Inside Scientology / Janet Reitman
A modern history of L. Ron Hubbard and his controversial religion-without-a-deity.
19. Strength Finders 2.0 / Tom Rath
An upgraded assessment on how to find your top talents.
20. Bossypants / Tina Fey
How the self-deprecating actress, mom and writer rocked the world of comedy.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
LIBRARY E-BOOKS NOW AVAILABLE FOR KINDLE
NOW YOU CAN BORROW E-BOOKS FROM THE LIBRARY TO READ ON YOUR KINDLE
Back in April of this year Amazon and Overdrive announced that they were working together to make e-books provided by local libraries available to Kindle owners -- Kindle was just about the only e-reader that couldn't be used to borrow e-books from the public library.
Then yesterday came the long-awaited announcement from Overdrive and Amazon that this is now a reality : http://overdrive.com/news/OverDrive-and-Amazon-launch-Kindle-compatibility-with-Library-eBooks ; http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1608874&highlight=.
To check this out for yourself, log into the library's Overdrive platform (you'll need your library card number and the last four digits of your phone number) at http://iedigital.lib.overdrive.com/. Off to the right hand side there is a specific link to Kindle compatible e-books offered in the library's collection; as of today there are 2,672 e-books available to San Bernardino County Library patrons in the Kindle format. Once you check out a title there will be a link to Amazon's website to finish the transfer to your Kindle. Once there you will need an Amazon account to sign-in. If you don't have an account already you can create one - all you need is an email address; no credit card required!
Some articles of note:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/240384/borrowing_kindle_ebooks_a_handson_guide.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/22/books/amazons-kindle-to-make-library-e-books-available.html
http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/home/892118-264/amazon_and_overdrive_roll_out.html.csp
Back in April of this year Amazon and Overdrive announced that they were working together to make e-books provided by local libraries available to Kindle owners -- Kindle was just about the only e-reader that couldn't be used to borrow e-books from the public library.
Then yesterday came the long-awaited announcement from Overdrive and Amazon that this is now a reality : http://overdrive.com/news/OverDrive-and-Amazon-launch-Kindle-compatibility-with-Library-eBooks ; http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1608874&highlight=.
To check this out for yourself, log into the library's Overdrive platform (you'll need your library card number and the last four digits of your phone number) at http://iedigital.lib.overdrive.com/. Off to the right hand side there is a specific link to Kindle compatible e-books offered in the library's collection; as of today there are 2,672 e-books available to San Bernardino County Library patrons in the Kindle format. Once you check out a title there will be a link to Amazon's website to finish the transfer to your Kindle. Once there you will need an Amazon account to sign-in. If you don't have an account already you can create one - all you need is an email address; no credit card required!
Some articles of note:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/240384/borrowing_kindle_ebooks_a_handson_guide.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/22/books/amazons-kindle-to-make-library-e-books-available.html
http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/home/892118-264/amazon_and_overdrive_roll_out.html.csp
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
LOS ANGELES TIMES BEST SELLERS
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 18, 2011
Hardcover Fiction
1. Rules of Civility / Amor Towles
A year in the social life of three twentysomethings set in jazz-age New York City.
2. The Leftovers / Tom Perrotta
A twist on the Rapture revolving around those left behind.
3. The Paris Wife / Paula McLain
A tale of Ernest Hemingway and his first wife, Hadley, set in 1920s Paris.
4. State of Wonder / Ann Patchett
An atmospheric tale of two medical researchers and the many shades of truths they find in the Amazon.
5. A Dance With Dragons / George R. R. Martin
The Seven Kingdoms are imperiled again in the fifth “Song of Ice and Fire” book.
6. Mockingjay / Suzanne Collins
No one is safe in the final installment of the Hunger Games trilogy.
7. The Cut / George Pelecanos
Meet Spero Lucas, an Iraq war vet and suave investigator in Washington D.C.
8. Catching Fire / Suzanne Collins
Hunger Games winners face the consequences of their victory.
9. Ready Player One / Ernest Cline
A key to a fortune is hidden in a virtual reality world.
