Memphis Reads

[News and Notes] Vampire of the Century Award

2012-01-30T10:00:00.003-06:00

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the death of Bram Stoker, author of Dracula, the Horror Writers Association has announced the nominees of the Bram Stoker Vampire Novel of the Century Award.

About the selection process and criteria: "A jury composed of writers and scholars selected, from a field of more than 35 preliminary nominees, the six vampire novels that they believe have had the greatest impact on the horror genre since publication of Draculain 1897." -from the website

The nominees are:

The Soft Whisper of the Dead (1983) by Charles L. Grant

Salem’s Lot (1975) by Stephen King

I Am Legend (1954) by Richard Matheson

Anno Dracula (1992) by Kim Newman

Interview with the Vampire (1976) by Anne Rice

Hotel Transylvania (1978) by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro

The winner will be announced at the World Horror Convention on March 31, 2012 in Salt Lake City. More details can be found at www.stokers2012.org

[Book Review] GIRL, STOLEN by April Henry

2012-01-26T11:12:00.000-06:00

Fiction/Young Adult

Andrea reviews GIRL, STOLEN by April Henry (Henry Holt, 2010).

This young adult novel begins with low-life, high school dropout, Griffin, perusing the mall parking lot. He is looking for a car to hijack, thinking his chances will be even better since so many people are out Christmas shopping.

Lo and behold, Griffin hits the jackpot when he finds a Cadillac Escalade with the keys in the ignition! His father, a seasoned criminal, is going to be so pleased with Griffin’s find. Griffin is definitely not expecting to find someone dozing in the backseat when he boosts the car from the parking lot. After both have been given the shock of their lives, threats are issued and the tension escalates. The biggest shock to Griffin and readers is when he realizes his sixteen-year-old hostage is blind!

Over the course of days, as Cheyenne is held captive, Griffin’s feelings for her shift dramatically. Even though Cheyenne lost her sight three years prior, she is not all helpless, and is in fact quite resourceful. Griffin goes from a feeling of terror that Cheyenne will turn in Griffin and his father, Roy, to admiration for Cheyenne and all she has gone through.

Readers will feel sympathy for the situation Cheyenne is in with Roy, Griffin, and their accomplices. Knowing she is disabled and in a horrible situation, readers will admire and respect Cheyenne that much more. Girl, Stolen is definitely a psychological thriller filled with drama and intensity. You won’t forget Cheyenne Wilder and her plight anytime soon.

Andrea King, Poplar-White Station Library

[Book Review] TITANIC SINKS! by Barry Denenberg

2012-01-24T15:00:00.007-06:00

Nonfiction/History

Cathy reviews TITANIC SINKS! by Barry Denenberg (Viking, 2011).

“Experience the Titanic’s Doomed Voyage in this Unique Presentation of Fact and Fiction”

While this book is published as juvenile literature, it is also an interesting read for adults or teens as well.

Excerpts from fictional Modern Times Magazine articles appear in a timeline sequence, beginning with the year 1908. The first article is about the naming of the new luxury liner. While the competition of the day advertise as being the fastest and finest passenger ships, the Titanic’s goal is “luxury and comfort, not speed.” There are also excellent period photographs and illustrations in the book.

There is a journal account by the chief correspondent of Modern Times, S.F. Vanni, dated April 11-15, 1912, and published in its unedited form. He was pulled from the water suffering from severe hypothermia with his journal wrapped in plastic and taped to him. He didn’t survive, but the journal of his time spent on the Titanic was saved.

This book will be excellent choice for school reports, and for those wanting to learn more information about the Titanic.

Cathy Brooks, Bartlett Library

The Costa Concordia cruise ship accident in Italy and the upcoming 100th Anniversary of the Titanic disaster have opened doors of curiosity about similar events.

Browse the library catalog for more books about: Titanic and shipwrecks

[News and Notes] January 20, 2012

2012-01-20T10:00:00.000-06:00

Wondering why you can't seem to get into your regular reading ritual? It's probably a case of the winter season blahs. Book Riot offers help for readers suffering from Mid-Winter Reading Slump.

World Book Night, which began in the U.K. last year, is coming to America. What is World Book Night? "The goal [of World Book Night] is to give books to new readers, to encourage reading, to share your passion for a great book." On April 23, 2012, volunteers will give away 20 copies of a favorite book chosen from a pre-selected list of 30 titles. View the Frequently Asked Questions page to learn more.

Another great book-sharing opportunity is geared toward young readers--the Birthday Party Pledge. The purpose of BPP is to give the gift of multicultural books for one year to little readers for their birthdays or any other special event. Visit birthdaypartypledge.com for book recommendations and other information.

[News and Notes] 2012 Edgar Award Nominees

2012-01-19T14:10:00.000-06:00

The nominees of the 2012 Edgar Awards have been announced.

The Best Novel award finalists are:
The Ranger by Ace Atkins

Gone by Mo Hayder

The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino

1222 by Anne Holt

Field Gray by Philip Kerr

Click here to view the all nominees. The Mystery Writers of America will announce the winners on April 26, 2012.

[Author Obit] Reginald Hill 1936 - 2012

2012-01-17T15:48:00.002-06:00

The Guardian reported that crime novelist Reginald Hill passed away on January 12 at the age of 75. His most popular works were the Dalziel and Pascoe mysteries, Midnight Fugue being the most recent addition. Hill won the Gold Dagger Award in 1990 for Bones and Silence.

Read Reginald Hill's obituary

Browse the library catalog for novels by Reginald Hill

[Resources] Author Yellow Pages

2012-01-12T11:00:00.001-06:00

Want an easier way to find newsletters and updates from your favorite authors? Try Author Yellow Pages, originally featured on the Memphis Public Library's MPLIC Reference Highway Blog.

“AuthorYellowPages.com is a searchable directory of author websites. After years of hearing from readers who wanted easy access to authors and their websites, The Book Report Network created this website where authors can list their Official and Publisher websites, as well as Fan and Press mentions that they want to share with their readers.” –From the website.

Visit authoryellowpages.com

[Book Review] THE COLOR OF WATER by James McBride

2012-01-10T10:00:00.001-06:00

Nonfiction/Memoir

Heather reviews THE COLOR OF WATER: A BLACK MAN'S TRIBUTE TO HIS WHITE MOTHER by James McBride (Riverhead Books, 1996)

James McBride opens up a new can of worms with this spellbinding life story of his mother, Ruth McBride Jordan. McBride searches for the truth of his mother’s heritage and his own. This enticing true story is told alternately by Ruth and James, yet it is easy to follow.

Ruth tries to bury her past, chalk everything up to experience, and make the best of life, while James is in the midst of a crisis, trying to find out why his mother is so hard and stubborn about unleashing her past. James McBride is in for a rude awakening when the truth begins to surface about his family’s secrets!

The Color of Water is a story about longing for acceptance. It will warm your heart, make you cry tears of joy and compassion, and make you think outside the box when it comes to racial conflicts. This inspiring story of love, heartache, and racial curiosity will encourage you to question yourself before you judge a book by its cover, or a person by their color.

Heather Remmert, Frayser Branch Library

[Resources] Library e-Books and Audiobooks

2012-01-06T10:00:00.001-06:00

Happy New Year!

Ready to try the new e-reader you got for Christmas? Do you want to read books on your new smartphone?

Visit the Memphis Public Library's Digital Media Collection page to browse and checkout e-books and audiobook titles with a library card. Take the guided tour to learn about downloading and device compatibility requirements. The media collection is powered by OverDrive.

Discover which titles were the most popular in the U.S. from OverDrive's recent release of the "Most Downloaded Books from the Library" in 2011.

[Library Events & Programs] Books and Beyond with Richard Murff

2012-01-04T10:30:00.000-06:00

What's so special about Memphis? Find out January 17th at Books and Beyond.

