Keene Memorial Library Blog

2012-01-10T12:24:00.001-06:00

OK. I'm scaling back on the weekly post prediction and saying once every two weeks. Sigh.

So what am I reading?

Heat Wave by Richard Castle on my Kindle. It's funny, like the show, and has some over-the-top characters like you would imagine. I love picturing Nathan Fillion as Rook and Stana Katic as Nikki Heat. I don't quite get the correct vibe off "Roach" (Raley and Ochoa, the fictional characters drawn from.. fictional characters Ryan and Esposito) but I'm getting into it a little more. I also miss "Captain Montgomery" (Montrose) even more after reading his first contribution to the plot... Sorry. Should I have said SPOILER ALERT for those of you who don't know what happens in season three yet?? (I'm watching it on DVD so don't tell me what happens on Season 4!)

"Richard Castle" has captured the sense of duty and sense of humor that "Kate Beckett" has on the show. Ghost writer or not, this is a well done piece of fiction and quite enjoyable.

The library has this title in three formats: OverDrive ebook and audiobook and Print. Enjoy!

Change is in the wind

2011-12-29T20:46:00.000-06:00

Well, already I fell down on the job. Skipped posting last week due to holidays and forgetting to get it done. Hope you all had a great time with family and friends, including lots of your favorite holiday foods, traditions and more.

We'll have a new director in less than a month - should be an exciting time for everyone. Change is always scary, exciting, and unnerving - and yet it's all around us. It's up to us to decide what to do with it - roll with it, fight it or see if we can help push it along and make it something even better.

Buckle up, be safe and happy new year!

-Laura

Holiday Shopping Lists

2011-12-16T12:53:00.002-06:00

It's not that we're not busy, it's that we're too busy. OK, that's also an excuse. We just haven't taken the time to develop this blog into something that attracts you, our audience. I'm committing myself to that change. Once a week posts, come rain or snow, sun or shade.

Starting now, December 16th, with a post that shares some outstanding reads for readers of all ages on your Holiday Shopping List. They're recommendations from Nancy Pearl*. Nancy is a retired librarian, avid reader and author of Book Lust, More Book Lust, Book Crush, Book Lust To Go... you get the idea. She reads A LOT.

I recently attended a webinar where Nancy presented her list of Books That Make Great Gifts. (Click the title to get your own pdf copy of the list). What I like about this list is Nancy tells you why she liked the book and what age group she would recommend for the title.

A few that have made it onto my list - sshhhhhh, don't spoil the surprise!!

The Tragedy of Arthur, Arthur Phillips The perfect gift for anyone who loves clever writing or stories about fathers and sons, or is interested in Shakespeare. It’s humorous, very smart, and a total delight to read. (for my husband who's an English major)
Ghost Hero, S. J. Rozan S. J. Rozan writes a terrific series of mysteries, and I never think they get enough accolades from the general public. (for me, who loves mysteries!!)
The Art of Fielding, Chad Harbach A lovely first novel. Baseball is part of the scaffolding, but the joy of this book—the pleasure of this book—is both the writing and the characters. (for my dad, who loves Baseball)
Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend, Susan Orlean I think Susan Orlean is one of the best nonfiction writers we have these days. (for my friend the dog-lover and movie-goer)
The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale, Carmen Agra Deedy and Randall Wright If you’re looking for a good book for seven- to nine-year-olds, The Cheshire Cheese Cat would be a perfect gift for them. (if I had a little person, I would get this for them. Might have to get it for me since it has a CAT in the title)
Divergent, Veronica Roth For teens who loved The Hunger Games and Matched. Very exciting. (for any number of my staff, who loved the Hunger Games trilogy as much as I did...)

Happy shopping! See you next week... and if I don't see you before then - Happy Holidays!

-Laura

* Maybe you've heard of Nancy Pearl, maybe you haven't. She's also the model for the Action Figure Librarian (see photo below). There's the original (in the blue) and the Deluxe (in the red) - Deluxe comes with a background, information desk, computer, shelving cart and (of course!) little piles of books.

"The Nancys" with my breakfast at the 2010 COSUGI Conference at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort

Upcoming Events

2011-09-26T12:56:00.004-05:00

Sorry it's been so long since we updated - guess the summer got away from us.

What's coming up at Keene:

Tuesday, October 4th, 6:30-8 pm: Dean Jacobs, local photographer and author, will be at the Library signing copies of his latest book, Wondrous Creatures : Explore a World of Animals from A-Z. Come see Dean before he heads off to the Amazon in November!

Thursday, October 6th, 7-8:30 pm - The Thursday Night Book Club meets to discuss their latest selection, Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese.

Tuesday, October 18th, 6:30-8 pm - Joy Johnson, Omaha-based author will present her 30-minute talk, "The Making of a Burned Out Old Broad" and sign copies of her three BOOB Girls titles.

Friday, November 4th - Friends of Keene Memorial Library annual Dessert in the Stacks event, featuring Nancy Sic (North Bend-based singer and performer).