10. The Sookie Stackhouse Companion / Charlaine Harris
A closer look at the otherworldly life and people in Sookie Stackhouse's universe.
11. When the Killing's Done / T.C. Boyle
A woman washes up on a rat-infested shore starting a family's link with California's Channel Islands.
12. Radio Shangri-La / Lisa Napoli
A journalist's love affair with the country of Bhutan.
13. The Buddha in the Attic / Julie Otsuka
A story of young Japanese women brought to San Francisco as ‘picture brides’ nearly a century ago.
14. The Magician King / Lev Grossman
Quentin embarks on a quest that goes awry in this sequel to "The Magicians."
15. Kill Me if You Can / James Patterson
An art student is hunted by an assassin after finding a diamond-filled duffel bag.
16. Before I Go to Sleep / S.J. Watson
A woman's mind is erased of everything she knows each time she goes to sleep.
17. Flash and Bones / Kathy Reichs
The search for the identity of a body found during NASCAR race week, from the inspiration behind the TV show, "Bones."
18. House of Holes / Nicholson Baker
A series of graphic vignettes about erotica.
19. The Power of Six / Pittacus Lore
Picking up where the YA thriller “I Am Number Four” left off, the remaining six are on the run from the Magadorians.
20. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest / Stieg Larsson
The final book of the "Millennium Trilogy" has Lisbeth Salander in peril.
Hardcover Nonfiction
1. Go the F-- to Sleep / Adam Mansbach
A comical not-for-kids picture book on the perils of bedtime.
2. In the Garden of Beasts / Erik Larson
Complex ties between the U.S. ambassador’s family and the Nazi elite in 1930s Berlin.
3. In My Time / Dick Cheney
The former vice president defends the Bush administration's policies after 9/11.
4. Unbroken / Laura Hillenbrand
The story of Louis Zamperini, a World War II bombardier, POW and Olympian.
5. A Stolen Life / Jaycee Dugard
A kidnap victim at 11, Jaycee Dugard describes her 18-year imprisonment.
6. Bossypants / Tina Fey
How the self-deprecating actress, mom and writer rocked the world of comedy.
7. Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness / Alexandra Fuller
A memoir of the author’s mother set in Kenya.
8. Prime Time / Jane Fonda
The actress' blueprint for successful living and getting older.
9. The Eighty-Dollar Champion / Elizabeth Letts
A beat-up horse named Snowman's rise to the top in show-jumping.
10. Arguably / Christopher Hitchens
A new collection of essays offers a view of the man behind the words.
11. Rebels in Paradise / Hunter Drohojowska-Philp
How a few daring young artists changed the contemporary art scene in 1960's Los Angeles.
12. Sleeping With The Enemy / Hal Vaughn
The hidden years of Coco Chanel’s life, from the Nazi occupation of Paris to the aftermath of World War II.
13. Inside Scientology / Janet Reitman
A modern history of L. Ron Hubbard and his controversial religion-without-a-deity.
14. Strength Finders 2.0 / Tom Rath
An upgraded assessment on how to find your top talents.
15. After America / Mark Steyn
A prediction of America's economic and cultural armageddon.
16. 1493 / Charles C. Mann
The interconnected ecological and economic consequences of the European discovery of the Americas.
17. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book / Jeff Kinney
A revised and expanded interactive journal based on the bestselling books and hit movies.
18. Boo: The Life of the World's Cutest Dog / J.H. Lee
A photographic day in the life of an adorable teddy-bear like dog.
19. The Tao of Travel / Paul Theroux
A personal collection of travel appreciation from the author's own and other writers' works.
20. Supergods / Grant Morrison
A history of comic books and what they say about humankind.
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 18, 2011
Hardcover Fiction
1. Rules of Civility / Amor Towles
A year in the social life of three twentysomethings set in jazz-age New York City.
2. The Leftovers / Tom Perrotta
A twist on the Rapture revolving around those left behind.
3. The Paris Wife / Paula McLain
A tale of Ernest Hemingway and his first wife, Hadley, set in 1920s Paris.
