Staff Favorites: Volume 51

Just My Typo: From “Sinning With the Choir” to “The Untied States” by Drummond Moir
    For some of us, after we’ve spent hours and hours writing an essay or a short story or even an email, we become invested in the words written on the page. After it is finished and we’ve clicked “submit,” we read it again one more time, just in case. During that final review, we find a typo and we are devastated. After all of that time spent perfecting our work and the countless proofreads we did, still we allowed one misplaced letter, one extra comma, one too many spaces to slip past our radar. In this book, Drummond helps relieve some of that devastation by revealing typos that have a much more lasting effect than our emails, such as NASA documents, legal reports, and even lottery tickets. If you’re looking for a good laugh, Just My Typo is a must-read. It is available at Acorn and through SWAN.

~Donna D., Reference 


The Turning by Davis Bunn
The Turning by Davis Bunn (available through SWAN)  was a novel I couldn't put down.  Bunn wove together the stories of six people who were joined together to oppose a man who was power hungry with the message, "Hope is Dead."  Find out how the man tried to accomplish this message and what happened to each of the people whose lives became forever changed. 

~Jan, Youth Services


Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan
Brain on Fire (available at Acorn and through SWAN) is a true story about a New York Post reporter (Cahalan) who suddenly began experiencing serious health issues in her early twenties with no apparent cause. Cahalan was admitted to the NYU Medical Center when her symptoms began to include seizures and psychosis. Her symptoms resembled someone possessed, and many with her condition may have been deemed just that. While she was in the hospital for a month with no firm diagnosis, she has little to no memory of that entire time. Finally, a doctor came up with a cause of her illness just in the nick of time – a recently discovered, rare illness that affects the brain. Cahalan uses her experience as a journalist to reconstruct her time in the hospital through interviews and records, and she recounts her experiences pre- and post-illness in this very interesting memoir. Cahalan’s story reminds us of how fragile, yet resilient the human body can be.

~Sarah R., Reference

 
I Didn’t Come Here to Make Friends: Confessions of a Reality Show Villain by Courtney Robertson
Fans of the popular reality show The Bachelor will love this inside look into the drama that happens both on and off camera. Courtney Robertson, winner of Season 16, tells the story of her journey before, during, and after the show. Besides a small portion of the book devoted to her childhood, successful modeling career, and some famous ex-boyfriends, the majority of the book discusses her experience on The Bachelor and her heartbreak afterward.  She certainly doesn’t hold back when talking about her past relationships, the other contestants on the show, or Ben, the Bachelor. As evidenced on the show, Courtney has no problem saying exactly what she feels regardless of who may get hurt in the process and this attitude definitely carries over into her book. She may be offensive to some at times, but at least she seems to be honest about her feelings.

This book was extremely hard for me to put down, and I found it funny, interesting, and a little bit irritating all at the same time. Although Courtney wasn’t able to change my mind about her entirely, I felt like I could understand her a little better than I did before. I may not be one of her biggest fans, but I truly did enjoy reading about the many ups and downs of becoming a reality television star.

~Lynn, Reference

This Week's Staff Favorites: Volume 50

Romance is My Day Job: A Memoir of Finding Love At Last by Patience Bloom
    Most people would think that someone who reads love stories for a living would have her dating life well in-hand. But such is not the case for Patience Smith, editor of Harlequin romance novels. As a teen, prompted by her roommate, Patience picks up a Harlequin book and is immediately hooked. She falls in love with the male leads and tries to manipulate all of her real-life romantic opportunities into mirroring scenes from her beloved novels. Each attempt is more unsuccessful than the last and thus we wind up at the beginning of her biography, reading about her speculations as she sits on the train and explains why, despite her occupation, she is still single at 40. She reflects on some of her great loves (and their eventual endings) and in the process we share in some of her unique experiences, such as her time living in Paris, her employment as a French teacher, and her adventure writing her own romance novel. Then one day she receives a message from Sam, a boy who was her real life romantic hero for a night when he rescued her from a Sadie Hawkins dance gone bad in high school. The only problem is that now, nearly twenty years later, he lives thousands of miles away. Can Patience and Sam find a way to make their relationship work? Find out by checking out the book at Acorn or requesting it through SWAN!

~Donna D., Reference


Uncommon Marriage: Learning About Lasting Love and Overcoming Life's Obstacles Together by Tony and Lauren Dungy
Uncommon Marriage by Tony and Lauren Dungy (available at Acorn Library) is a great biography describing how they have made their marriage a top priority despite frequent moves, public limelight as an NFL football coach's family, the loss of parents and a son, adoptions, and illnesses.  They keep the interest of readers with their back-and-forth style of writing. 

~Jan, Youth Services

Patron Review: The Women of Genesis: Sarah by Orson Scott Card

I am a huge Orson Scott Card fan, probably best known for his series about Ender Wiggin which was just turned into a major motion picture last year called Ender's Game, but this story is far from the science fiction realm.  It chronicles the biblical story of Sarah and Abraham in the book of Genesis from Sarah's point of view.  I liked that there were a lot of the bible stories that I grew up hearing about like Lot and his wife, and how Sarah laughed.  I really like that he focused on what a strong woman Sarah was to have gone through life unable to have children in a day and age when that was how a woman's worth was measured.  It was a beautiful love story and exactly the caliber of writing I expected from Orson Scott Card.  I would definitely recommend this title, and many more of his too!

~Stephanie Kapaldo, Acorn Patron

This Week's Staff Favorites: Volume 49

That Girl by Jennifer Nettles
Jennifer Nettles, a member of the country duo Sugarland, takes a lot of heat from critics for her production of this solo album.  She attempts to create a soulful, bluesy feel to several of the tracks on this disc, including “Me Without You”, “Thank You”, and “This One's for You”. These ballads throw Nettles fans for a loop as they are used to more up-tempo beats from her, such as “Stuck Like Glue” and “Somethin’ More”. However, it can’t be disputed that “That Girl”, the song for which the album is named, is perhaps one of the best songs on the CD. Those of you who are familiar with Dolly Parton might remember her song “Jolene”, in which she begs Jolene not to take her man, even though she can. Nettles’ track “That Girl” responds to Parton's song by playing the role of Jolene and assuring listeners that she is not a homewrecker and doesn’t want Parton’s man. Personally, I think some other great tracks include "Good Time to Cry" and "Like a Rock", but if you're looking for a song with a more humorous feel and a faster pace, I would recommend "Jealousy". In this case, I don't agree with the assessment from critics that because Nettles strays from her customary upbeat tunes, this album isn’t good. I think that while it does push her range, she does a great job with all of the songs on the disc. You can decide for yourself by picking it up at Acorn or requesting it through SWAN.

-Donna D., Reference


Return to Me by Lynn Austin
Local author Lynn Austin has written another fantastic historical fiction book called Return to Me (available at Acorn).  This book is the first in the Restoration Chronicles which follows the journey of the exiled Israelites in Babylon and their return to Jerusalem.  Austin does a marvelous job of drawing readers into the characters' lives, getting readers to imagine they are really in that setting and wrestling with the same questions the characters do.  I am looking forward to book two in this series, which will probably be out in fall 2014.