Tuesday, November 15th, 6:30-8 pm - Jerry Barlow, Celtic Fingerstyle Guitar. Hear Jerry play and share his stories, with CDs available for purchase at the event. CD signing will follow the performance.

Movies on the Lawn - one more left

2011-07-29T09:54:00.001-05:00

We've had a hot and sweaty time of it this year, but the Movies on the Lawn have been really popular! Despite saying there would be no rain dates, we are rescheduling Gnomeo & Juliet for Wednesday August 3rd. We hope you will consider joining us as we watch this updated version of a Shakespearean classic.

We're already thinking ahead to next year. How about starting earlier, like in June when it's COOLER?? We'll be gathering suggestions and letting you pick our titles again, since that seemed to work really well this year.

See you next week,
Laura

Hands On Book Club Selection for July, August, September

2011-06-23T16:40:00.000-05:00

This time the selection for the 12 week class/book club is The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas.

It is the 1930s, and hard times have hit Harveyville, Kansas, where the crops are burning up, and there's not a job to be found. For Queenie Bean, a young farm wife, a highlight of each week is the gathering of the Persian Pickle Club, a group of local ladies dedicated to improving their minds, exchanging gossip, and putting their quilting skills to good use.

When a new member of the club stirs up a dark secret, the women must band together to support and protect one another. In her magical, memorable novel, Sandra Dallas explores the ties that unite women through good times and bad.

Starting July 5th, join us for a class on hand quilting and a discussion of the book. If you would like to sign up for the book club/class or for more information. contact the library at 402-727-2694

Movies on the Lawn

2011-06-09T11:42:00.000-05:00

We'll be offering our Movies on the Lawn again this year - Wednesday nights in July after our 8:30 closing (that's the 6th, th e13th, the 20th and the 27th). What movies would you like to see? A list of possible titles is available at our Facebook page!

Connie Willis takes 7th Nebula Award

2011-05-24T10:24:00.000-05:00

Now, I will admit that I'm biased... but Connie Willis ROCKS. She is an amazing author and incredibly talented. She happens to be the mother of a dear friend of mine as well. I've been hooked on her books since reading Doomsday Book (which we have at the library) and am equally smitten with her latest pair of books, Blackout/All Clear, which recently won this prolific author her SEVENTH Nebula Award for best novel.

Blackout/All Clear is a a pair of volumes which make up one novel - and they're fantastic for their detailed research, imaginiative storytelling and gripping characters/plots.

Read more about this incredibly talented author here in an article from The Guardian (a U.K. newspaper):

May Reading

2011-05-09T14:37:00.001-05:00

What's on my reading list for May - that's a good question.

First off, there's 55 Steps to Outrageous Service. It's about customer service and how to satisfy the customer, the employees and meet your bottom line.While the library is not a for-profit organization, we do want to be worthy stewards of the public funds we receive.

Then there's If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat! It's about facing your fears, not letting fear have the last word, embracing the unique calling of God on your life, and being open to experiencing something new. It's not always easy, sometimes we sink under the water. Failure isn't the end of the journey unless we let it be that way.

Finally, I'm hoping to crack open Nick Vujicic's Life Without Limits. That one links to Amazon because we don't have it at Keene - yet. I'm working on it. The subtitle is Inspiration for a Ridiculously Good Life. From a man who was born without arms or legs, that's a pretty powerful statement. Makes my whining about anything wrong with my life seem petty right now.

--Laura

A Discovery of Witches

2011-03-28T17:53:00.002-05:00

Great read! Reminded me of The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. A Discovery of Witches is by Deborah Harkness and was featured in the March Bookpage. It deals with magic, witches of course, vampires and other supernatural beings...all at University level, finally the author even throughs in a little time travel. I found it to be a unique story given how much current supernatual books there are out there. I recently e-mailed the author after enjoying the book so much and found out from her that this is the 1st book in a trilogy...the author replied same day.:)

Radiation Safety Information from CDC

2011-03-21T17:44:00.000-05:00

For information on Radiation Safety, visit the CDC's website.

The Ides of March

2011-03-15T14:56:00.000-05:00

I did a quick "ides of march" general keyword search on our library catalog. Here's the results:

The Life and Times of Julius Caesar by Jim Whiting (copyright 2005) - part of the Biography from ancient civilizations series.

No cover art available: The Ides of March by Thornton Wilder (copyright 1948)

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

2011-03-03T10:44:00.002-06:00

Middlesex: I didn't know much about this book - assumed it was about the region in England. (It's not.) My husband recommended it, as did another friend of ours who has read it at least three times. And I'm slowly working my way through it. It's not the material that's causing the slow pace - it's the attention span of the reader who has too much on her plate to stick with any one book for long.

This book won the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. And I can see why. It's the story of Calliope Helen Stephanides and three generations of her Greek-American family. The story starts all the way back in the hills of Greece, where her grandparents escape the chaos during the burning of Smyrna to start a new life in America. Through twists and turns in genetic fate, Calliope ends up being born with an mutation on her 5th chromosome ( 5-alpha-reductase deficiency) which dramatically impacts her life.