Text from flyer: "Richard Murff, editorial director of the book Memphians and managing editor of FITMemphis, will talk about how Memphis has changed the world and how that world has changed us."

When: Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Time: 10:15 a.m.
Where: Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, Meeting Room B

"Books and Beyond is a social group for book lovers. Please join us for coffee, good conversation, and fun."

Memphis Reads Question: Books to Movies, 2011

2011-12-21T09:00:00.006-06:00

Many families will end the Christmas holiday weekend with a trip to the movies, and some of the most successful films this year were based on best-selling novels. Movies adapted from book series did quite well (think Harry Potter and Twilight) and readers can look forward to more this month, like the upcoming release of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (based on Stieg Larsson's book), The Descendants, (based on a novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings), and more.
Memphis Reads wants to know:
What was your favorite book-to-movie of 2011?

Leave your response by clicking on the comments link below.

Need help remembering all the films from 2011? Browse this extensive list at Youth Services Corner for previous films based on books.

[Author Obit] Christopher Hitchens 1949 - 2011

2011-12-19T09:00:00.003-06:00

Author, columnist, and essayist Christopher Hitchens passed away Thursday, December 15. He was 62 years old. Hitchens published his best-selling memoir, Hitch-22 in 2010.

Click here to view the NYTimes.com obituary

Browse the library catalog for Christopher Hitchens

[Author Obit] Russell Hoban 1925 - 2011

2011-12-15T13:00:00.000-06:00

Fantasy novelist and children's fiction writer, Russell Hoban, passed away December 14, 2011. He was 86 years old.

From The Guardian:
"Hoban, born in Pennsylvania but a resident of London for more than 30 years, first made a name for himself with his children's books; his series about Frances the badger and his novel The Mouse and His Child are acclaimed as modern classics.

Riddley Walker, set in Kent 2,000 years after a nuclear holocaust and told in a distinctive version of English, was begun in 1974 and published in 1980 to huge praise." -Full article

More articles and tributes can be found on Hoban's Facebook page

Browse library catalog for books by Russell Hoban.

[Book Review] LEFT NEGLECTED by Lisa Genova

2011-12-15T10:00:00.004-06:00

Fiction

Andrea reviews LEFT NEGLECTED by Lisa Genova (Gallery, 2011)

This is a most brilliant book about senior human resources analyst/wife/mother, Sarah Nickerson. A 37 year old with a Harvard Business School degree, Sarah feels she is at the top of her game as she is juggles a high-paying, stressful career, being a good wife of nine years to Bob, and a doting mother to seven-year-old Charlie, four-year-old Lucy, and nine-month-old Linus. (And, yes, she realizes, at the beginning of the novel, her children are named after characters in the Peanuts gang.)

At first I thought this book was going to read like Allison Pearson’s I Don’t Know How She Does It--the story of an overworked, overstressed mother who is a hedge-fund manager. I expected Genova’s Sarah to have an emotional breakdown, trying to decide if her career or children will be compromised. Needless to say, I was not expecting the wallop thrown at me.

Sarah tries to use her cell phone one day while driving in a rainstorm. Her car hydroplanes and is totaled. As a result of the car accident, Sarah is left brain-damaged. After being in coma for eight days, her symptoms begin surfacing. After going through batteries of tests, doctors and therapists concur that Sarah has Hemispatial Neglect, more commonly known as Left Neglect. This is a common occurrence when patients have trauma to the brain, and the most common symptom is mentally detaching from their body’s left side. Sarah logically knows she has a left side of her body and there is a left side of the room, but she cannot see or feel any of that.

With four months of therapy and rehabilitation behind her (because that is all the insurance would pay), Sarah is still using a cane and is only getting glimpses of the left side of her world. As driven as she is, she is determined to return to her previously “normal” life.

This is a well-written book that shows it just takes a few seconds for your world to change, but it can take a lifetime to get it back.

Andrea King, Poplar-White Station Library

[News and Notes] Best of Lists 2011

2011-12-08T13:15:00.006-06:00

December means the year-ending "Best of" lists are out. We've listed a few below.

NPR's Best Books 2011 features "Books that Stay with You" and "Revenge of the Kitchen Nerds."

The New York Times 100 Notable Books of 2011 is designed as a gift guide for the best in this year's fiction, poetry, and nonfiction.

Publisher's Weekly chose The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides as the top book of 2011. Click here to view the rest.

Don't forget to search the library catalog for book availability.

What was your favorite book from 2011?

[Book Review] BAKER TOWERS by Jennifer Haigh

2011-12-06T11:03:00.001-06:00

Fiction/Historical

Andrea reviews BAKER TOWERS by Jennifer Haigh (William Morrow, 2005)

Author’s note: “The mines were not named for Bakerton; Bakerton was named for the mines. This is an important distinction. It explains the order of things."

Set in the 1940’s coal mining region of Pennsylvania, this story centers on the Novak family. Polish father and husband, Stanley, dies from black lung (a condition developed from working in the mines), leaving behind his Italian wife, Rose, with five children to raise single-handedly. As much as the children know they have obligations to take care of Rose as well as each other, all of them are desperate to escape the claustrophobic small town of Bakerton.

Oldest son George joins the war overseas and Dorothy, the next oldest daughter, moves to New York to work in a typing pool and live in an all-girls’ boarding house. Middle son, Sandy, and middle daughter Joyce, are able to get out of the small town by traveling across the country and joining the Air Force, respectively. Lucy, the baby, seems most likely to be the one who will escape the confines of Bakerton as she studies to be a nurse after college. Never mind the dreams the adult children have for themselves and their growing families, obligations to Rose and Bakerton’s townspeople keep luring them back.

Told equally from the points of view of the five children, readers will feel like they are in the story with each of them. Haigh’s writing style romanticizes the 1940’s but also gives readers realistic imagery of the era. Readers will also appreciate the expanding Novak family’s closeness with each other and their fellow townspeople.

This is a well-written novel with beautiful, nostalgic scenery and solid characters. I highly recommend it.

Andrea King, Poplar-White Station Library

[Book Review] BEASTLY by Alex Flinn

2011-12-01T10:00:00.004-06:00

Fiction/Young Adult

Leanne reviews BEASTLY by Alex Flinn (HarperTeen, 2011)

Beastly is a young adult novel remake of Beauty and the Beast. The main character, Kyle, is an arrogant, physically attractive young man attending an upscale high school of privilege in New York City. He is extremely self-absorbed and self-serving. He lives with his TV newscaster father who indulges Kyle with money and things, but very little personal attention or time. Kyle successfully shapes and controls his world as he pleases, until...

Yep, there’s a witch in this story, too. Because of Kyle’s lack of caring compassion for others, and his hurtful actions and words, the witch puts a spell on him. Through this spell he is physically morphed into a big, hairy, hideous, frightening monster.

The remainder of the story chronicles Kyle’s scheming efforts to find someone to love and someone who will love him in return, in spite of his appearance. The only way the spell can be broken is by a kiss from his love.

This is a great modern fairy-tale read as Kyle’s attitudes, heart, and life are transformed in a most remarkable way.

Leanne Haggard, Bartlett Library

[Book Review] ONLY YESTERDAY: AN INFORMAL HISTORY OF THE 1920s by Frederick Lewis Allen

2011-11-28T12:15:00.000-06:00

Nonfiction/History

Wayne reviews ONLY YESTERDAY: AN INFORMAL HISTORY OF THE 1920s by Frederick Lewis Allen (Wiley, 1997)

Originally published in 1931, Frederick Lewis Allen’s Only Yesterday: an Informal History of the 1920s examines the period from the end of World War I to the stock market crash of 1929. Allen’s work not only examines the major political and business leaders of the day but also looks at sports, movies, and the growth of advertising, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novels, Lindbergh’s flight and the popularity of the game Mah Jong, to paint a detailed portrait of the Jazz Age in America.