-Janice, Youth Services  


Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
This story begins with the arrival of Eleanor, a misunderstood 16-year-old girl with a rough upbringing. On her first day on the school bus, she meets Park, a boy who feels different from everyone else around him. The two end up sharing a seat on the bus, and although they don’t talk to each other at first, Park catches Eleanor sneaking peeks at his comics while he reads them. Soon a relationship is formed, as the two find that they have much more in common than they had originally thought. Unfortunately, life at home takes a turn for the worse for Eleanor, and the young couple is forced to make a decision that could tear them apart forever.

Although this is marketed as a young adult book, it is an excellent read for adults of all ages. Rainbow Rowell does an amazing job of drawing the reader in and making the characters seem very real. I felt like I really knew Eleanor and Park, and their story was one of the best that I have read so far this year. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone. It is available at Acorn as well as through SWAN.

-Lynn, Reference


Oscars @ Acorn

Yes, the actual Oscars have passed but a plethora of Oscar-nominated and Oscar-winning films are now hitting the shelves of Acorn.

American Hustle:  If you can get beyond the really bad hair, the only slightly less offensive fashion and the seventeen unnecessary plot twists, you might enjoy this con within a con within a con trip back to the 70s.  What I came away with was a deep thankfulness that I was too young to remember the 70s.  Oh, and Jennifer Lawrence looks exactly like Ellen Barkin looked three decades ago.  Amy Adams is enjoyable and does stretch her acting chops a bit but, other than that, I'd rather rewatch the remake of The Italian Job than sit through this one again.  Ultimately unmemorable.

12 Years a Slave:  This movie did not live up to expectations.  The harrowing tale of human spirit triumphing over what can only be described as the ultimate in betrayal and existential horror was, sadly, lost throughout much of this film.  It was lost to horrible editing, a weird soundtrack that succeeded in taking me completely out of the flow of the movie multiple times and an overall amateurish feel to a movie that should have been so much more.  The acting, overall, was superb and, in the hands of a different director and editor, this movie would have been worthy of the Oscar praise it received.

Saving Mr. Banks:  Charming, if slightly heavy-handed.  The curmudgeonly P.L. Travers (Emma Thompson) and the hyper-fantastical Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) square off in this tale about the journey of Mary Poppins from book to screen and, ultimately, from sad past to brightened, toe-tapping future.

Captain Phillips:  Nary an eyepatch or a parrot in sight in this harrowing true story of the taking of a cargo ship by Somali pirates.  "I'm the captain now."  The movie was excellent and kept me engaged throughout.  The final scene is the one that stuck with me.  Strength finally shattering like crystal on concrete puts an emotional exclamation point at the end of this already claustrophobically fear-laden movie.

Gravity:  As a space aficionado, I found this movie disappointing.  I was really looking forward to it but expectations can be an unwinnable game.  It was visually exciting and, I'm sure, a little vomit-inducing for the more dramamine-dependent viewers.  The repetitive nature of the danger had the effect of dulling the actual drama inherent to the situation.  Ultimately, the rebirth theme was so heavy-handed by the end that it became eye-roll inducing.  And, she totally would have burned up on re-entry!

Frozen:  A masterpiece.  Of all of these lauded movies, this is the one I'd watch again.  The story of the Ice Queen and her sister.  Simple and beautiful.  As usual for the fairy-tale dramas, love and sacrifice save the day and the world.  Not as usual for the fairy-tale dramas, it's not the prince riding to the rescue...although the ice cutter does give it a valiant try.  Icy coldness shattered by an act of true love.  You can't get more fable-tastic than that!  And, if you know how to get the song "Let It Go" out of your brain, please let me know.

- Danielle, Tech Services

This Week's Staff Favorites: Volume 48

The De-Textbook: The Stuff You Didn’t Know About the Stuff You Thought You Knew by Cracked.com
Here are a few things I learned from The De-Textbook:

• Velociraptor looked more like “knee-high, flamboyant little monkey birds” than the terrifying man-sized predators depicted in Jurassic Park.

• Thomas Edison was kind of like the Shia LaBeouf of his day in that he shamelessly pawned off other people’s inventions as his own.

• Science is not totally sure how many planets are in our solar system as new objects are continually being discovered within our asteroid belt.

• Abraham Lincoln was like a giant with superhuman strength who not only carried massive “stone-filled crates, weighing between 1,000 and 1,200 pounds,” when he was a mere stripling but also, at his first campaign speech, literally lifted a disorderly audience member off the ground and threw him.

• And while we are on the topic of U.S. presidents, John Quincy Adams believed the earth was hollow and wanted to use taxpayer dollars to dig into the North Pole, hoping to find a subterranean colony of mole people.

According to popular humor website Cracked.com, much of what you know is just flat-out wrong. Do you remember your favorite teacher from grade school? You know, the kindly one who always smiled and handed out gold stars and watermelon-flavored Jolly Ranchers whenever you answered a question correctly? Yeah, well, she was a stone-cold liar. Don’t worry though, Cracked.com’s The De-Textbook will you straight and undo all the misinformation that the educational system fed you throughout the years. Now a word of warning: If you are not familiar with Cracked.com, there is a strong possibility that its irreverent and vulgar brand of satirical humor will offend you. If you dislike that kind of humor, are easily offended, and object to profanity, I highly suggest you to stay far, far away.

Now, having said all that, I would be remiss in my duty as a librarian if I did not tell you that The De-Textbook is not an authoritative resource for factual information. In fact, I would highly advise you to be a little skeptical of anything you read in The De-Textbook. That’s not to say that many (if not all) of its factual claims are true, but I would highly advise fact checking anything you learn from it before citing it in a scholarly research paper. After all, the book’s purpose is to entertain and make you laugh; learning anything in the process is just an added benefit.

-Zach, Reference


The World’s Strongest Librarian: A Memoir of Tourette’s, Faith, Strength, and the Power of Family by Josh Hanagarne
I’m sure none of you will be surprised to hear that this is a book about a librarian who enjoys strength conditioning, but that is a description that only scratches the surface of this work. Josh Hanagarne is a man who suffers from Tourette’s, and he hasn’t always enjoyed employment at a public library. Before settling into that position, he spent many years bouncing from job to job because of the daily stresses of his disorder. He recounts some of these stresses--both during his childhood and his adult years--and we learn his life story in the process. He talks of his Mormon faith, his dedication to training with weights and kettlebells, and his bond with his parents and siblings as well as his wife and child and how all of these people and things have both helped and agitated his Tourette's. And, of course, he talks about his job as a librarian. He describes unique events that occur while he is working and incorporates a lot of humor that we as members of a library staff can understand. However, perhaps my favorite part of this book is how Josh continually uses references to both popular and not so popular literature to make his story relatable. It is in these moments that I find myself wanting to rush to the library to see if the books he mentions are on the shelf. His story is sad, happy, entertaining, intelligent, witty, and sarcastic all at the same time. A great read and it is available at Acorn and through SWAN.