I tend to read in spurts - this one keeps me captivated for hours on end. But then real life intrudes and the cats must be fed. I'm hoping to finish it in the next month.

Pendragon's Banner Trilogy

2011-02-09T10:52:00.002-06:00

I was so excited about the books by Helen Hollick I forgot to mention the titles in my last post.:)
#1. The Kingmaking
#2. Pendragon's Banner
#3. Shadow of the King

Do you like King Arthur stories?...then read this!

2011-02-08T20:42:00.002-06:00

I have always enjoyed a good movie or book about King Arthur. This trilogy is definately that! In the words of the author Helen Hollick; "Who was the man who became the legend we know as King Arthur?"
Let me tell you right now this is no fairy tale with knights and beautiful castles, this story tries to bring reality to the story. Author has many children with several women, in fact one of them lives to rule after him. His nobel knights are a calvery force to be reckoned with in the dark ages of English/Saxon history.
The 1st and 2nd books caught me from early on and I couldn't put them down. By the 3rd and final book there are a lot more characters and the reading was slower but not a chore by any means.
Ms Hollick brings as much historical fact to her writing as is possible for this period in history and its interesting to read about where she found her information and how she put it into the story she weaves of historical Britian following Roman rule.

The Charming Quirks of Others by Alexander McCall Smith

2011-01-31T11:19:00.001-06:00

Search the KML Catalog for The Charming Quirks of Others

Just finished the 7th book in the Isabel Dalhousie series over the weekend - they're novels with a bit of intrigue of an intellectual nature, not a series filled with suspense or mystery. Isabel Dalhousie is a Scottish moral philosopher. She edits a philosophy journal, has a housekeeper who keeps her on her toes, and gets "involved" in people's troubles. Her niece Cat owns a delicatessen, and Isabel also helps out there from time to time.

It's not a rollicking, action-packed book - it's slow paced and leisurely as we stroll through Edinburgh and other parts of Scotland in search of the answers. Isabel makes me think about what I would do in her place. And I do enjoy these books quite a lot. Maybe it's my idea of a cozy mystery...

For more of a "traditional" mystery, so to speak, try McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series... Mma Precious Ramotswe is not traditional, nor is it an Agatha Christie type of plot, but there's still solving a crime/the pursuit of truth in the mix. And much the way McCall Smith shows us Isabel's Scotland, we see a glimpse of Botswana in these books. Indeed, the different countries (their geography, culture and customs) play pivotal roles in both series.

Late, Late at Night by Rick Springfield

2011-01-11T16:43:00.002-06:00

It's not for the faint of heart, this memoir by 80's rock star Rick Springfield. He is quite clear about his involvement in s-x, drugs and rock 'n roll. But it's also a fascinating read about someone I always thought had it "so easy." I saw the rumors about altercations with his wife back in the 90's and figured it was tabloid gossip. Turns out there was some bad behavior behind it. There's also a lot of redemption and forgiveness and ongoing struggle for self-awareness and understanding. If you loved "Jessie's Girl" then you should try this book. It makes me want to pull out all my old RS music and give it another spin. And I definitely appreciate Karma, the last RS album I bought, all the more.

Look up Late, Late at Night in our catalog

Egyptian Mysteries

2010-12-29T12:16:00.002-06:00

I've recently finished reading 2 books by author Nick Drake. First, let me say I don't usually read mystery novels; second I will say I'll be looking for more of his books. The 1st book Nefertiti: The Book of the Dead introduces the reader to a cast of characters that will overlap into the 2nd book. The main character other than the Egyptian royal family is a Medjay (ancient Egyptian police force) detective named Rahotep. The book centers on the disappearance of Queen Nefertiti and all of the drama and intrique that happens within a royal palace. Once Rahotep is placed on the case he must solve it or his family will be wiped from the face of the earth. There are a couple of sub plots that really enhance the main story.
In the 2nd book Tutankhamun: The Book of Shadows we again see Rahotep as the main character back in service to the royal family. Again, very good plot line with enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing.
If you enjoy mysteries or historical fiction I would highly recomend these books.

The Quilter's Apprentice Book Club

2010-12-20T14:38:00.000-06:00

Join us at the library beginning January 4th for a twelve week class / book discussion with the novel, The Quilter's Apprentice by Jennifer Chiaverini.

While reading and discussing the book, you will also be intructed on how to make a sampler quilt, that includes blocks that are integral to the story. If you are unable to attend, the class discussion and photographs detailing the instructions of the quilt will be posted on the blog. These should be posted one week after the class.

If you have any questions you can contact James at the library, or leave a comment.