The book became an instant bestseller, selling a half million copies during its first year in print which was also one of the worst years of the Great Depression. The book was also a critical success which, along with its brilliant prose, makes Allen’s book an important milestone in the development of narrative non-fiction. The book reviewer Jonathan Yardley wrote that Allen’s Only Yesterday interpreted the 1920s “with intelligence and without sentimentality, and to write about it with grace, fluidity and wit.”

Wayne Dowdy, Business and Social Sciences Department

[Author Obit] Anne McCaffrey 1926 - 2011

2011-11-23T14:30:00.002-06:00

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.

Other websites of interest: The Worlds of Anne McCaffrey

[News and Notes] Red or Blue State?

2011-11-21T11:50:00.000-06:00

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."

Click to learn more about The Twilight Belt.

[Book Review] THE FORTUNE COOKIE CHRONICLES by Jennifer 8 Lee

2011-11-17T09:00:00.003-06:00

Nonfiction/Memoir

Andrea reviews THE FORTUNE COOKIE CHRONICLES: ADVENTURES IN THE WORLD OF CHINESE FOOD by Jennifer 8 Lee (Twelve, 2008)

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

[Book Review] THE SATURDAY BIG TENT WEDDING PARTY by Alexander McCall Smith

2011-11-16T09:00:00.005-06:00

Fiction/Multicultural/Mystery

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

Mma Ramotswe is the owner of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. She is definitely not your typical detective. She follows a book by Clovis Anderson on how to be a detective. She uses skills not only of deduction, but her ability to read people through their eyes, their body language, their tone of voice. She relies on her innate sense of the “why” of their behavior in order to solve her cases, and this one is no exception.

In Africa, cattle are wealth. Mma Ramotswe must solve the problem of a rancher whose cattle are being mutilated and killed. She sorts out Charlie, apprentice auto mechanic to her husband, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni. Charlie has been accused of fathering twins and his reaction is to run away. Assistant detective Grace Makutsi is shopping for wedding shoes. Grace’s problem is that she talks to her shoes. Her bigger problem is that her shoes talk back. Mma Ramotswe will take things in hand and with the help of Mma Potokwane, who runs the orphan farm, she will succeed with getting Grace married to Puti Radiphuti.

On top of all this adventure, Mma Ramotswe keeps seeing an old friend – just there on the corner, or down the street, but as soon as she gets there her friend is gone. Is it a ghost, or can her friend really be there? With the help of Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni and Charlie, she and her friend will be joyfully reunited. Alexander McCall Smith weaves a story that makes you love Africa as much as he does.

This book is number 12 in “The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency" Series, by Alexander McCall Smith. Start from the beginning and read them in chronological order to get the full effect of life through the eyes of Precious Ramotswe.

Becky Graham, Central Library

Congratulations to Becky and other staff members who recently completed the "What's Your Flavor?" Reader's Advisory class.

[News and Notes] November 10, 2011

2011-11-10T10:48:00.008-06:00

A few interesting news stories:

Life by Keith Richards won the 2011 Norman Mailer Prize for Distinguished Biography.

Want to see a neat trick? Check out the interactive "Book Cover of the Future" at Galleycat.

The Guardian reports a growing trend of lengthy, epic novels being written and published. Some of the "fat books" mentioned in the article include: 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami, Reamde by Neal Stephenson, and A Dance With Dragons by George R.R. Martin. Click here to read the full article.

Speaking of epic novels, "Constant Readers" will be pleased to know that an eighth installment of Stephen King's Dark Tower series is expected to be released in 2012. The title is The Wind Through the Keyhole. Click here to view the announcement.

Please note that all Memphis Public Library locations will be closed Friday, November 11, in honor of Veteran's Day.

And finally....

Happy 10th Birthday to the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library!

[Book Review] CLEO: THE CAT WHO MENDED A FAMILY by Helen Brown

2011-11-08T11:00:00.004-06:00

Nonfiction/Human-Animal Relationships

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

[Book Review] WINTERGIRLS by Laurie Halse Anderson

2011-11-04T10:00:00.000-05:00

Fiction/Young Adult

Andrea reviews WINTERGIRLS by Laurie Halse Anderson (Viking, 2009)

Lia, like most teenagers, has set goals for herself. She wants to weigh no more than 95 pounds. Her other goal is to get over the death of her best friend, Cassie, who died from anorexia. If she can achieve that weight and grieve Cassie properly, Lia’s life will be perfect, she thinks. Unfortunately, like most anorexics and bulimics, Lia is filled with self-loathing and doubts, and she begins to feel if she can just “lose 5 more pounds…” Can Lia’s family save her from the self-destructive behavior before it’s too late?

Once again, Anderson has given a voice to the high school outcast as she did with her first novel, Speak. Teenage girls will be drawn to this novel because they will identify with Lia’s awkwardness and wanting to fit in with “normal” high school society. This coming-of-age novel will draw readers of all ages in with Lia’s stream of consciousness point of view.

Suggested website: www.writerlady.com

Andrea King, Poplar-White Station Library

[Book Review] MATCHED by Ally Condie

2011-11-03T10:08:00.000-05:00

Science Fiction/Young Adult

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

Compare Ashley's reading experience with a previous review from Hollye Ferguson

[Library Events and Programs] Meet the Author, Warren St. John

2011-11-02T11:00:00.001-05:00

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."

Search the library catalog for an available copy of Outcasts United.

[Book Review] SLAMMERKIN by Emma Donoghue

2011-10-28T10:00:00.009-05:00

Fiction/Gay and Lesbian/Historical

Christina reviews SLAMMERKIN by Emma Donoghue (Harcourt, 2000)

Mary Saunders lives in 1750s London. She longs for a more luxurious life with fine ribbons and clothes. At age 14, she rejects her mother's suggestion to become a seamstress and a tragic mistake leads her into prostitution. She attempts to change her lifestyle when an illness forces her into the hospital. Mary flees to the tiny hamlet where her family is originally from and finds work as a maid and seamstress. While there, she also finds violence and what it means to live as a woman during that time period.

The title Slammerkin comes from an 18th-century term meaning “a loose gown” or “loose woman.” Based on a true story, life in 1750s London is hard to live, unless you are wealthy. The author really spells this out. You feel like you are living with Mary Saunders. The detail in her book is amazing and well-researched. It is also extremely graphic, both in its sexuality and in its violence. Depressing at times, the book can be hard to read and hard to put out of your mind. But it is worth reading just for the detail that is presented in the book.

Suggested website: http://www.emmadonoghue.com/writings

Christina Barnes, Business and Sciences Department

[News and Notes] Library Book Sale and All Hallow's Read

2011-10-27T09:00:00.001-05:00

The Memphis Public Library is hosting a Friends of the Library Fall Book Sale this weekend. Stop by the Central Library this Friday & Saturday, October 28-29, to take advantage of great prices on books, music, and movies. Be sure to buy some horror novels to give away for All Hallow's Read.

Author Neil Gaiman is encouraging everyone to start a new tradition--give out scary books during the week of and the night of Halloween. Click here to learn about contests and other events surrounding All Hallow's Read. (Watch the video. The "zombies" in the background are hilarious.)

What scary books would you give away for All Hallow's Read?

[Book Review] SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson

2011-10-20T13:00:00.003-05:00

Fiction/Young Adult

Andrea reviews SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson

I read this book five years ago and could pick it up again at any time. The story centers around high school freshman Melinda who was at "THE" end-of-summer party. Unfortunately, a senior cornered her while she was drinking and raped her. Melinda called the cops, and the party came to a crashing halt. Other students start alienating Melinda, including her best friend who is now dating the rapist, because they don't know why she called the cops. Melinda figures the less she speaks, the better. She almost completely stops talking her freshman year but finds a way to express herself through her art.