-Donna D., Reference


Bloom: Finding Beauty in the Unexpected by Kelle Hampton (available through SWAN)
This is one of those books that makes you feel like you are sitting right next to the author listening to her story.  I laughed; I cried.  She describes the journey of pain and growth when she gave birth to a daughter who has Down Syndrome.  I recommend this book so you can get a glimpse of the emotional roller coaster for any parent who has to come to terms with a child's disability.  The hopes and dreams change, but the love does not.  As a special part of the book, the pictures of the author's two daughters are so precious and beautiful.  May all of us cherish our relationships!  Happy Valentine's Day!

Janice, Youth Services

This Week's Staff Favorites: Volume 47

The Pianist by Wladyslaw Szpilman
This is the story of Wladyslaw Szpilman, a Polish-Jewish pianist who, through luck and divine intervention, survived the German occupation of Poland. The book begins by describing a very memorable scene: Wladyslaw playing Chopin’s Nocturne in C#Minor live on the radio. His piece is interrupted halfway through by German shelling. And so begins his journey of survival. Slowly he and his family are forced into Jewish ghettos and eventually are made to board a train to Treblinka, a Jewish concentration camp. However, just before Szpilman gets on the train, he is recognized by one of the officers, separated from his family, and pulled out of line--an act that saved his life. He would find later that his parents and siblings did not survive their time in the camp. Wladyslaw seeks help from various friends who all give him temporary shelter, but soon he has nowhere else to go. He finds himself living in abandoned buildings and eating whatever food he can find. One day he discovers a piano and cannot resist playing Chopin. A German military officer discovers him but instead of turning him in, he brings him food and clothing--another act that would save his life. When Szpilman is finally able to come out of hiding after the war, he discovers that the German military officer who helped him has been captured and is in a prisoner of war camp. However, Wladyslaw had never asked his name and was not able to find him until it was too late. The book ends with Szpilman resuming his live radio rendition of Chopin’s Nocturne in C#Minor. This story is incredibly sad, but one worth reading. And it’s available in SWAN.

-Donna D., Reference


The Soldier’s Wife by Margaret Leroy
When Vivienne de la Mare’s husband is sent away to fight in the English army during World War II, she has no idea just how much her life will change. Vivienne struggles to take care of her two daughters and mother-in-law as the island of Guernsey, part of the Channel Islands, becomes occupied by German soldiers. When a couple of the soldiers move in to the house next door to hers, she finds herself falling for one of them, a German named Gunther. It becomes obvious that Vivienne has not been happy in her marriage for a long time, and Gunther seems to make her feel things that she hasn’t in a while. However, trying to keep her relationship with him a secret on a small island is something Vivienne finds difficult to do. In the end, she must decide whether this man is worth all of the risks and shame that come along with an affair with the enemy.

Although I don’t often read historical fiction, this one was very hard for me to put down. I felt many different emotions throughout the entire book, and it helped me to see what life may have been like in a different part of the world during World War II. I highly recommend the book to anyone who enjoys a good love story with some historical details thrown in. It is available through SWAN.

- Lynn, Reference


Wool by Hugh Howey
Any fan of dystopian fiction needs to read Wool, the start of a fantastic science fiction series by Hugh Howey.  Wool was originally self-published as a series of 5 e-novellas in 2011.  The setting depicted in the novel is familiar to many readers; it resembles our current society, though because the environment has become uninhabitable and the air toxic, humans live in a silo, built hundreds of feet into the ground.   Everything to sustain life takes place in the silo, from hydroponic farms, to the IT center.  One day, the silo's sheriff, Holston, expresses the one sentiment that is punishable by 'cleaning'- he wishes to go outside. 'Cleaners' are sent out of the silo, in a suit constructed as best as IT can configure to withstand the noxious environment as long as possible (which isn't very long), to clean the sensors on the outside of the silo, and then make their way into the unknown. Holston's replacement as sheriff is an unlikely candidate, Juliette, from 'down deep.'  Juliette has no interest in being sheriff, but she does wonder what would cause Holston, a seemingly sane man, to want out of the silo. Juliette's investigation results in sinister realizations about the silo, its history, and the uninhabitable outside.  I can see why this series did so well that it was able to make the leap from self-e-publishing to print.  Though dystopian fiction is a flooded genre at this point, this series is fresh and intriguing with many well-developed characters.  Wool is followed by two more books, Shift and Dust, and is available through SWAN.

-Jen, Youth Services

This Week's Staff Favorites: Volume 46

Death With Interruptions by Jose Saramago
In this novel, Jose Saramago brings death to life--literally. He turns death (small d) into a female character who is tired of constantly being insulted and hated. She decides that she is going to conduct an experiment in which no one dies. At first, the people celebrate the absence of death--no more lost loved ones and no more fear of dying themselves--but then they begin to experience the consequences of eternal life. Life insurance policies become meaningless, funeral home owners are no longer making money, and religious leaders no longer have many teachings to offer. Seeing the havoc that is being reaped, death then concocts a new plan--people will begin dying again, but they will receive a letter prior to their deaths. The scarlet envelopes start appearing on desks, in mailboxes, anywhere that the individual might happen to be 24 hours before they are supposed to die. Death, again, becomes unavoidable. All this changes, however, when death attempts to send a letter to a cellist. The letter keeps coming back to her. Finally death resolves to deliver the letter in person, but instead finds herself falling in love. Jose Saramago really captures the audience’s attention, not only with his examination of capitalism through the personification of death, but also with his love story. A must-read. And it’s available at Acorn and through SWAN.

-Donna D., Reference

Taylor's Gift by Todd and Tara Storch
I just finished Taylor's Gift by Todd and Tara Storch (available through swan). (copyright 2013) Although it was a very sad story, it offered joy and hope too.  Taylor was the Storch's 13 year old daughter who tragically died in a skiing accident during a family trip.  I can't even imagine losing my daughters at such a young age.  Through this dark moment, there is some joy and hope.  Out of death came life.  The Storch's were asked if they would like to donate Taylor's organs and they said yes for 5 of them.  They have been able to connect with 4 of the recipients and the authors tell those people's stories too.  Since then, Todd and Tara have decided to start a foundation called Taylor's Gift Foundation.  Their mission is increasing organ donation to Regift Life, Renew Health, and Restore Families. (319) Todd offers this statistic:  "Currently, only 4 in 10 adults in the U.S. are registered to be organ donors, yet there are more than 100,000 people awaiting an organ transplant" (317).   I would encourage all of you to consider donating your organs upon your death as well.  You probably can't even imagine the restored health and life you can offer to others.  I liked what Todd wrote: "Organ donation doesn't cost anything; you can't take your organs with you, and it saves lives when you leave them here."  (320).  This book was also very honest in how two parents and two siblings dealt with their grief and how the community rallied around them.