Society of S

2010-12-06T13:41:00.002-06:00

Speaking of vampire books/series. I just finished reading the 1st three in a newer series by Susan Hubbard. #1 is The Society of S, #2 is The Year of Disappearances, #3 is The Season of Risks. The name of the series is The Ethical Vampire Series. Its unique in that the majority of the vampires do not need or even want to live on blood. There are 3 different sects of vampires who have some very different ideas about how humans fit into the world but almost all of them are environmentalists of some sort. The stories send a good "save the world" message without being preachy. The main character is not aware she is a half-breed with a vampire father and human mother at the start of the 1st book. The books take you back and forth as she lives with her Father and then with her Mother. She has some misadventures, difficulty dealing with who she is and when she changes over to her vampire nature at 13 of course as she lives longer she is not aging and this becomes an issue for some vampire doctors to experiment with.
I finished each book in about a 3-4 reading and have actually come to care about the characters. I would recomend to anyone who likes a good coming of age story with a quick read that has a bit a unique twist to the current vampire series.

Bonjour. Comment allez-vous? Tres bien, merci...

2010-11-18T09:00:00.004-06:00

Did you know we have a fun, fast and easy language learning program called Mango Languages? The best part is - it's FREE for Keene Memorial Library patrons, and you can access it anywhere there's internet with your library card.

Mango is the easiest and most effective way to learn to speak a foreign language. Mango is available in two versions:

Mango Basic: Perfect for a foreign language beginner, Mango Basic teaches everyday greetings, gratitudes, goodbyes and helpful phrases in a short period of time. The courses, which require only two to five hours of time to complete, are currently available in 22 foreign languages and 14 English as a Second Language (ESL) courses.

You can view all the supported Mango Basic languages and ESL courses here: http://mangolanguages.com/mangobasic/languages/

Mango Complete: Mango Complete offers a 100-lesson course that digs much deeper and is designed to provide a more complete understanding of the entire language and culture. It is available in nine foreign language and three ESL courses. Foreign language courses include Chinese, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. ESL courses include Polish, Spanish and Portuguese.

To learn more about Mango and get a short preview of what the program has to offer, you can visit the company's website. Even better, you can login from home using your library card and get started on the courses themselves!

Vampire Series: Which one(s) do you read?

2010-11-12T13:23:00.001-06:00

No Respect: Why is Marcus Pelegrimas’s Skinners the Rodney Dangerfield of Elite Vampire Series?
Given the popularity of vampire series at Keene, this seemed an appropriate article to share. I picked up the post from my friend Stacy, who went to high school with the author. (They went to Millard South, I was at Bellevue West. Stacy and I met in college, and high school was more years ago than either of us care to admit!) But I digress...

Keene has the first two in the series (Blood Blade and Howling Legion) - I'm going to make sure we get the other two (Teeth of Beasts and Vampire Uprising) in pretty short order!

--Laura

The Terror by Dan Simmons and Other News

2010-11-08T09:42:00.002-06:00

Although I have been reading consistently through out the post, none of the books I have read have me as excited to pick up and continue as this one. This book was named one of the "best books of the decade" by the A.V. Club, and so far I completely agree.

From the moment I picked it up, I was hooked. It puts you right in the middle of the chaos, and slowly spreads out to fill you in on the background and characters, never loosing the level of intensity and danger that looms.

Set in 1845-1847, two ships head out to find the Northwest Passage in the Arctic. After miscalculating and bad judgment, they end up getting trapped in the packed ice, unable to move, and having to wait for the ice to melt enough to get out. Lasting over a two summers and heading into another winter, their supplies are running out. The prospect of running out of food and heat in the Arctic and having to face another winter would be enough of a compelling story, but the author doesn't stop there. He puts another danger against the crew, in the form of some sort of 12 foot monster that seems to be killing them for sport for than food.

The only thing that I know about the monster is that it isn't a polar bear, and the author makes that quite clear, but only being about a third of the way into it, I still don't have a clear picture of what this thing is. Being told through different viewpoints of the crew, they still have yet to fully view the monster as it hunts them through the snow storms and full darkness that winter brings to the Arctic.

So far, this is a great read and am not getting any hint of that I will be disappointed by the end. I am eager to look towards other books by this author to see what else he is capable of. That is the true measure of a good book, in my opinion anyway.

Other News-
I recently saw that Leonardo Dicaprio has signed on to play America's first Serial Killer. To clarify, I am unsure if he is the "first" or "first documented". How is this related? Because the movie is based on one of the books I had read over the summer, before we had started this blog, I thought I would mention it now as I saw it in the "news".

The movie is based off the book "Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson, and it is a excellent book about 1. the first serial killer, and 2. the Chicago World's Fair exhibit. It has been a while, and many books since then, to go into a lot of detail without messing up the dates, but I found it a very interesting read. The book deals mostly with the World's Fair and the people involved, the planning, construction, and running, and given the time period and the events and accomplishments, makes for itself an entertaining book, except for some long segments on the landscaping which I admit to skimming.