4. State of Wonder / Ann Patchett
An atmospheric tale of two medical researchers and the many shades of truths they find in the Amazon.
5. A Dance With Dragons / George R. R. Martin
The Seven Kingdoms are imperiled again in the fifth “Song of Ice and Fire” book.
6. Mockingjay / Suzanne Collins
No one is safe in the final installment of the Hunger Games trilogy.
7. The Cut / George Pelecanos
Meet Spero Lucas, an Iraq war vet and suave investigator in Washington D.C.
8. Catching Fire / Suzanne Collins
Hunger Games winners face the consequences of their victory.
9. Ready Player One / Ernest Cline
A key to a fortune is hidden in a virtual reality world.
10. The Sookie Stackhouse Companion / Charlaine Harris
A closer look at the otherworldly life and people in Sookie Stackhouse's universe.
11. When the Killing's Done / T.C. Boyle
A woman washes up on a rat-infested shore starting a family's link with California's Channel Islands.
12. Radio Shangri-La / Lisa Napoli
A journalist's love affair with the country of Bhutan.
13. The Buddha in the Attic / Julie Otsuka
A story of young Japanese women brought to San Francisco as ‘picture brides’ nearly a century ago.
14. The Magician King / Lev Grossman
Quentin embarks on a quest that goes awry in this sequel to "The Magicians."
15. Kill Me if You Can / James Patterson
An art student is hunted by an assassin after finding a diamond-filled duffel bag.
16. Before I Go to Sleep / S.J. Watson
A woman's mind is erased of everything she knows each time she goes to sleep.
17. Flash and Bones / Kathy Reichs
The search for the identity of a body found during NASCAR race week, from the inspiration behind the TV show, "Bones."
18. House of Holes / Nicholson Baker
A series of graphic vignettes about erotica.
19. The Power of Six / Pittacus Lore
Picking up where the YA thriller “I Am Number Four” left off, the remaining six are on the run from the Magadorians.
20. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest / Stieg Larsson
The final book of the "Millennium Trilogy" has Lisbeth Salander in peril.
Hardcover Nonfiction
1. Go the F-- to Sleep / Adam Mansbach
A comical not-for-kids picture book on the perils of bedtime.
2. In the Garden of Beasts / Erik Larson
Complex ties between the U.S. ambassador’s family and the Nazi elite in 1930s Berlin.
3. In My Time / Dick Cheney
The former vice president defends the Bush administration's policies after 9/11.
4. Unbroken / Laura Hillenbrand
The story of Louis Zamperini, a World War II bombardier, POW and Olympian.
5. A Stolen Life / Jaycee Dugard
A kidnap victim at 11, Jaycee Dugard describes her 18-year imprisonment.
6. Bossypants / Tina Fey
How the self-deprecating actress, mom and writer rocked the world of comedy.
7. Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness / Alexandra Fuller
A memoir of the author’s mother set in Kenya.
8. Prime Time / Jane Fonda
The actress' blueprint for successful living and getting older.
9. The Eighty-Dollar Champion / Elizabeth Letts
A beat-up horse named Snowman's rise to the top in show-jumping.
10. Arguably / Christopher Hitchens
A new collection of essays offers a view of the man behind the words.
11. Rebels in Paradise / Hunter Drohojowska-Philp
How a few daring young artists changed the contemporary art scene in 1960's Los Angeles.
12. Sleeping With The Enemy / Hal Vaughn
The hidden years of Coco Chanel’s life, from the Nazi occupation of Paris to the aftermath of World War II.
13. Inside Scientology / Janet Reitman
A modern history of L. Ron Hubbard and his controversial religion-without-a-deity.
14. Strength Finders 2.0 / Tom Rath
An upgraded assessment on how to find your top talents.
15. After America / Mark Steyn
A prediction of America's economic and cultural armageddon.
16. 1493 / Charles C. Mann
The interconnected ecological and economic consequences of the European discovery of the Americas.
17. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book / Jeff Kinney
A revised and expanded interactive journal based on the bestselling books and hit movies.
18. Boo: The Life of the World's Cutest Dog / J.H. Lee
A photographic day in the life of an adorable teddy-bear like dog.
19. The Tao of Travel / Paul Theroux
A personal collection of travel appreciation from the author's own and other writers' works.
20. Supergods / Grant Morrison
A history of comic books and what they say about humankind.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Top Ten Books- L.A. Times - August 28-Sept 4, 2011
Hardcover Nonfiction
1. Dance With Dragons by George R. R. Martin
2. House of Holes by Nicholson Baker
3. The Magician King by Lev Grossman
4. The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
5. Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
6. Cold Vengeance by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
7. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
8. State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
9. This Beautiful Life by Helen Schulman
10. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Hardcover Nonfiction
1. In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson
Complex ties between the U.S. ambassador’s family and the Nazi elite in 1930s Berlin.
2. Prime Time by Jane Fonda
The actress' blueprint for successful living and getting older.
3. Go the F-- to Sleep by Adam Mansbach
A comical not-for-kids picture book on the perils of bedtime.
4. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
The story of Louis Zamperini, a World War II bombardier, POW and Olympian.
5. A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard
A kidnap victim at 11, Jaycee Dugard describes her 18-year imprisonment.
6. Bossypants by Tina Fey
How the self-deprecating actress, mom and writer rocked the world of comedy.
7. Rebels in Paradise by Hunter Drohojowska-Philp
How a few daring young artists changed the contemporary art scene in 1960's Los Angeles.
8. 1493 by Charles C. Mann
The interconnected ecological and economic consequences of the European discovery of the Americas.
9. Turn Right at Machu Picchu by Mark Adams
A travel writer traces the steps of Hiram Bingham's original expedition to Machu Picchu.
10. The Greater Journey by David McCullough
How Americans in 19th century Paris shaped ideals back home.
1. Dance With Dragons by George R. R. Martin
2. House of Holes by Nicholson Baker
3. The Magician King by Lev Grossman
4. The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
5. Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
6. Cold Vengeance by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
7. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
8. State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
9. This Beautiful Life by Helen Schulman
10. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Hardcover Nonfiction
1. In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson
Complex ties between the U.S. ambassador’s family and the Nazi elite in 1930s Berlin.
2. Prime Time by Jane Fonda
The actress' blueprint for successful living and getting older.
3. Go the F-- to Sleep by Adam Mansbach
A comical not-for-kids picture book on the perils of bedtime.
4. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
The story of Louis Zamperini, a World War II bombardier, POW and Olympian.
5. A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard
A kidnap victim at 11, Jaycee Dugard describes her 18-year imprisonment.
6. Bossypants by Tina Fey
How the self-deprecating actress, mom and writer rocked the world of comedy.
7. Rebels in Paradise by Hunter Drohojowska-Philp
How a few daring young artists changed the contemporary art scene in 1960's Los Angeles.
8. 1493 by Charles C. Mann
The interconnected ecological and economic consequences of the European discovery of the Americas.
9. Turn Right at Machu Picchu by Mark Adams
A travel writer traces the steps of Hiram Bingham's original expedition to Machu Picchu.
10. The Greater Journey by David McCullough
How Americans in 19th century Paris shaped ideals back home.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Cape Cod Vacation
The wind was howling on Cape Cod, rain was pouring down, and a banging kitchen shutter was making a terrible racket. We were afraid our visit to our friends’ beach rental cabin would be a disaster, even though we did bring an umbrella. Our first visit to a beach was so cold and windy we nearly blew away. The lifeguards were huddled in a car playing cards.
But the weather improved and our “Cape” experience turned into a memorable one.
Traveling is the theme of our library’s Summer Adult Reading Program and it seemed only right that we check out some parts of the country outside of our own. On one of the rainy days I couldn’t resist dropping in to the local library in Truro. It was well stocked with new books and lots of local art on the walls. They had a Summer Reading Program too, also with a travel theme.