-Janice, Youth Services


SWAK
What does this wintry season bring to mind?  Snow and cold?  Hot chocolate with marshmallows and, maybe, a little bit of peppermint schnapps?  Hot-buttered rum with, maybe, a little extra rum?  Mmmmm…oh, wait, I was here to write something.  Oh, that’s right, ‘What does this time of the year bring to mind?’  Well, I’m going to tell you…kissing!  Don’t believe me, well, let me make my case and turn you into a believer.

Proof number one – Mistletoe!
Proof number two – New Year’s Eve…at midnight!
Proof number three – Valentine’s Day…all day!

Voilà, you are now all believers, right?  That’s what I thought!  Now, to celebrate your new-found belief, we simply have to start with The Science of Kissing.  Did you ever wonder why people evolved to smash their lips together as a sign of affection?  Why men are sloppier kissers than women?  How about the physiology and neurobiology of ‘the kiss’?  Whether the urge to lock lips will ever disappear?  Well, your answers to these and many more questions can be found in the pages of this wonderfully entertaining and informative little book.

Now, to balance out all that yucky science, we have The Art of Kissing.  If you need a how-to book (and, apparently, since the author covers 28 different kinds of kisses, we all need a how-to book!), this one’s for you.  We can also delve into the ambitiously titled Kissing: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about One of Life’s Sweetest Pleasures.  If you need more than that, well, I just can’t help you!

At this point, you’re at one of two places with this kissing stuff…firm believer or reluctant believer.  For you reluctant believers, we’ll take a step back and let you go study The Art of Hugging.  For the firm believers, well, it’s time for the next brave step…let me introduce you to one of my favorite authors, Mary Roach, and her exceptionally hilarious and informative book, Bonk.  Hey, there’s a reason that September and October are such popular birth months and it all goes back to winter being the Season of the Kiss!  So, bundle up, pucker up and smooch away…in the name of science, of course.

-Danielle, Tech Services

This Week's Staff Favorites: Volume 45

Coffee with Jesus by David Wilkie
While this book can be a little controversial because of the issues it addresses, it is a very refreshing read. It originally began as a single panel comic strip on the blog of artist David Wilkie, but soon became popular thanks to social media. He incorporates several main characters into these comics that deal with everyday issues--from the person who chews too loudly at the dinner table, to politics, to (obviously) religious beliefs. The book uses humor and sarcasm to demonstrate what Wilkie defines as a "practical" Jesus in his introduction. However, even if you are somewhat put off by the tone of this work, it allows you to see familiar problems you face on a regular basis in a new light. It's a good, quick read and it's available through SWAN.

-Donna D., Reference



Before, Before and Before
Before, during and after just doesn’t apply to this cinematic triptych as it delves deeply into one relationship over many years.  We imagine the ‘before’, we wait for the ‘after’ but we spend the entire time in the ‘during’.  We race our own expectations to a finish line that never quite arrives.  This is an inside view to a world that many of us will recognize in part but none of us have ever seen in full.  An experiential walk through the lives and loves of two people during the moments that are usually hidden behind closed doors or played out in a tune that only two very specific hearts can hear.

The recently concluded Before trilogy of movies takes us to the heights and then drops us into the depths of the relationship of Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy).  Before Sunrise has the two twenty-somethings meeting on a train.  They look.  They talk.  They decide to spend the night wandering the streets of Vienna together and, ostensibly, falling in love.  Ah, youth.  When I first saw this movie as a twenty-something myself, I admit my first reaction was, “They sure talk a lot!”  Now, almost twenty years later, my reaction has evolved into “Aww, it’s so nice they talk to each other so much.”  Ah, youth, indeed. 

Before Sunset drags us back into their lives nine years post-youthful Viennese love waltz and transplants us to the café’d streets of Paris.  Are they still in love?  Have they been together the whole time?  Did youthful lust and infatuation evolve into something deeper?  Does singing a waltz that you wrote in honor of one night of pure love to the person you shared that one night with nearly a decade earlier win you the love of your life?  Did they just leave that poor cab driver out there forever?  You’ll have to watch to find out.

But, of course, there’s the third movie, Before Midnight, so we know something happened.  Well, one thing that happened is that Jesse and Celine got old.  (Wait a minute, if I was twenty-something when they were twenty-something and now they’re old…well, darn!)  To me, this is the most real of the three films.  This film takes place in Greece and is where we see the passion of youth and the connection of an actual relationship turn, perhaps, into the deeper, fully-enmeshed linking of two souls in true love.  We see that, as opposed to the other types of love, true love is truly hard.  The lesson here is that imperfect humans are, alas, imperfect but in that shared imperfection you just might find the other heart that sings your perfect song.  I believe Jesse and Celine found it and I hope that all of you find or have found that other imperfect heart to sing you your perfect song.

 -Danielle, Tech Services

Sunrise

http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search~S1?/tbefore+sunrise/tbefore+sunrise/1%2C3%2C10%2CB/frameset&FF=tbefore+sunrise&7%2C%2C7

Sunset

http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search~S1?/tbefore+sunset/tbefore+sunset/1%2C3%2C4%2CB/frameset&FF=tbefore+sunset&2%2C%2C2/indexsort=-

Midnight

http://swan.mls.lib.il.us/search~S1?/tbefore+midnight/tbefore+midnight/1%2C6%2C15%2CB/frameset&FF=tbefore+midnight&5%2C%2C9/indexsort=-

This Week's Staff Favorites: Volume 44

21 by Adele
Although 21 came out in 2011, it’s one of those albums that you could listen to over and over again without complaint. No matter how many times you hear any song on the disc, the lyrics still move you and the melodies replay themselves in your head long after you’ve finished listening. I recently put it back in my CD player after having given it a rest for a couple of months and I’m wondering why I ever took it out in the first place. Not only does this album contain number one hits such as “Rolling in the Deep”, “Set Fire to the Rain”, and “Someone Like You”, but it also includes songs like “Take It All” and “One and Only”--hidden gems that, had they been released as singles, would have also topped the charts. Adele combines soul and rock in a way that puts her into her own unique category. This album is one that can be enjoyed by everyone no matter what type of music genre you prefer. I highly, highly recommend that you give it a listen. It’s definitely worth it. And it’s available at Acorn and through SWAN.

-Donna D., Reference

A Few of My Favorite Things…
Muppet Christmas Carol.  Gonzo, singing rats, Tiny Tim in polliwog form!

Elf.  ‘Nuff said.

Ref, The.  Denis Leary warming the cockles of cynics’ hearts with love and cursing.

Rudolph.  Just a misfit…Aren’t we all?  Let your nose glow!

Yule really, really love Love Actually.  Okay, I cheated.  Y’s are hard.

Christmas Vacation.  Oh, cousin Eddie…we love you, dickey and all.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas.  May all your hearts grow three sizes this holiday.

Ralphie and A Christmas Story.  Fra-Gee-Lay…it’s Italian, don’t ya know?