Then the author peppers the book throughout with the story of H.H. Holmes, who is credited with being America's First Serial Killer. Basically happening around the same time as the World's Fair planning and execution (no pun intended), Holmes even uses the fair to gain access to his victims. But, to me, the murders that he committed weren't as interesting as some of the other things that he managed to pull off as he tried to make a name for himself. An extremely likable guy that was able to use charm and deception to disarm his would-be pursuers, otherwise who knows how many lives could have been saved, as the number of actual murders he committed is unknown, ranging any where from 27 to possibly up to 200.

Nebraska Quilts and Quiltmakers

2010-11-03T15:40:00.002-05:00

Since it is November now, and its getting colder at night, its time to put another quilt on the bed, I thought I would review one of my favorite non-fiction books we have at the library.

This is a lovely coffee table book, that was written by Patricia Crews, now one of the chief persons at the International Quilt Study and Museum in Lincoln, NE; and Ronald Nagule from the History Department of Wesleyan University in Lincoln, NE.

The book is seperated into chapters detailing the various forms of quiltmaking that was found in Nebraska, during the Nebraska Quilt Research Project done in the mid 1980s. It tells the story of a select few of Nebraska quilts, that were either made here, or brought into Nebraska during the settling of the state. Each chapter talks about pieced quilts, crazy quilts, applique quilts, etc. Each quilt has a overall photograph, some include a photograph of the maker as well. The text that follows each quilt, describes the quilt and quilting, and also gives a brief synopsis of the maker as well if that information is known.

The last chapter of the book deals with Nebraska Treasures. This is basically a broader area of detailing talking about the famous quilts that Nebraskans have made. From Grace McCance Snyder of the North Platte area, who made the famous Flower Basket Petit Point quilt, which is pictured below; Ernest B Haight of David City, who revolutionized machine quilting, and several others.

If you are interested in quilting, this is a great book to review, and one of the best State Quilt History books that you will find. It has won a few awards, and its a great reference book on midwest quilt making.

*Grace Snyder's "Flower Basket Petit Point" quilt, made in l942-43, is now on exhibit. A technical tour-de-force, this quilt was sixteen months in the making. More than 85,000 pieces and 5,400 yards of thread went into this mosaic-style masterpiece, which was patterned after the design on a china plate. Grace Snyder, who ranched north of North Platte, was inducted into the Congress of Quilters Hall of Fame in Arlington, Virginia, in l980. In 1999 the International Quilt Festival, held in Houston, Texas, selected this quilt as one of "The Twentieth Century's One-hundred Best American Quilts."

*Information was taken from the Nebraska State Historical Societies Sept / Oct 2004 Historical Newsletter.

Insatiable by Meg Cabot

2010-10-18T14:26:00.004-05:00

I've never read any of Meg Cabot's books so I thought I'd give this one a try (new on play away).:) Very good listen, the reader is very talented and added to the experience. It is a vampire/psychic story very reminiscent of the Sookie Stackhouse stories by Charlaine Harris with a little dose of Queen Betsy stories by Mary Janice Davidson. If you enjoy the books by one or both of these authors I think you'll like Insatiable by Meg Cabot.

The Monster of Florence

2010-10-08T08:48:00.003-05:00

I'm currently reading non-fiction- yes, it does happen :) This one is about a serial killer who terrorized Florence, Italy from 1968-1989 or so. It's marvelously written by the Monstrologer (Mario Spezi, an Italian journalist who "specialized" in covering the case) and Douglas Preston (one of my favorite mystery/adventure authors). Both men were fascinated by the case, and ended up involved in ways neither could imagine. The main character in the story is the city of Florence itself, and the authors evoke such a sense of place with their descriptions and bring the people involved to life in their narratives.

I'm up to the point where Preston moves his family to Italy, should get even more interesting!

--Laura

New Playaway User

2010-10-02T13:33:00.002-05:00

Just a quick note to let all of the blog readers know I have recruited a new play away user!:) My Dad and I were working on one of his rental houses and he saw me listening to a book as I was cleaning. I told him all about them of course and his 1st listen/read will be a James Patterson book, he is very excited.

Mockingjay (Hunger Games Trilogy, bk 3)

2010-09-28T15:16:00.004-05:00

Oh my goodness. If you have not read Hunger Games, Catching Fire or Mockingjay... then you have not read one of the best series out there. I finished Mockingjay this past weekend and it had me absolutely on the edge of my seat! I even got Dale to read the first few pages, and he's going to dig into the series as well.

What do I like about it? Well, the characters are real, they're not perfect and they're prone to stupid decisions. They are flawed but not so flawed that we can't identify with them. There's sweeping bravery, dramatic tension (although **semi-spolier** I have to admit I suspected that Katniss would still be around at the start of book 3, otherwise how would you HAVE a book three?) and really good action. There are characters who we want to hate but can't. There are characters we hate but turns out we probably shouldn't have. And we don't feel bad about hating them because they hate themselves sometimes too. When they redeem themselves, it's cathartic for everyone.

There's sentiment and cold pragmatism. There's love. There's adventure. There's a bit of the sci-fi/fantasy feel to portions of the Capitol, but mostly these are humans with no special or extra-ordinary abilities. It's close enough to possible to be disconcerting but far enough from reality to be looming in our future.