This is a beautifully written young adult book that is worthy of the Classic genre it was given. Readers will sympathize with Melinda's awkwardness and will remember the cruelty of high school. A wonderful read for teens and adults alike.

Andrea King, Poplar-White Station Library

[Book Review] SARAH'S KEY by Tatiana de Rosnay

2011-10-20T09:00:00.006-05:00

Fiction/Historical

Kay reviews SARAH'S KEY by Tatiana de Rosnay

The Holocaust was and is an unimaginable horror, but we fool ourselves sometimes into thinking we know all there is to know about that horror. This book finds yet another twist as it tells the story of Sarah – a young girl caught up in crimes committed against thousands of French Jewish families.

The story traces the effects of the Holocaust on the lives of families in 21st century Paris. There is a reason this book has been a favorite among book clubs for months. If you read it, you will not forget it.

Kay Mills Due, Public Services

*Compare Kay's thoughts on Sarah's Key with a previous review from Sarah Frierson.

[News and Notes] New Book Segment on CBS Show "The Talk"

2011-10-19T12:40:00.002-05:00

From Shelf-awareness.com:

"The CBS daytime show The Talk has launched a book segment called "The Talk Book Buzz," focusing on new nonfiction on a variety of topics, from financial advice to parenting. Books will be announced a month in advance."

Click here to view the first book selection.

Thanks go to Beth for the information.

[News and Notes] National Book Award Finalists

2011-10-17T15:00:00.003-05:00

The finalists for the 2011 National Book Awards were announced last week. Visit the National Book Foundation's website to view all nominees. The winners will be announced November 16, 2011.

Galleycat has compiled book excerpts of the National Book Award finalists. Click here to browse the titles.

There has been a change in the "Young People's Literature" category. Shine by Lauren Myracle was withdrawn from the list of finalists, but the National Book Foundation is donating $5,000 to the Matthew Shepard Foundation in her honor. For more details click here to read the NYTimes.com article.

[Library Programs and Events] Books and Beyond: Watch for Stories with Dan Conaway

2011-10-17T09:00:00.002-05:00

Join us Tuesday October 18, as Books and Beyond welcomes Don Conaway.
"Don Conaway, lifelong Memphian and writer of the weekly column, Memphasis, will share his observations and opinions on just about everything."

Tuesday, October 18, 2011
10:15 am, Meeting Room B
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
3030 Poplar

[Book Review] BITTER END by Jennifer Brown

2011-10-14T09:00:00.001-05:00

Fiction/Young Adult

Andrea reviews BITTER END by Jennifer Brown (Little Brown, 2011)

Alexandra (Alex) Bradford is feeling neglected. When Alex was young, her mother died in a horrible car accident and her dad emotionally checked out when his wife died. Sure, Alex’s best friends, Bethany and Zack, have always been there for her, but she wants someone to love and call her boyfriend.

Enter new student, 18-year-old Cole Cozen. When Alex is asked to tutor him, she is curious as to why he has transferred high schools their senior year. It seems like Cole is a terrific athlete, because of his letter jacket, so why did he switch schools? Alex also notices how attractive Cole is, so his evasive answers don’t really faze her. The closer Alex and Cole become, the less Zack and Bethany are around. Her two best friends are always telling her to be careful and not trust Cole so much.

Alex doesn’t understand why they don’t like Cole. He only pushed her and called her a slut because his parents were stressing him out. He only hit her in the face because she didn’t come to his basketball practice on time. Cole is upset the basketball team lost, so it’s no wonder he threw her down so hard, chipping her tooth and bloodying her face. As frequently as he hurts Alex, Cole is always there to apologize and tell her it will never happen again.

This was a difficult book to read due to the subject of abuse, but the author’s style of writing allowed me to finish the book in two days. I have been where Alex is. Reading about her angry, jealous, abusive boyfriend was not easy, to say the least.

Like Alex, I went from victim to survivor. This young adult novel by Jennifer Brown is a tough one to swallow, but it does give the readers hope. Concluding her story with appendices of hotlines and facts about abuse was excellent because, unfortunately, someone will need that information. This is a well-written novel for teenagers and adults alike.

Andrea King, Poplar-White Station Library

[Book Review] LOST MEMPHIS by Laura Cunningham

2011-10-11T16:00:00.003-05:00

Nonfiction/Memphis History

Wayne reviews LOST MEMPHIS by Laura Cunningham (History Press, 2010)

Have you ever wanted to know what the riverfront looked like a hundred years ago or what happened to the giant shoe that was once located on Lamar Avenue? If so, then Lost Memphis, by library assistant and local historian Laura Cunningham is the book for you. As she writes in the introduction, the book “offers on a glimpse of Memphis, from its earliest beginnings to the present. It focuses on aspects of the city’s history that no longer exist, whether due to urban renewal, advancements in technology, or changes in society.” But what a glimpse it is.

Cunningham takes us on a fascinating journey into the Bluff City’s forgotten past. In the book we see the cobblestoned riverfront piled high with cotton, the Frisco Bridge being constructed, and what the city’s first amusement park looked like. In addition we learn many fascinating tidbits about the Bluff City, such as the time a former prime minister of Australia once lost his pants in the lobby of the Admiral Benbow Inn and that the Fortune’s Ice Cream parlor on Union Avenue offered the nation’s first drive-in service. Lost Memphis provides readers the opportunity to travel back in time to see the Bluff City as it looked in the 19th and 20th Centuries.

Wayne Dowdy, Business and Social Sciences Department

Note: Laura Cunningham is also the author of Haunted Memphis (previously reviewed). She was also one of many local authors at the library's first ever Bookstock event. View photos from Bookstock on the library's Facebook page.

[Library Events and Programs] What's Your Flavor? October Session

2011-10-10T09:00:00.004-05:00

Join us October 20th, as panelists Alieo Jackson, Wang-Ying Glasgow, and Stephanie Gilliam discuss multicultural fiction.

"One World, Many Voices"

What's Your Flavor? Multicultural Fiction

Thursday, October 20, 2011

10 a.m. - 12 noon

Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, Room L-56

[Awards] 2011 Thurber Prize for American Humor

2011-10-07T09:00:00.009-05:00

Half Empty by David Rakoff was announced as the winner of the 2011 Thurber Prize for American Humor on October 3, 2011. More about the winner.

About the Thurber Prize:

"Started in 1997, the Thurber Prize for American Humor is the only recognition of the art of humor writing in the United States. A panel of national judges selects the three finalists from a selection of seven or eight semi-finalists. Books submitted for a prize year had to have been published the prior year.

The winner is announced at a special awards ceremony at the Algonquin Hotel in New York City where James Thurber once lived. The winner of the prize receives $5,000 and then is the guest entertainment for the annual December Thurber Birthday Gala."

Click here to view past winners.

[Awards] Nobel Prize in Literature Winner Tomas Transtromer

2011-10-06T13:00:00.000-05:00

Swedish poet Tomas Transtromer was announced earlier today as winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature.

According to a NYTimes.com article, "Mr. Transtromer, 80, has written more than 15 collections of poetry, many of which have been translated into English and 60 other languages." Click here to read the full article.

Transtromer will receive his award along with other Laureates during an award ceremony on December 10 in Stockholm, Sweden.

Click here for interesting Facts and Lists about the Nobel Prize.