It’s a Wonderful Life.  You’ve all touched more lives than you realize.

Scrooge.  Alastair Sim owns this one…but McDuck is in the running!

To…

My new friends who’ve made me feel welcome and at home at…

Acorn Public Library this past year…

Season’s Greetings and Happy New Year!

And, whether your family is far or near,
At this most festive time of the year,
Stop, look around and be filled with cheer,
That none of them, not one of them, can be found here.

- Danielle, Tech Services


Christmas Tales by Charles Dickens
It has long been a tradition of mine to observe each passing Christmas by reading from Dickens’s Christmas Tales.  The obvious must-read in this collection is “A Christmas Carol,” but I would also encourage you to read two of his lesser-known works: “What Christmas Is as We Grow Older” and “A Christmas Tree,” both of which are short, powerful reflections on the Christmas season and what it means to us.  These pieces are somber, beautifully written essays that become more meaningful to me every year I read them.  If you hold Christmas dear in your heart, enjoy Dickens’s writing style, and have 15 to 30 minutes, I highly suggest you read these two selections. Christmas Tales can be found at Acorn or through SWAN. “What Christmas Is as We Grow Older” and “A Christmas Tree” are also freely available online.

-Zach, Reference

This Week's Staff Favorites: Volume 43

Detroit: An American Autopsy by Charlie LeDuff
In preparation for this month’s Barcodes Nonfiction Book Club, I read this account of Detroit’s decline into poverty. It is written from the point of view of Charlie LeDuff, a reporter who was born in Detroit, moved to New York to write for the Times, but “like salmon that swim upstream,” he returned home even though he knew of the terrible condition of his city. He tells many stories related to Detroit’s history, including that of Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick who was sentenced to twenty-eight years in prison just last month for extortion, bribery, and fraud. Not only does LeDuff recount the dilapidated, burnt condition of the homes, churches, and other various buildings, but he also tells of the broken-down Detroiters living there. While this isn’t a happy story by any means, he also demonstrates the resilience of Detroit’s people. He writes in such a way that you really feel connected to these individuals. His style is a no-holds-barred tell-all that leaves me genuinely interested to see what what the future of Detroit will hold.

-Donna D., Reference

The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty
Set in Australia, this novel begins by introducing the lives of three different women who live in the same vicinity of each other. One of the women, Cecilia, finds a letter from her husband to be opened by her in the event of his death. However, even though her husband is very much alive and asks her not to open it, Cecilia finds it difficult to resist the temptation. What she finds changes her life and the lives of the other two women whom she hardly even knows.

At first I found it a bit confusing trying to keep up with who is who, as there are many characters introduced early on in the book. However, once I had a grasp on the three different storylines, I found the connections between all of them quite intriguing. The story as a whole quickly grabbed my attention, and I found myself trying to read faster so that I could find out what happened next. I highly recommend this book as a very enjoyable read and something that will keep you guessing until the end. This book can be found at Acorn or through SWAN.

-Lynn, Reference

Film
Movie lovers.  Cinephiles.  Film buffs.  Whatever we may be called, we all have one thing in common, the love of darkness and sticky floors!  No, wait, that’s not it.  I meant the love of those magical projections of light that have the power not only to entertain but to reach into our deepest depths, take what they find there and tear it asunder or, perhaps, gently ease it into the light or, on occasion, send it soaring to the heavens.  We, quite simply, love movies.

Now, everyone has favorites.  Mine, quite obviously, is Smurfs 2: Revenge of Smurfette.  (I kid.)  I never really could pick just one so, instead, I’m going to talk about another, perhaps even greater love…the making of movies.

An excellent and almost all-encompassing place to start is The Story of Film: An Odyssey.  This fifteen-hour (yes, you read that correctly…this rec is coming from someone who’s watched multiple Ken Burns documentaries as well as the seventeen-hour History of Britain!) chronological tribute to one man’s love of film takes you from the very beginning of film to the digitally recorded and increasingly unreal worlds of modern cinema.  I was absolutely enthralled by this documentary with a slight lull in my enthusiasm as we entered the 1970s and slogged through to the 1990s.  After that, things again brightened as we considered the future of cinema all the way to the 2040s.  So, yes, an odyssey it is but one well worth undertaking.

After you’ve finished your master class in film history, you’re ready for the nitty-gritty of building dreams with light.  Tales from the Script gives you the writer’s often missing perspective on the world of film. Directors: Life Behind the Camera gives voice to a multitude of directors on their individual visions and how they bring them to life.  Visions of Light explores the art of cinematography, where the flesh and light become one.  The Cutting Edge (alas, not the ice skating movie…and, unfortunately, available only through inter-library loan) celebrates the often misunderstood importance of editing as the ultimate device to breathe life into the stories we all love to lose ourselves in.  The last stop on our journey is Side by Side (available at Acorn) where the future of film in a digital age is dissected and discussed and where we are given hope that our beloved medium will not soon perish from the world.

- Danielle, Tech Services

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
If you are a fan of CBS’s hit sitcom, The Big Bang Theory, there is a very good chance you will enjoy Graeme Simsion’s hilarious and heartwarming novel, The Rosie Project. The book’s narrator and protagonist is Don Tillman, a 39-year-old genetics professor whose social awkwardness, lack of empathy, emotional shortcomings, and rigid need for rules and routine (think Big Bang’s Sheldon Cooper) are more likely to be clear indicators of an undiagnosed autism spectrum disorder rather than just cute personality quirks. With his 40th birthday soon approaching and still unmarried, Don embarks on the Wife Project, creating a 16-page, double-sided questionnaire that will connect him to the perfect woman. Unfortunately, the young, beautiful, and free-spirited woman he meets through the project, Rosie Jarman, is totally unsuitable; yet he struggles to understand why he can’t tear himself away from her, even going so far as to assist her with discovering her biological father. While I don’t typically read romantic fiction, I was truly moved as Don slowly realizes that he has strong feelings for Rosie. Think of The Rosie Project as Sheldon Cooper finds love and you will have a good idea of what this book is like. The Rosie Project can be found at Acorn or through SWAN.

-Zach, Reference

The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith
I've been enjoying  the twists and turns of The Talented Mr. Ripley. Tom Ripley, a man of humble stock, grand ambitions, and one seriously discombobulated moral compass, insinuates himself into the graces of the Greenleafs, a wealthy New York family. They enlist Tom to persuade their son Dickie--lolling dissolutely as an aspiring artist in Italy--to return home in order to live as a proper scion. What happens when Tom's greed, fragile ego, and gaggle of personality disorders meet Dickie's haughty carelessness? Go to Acorn's shelves to find out!

-Megan, Reference

Patron Review: Dear White America by Tim Wise

Do white Americans benefit from white privilege?  Recently I was in group that was asked that question. Amazingly, or maybe not, one participant said that she has never so benefited.  This book is for her and others like her.