The library is part of a group called the Cape Libraries Automated Materials Sharing (CLAMS). Much like our library system the folks in the far reaches of the Cape share books with other libraries located in larger cities. And it has Wi-fi.
With the improved weather the next day we rented bicycles and got to experience the smooth, well-maintained bike trail that runs all the way down the Cape.
A Scrabble game I was playing with my friend Ann was close near the end. I tried the word “Jule” in the corner with a triple word score. Ann looked at my word (she was planning to use the same triple word) and said “Yes, it’s a word” and I got a nice 32 points.
A few minutes later our daughter walked by our board game and commented, “Didn’t you mean ‘Joule’ the unit of energy of one newton force moving one meter?” The physics student was right, of course and Ann moaned that she lost the game on a “cheating word.”
Plane, taxi, ferry, car, bike, ferry, commuter train, subway, Amtrak, bus and back on the plane. Nearly every mode of transportation possible. Not bad for one week. We also managed to eat oysters, halibut, scallops and lobster during our short visit.
But the weather improved and our “Cape” experience turned into a memorable one.
Traveling is the theme of our library’s Summer Adult Reading Program and it seemed only right that we check out some parts of the country outside of our own. On one of the rainy days I couldn’t resist dropping in to the local library in Truro. It was well stocked with new books and lots of local art on the walls. They had a Summer Reading Program too, also with a travel theme.
The library is part of a group called the Cape Libraries Automated Materials Sharing (CLAMS). Much like our library system the folks in the far reaches of the Cape share books with other libraries located in larger cities. And it has Wi-fi.
With the improved weather the next day we rented bicycles and got to experience the smooth, well-maintained bike trail that runs all the way down the Cape.
A Scrabble game I was playing with my friend Ann was close near the end. I tried the word “Jule” in the corner with a triple word score. Ann looked at my word (she was planning to use the same triple word) and said “Yes, it’s a word” and I got a nice 32 points.
A few minutes later our daughter walked by our board game and commented, “Didn’t you mean ‘Joule’ the unit of energy of one newton force moving one meter?” The physics student was right, of course and Ann moaned that she lost the game on a “cheating word.”
Plane, taxi, ferry, car, bike, ferry, commuter train, subway, Amtrak, bus and back on the plane. Nearly every mode of transportation possible. Not bad for one week. We also managed to eat oysters, halibut, scallops and lobster during our short visit.
Friday, July 01, 2011
Lists....you have to love 'em
“The Book of Lists” that I was paging through recently had a category called “People Who Became Words.”
An Irish captain who was sent to collect rent from impoverished tenant farmers was ignored. As a group, the farmers decided not to pay the rent. His name was Charles C. Boycott.
John Montagu was a corrupt politician and compulsive gambler. So he wouldn’t have to leave the card table to eat, he had his aides bring him some meat between slices of bread. Montagu was the fourth Earl of Sandwich.
French ambassador Jean Nicot brought a tobacco plant to France that originated in Florida
This “Book of Lists” was from 1977. It is not in our collection any longer. In 1977 the highest grossing movie of all time was “Jaws.” Now, after “Titanic,” “Avatar”, and a bunch of Harry Potter films, “Jaws” isn’t even in the top 50. A lot of the information stands the test of time, however.
In the list “12 famous Non-murder Trials” Socrates was tried in 399 BC for criticizing established institutions and their leaders. Worse yet, he encouraged the youth to do the same! He was convicted by the jury 281-220 (the juries were a bit larger in ancient Athens
Galileo’s trial for saying that the sun, not the earth, was the center of the universe took place in 1633. Under threats from the Inquisition he was forced to confess the falsehood of the Copernican theory and his book “Dialogue” was banned in Italy
The three authors who compiled these lists are David Wallechinsky and Amy and Irving Wallace. Other notable lists in this edition: “17 animals with Pouches”, “The 9 Breeds of Dog That Bite the Most” and “Benjamin Franklin’s 8 Reasons to Marry an Older Woman.”
Reprinted from the Highland Community News, "Library Corner" by John Grimm, June 25, 2011
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