[Book Review] The works of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

2011-10-06T09:00:00.000-05:00

Robert reviews the works of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

I will always be grateful for being introduced to the literary works of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn in 1968. He, to this day, remains among my favorite fiction writers of all time. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (1918 - 2008), through his often-suppressed writings, tore a hole in the then Iron Curtain by raising awareness of the Soviet Union's Stalin era and particularly the forced labor camp system. This was historical fiction at its absolute best - presenting what I would later deem the important role of literature as supplement to historical survey; thereby broadening our understanding beyond the typical outline of history's important dates, important names and important places.

Solzhenitsyn, in providing for many, a first look behind the Iron Curtain, most importantly, did so with a view of the day-to-day of the common man/the common woman in the Stalin-era Soviet Union. My first Solzhenitsyn reading was The First Circle, immediately followed by One Day In The Life Of Ivan Denisovich, and subsequently The Gulag Archipeligo, The Cancer Ward, August 1914, and each of his other literary works. Awarded the 1970 Nobel Prize in Literature, I give my highest recommendation (banned-books and otherwise) to Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn who perhaps holds the record of being the most banned-book writer to date.

Robert Bain, Randolph Branch

[Book Review] A NIGHT TO REMEMBER by Walter Lord

2011-10-05T11:45:00.000-05:00

Nonfiction/History

Narrative nonfiction was discussed during September's "What's Your Flavor" session at the Central Library. This is a review from one of the class participants.

Becky reviews A NIGHT TO REMEMBER by Walter Lord (Holt, 1955)

The unsinkable ship Titanic sank in the early morning hours of April 15, 1912. A Night to Remember tells the story of the last hours of Titanic and her passengers, from the sighting of the iceberg to the moment she sank beneath the cold and icy waters of the North Atlantic.

Reports say that Carpathia (the first ship on the scene after the Titanic sank), picked up 705 survivors from the lifeboats. However, at 6:15 p.m. on April 15, 1912, word arrived from the ship Olympic that the Titanic sank at 2:20 a.m. and that the Carpathia was on the way to New York with 675 survivors. The actual estimate of lives lost varies to some degree, but the best seemed to come from the British Board of Trade.

An interesting fact is that the Titanic sent the first SOS, which had recently become the new international distress signal replacing “CQD.” While popular belief is that the band played “Nearer My God to Thee” as the ship sank, actual accounts say that a song called “Autumn” was being played. This song was an Episcopal hymn, but even that has been called into question.

The loss of the Titanic brought two things into focus at the time: class distinction and the uncertainty of anything. For me, as a person living in the 21st century an interesting side note is that married women were known only as Mrs. [husband's full name], and not by their own first names, or as a distinct separate entity.

Websites of interest:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61834.A_Night_to_Remember

http://historyinfilm.com/titanic/ntrplot.htm

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/21/books/walter-lord-author-of-historical-books-including-a-night-to-remembe-dies-at-84

http://www.home.earthlink.net/~rlbroberg/Richard/NearerMyGodToThee/TheSoundOfMusic.html

Becky Graham, Central Library

Celebrate the Freedom to Read: THESEUS AND THE MINOTAUR

2011-10-01T15:00:00.001-05:00

Nancy Campbell celebrates
THESEUS AND THE MINOTAUR, a story from Greek and Roman mythology

When my family lived in Colorado Springs from 1989-92, residents of a mountain town one pass over tried to ban all Greek and Roman mythology books from school libraries. (They disagreed with polytheism.) Almost-daily references to the characters in these stories have enriched my life.

Listening to my then 6-year-old read Theseus and the Minotaur was especially gratifying. His coming down the stairs on Halloween night dressed in nothing but a towel tied around his waist made me laugh out loud. "I'm going as Theseus!" he exclaimed.

Nancy Campbell, Central Library

Celebrate the Freedom to Read: UNCLE TOM'S CABIN

2011-10-01T12:00:00.008-05:00

Robert Bain celebrates
UNCLE TOM’S CABIN by Harriet Beecher Stowe

Uncle Tom’s Cabin, or, Life Among the Lowly, is an anti-slavery novel published in 1852 by Harriet Beecher Stowe which is said to have helped lay the groundwork for the Civil War. Uncle Tom’s Cabin was the best-selling novel of the 19th century and the second best-selling book of that century, following the Bible. In the first year it was published, 300,000 copies of the book were sold in the United States. One million copies of the book were sold in Great Britain where the efforts to end slavery notably targeted the United States’ continued practice of slavery.

Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin international and domestic influence were best evidenced by the Duchess of Sutherland, whose anti-slavery “Address to the Christian Women of America,” creating a cross-Atlantic controversy in 1853, was signed by 576,000 English women and when Abraham Lincoln met Stowe at the start of the Civil War, Lincoln declared, “So this is the little lady who started this great war.”

Robert Bain, Randolph Branch Library

Celebrate the Freedom to Read: HARRY POTTER SERIES

2011-10-01T09:00:00.003-05:00

Hollye Ferguson celebrates
the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling are all banned books. I love the fact that one author can capture the hearts and minds of adults and children.

These books spark imagination, teach selflessness, friendship, and teach us to stand up for a cause when we know things are wrong, even if it is not mainstream ideals. These books are a win for children and adult children alike.

--Hollye Ferguson, Parkway Village Library

Celebrate the Freedom to Read: WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS

2011-09-30T15:00:00.001-05:00

Ashley Roach celebrates
WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS by Shel Silverstein

Every child loves the silly and hilarious poems Shel Silverstein concocted and sold by the million, but it is not until adulthood that one realizes the dark absurdity and brilliance of short poems about eating your baby sibling, or making a true and serious mess of the kitchen, or the tragic and mysterious disappearance of three men flying in a shoe.

He was a performer as well as a writer and his performances of his own poems are not to be missed, though strange and offsetting - he liked to growl and squeak and sing song rather than simply read. Silverstein, like Maurice Sendak, understood that children are not innocents, but are just as complicated and interested in dark and dreamy things as adults are - and he wrote to that aspect in children and adults. No wonder he was loved mightily, and frequently challenged.

Ashley Roach, Central Library

Celebrate the Freedom to Read: MY SISTER'S KEEPER

2011-09-30T12:00:00.003-05:00

Laura Salehi celebrates
MY SISTER’S KEEPER by Jodi Picoult

I read My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. It was thought-provoking by raising the question of what you would ask one of your children to sacrifice in order to save the other. I am thankful to not be in that position in real life; it's hard enough to try to treat your children fairly since they either can not or should not be treated exactly the same all the time.

Laura Salehi, Bartlet Library

Celebrate the Freedom to Read: THE COLOR PURPLE

2011-09-30T09:00:00.006-05:00

Twan Jones celebrates
THE COLOR PURPLE by Alice Walker

The Color Purple was a very intense book to read. It dealt with a wide range of topics, from incest to homosexuality, and it showed the resolve and strong will of a young woman who struggles to survive her circumstances. Celie had the ability to rise above the situations in her life, despite all the things that she had gone through.

Twan Jones, South Branch Library

Celebrate the Freedom to Read: LIFE AND DEATH IN SHANGHAI

2011-09-29T15:00:00.007-05:00

Wang-Ying Glasgow celebrates
LIFE AND DEATH IN SHANGHAI, by Nien Cheng

This was a banned book in China and I am sure this book would never get published in the first place. I read it in 1989, when I first came to America. I couldn’t put it down. I wanted to meet this author. Her story was one of the many sad stories of the injustice and inhumanities done to so many Chinese during the Cultural Revolution!

I remember this was one of the first books I read and truly felt how free it is to be in America and how fortunate I am to be able to read it because I knew English.

Wang-Ying Glasgow, Central Library

Celebrate the Freedom to Read: LORD OF THE FLIES

2011-09-29T12:00:00.004-05:00

Jason Sharp celebrates
LORD OF THE FLIES by William Golding

This classic story about children that form their own society after crashing on a desert island has inspired several other forms of media,including the TV show Lost and the popular YA series The Hunger Games. The book has suspense, action and drama with great character development.

