Memphis Reads

Anne McCaffrey, creator of the Fantasy/Science Fiction saga "Dragonriders of Pern," passed away Monday, November 21. She was 85 years old. (Read The Wall Street Journal article)

McCaffrey's family released a statement earlier today featured in this L.A. Times article.

Above is an interesting infographic from Goodreads.com that shows which states have huge fans of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight novels versus states that don't. Goodreads users in red states posted more favorable reviews while readers in the blue states gave the Twilight saga low ratings. It looks like Tennessee is among the states of "The Twilight Belt."

Told from a first person point-of-view, Ms. Lee scourges New York and Asia trying to find the origin of several so-called traditional Chinese dishes. Readers will be surprised to learn that Chinese staples, such as fortune cookies and General Tso’s chicken, have been Americanized as much as apple pie and chicken tenders.

Although her quests to uncover these food origins seem like conspiracy theories, readers will enjoy “riding shotgun” with Ms. Lee as she goes to different authentic or Americanized Chinese restaurants to discover the truth. Ms. Lee also has a live-action blog of her excursions uncovering different “food truths.”

Andrea King, Poplar-White Station Library

Suggested website: www.fortunecookiechronicles.com/blog

Multicultural fiction was discussed during October's “What’s Your Flavor?” session at the Central Library.

Becky reviews THE SATURDAY BIG TENT WEDDING PARTY by Alexander McCall-Smith (Pantheon, 2011)

Setting: Botswana Africa - present day

A few interesting news stories:

Cathy reviews CLEO: THE CAT WHO MENDED A FAMILY by Helen Brown (Citadel, 2009)

I was drawn to read this book by the precious little black kitten with deep emerald eyes on the cover - I wanted to know her story.

Cleo is a very special, smart, and charming little cat who does indeed help to heal this family, following the tragedy of the death of eldest son, Sam. He had chosen this bundle of energy to join their family, prior to his accident.

The kitten arrives, and this family doesn't have a clue about cats. Helen seriously considers sending Cleo back to the lady Sam selected her from, but younger brother Rob smiles for the first time since the death of his beloved brother when he holds her. Rob insists on keeping Cleo, so of course she cannot return her now! Cleo always seemed to know how much this family needed her, even when they didn't.

I enjoyed reading about Cleo's quirks and very wild antics. The story is both touching and funny, and, I would imagine, converted several to cat ownership who might not otherwise consider it. One does not "own" a cat though, as much as the cat believes she "owns" you!

Cathy Brooks, Bartlett Library

Ashley reviews MATCHED by Ally Condie (Dutton Books, 2010)

Dystopian science fiction is huge in young adult literature right now, and Matched sits squarely in the middle of the genre. The first in a planned trilogy sets the scene: main character, high schooler Cassia, goes to her Matching ceremony, where she will be paired with a life mate chosen by the benevolent if distant leaders of her world - the Society. Matches are chosen based on genetics and a lifetime of statistics gathered through Big Brother-like cameras and instruments. Cassia is thrilled to be matched with her best friend, blonde and amiable Xander. However, when Cassia uploads his profile on to her Port at home, a picture of another boy pops up momentarily – Ky Markham, a quiet but intriguing member of her group of friends. Cassia’s curiosity about him grows, as does her attraction. Thus begins the dismantling of the Society’s carefully constructed world of studying, sorting, matching, and watching at the hands of teenagers (another trope of young adult dystopian lit).

Good dystopian novels always have elements that are identifiable in our own world but are tools of control in the book world. The electronic communication elements of Matched were very easy to recognize – tablets for writing, ports (or computers) for communication. The key to Condie’s imagination lies in what the characters do when they believe they aren’t being watched. Inhabitants of Cassia’s world do not know how to write, and can only do it illegally. Cassia grows as a character through secretly learning the alphabet in cursive, which Ky teaches her by writing on the ground with a stick in the few moments they are allowed time alone together in the woods. Some characters are lucky enough to contain Artifacts of a time before the Society – an unusable watch, a powder compact, a compass. The author’s use of artifacts, old poems and a style of writing that is fading out of use indicates that she believes the real soul of humanity is in the things that are becoming replaced by technology and homogeny.

Readers will figure out the ah-ha moments long before Cassia does, which leads to some frustration. The book is paced slowly, unlike its action jammed counterpart The Hunger Games, and lacks all of the delicious sensuality of its even closer sibling Delirium. Regardless, I was pulled into the plot, especially as it relates to two hidden poems that Cassia deliberates and eventually uses to learn to write. I liked that the author used Tennyson and Dylan Thomas to wake Cassia up to the coldness of the world around her. The author said in an interview that she wanted this book to be more about the decisions Cassia comes to through slow contemplation rather than a series of intense action scenes. This is certainly evident in the book and I often wondered if anything would ever actually happen. I wonder how the series will evolve, however, as the end of this book directly points to some possibly heavy action in the upcoming sequel Crossed.

Ashley Roach, Central Library

Join us November 10th at the Central Library for a special event. If you enjoyed the "Outcasts United" serials featured in The Commercial Appeal, come see the author in person at this month's "Meet the Author!"

"Warren St. John, the author of national bestseller, 'Outcasts United,' will speak at a community event Thursday, Nov. 10, 7-8 p.m. at Benjamin L. Hooks Library, 3030 Poplar Avenue. . . This event is free and open to the public. No reservations required but please arrive early for seating."