As Jim Wallis of Sojourners recently emailed me, America has been built by enslaving one race and ethnically cleansing another.

Tim Wise points out that whites have pretty much been able to go to school where ever each chooses, buy a house in most neighborhoods, get a mortgage at a somewhat reasonable rate, or go to another source to get a better rate, enroll in any college for which one has the funds and the test scores, and some even have the connections to get a good job with great benefits, when one has only mediocre abilities.

Regarding immigration, consider that our government passed NAFTA in 1993, for the benefit of multinational corporations.  “Since then, U.S. companies have flooded Mexico with agricultural goods (to the benefit of the U.S. farmer), which have driven down prices in Mexico, such that Mexican farmers cannot compete.  This causes Mexican farmers to leave rural areas for cities, but finding the labor market there glutted, they move farther North to support their families—as any of us would do, were we in their shoes.  In other words, to whatever extent migrants are crossing the border and thereby (ostensibly) taking other people’s jobs, it is only because the economy of Mexico has been considerably undermined by the policies of our country.” (Page 95).

I encourage all to read this letter and to become informed of the simmering racism that pervades the United States.

-Janice Gintzler, Acorn patron

This Week's Staff Favorites: Volume 42

Gobble Gobble Gobble
Twas the night of Thanksgiving and all through the house,
Relatives were screaming cuz Grandma saw a mouse,
That’s not a mouse, you crazy ol’ bat…
That’s Hannah and Her Sisters’ scrawny ol’ cat!
I can’t believe we’ve got to stay here for another two days,
Screw you and your “Ooh, let’s go Home for the Holidays!”
Now, honey, please calm down, let’s see What’s Cooking,
Oh, good lord, why is there fuzz on Aunt Polly’s plum pudding?
Cuz they’re trying to kill us! They’re nuts! I told you last year,
But, nooooo, you said, “That’s just crazy talk, dear.”
Now, go check the computer, there have to be some travel deals,
Please, I’ll take anything…Planes?  Trains?  Automobiles?
Honey, here, sit down, let me get you a drink,
They’re really not so bad, well, not as bad as you think,
You just need to give them a chance, you’ve got to be willing…
Willing?  Me?  Willing?  Come here, sweetie, it’s time…

…for a little Thankskilling!

- Danielle, Tech Services

The Bones of What You Believe by Chvrches
Hailing from Glasgow, Scotland, Chvrches (i.e., Churches with a “v” instead of a “u”) have crafted a synthpop masterpiece in their debut album, The Bones of What You Believe. I enjoyed this album so much that I quite honestly could not remove this album from my CD player. The songs are catchy to the point of infectious, and the energetic dance-inspired beats and the ethereal vocals are perfectly offset by the reflective, oftentimes melancholy, lyrics. Think Passion Pit, M83, Depeche Mode, and 80s-influenced electropop to get a general impression of what this band sounds like, but I suggest you check it out on your own if you have even the slightest interest in this music scene. The songs “The Mother We Share,” “We Sink,” and “Lies” come highly recommended as possible entry points. Put a hold on a copy today through SWAN.

- Zach, Reference

Golden by Lady Antebellum
The fourth album released by country group Lady Antebellum, Golden is an excellent mix of fun, upbeat songs as well as some slower ballads, all of which are great to sing along to. Even though the album has been out since May of this year, there are quite a few hits on the CD that have yet to be played on the radio. “It Ain’t Pretty” is my new personal favorite, but others such as “Better Off Now (That You’re Gone)” and “Can’t Stand the Rain” are quite catchy. I highly recommend checking out this CD, even for those who aren’t big country music fans. It’s available at Acorn and through SWAN.

-Lynn, Reference

Thank You For Your Service by David Finkel
Thank You For Your Service is a compilation of the true stories of several American soldiers after they have returned home from the war in Iraq. It is a sequel of sorts to The Good Soldiers, a work that tells the stories of these same soldiers while they were on the front lines. This book grabs your attention from the second you open it until you read the very last word. It is full of heartbreaking moments as well as a few happy ones. Not only does Finkel show us how the men were affected, but how their wives, doctors, friends, and children were affected as well. Finkel writes in such a powerful way that your heart will inevitably be touched by these stories. It is an absolute must-read.

-Donna D., Reference

Fitzgerald Family Christmas
The cover may seem schmaltzy, and the the title might scream Hallmark Channel, but you must believe me when I tell you that Fitzgerald Family Christmas is an incisive, witty little film about the ways in which parents and siblings inform our lives. Edward Burns (who also wrote and directed) stars as Gerry, the eldest son who became the grounded, acerbic patriarch when his father deserted the family two decades ago. His six siblings are in various states of disarray. For starters, Manhattan slickster Quinn (Michael McGlone) is plotting an ill-conceived proposal to his 22-year-old girlfriend, pampered Erin (Heather Burns) suffers from chronic unpleasantness, and baby-faced ruffian Cyril (Tom Guiry) has just completed a stint in rehab. The odds that this unbiddable clan will enjoy serene Yuletide blessings are further diminished when their father announces his intention of joining them for the festivities.

The spirited ensemble cast is superb, and somehow each character has emerged with a discrete, compelling personality. Burns has a gently trenchant way with dialogue and plotting that yields unforced epiphanies and satisfying transformations. I also highly recommend  Newlyweds, another Burns effort from 2012.

-Megan, Reference

This Week's Staff Favorites: Volume 41

Haiku!
Gesundheit.  Bless You.  À tes souhaits.  Salud.  Na zdrowie.

Well, thank you very much but I promise this isn’t about sneezes.  No, this is about the short, sensual, simple and striking poetic form that is haiku.  Yes, that seventeen syllable painter of pictures and sculptor of scenes that all of you were assailed with in school.  You were probably even forced, through threats and assorted forms of teacherly torture, to write one yourself at some point.  Ah, memories…

Five-Seven-Five.  Five syllables, then seven, then five again.  That’s all there is to it but, like so many other things in life, there’s profundity hidden within those seemingly shallow depths.  Originally a Japanese art form used to contrast everyday images and lifescapes against nature’s grandiosity and/or utter simplicity, it’s been adopted by writers across the world.  And, although I prefer the strictures of the original syllabic format, haiku has evolved to embrace other forms of short poetry and image crafting that move far beyond the original definition of haiku.

A good place to start your haiku adventure is the shelves of Acorn’s children’s department where there are several books available.  Outside Acorn, you can visit the first 100 years of English Haiku or narrow your focus a little and try out some haiku about love or cats or gay guys or rednecks or zombies or single girls. You can even, if so inclined, use haiku to cultivate awareness and open your heart.  There is, literally, something for everyone in the world of haiku.  And, if I haven’t convinced you yet, the next time you’re in the employee restroom, take a look above the paper holder, contemplate the deeper meaning of those words and realize that haiku, in its many forms, surrounds you daily…and that someone at Acorn beat me to the haiku love!