Jason Sharp, Whitehaven Library

Celebrate the Freedom to Read: CRANK

2011-09-29T09:00:00.000-05:00

Memphis Reads had such a great response from staff members who wanted to talk about banned or challenged books that we will finish Banned Books Week with three reviews each day until October 1st.

Andrea King celebrates CRANK, by Ellen Hopkins

This is a brilliant Young Adult book. Written in verse, Hopkins tells the story of goody-goody Kristina transforming into wild-spirited Bree after discovering crystal meth. The book is a lengthy 537 pages, but because of the style it is written as well the gripping "what happens next?" aspect, it is a quick read. This book was inspired by Hopkins' own daughter's struggle with drug abuse.

--Andrea King, Poplar-White Station Library

Celebrate the Freedom to Read: INVISIBLE MAN

2011-09-28T15:15:00.001-05:00

Robert Bain celebrates
INVISIBLE MAN, by Ralph Ellison

Invisible Man, published in 1952, by Ralph Ellison, became an instant classic as a work of fiction that chronicles a nameless narrator’s journey from a Southern Negro college to the urban center of Harlem, New York. While perhaps one of the best narrative depictions of the ever present racial ambiguities facing black society in both the South and the North it is also both a Southern and Northern unambiguous depiction of the precarious experience for blacks by other blacks.

Robert Bain, Randolph Branch Library

Celebrate the Freedom to Read: BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA

2011-09-28T09:00:00.002-05:00

Beth celebrates
BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA by Katherine Paterson

This book is on the top 100 banned books listed by ALA. I remember reading it around the 4th grade and loving it! When Leslie and her family move to rural Virginia, she meets Jesse. Although from different backgrounds, they become friends and together they build an imaginary kingdom, Terabithia, in the woods. The trouble is that they must use a rope swing to get to Terabithia. When Jesse is gone, Leslie tries to go by herself and that is where the sadness for Jesse and the reader begins.

For a youngster like myself in the 4th grade, it was hard to imagine losing such a great friend. I cried for Leslie and for the pain Jesse went through. Amazingly this is NOT why the book is banned--but for using profanity, vulgar language, offensive language, or swear words. People also believe the book “promote[s] witchcraft and violence.” Others “have said that the book would ‘give students negative views of life,’ ‘make reference to witchcraft,’ show ‘disrespect of adults,’ and promote an ‘elaborate fantasy world that they felt might lead to confusion.’” Really? I remember none of that--just the friendship of two kids and the special world they created. As an adult this book has lessons that stuck with me and I encourage others to read it and let their imagination grow.

--Beth, Cordova Branch Library

Celebrate the Freedom to Read: CATCH-22

2011-09-27T09:00:00.002-05:00

Mary Seratt celebrates CATCH-22, by Jospeh Heller

This was the first book I read as a teenager that seemed to confirm what I was beginning to suspect, that is, that bureaucratic institutions often behaved in ways that were irrational, but that they could justify as being rational through circular reasoning. I didn’t have the vocabulary for this as a teen, but the concept made a lot of sense to me. It definitely colored my thinking and ideas about morality. It was a relief to find that someone else had noticed that bad people often profited at the expense of others and that doing the right thing was often perceived as wrong--or at least foolish. It made me think about what really is right, and wonder how I would react when I encountered the inevitable moral dilemmas of life.

-- Mary Seratt, Central Library

Celebrate the Freedom to Read: THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN by Mark Twain

2011-09-26T09:00:00.003-05:00

Wayne Dowdy celebrates
THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN, by Mark Twain

I have read this book often during the course of my life and each time I learn something new about the world I live in. As a child I identified with Huck’s outsider status and was thrilled by the adventures he and Jim experienced floating on the river. For years I dreamed of building my own raft and taking it downtown so I could escape down the Mississippi and disappear into the Indian Territory. As a young adult I was shocked at the racist cruelty inflicted on the runaway slave Jim, even by his friends Huckleberry and Tom Sawyer. Like Huck, I ignored the evil embedded in the adventure story the first time around.

When I read it again through an adult’s eyes I realized that Twain was exposing, and even ridiculing, slavery. In many ways Jim is the most intelligent and human of the book's characters and it is through him that we learn how wicked slavery truly was. The reader is not the only one who discovers this fact. Huck eventually comes to the conclusion that his friendship with Jim is far more important than the guilt he feels for undermining slavery by helping Jim to escape. When he decides he’d rather go to hell than betray Jim, Huckleberry Finn not only condemns racism and slavery, he also celebrates the triumph of simple human kindness over a barbarous institution.

-- Wayne Dowdy, Central Library

Celebrate the Freedom to Read: TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

2011-09-24T09:00:00.002-05:00

During Banned Books Week, Memphis Reads will dedicate one post each day to stories from library staff highlighting a banned or challenged book. The feature will be called “Celebrate the Freedom to Read.”

Kay Due celebrates
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, by Harper Lee

The Civil Rights Movement was “coming of age” at the same time I was in the 1960s. Because of the horrors unveiled on the nightly news (children being burned in churches; women and children being hosed down in the streets and demonstrators being dragged off of buses and beaten senseless, or worse), I was just coming to the realization that there was true evil in this world.

I first read “Mockingbird” during those teenage years. It was an eye-opening experience. I was lucky – I had adults around me who were not afraid to let me read books challenging the status quo. What I discovered was: a warm, funny story about growing up in a small Southern town, but also a story of racism and intolerance based on the need to feel “better than” someone else. In that very ugly part of the story, I found a hero: Atticus Finch is a character that every child (and adult) could learn from and aspire to become. Why would anyone ban a story about tolerance and bravery and ethical behavior?

Kay Mills Due, Central Library

[News and Notes] Banned Books Week Begins September 24

2011-09-23T09:00:00.001-05:00

A private school student operates a secret library of banned books from a school locker. Click to view full article

A Missouri school board ends a school ban of Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five. Click to view article

Banned Books Week takes place September 24 - October 1, 2011. The American Library Associations's Banned Books Week webpage is a great resource for events and the history of banned or challenged books.

What's the difference between a banned or challenged book?

According to the American Library Association:
"A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group. A banning is the removal of those materials. Challenges do not simply involve a person expressing a point of view; rather, they are an attempt to remove material from the curriculum or library, thereby restricting the access of others. As such, they are a threat to freedom of speech and choice." -Link

Click here to find Banned Books Week events at the Memphis Public Library.

*image from www.abffe.org*

[Book Review] MEMPHIS AND THE SUPER FLOOD OF 1937 by Patrick O'Daniel

2011-09-22T09:00:00.001-05:00

Nonfiction/Memphis History

Wayne reviews MEMPHIS AND THE SUPER FLOOD OF 1937: HIGH WATER BLUES by Patrick O’Daniel (History Press, 2010)

In January 1937 the Mississippi River overflowed its extensive system of levees, displacing over 200,000 Mid-Southerners, destroying homes and farms in a 12 state area and causing 137 deaths. The Ohio and Mississippi Valley flood of 1937 was the worst flood ever visited upon the region and one of the most devastating natural disasters in American history. Despite these grim statistics the 1937 flood has receded in popular memory to such a point that virtually no one remembers it ever took place. Fortunately this has been corrected by librarian and historian Patrick O' Daniel in his book Memphis and the Super Flood of 1937.

In the first decades of the 20th Century flooding increased dramatically in the Ohio and Mississippi Valleys which convinced the Army Corps of Engineers that it was only a matter of time before a “super flood” would lay waste to the region and this belief only increased after the Mississippi Valley flood of 1927. The widespread devastation caused by the 1927 flood led to the passage of the Flood Control Act of 1928 which “committed the federal government to a definite program of flood control, including new levees, as well as floodways, channel improvements and stabilization and tributary basin improvements.”(29) The concerns that led to the passage of the 1928 flood control act became real when heavy rains saturated the region in the winter of 1937, causing the super flood many engineers and political leaders feared.