Go. Read it. Pass it on. May the odds be ever in your favor!

Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter

2010-09-20T11:25:00.003-05:00

I read this one on Playaway - borrowed from another library because we only had it in print. And since I commute in a car with only a radio, I needed something I could plug into the radio transmitter. But I digress...

The book takes the premise that Abraham Lincoln was one of the world's leading vampire hunters and that vampires were intricately involved in the war between the States. It's a fascinating alternate view of history - even if you don't believe in vampires. The author, Seth Grahame-Smith, did a lot of research to get the details right. Places Lincoln lived, real people and actual events are woven into the imaginary world to lend an air of authenticity. He starts with Lincoln's childhood and takes you through his early years as a shopkeeper, lawyer and politician- all the way through his time in the White House. The assassination theory put forth here is really well done too.

I'd give it an A. Maybe an A+, for holding my attention through the drive to and from and making me want to listen at home too!

--Laura

Mad, Bad, and Blonde ~ Cathie Linz

2010-09-18T16:50:00.006-05:00

I discovered Cathie Linz after I'd run out of reading material from one of my favorite authors, Debbie Macomber. The library has a great resource available called Novelist and through that program, we can search for what are called "read-a-likes." I searched some Macomber titles and discovered Linz as a suggestion. I read a couple of her previous books, then moved on to her newest release, Mad, Bad, and Blonde. It was an easy read and I enjoyed the main characters and their roles in the story and the secondary characters have enough personality to further develop in future stories as well. I read that the series will continue with Luck Be A Lady in October, 2010, and I'm looking forward to reading that one as well.

About Mad, Bad, and Blonde...
After being jilted on her wedding day, via text message no less, Faith West decides she is not going to go into seclusion to lick her wounds. Instead, she takes what was supposed to be her dream vacation/honeymoon trip to Italy alone. While there, she meets Caine Hunter, hunky ex-Marine and unbeknownst to Faith, a private investigator working for her father's biggest rival and sent to watch her. He becomes Faith's rebound relationship at first, but they soon fall into bed and into love. To complicate things, Caine has his own private agenda where the West family is concerned which is laid out during the course of the book. Faith and Caine become unlikely partners to investigate a case and work through all the obstacles they face as they discover more about themselves and each other.

I think Novelist did a good job of matching these two authors as read-a-likes.

The Vanishing of Katharina Linden

2010-09-17T11:15:00.002-05:00

It sounds like a mystery...and it is, but much more, its a modern day type of fairy tale. There is a happy ending but it is not "happily every after" by any means. There are no supernatural creatures except in the stories one of the main charaters tells to the children in the story. It is set in Germany in the late 1990's and there are quite a few German words in the text. Amazingly enough that did not make it more difficult to read but added to the reader's experience. Again this was a quick read for me, it was easy to care about the characters and I truly wanted to find out the ending.

Lucy

2010-09-13T12:20:00.002-05:00

I read the book Laura had recomended...Lucy. I enjoyed it. The only thing I think I would have for more of in the story was to create a more in depth character for the oppostition of Lucy's existance. I found the "government" to be very one dimensional. It was a good story though with some food for thought and I would reomend it.

Ghost Riders

2010-09-11T16:09:00.002-05:00

I just finished this book by Sharyn McCrumb. Wow, it's been a long time since I've read a book in one sitting but this was just that good. It's about a husband and wife in the Civil War who fight together for the Union side of the Army in the N. Carolina mountains. The book is of course historical fiction...the main characters did exist and their pictures are featured in the front of the book. Some of the descriptive scenes about the atrocities of the guerrilla type fighting that went on in the Appalacians was unsettling. I highly recomend this to anyone who is interested in historical fiction, war stories, stories about the South.

Hunger Games, the MOVIE

2010-09-10T08:31:00.003-05:00

I'm quite sure I will like the book better, because I am a librarian. But they're making a movie of The Hunger Games, and it appears as though Suzanne Collins wrote the first version of the screenplay!! Much speculation about who will play Katniss Everdeen, with serious spin given to Chloe Moretz from the movie Kick-A** and Kristen Stewart from the Twilight saga. Directors are lining up too!
For more about the movie, which goes into production next year, here are a couple of articles.
From USA Today
From EarlyWord, the publisher|librarian connection

Sizzling Sixteen - Janet Evanovich

2010-09-07T19:40:00.003-05:00

Being an avid Stephanie Plum fan, I couldn't wait for the newest release in the Stephanie Plum series, Sizzling Sixteen. After reading it, I felt it was more like fizzling sixteen. The story line was quirky and entertaining as always, but the tendency to backtrack over so much of the history has gotten old for me. There has been no real character or plot development over the last several books now. It's the same old Stephanie...bumbling bounty hunter, blowing up cars, getting new ones mysteriously delivered from Ranger, getting covered in some sort of goo or another, etc. You can only read so much about feeding Rex, going to a fast food place to feed Lula's seemingly insatiable appetite, being torn between Ranger and Morelli and rescuing Grandma Mazur from another botched funeral home viewing before your eyes glaze over and you lose interest.
Stephanie and the gang have become to me like long-lost friends that you remember when you see them, but aren't exactly joyous at their appearance. I think it's time for Janet to decide to thicken the plots and add some character to her characters or end this series alltogether. I'd hate to see them go, but I can't make myself look forward to semi-good seventeen.