-Danielle, Tech Services

What Maisie Knew
What Maisie Knew stars newcomer Onata Aprile,  who plays the title role told through the eyes of a six-year-old as she tries to find equilibrium as her parents go through a bitter custody battle. The film focuses on her face and eyes that create several layers of emotion and struggle. This is one of those films where you want to shake the parents’ foundation to make them aware of the damage being done.  Segments of childhood are slipped in where they can, Maisie adjusting to situations as they come with grace and maturity. Dysfunctional is the key word throughout, however. Leave it to Maisie to show us the intense awareness, but we are left wondering what she really knows and understands. The film also stars Julianne Moore, Steve Coogan, Joanna Vanderham, and Alexander Skarsgard  this film is available from SWAN.

-Darlene, Circulation

Welcome Home Mama and Boris: How a Sister’s Love Saved a Fallen Soldier’s Beloved Dogs by Carey Neesley
When Carey Neesley’s younger brother, Peter, enlists in the Army, she is devastated yet proud of him. Her brother is her best friend and a father figure to her little boy, Patrick. However, in December of 2007, Carey’s world is turned upside down when she receives news of her brother’s passing while he is stationed in Iraq. Carey works hard to keep her brother’s memory alive and to help bring home the two stray dogs he befriended while overseas. The story is heartbreaking, but at the same time it showcases how different people and organizations came together to honor Peter by getting the dogs he loved to the United States. This is a quick read that I found difficult to put down. The book is available through SWAN.

-Lynn, Reference


Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened by Allie Brosh
This hilarious book has ruined me on reading other humorous titles for a while!  I was only tangentially familiar with Brosh's blog by the same name, but I was immediately familiar with the author's cover art as it has found its way into many Internet memes, probably the most familiar being CLEAN ALL THE THINGS.  Most of the stories are comical, and feature intentionally simplistically crude artwork to fully illustrate the emotion and tone of the story.  While most illustrations provide a tremendous amount of comic effect, it is the chapters on depression that the artwork captures the perfect tone to accurately convey the mental state of Brosh while she suffered through the worst of this debilitating and seemingly endless condition.  I cannot choose any one story as a favorite, and after finishing the book, I read Brosh's entire blog the following weekend.  Brosh is currently on a promotional tour for the book, and was interviewed by NPR's Terry Gross for Fresh Air earlier this week- it's a must listen!  I am looking forward to seeing what Brosh's next project might be.

-Jennifer, Youth Services

Enough Said 
Starring actors such as Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Seinfeld), Catherine Keener (Where the Wild Things Are), and the late James Gandolfini (The Sopranos), this romantic comedy tells the story of single mom and masseuse Eva (Louis-Dreyfus) as she attempts to cope with her only child’s departure to college. Along the way, she encounters Albert (Gandolfini), also a single parent with a daughter on her way to college. Eva and Albert hit it off, but Eva soon realizes that her new client is Albert’s ex-wife, Marianne (Keener). Not wanting Albert to know Marianne is her client and trying to keep Marianne from realizing she is dating Albert, Eva soon begins going to questionable lengths in hopes of maintaining her new-found friendship with Marianne, only to begin damaging her romantic relationship with Albert. Can she find a way to achieve balance? The chemistry between Gandolfini and Louis-Dreyfus is effortless and real. An absolute must-see.

-Donna D., Reference

Days Are Gone by HAIM
HAIM, a trio of L.A.-based sisters, recently released this assured, alarmingly catchy debut album. They've mined all the '70s and '80s radio staples you hadn't realized you missed, then added inventively tiered synthesizers to create something refreshing, resonant, and just plain fun. If you're wondering what the futuristic lovechild of "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" and "Rhiannon" sounds like, this one's for you. Days Are Gone can be requested from SWAN.

-Megan, Reference

This Week's Staff Favorites: Volume 40

Now You See Me
The film Now You See Me boasts a well-known cast of characters such as Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network, Zombieland), Woody Harrelson (Seven Pounds, Zombieland), Mark Ruffalo (The Avengers, Shutter Island), and Morgan Freeman (who needs no introduction). In this movie, a group of magicians known as the Four Horsemen combine their individual talents to pull off a magic trick never before seen--a series of bank heists. They then reward their audiences with the money that they have successfully stolen. Mark Ruffalo, a doubtful FBI agent, attempts to solve the mystery of these bank heists with the help of an enigmatic Interpol detective. While the ending is slightly lackluster, the rest of the film makes up for it with its witty cast and clever plot.

-Donna D., Reference

Waiting to Be Heard: A Memoir by Amanda Knox
In 2007, Amanda Knox was accused of murdering her British roommate, Meredith Kercher, while studying abroad in Perugia, Italy. She was convicted, serving four years in prison until her conviction was overturned in 2011. While several books have been written about the trial and conviction of Amanda Knox, this is the first to be told in Amanda’s own words. In this memoir, she recounts the day she found her friend brutally murdered in their apartment, her unsettling experience with the Italian police during the investigation, and the details of her trial and time spent as a prisoner in a foreign country.

Although at times the details of the investigation and trial can be a bit redundant, this is still a very intriguing read, as it shines new light on things that may have been previously overlooked. With the retrial of the case going on now, this book will give quite a bit of insight to those interested in the outcome. The book can be found at Acorn and can also be requested through SWAN.

-Lynn, Reference  

The Heat
 Hahahahahahahahahaha…*breathe*…hahahahahahahaha…*wipe away tears of laughter*…hahahahahahahaha…*snort*

That was me for almost the entirety of this Sandra Bullock/Melissa McCarthy buddy cop comedy extraordinaire.  I’m a big fan of Bullock and almost everything she does (I refuse to believe that was her in Speed 2!).  On the other hand, I wasn’t a big fan of Bridesmaids, which introduced many of us to McCarthy.  I enjoyed Identity Thief where McCarthy played opposite the delightfully puddish Jason Bateman with hit-or-miss results, many of which involved literal hitting.  In The Heat (soon to be available at Acorn), however, there is a great balance struck between the rather priggish and starchy Sarah Ashburn (Bullock) and the, shall we say, rough and tumble Shannon Mullins (McCarthy).  Add in the rest of the Mullins clan and their assorted consorts along with a cast of characters that would make any season of COPS proud and you get a movie that has me remembering scenes and laughing again days after viewing.

The movie is filled to the brim with wonderfully timed crudeness that never veers to the scatological, sexploitative or grimace-inducing extremes of many of the other ‘edgy’ comedies offered up over the last few years (Hangover 1-3, I’m looking at you…but only askance so as to not have to actually see too much of you).  The crudeness here is wonderfully balanced by an underlying sweetness epitomized in a couple of scenes toward the end of the movie, one involving a ‘found’ cat and one a yearbook inscription, the latter of which, in all honesty, put a little lump in my throat.  The relationship and chemistry between the two leads is the focus around which everything else in the movie orbits and it is fantastic.  Whatever the female equivalent of bromance is (and, no, to the English language’s shame, there isn’t a good word for it), these two have it and I eagerly await joining them on their next comedic misadventure.