Because of its size and geographical location, Memphis played an integral role both in the relief effort and the development of a comprehensive flood control program for the lower Mississippi Valley. As O’Daniel argues, the “events of 1937 not only mark a turning point in flood control but also illustrate the importance of Memphis regionally and nationally. Memphians played vital roles during and after the superflood by providing the major regional refugee sanctuary and convincing the reluctant federal government to introduce new flood control to the region. Of course other cities played important roles, but a careful examination of sources shows that Memphis was the most influential city in the region during the disaster.”(129) Responsibility for these efforts fell to the powerful Democratic political machine led by E. H. Crump. Governmental resources were quickly overwhelmed by the onslaught of thousands of refugees and the rising flood waters in the north Memphis industrial area. The situation was made much worse when Crump dictatorially snatched control of relief efforts from Mayor Watkins Overton because he doubted his ability to adequately handle the crisis. The ensuing chaos momentarily weakened the city’s response to the disaster but, as the author persuasively argues, “Ed Crump remained politically secure as his machine emerged from the flood and the subsequent fight for flood-control funding.”(130)

Although by necessity O’Daniel focuses on the politics surrounding relief and subsequent flood control, he never ignores the human misery caused by the high waters or the selflessness of many Memphians to relieve that misery. We are indeed fortunate that O’Daniel has rescued from oblivion one of the most significant events in the history of Memphis and the United States with his important book.

Wayne Dowdy, History and Social Sciences Department

[Book Review] MAMA RUBY by Mary Monroe

2011-09-21T09:00:00.000-05:00

Fiction/African American

Darletha reviews MAMA RUBY by Mary Monroe (Kensington, 2011)

Ruby Upshaw is the seventh daughter of a preacher who resides in Shreveport, Louisiana in the mid-1930s. Ruby’s parents think she is an obedient, upright child, but like her six older sisters, Ruby has been leading a double life since she was eight years old. By the time she is fifteen, she will have enough street smarts to do whatever it takes to survive.

Ruby lives in a racially-segregated town, but she isn’t afraid of anybody. As a plus-sized girl with a tough demeanor and pocket knife for protection, people are afraid of her! Ruby becomes best friends with Othella, the daughter of a well-known prostitute. Despite her father’s warnings to stay away from “fast” girls, Ruby sneaks out of the house regularly to party at Othella’s house and fool around with several boys.

Ruby’s promiscuity leads to the secret birth of a child she is forced to give away. In subsequent years, Ruby and Othella relocate to New Orleans in hopes of finding good husbands, but what they actually encounter are a series of bad situations involving prostitution and violence. Ruby lives a difficult life that will transform her into a bitter, vengeful woman with a score to settle.

This novel is the prequel to Monroe’s debut novel, The Upper Room, which continues the Ruby/Othella story. What stood out to me the most were Ruby’s endless misfortunes, which I might better understand when I read The Upper Room. Readers who love plenty of drama and a candid writing style will enjoy this book. There are many, many shocking moments, so there is plenty to talk about with friends or in a book club setting. As a bonus, the hardback version contains discussion questions and brief interview with Monroe.

[Library Events & Programs] Books and Beyond in September

2011-09-20T17:00:00.007-05:00

Join us for Books and Beyond next week.

"Elvis left his indelible stamp on the city he loved. Learn more as the Commercial Appeal’s Michael Lollar and Rosemary Nelms discuss their award-winning new book, Elvis Presley's Memphis."

Tuesday
September 27, 2011
10:00 a.m.
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Meeting Room L-56

[News and Notes] The Smallest Library in America and National Library Card Sign-up Month

2011-09-19T08:00:00.001-05:00

Beth wanted to share a "super cool" library featured in the September 6th edition of Shelf Awareness. It's called the "Book Booth: America's Littlest Library," located in Clinton Corners, NY. Click here to view the library

September is National Library Card Sign-up Month, when libraries all over the nation remind families that "the most important school supply of all" is a library card. Visit the flickr group, Show Us Your Library Card, for great photos of people and their library cards.

During the month of September, encourage all family and friends to sign up for the smartest card--a library card. This card can be used to open up a wealth of knowledge at the littlest or largest of libraries.

Click here for information about obtaining a Memphis Public Library card.

[Library Events and Programs] Louisa May Alcott Film at the Central Library

2011-09-13T09:00:00.000-05:00

Mark your calendars and visit the Central Library on September 28, 2011. There will be a special screening and discussion of the award-winning documentary,Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women.
(Click the image to visit the film's website.)

There is still time to read the book :

Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women, by Harriet Reisen.

Browse the catalog for copies the classic novel and more.

[Book Review] BASKETBALL JONES by E. Lynn Harris

2011-09-12T13:00:00.001-05:00

Fiction/Gay and Lesbian

On July 21st, "What's Your Flavor?" session participants learned the history of Gay and Lesbian fiction.

Andrea reviews BASKETBALL JONES by E. Lynn Harris (Doubleday, 2009)

Aldridge (A.J.) Richardson and Drayton Jones have been together for seven years. Unfortunately, since Dray is a married, big-name NBA player with a child on the way, his relationship with interior designer, A.J., must stay quiet. When AJ starts getting blackmailing phone calls and letters, threatening to expose his and Dray’s secrets, he panics. Who is close enough to AJ to know all his secrets and his personal life?

Readers will find out friends can be enemies and wonder, which secrets should be exposed or which need to be left quiet?

Andrea King, Poplar-White Station Library

[News and Notes] Tenth Anniversary of September 11th

2011-09-09T17:00:00.003-05:00

The tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks is Sunday. In tribute to those who lost their lives and those who survived, we recommend our newest books listed below:

9/11: the World Speaks, published by Lyons Press

Angel in the Rubble: the miraculous rescue of 9/11's last survivor by Genelle Guzman-McMillan

Unmeasured Strength by Lauren Manning

Browse the library catalog for available copies of these books and other fiction and nonfiction offerings.

[Book Review] CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT by Laurie Viera Rigler

2011-09-08T09:00:00.002-05:00

Fiction

Christina reviews CONFESSIONS OF A JANE AUSTEN ADDICT by Laurie Viera Rigler (Dutton, 2007)

Modern woman Courtney Stone ends up time traveling into the world of Jane Austen. She becomes Jane Mansfield, a single 30-year-old who must cope with “unwashed bodies” and sewing. She also must get married or become the bane of her mother. A suitable suitor and best friend come along for the ride.

This was a really good book. Simple to read and not really graphic, it provided a lot of humor and description. It was interesting to learn how Courtney’s thoughts began to merge with Jane’s. The description of life during that time period was also very intriguing. I really enjoyed the book and it was a fast read overall.

Recommended websites:
http://janeaustenaddict.com/
http://bloomsbury.com/Laurie-Viera-Rigler/authors/10189
http://janeaustenaddict.com/videos - If you get a chance to look at these snippet videos – they are really cute!

Christina Barnes, Business/Sciences Department

[Library Events and Programs] What's Your Flavor? in September

2011-09-07T09:00:00.001-05:00

Fiction not your cup of tea? Do you enjoy narrative non-fiction but you're not sure what to read next? Join us for What's Your Flavor? in September.