Shift by Tim Kring and Dale Peck

2010-09-03T09:59:00.002-05:00

I just finished Shift, by Tim Kring and Dale Peck. This was a new book that was recommended in July's Bookpage, that we have here in the library. Tim Kring is the creator of Heroes, the television show, and I thought I would give it a try.
The idea is that through CIA experiments with LSD, a sort of super-human is created that, after being injected with large doses of LSD, has the ability to read minds, project thoughts and images, and all sorts of ESP. Not only has he gained mental abilities, but he is changed physically also, with the ability to react quicker, and therefore is super soldier.
That's the premise, but then you set it in the 60's, added JFK and Cuba, a nuclear bomb, a rogue CIA operative, KGB, FBI, Timothy Leary, the mob, and every cliche associated with each of those, and it becomes complicated. There is also the love story, where the reluctant super soldier is only trying to reunite with his true love, the backstory of characters, and the assassination of JFK.

Given all that is going on, the authors do a fairly good job of weaving this story, but some things didn't work. The attempt to throw facts in seemed out of place. They are shown as to come from a case file from the FBI, make them seem like they were attempting to wrap up loose ends without putting any effort into it. The pacing does lack in spots and found it hard to muddle through. But I would give it a B-.

The main problem I did have with it being that this is the first of a series, and I wasn't expecting that. So the ending is very open and unresolved. I can definitely see this continuing through out the major points in history and recreating them as this character tries to find his true love, and how he is manipulated into causing some of the major events that have happened in the past fifty years with his powers.

2010-09-01T15:22:00.002-05:00

I decided to try a play away this weekend and listened to Meg Cabot's book Insatiable while mowing and then while on the back of my husband's motorcycle. Not only is it a good listen but I am a play away enthusiast now!:) thought this would be appropriate with our new lanyard give away.
Nancy

The Tale of Hill Top Farm: The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter

2010-09-01T13:38:00.000-05:00

The Tale of Hill Top Farm: The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter

by Susan Wittig Albert

I am a cozy mystery reader, and I tend to prefer my cozies set in England. Though I do have a couple series that I read that are set elsewhere. This series of books is based up on the character of Beatrix Potter; from the time she purchases Hill Top Farm in the Lake District to the time of her marriage to William Heelis, her solicitor in Sweary.

Basically the plot of this book involves a mystery, but it's also an introduction to the series, and to the Potter character, as well as other villagers. Potter has agreed to purchase Hill Top Farm, and comes to Sweary to learn about the locals, and to learn about the farm. Also in tow are all her beloved animals that have been included in the previous published works of hers that she did with her fiance Norman Warne. While in the village, she is currently working on the drawings for her next book, about a frog, Jeremy Fisher. But she also stumbles upon on a mystery, and turns out to be quite the, if you pardon my pun, Jane Marple, she has a natural ability to solve crimes. While this book is not heavy reading, and quite a quick read it is enjoyable, and does a good job of setting up the series. There are lots of characters and it only adds to the feel of being in a small English village in the country side. One nice surprise, at least for me was the author, Susan Wittig Albert, also gives the animals voices, which is a nice touch, considering we are dealing with the world of Beatrix Potter!

We do have this book at the library. Click here to go to the catalog and request the title.

Hey adults, check out the children's bins!

2010-09-01T10:53:00.003-05:00

I'm just sitting here looking at some GORGEOUS new books from the children's department. They're the 'Ology' books....fascinating hands-on books that are really works of art! Since they are 'hands on', check them out early....they're bound to get a lot of wear right away. The subjects are intriguing..Wizardology, Pirateology, Mythology, Monsterology, etc. I think they appeal to adults as much as children.....I'm definitely no 'kid', but they attracted me!

The Transformation of Bartholomew Fortuno by Ellen Bryson

2010-08-31T14:48:00.004-05:00

This is something different than I usually read. I like the Sci-Fi and Mystery sections best. That said, it was pretty interesting. It's a sort of love story set in 1865-ish New York, and features the Curiosities of P.T. Barnum's famous museum. The characters are odd and different, but once you get past that you start to care about them in their quirky ways. There's a lot of descriptive passages that help you "see" the world around the characters but it's still a stretch sometimes. At points, I wanted to scream "enough already, move on!" but the characters weren't ready for the story to move as quickly as I was.