- Danielle, Tech Services        

My Brief History by Stephen Hawking
I’ve been enjoying this delightful tour through Hawking's mischievous youth, quandaries in physics, and ALS diagnosis--which gave him an appreciation for his relatively quick stay on earth and effectively kicked his rear into gear. Hawking is simply the coolest; and I recommend this memoir to anybody seeking irreverent, humble, and wise company.

-Megan, Reference

Patron Review: An Invisible Thread by Lauren Schroff

An Invisible Thread, by Laura Schroff can be read in a day, but it will stay with you forever.

Laura works and lives in Manhattan.  After a business appointment falls through, she is walking on Broadway, when an 11-year-old panhandler requests some change.  She crosses the street, but mid-roadway, turns around and speaks to the youngster.  She takes him to McDonald's and buys two of what the youngster orders.

Such begins an almost 30-year relationship that opens doors for both of them. For it is an invisible thread that connects us all.

-Janice Gintzler, Acorn patron

This Week's Staff Favorites: Volume 39

Norm Macdonald Live
Remember Norm Macdonald? I love Norm Macdonald. Some people don’t think he’s funny, but I do. If you liked him as the host of  "Weekend Update" on Saturday Night Live, seen the film Dirty Work, or are interested in deadpan interviews with celebrity comedians including Gilbert Godfried, Super Dave, Larry King(?) Andy Dick, and Russell Brand, you should watch the video podcasts on YouTube. He seems like he is intentionally losing sponsors, so watch it while you can before it abruptly ends (like his two short-lived TV shows.

-Mike, Reference

ThinkGeek: Stuff for Smart Masses
Do you have any smart masses in your life?  Is your home overrun with smart masses?  Is your office mate a secret smart mass?  Does your best friend exhibit latent smart mass tendencies?  Perhaps, when you look in a mirror, there’s even a smart mass staring right back at you?!  Well, fret not!  We, er, I mean they (yeah, they, uh huh, them…those ones, over there) aren’t dangerous.  Smart masses are just shy, misunderstood creatures yearning for connection and meaning and any number of the most craptacularly stupendous oddities ever created or collected by humankind.

I’m here to tell you that today is your lucky day.  They made a place for you to find everything you need to calm, distract and befriend any and all smart masses you may find wandering through your life.  ThinkGeek.com has everything (yes, EVERYTHING!) you could ever imagine imagining.  But, I must warn you, once you enter the emporium of geek, you may lose all concept of linear time.  You didn’t realize it but up there, right around the time I typed ‘EVERYTHING’, you lost me for a good thirty minutes as I was sucked into the vortex of awesome oddness.  But, I fought my way back to you even though resistance is, indeed, futile.  I can feel the pull right now…it’s waiting for us.  So, take the quantum leap into a world filled with things you never knew you wanted to want, needed to need or loved to love…join me in Nerdvana.        

- Danielle, Tech Services

Cool Gray City of Love by Gary Kamiya
Gary Kamiya riffs on San Francisco's beauty, eccentricities, and cyclical cataclysms in this new book. First, the specs: this seven-by-seven mile square sits on a craggy peninsula on the edge of the continent and hosts seven unpredictable microclimates. It was built by the feverish Gold Rush of 1849, then survived earthquakes in 1906 and 1989, the sudden emptying of Japantown due to Executive Order 9066, the AIDS epidemic, and the silly exuberance of the dot-com boom and its acrid bust. Kamiya, a former cab driver, is a masterful guide who combines a fluid, encyclopedic knowledge with his own madcap experiences. Cool Gray City of Love is wonderful, and it's available from SWAN.

-Megan, Reference

This Week's Staff Favorites: Volume 38

Wither by Lauren DeStefano
While dystopian novels are one of young adult literature's most popular genres, Wither by Lauren DeStefano is a novel marketed as a utopian novel. Wither takes place hundreds of years in the future after a cure for ailments has gone awry. While scientists were able to cure children of any and all diseases, healthy girls began dying at the age of 20 and boys at 25. While scientists are busy looking for the new cure, Rhine Ellery is separated from her twin brother and forced into marriage to bear children. Although Rhine eventually gets along with her shy, somewhat clueless husband, she is horrified to learn what lengths her father-in-law is willing to go to find the cure and begins looking for a way to escape. All the books in The Chemical Garden Trilogy are the perfect antidote to the deluge of violent dystopian books like Veronica Roth's Divergent and Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games. DeStefano's protagonists are realistic, while the villains are multidimensional, and the plot moves quickly making reading all three books in a sitting entirely plausible. While the book may be better suited to older young adults, the themes and questions that arise throughout concerning women, genetics, family, and responsibility are provocative and substantial.

-Anna, Youth Services

All the World’s a Stage…
 Yes, I’m going to do it.  Prepare yourself.  Banish from your mind all the terrifying memories brought on by the word ‘Bard’.  Forget the forced memorizations.  Forsake the droning, nonsensical interpretations you were wrongly programmed to abhor.  Embrace the fear of the name that could make your brain quake and your eyeballs sweat in mere anticipation.  Baby, it’s Shakespeare time!

I promise, no reading required...not one single word. In fact, I promise an enthralling mix of pageantry, beauty, humor, action, adventure and romance all ending, as is always the case with Shakespeare, in either marriage or death (but, hey, that’s life, right?).  And, as if that’s not enough, it’s all available practically in your own backyard.  Chicago Shakespeare Theater is located right in the middle of Navy Pier and offers a breathtakingly beautiful and surprisingly intimate re-imagining of the original Globe Theater.

This season’s Shakespearean offerings include the comedy, The Merry Wives of Windsor, a shortened version of the comedic fantasy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and the drama, Henry V.  My recommendation for those taking their first steps into the world of masterfully produced Shakespeare is the Short Shakespeare! presentation of Midsummer.  My introduction to this theater and its amazing troupe of actors was through a full length production of that very play complete with a punk-rock fairy world and a pink-haired king of the fairies holding court while the real world slumbers.  It was magical and unforgettable and I promise the experience will be nothing less for you.

So, good night unto you all.
Give me your hands, if we be friends...

- Danielle, Tech Services

The Act of Killing
I had the chance to see a screening of Joshua Oppenheimer’s 2012 documentary The Act of Killing at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago and I recommend watching it when it comes out on DVD and Blu-Ray on Nov. 25. The film follows a few leaders of a pro-government paramilitary force that killed between 500,000 and 1 million alleged Communists and ethnic Chinese in Indonesia in 1965. Oppenheimer offers the unapologetic murderers a chance to make a celebratory film about their deeds and the proud “gangsters” (as they call themselves) take him up on the offer. The result is a documentary of interviews and behind-the-scenes looks at the disturbing filming process of the gangsters/death squads reenactments. The documentary is a bit disturbing, but well worth the uncomfortable experience. Plus it’s executive producers include Werner Herzog and Errol Morris, so you know it’s a decent documentary.

-Mike, Reference