I'll be waiting to see what Ms Bryson's next book offers.
Overall rating: B+
Check our catalog

PS - I'm about 3/4 of the way through The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. It's a futuristic tale of a post-war ravaged North America which has been reformed as Panem. As part of the new "civilization," there are annual Hunger Games where youth - children aged 12 to 18 - from the 12 Districts fight to the death on live TV. It's rather... disturbing and difficult to put down at the same time. I'm late to the bandwagon, having only picked up the first book in the trilogy after reading lots of chatter about the third book, Mockingjay.

Matterhorn

2010-08-30T11:32:00.002-05:00

I figure I should update on the book "The Matterhorn". I actually finished it over a week ago and have actually recommended it to someone who came into the library the other day. I thought it was an excellent book, describing the mindset of not only war, but the conditions of war. As Kate had commented earlier on this blog, the book's story is based on an actual event during the Vietnam war.
The story is well written, the events and conditions are gripping, even in the "down time", and you start to care about the characters, even though there are a lot of them. The author does a good job creating a character that you can really dislike, and then show a little of the reasoning of why he is doing the things that make you hate him, and makes you wonder what you would do in that situation.
If you like war novels, even though there isn't a lot of combat there is still a lot of tension through out, I highly recommend it. It is a fairly large book, over 600 pages, but the last 50 pages the author breaks down some of the jargon and military terms used throughout the book. That might have helped me to know before I read it, so I will pass it on. The author does do a good job of writing it so that you get the general idea of those terms, all though not the specifics.

Lucy by Laurence Gonzales

2010-08-26T15:02:00.004-05:00

This is a wonderful book, I read it in print in less than two days - and I don't read anything that quickly! It's the story of a primatologist who gets chased out of the Congo by the revolution. On her way out of the country, she discovers the daughter of a dead colleague and brings her back to Chicago. Once she's back home, Jenny learns that Lucy is a half-human hybrid. I won't go into too much more detail because it's fascinating stuff. It would make a fabulous book club title - there are ethical and moral and political implications to the story. It doesn't have a Hollywood ending, although you do get a resolution that satisfies the soul.

Overall Grade: A-
To see the cover and check its availability in the Keene Memorial Catalog, click here: Lucy by Laurence Gonzales

The SecretDiary of Anne Boleyn

2010-08-25T11:07:00.002-05:00

I just finished the book The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn by Robin Maxwell. It was a very interesting approach to an old story. Basic plot is that Elizabeth is given her Mother's diary at the start of her reign. Quick read, nice diversion if you enjoy historical fiction.

Theodore Boone, Kid Lawyer

2010-08-19T09:15:00.001-05:00

Just started this book yesterday. It's by John Grisham, who usually writes for grown-ups. So far, I like it. He's not trying to dumb it down for kids but he is doing a great job of explaining legal concepts and so forth. Not sure if kids will actually enjoy it, but I am!

--Laura

Matterhorn

2010-08-18T09:20:00.001-05:00

still reading

2010-08-16T11:49:00.002-05:00

I am currently reading Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War, by Karl Malantes. I am about halfway through it and it is a very good read. There are a lot of characters at first and it is sometimes hard to keep them straight, but as the story goes on it gets easier. It is quite gripping at times and as I read before I go to bed, sometimes I find myself staying up too late, being engrossed in what is happening.
So far I would recommend it as a great war story, and has been compared to Mailer's The Quick and the Dead, which I am a big fan of.

Welcome to KML Blog!

2010-08-10T18:56:00.002-05:00

This is so exciting! KML has a blog!!
I would like to recommend a new YA title that I just finished : Riker's High by Paul Volponi- Great book!! Love this author and loved this book!
Cathy

Best books I've ever read...

2010-08-10T12:42:00.004-05:00

That's a pretty tall order, I know. But there are some books that just feel that way. In no particular order, here are the ones that come to mind right away.

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch - quick, easy read that means so much more than just a quick, easy read.
The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King - love the new take on the Sherlock Holmes legend.
Doomsday Book by Connie Willis - time travel, intrigue and character development all wrapped up in one. And I went to college with her daughter :)
Undead and... series by MaryJanice Davidson - I laugh out loud every time I crack one of these open.
The Gideon Oliver mysteries by Aaron Elkins. Can't pick a favorite, they're all good. There's science, romance and mystery as well as just plain good old-fashioned sleuthing.

More to come, but for now, that;s probably plenty.
See you in the stacks!
Laura

Welcome.

2010-08-09T14:20:00.000-05:00

We are hoping that everyone will find this as a fun way for everybody to connect with other readers and share books that they have read and their thoughts, either likes or dislikes. We think that this will be a good way for people to discuss books, and although a lot of people are too busy to meet weekly, this way they can join up and share some quick thoughts.

We do ask that you keep it clean and respectful of other people's thoughts even if you don't agree. Please understand that there are a lot of different kinds of readers out there with different tastes in books and authors, but hopefully you will be able to connect with someone else who who has the same interests or can open up some new horizons to you.

We are looking forward to having a lot of patrons joining and are excited about this newer way to reaching out to other readers in our community. Look for "Staff Picks" and other fun stuff on our Facebook page.

Join in and tell us what you are reading.