"Is the Truth Stranger Than Fiction?" Narrative Non-Fiction
Presented by Wayne Dowdy
Thursday, September 15th, 2- 4 p.m.
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, Room L-56

[Book Review] THE CHRISTOPHER KILLER by Alane Ferguson

2011-09-06T15:00:00.009-05:00

Fiction/Young Adult

Becky reviews THE CHRISTOPHER KILLER: A FORENSIC MYSTERY by Alane Ferguson (Sleuth/Viking, 2006)

Cameryn Mahoney is seventeen and lives with her dad and grandmother (Mammaw) in the small town of Silverton, Colorado. Her mom? Well, her mom's another story and Cameryn isn't sure it's one she's ready for. One thing she is ready for is her future. She knows she wants a career in forensic pathology. Her dad, Patrick Mahoney, just happens to be the County Coroner and when he hires her to be his assistant, it's a dream come true --until her second case.

A famous psychic, Dr. Jewel, has predicted that the "Christopher Killer" has struck again, and that the body of a girl will be found on a path leading to water. Cameryn doesn't believe in psychics -- she believes in science, but when a body is found just as Dr. Jewel predicted and it turns out to be Cameryn's friend Rachel, murder becomes personal.

Cameryn vows to let Rachel's body speak and to follow the clues to her killer. Who can she trust and who will believe a young and inexperienced girl? Will the new deputy in town be on her side in finding the guilty? What does he know about her mother and why don’t her dad and Mammaw want her talking to him?

Becky Graham, Central Circulation Department

[Library Events & Programs] Bookstock Coming in October

2011-09-01T15:15:00.001-05:00

This one-day event is sure to be music to the ears of book lovers across the Mid-South: Bookstock

At Bookstock you can meet Memphis-area authors, attend morning or afternoon workshops designed to help get your book published, or watch a live taping of WYPL's Book Talk program.

Registration is required for workshops. Visit the official Bookstock webpage for details.

[News and Notes] Hugo Award Winners

2011-08-29T12:00:00.000-05:00

The 2011 Hugo Award Winners have been announced. The Hugo is awarded to the best in Science Fiction.

Blackout/Allclear by Connie Willis won the Hugo for Best Novel

Click to view the full list of winners.

[Book Review] EDITED OUT by Lisa Haddock

2011-08-29T09:00:00.004-05:00

Fiction/Gay and Lesbian

The history of Gay and Lesbian fiction was presented during July’s “What’s Your Flavor?” Reader’s Advisory session.

Nancy reviews EDITED OUT by Lisa Haddock, Lisa (Naiad Press, 1994)

Edited Out, a Carmen Ramirez mystery, was a good choice for me because of my newspaper background. She’s a copy editor assigned to clean up an updated story about a dead lesbian school teacher assumed to have killed a 12-year-old girl before committing suicide two years ago. Carmen believes the dead woman didn’t do it, so she enlists library clerk Julia Nichols, also lesbian, to help her research factual content. (They wind up in the sack, of course, but that’s a sub-plot that takes a while to develop.)

What begins as background research soon becomes a full-blown criminal investigation, something a copy editor would never take on, trust me. Not even behind the copy chief’s back, which Carmen does, would a reporter’s legwork be usurped in this way. That’s the assignment editor’s purview. Haddock’s playing fast and loose with real newsroom procedure is impossible to overlook, but it does make for a jolly read.

Interspersed with Carmen’s scrutiny of those involved in the crime and cover-up are the confrontations with her homophobic grandmother. She describes her granddaughter’s life as perverted, but the two do eventually reach a meeting of the minds. For one thing, the women realize they are cut from much the same cloth -- in that both are courageous, stubborn, and bold – so they cannot help admiring each other.

As expected, all ends well. Carmen exposes the real killer, the crusty copy chief forgives her disobedience, she and Grandma agree to be friends, and there is the promise of a future with Julia. The elements meld with the tidiness of a Nancy Drew adventure, were Nancy lesbian and sexually active. Hot-to-trot Julia is a modern-day substitute for Nancy’s sidekick/boyfriend, the asexually-depicted Ned Nickerson.

Sophomoric as the writing and storylines are, I do see this series of books as inspirational for adolescent girls still pondering their sexual orientation and sense of self-worth. They should be shelved with YA fiction for that reason.

Nancy Campbell, LINC Department

[News and Notes] Ray Bradbury's Birthday Gift

2011-08-24T14:23:00.002-05:00

From Shelf Awareness:

"Ray Bradbury turned 91 on Monday [Aug 22], and his birthday present was the news that Dandelion Wine will be adapted into a film."

Click the following link to read the rest of Ray Bradbury's Birthday Gift: Dandelion Wine, the Movie.

Search the library catalog for copies of this classic novel.

Thanks go out to Beth for sharing this information.

[Book Review] CALL FOR THE DEAD by John Le Carre

2011-08-24T09:00:00.008-05:00

Fiction/Mystery

Mystery fiction was the topic of June’s "What’s Your Flavor?" session. Participants were required to select, read, and review a mystery novel.

Bryan reviews CALL FOR THE DEAD by John Le Carre (Walker, 1962)

John Le Carre’s first novel, Call for the Dead serves as a taut, concise introduction to the novelist’s now recognizable style of writing and to the character upon whom Le Carre centered much of his subsequent spy-thriller fiction, British intelligence agent George Smiley.

In this first episode, Smiley brings himself into an investigation of the ostensible suicide of a government ministry official who apparently feared apprehension as a spy for the East German government. With the help of veteran London Metropolitan Police Inspector Mendel, Smiley unravels instead a murder meant to cover up a spy network—in the process, reacquainting himself with both his turbulent wartime espionage past and enemy agents he then considered compatriots.

A well-paced, if in places thinly developed narrative, Call for the Dead provides an engrossing read, meshing intrigue, grittiness, irony, and fallible humanity in a convincing, distinctive way.

Website: www.johnlecarre.com

Bryan Massey, East Shelby Library

[News and Notes] Reading: A Lifetime of Free Entertainment

2011-08-22T13:00:00.000-05:00

CNN Contributor, Bob Greene, discusses the value of reading books in the article "Free Entertainment, for Life"

"...There are so many wonderful books that have been written over the centuries, books that will thrill you and make you cry and change you and bring laughter to you and keep you up all night. Even if you did nothing else for the rest of your life but read, you would only be able to get to the most infinitesimal percentage of books that you would be destined to adore. They're just waiting for you -- waiting to be found, right now."

Want to know his thoughts about old vs. new books and the value of libraries? Click here to read the full article.

[News and Notes] Spoilers Make Reading Fun

2011-08-22T12:00:00.000-05:00

Good news for readers who like to know how a novel ends before they've reached the end. According to psychologists at UC San Diego, reading spoilers before finishing a novel improves the reading experience.

Allison Flood of The Guardian's Books Blog shares her thoughts on this theory. Click here read Flood's article.

Do you like knowing ahead of time how a novel ends?

[Book Review] THE KID by Sapphire

2011-08-22T09:00:00.009-05:00

Fiction/African American

Andrea reviews THE KID by Sapphire (Penguin Press, 2011)

(Warning: this review contains spoilers!)

First of all, let me preface this review by saying I could not wait to read this because I loved Push, the novel about sixteen-year-old, illiterate, pregnant Precious Jones. Her plight was horrific but under the guidance of her mentor and teacher, Blue Rain, Precious was given a chance to thrive.

The Kid follows the life of Abdul Jones, Precious’ son, from ages nine to nineteen. I did expect a sequel; but unfortunately, this is not one. The author, Sapphire has even mentioned in interviews, she did not mean for this novel to be a continuation of Push. In the first few pages, Abdul has to attend his mother’s funeral after she dies of AIDS.

The safety net that Precious provided for Abdul has been torn away, as he is bounced from different foster homes to a Catholic orphanage to living with his great-grandmother, Toosie. Getting fed up with Toosie and the squalor she lives in, 13 year-old Abdul takes up with his much-older male dance instructor.

Each place Abdul lived; there was horrible abuse and anguish, whether it was physical, emotional, or sexual.

Readers will be appalled at the situations Abdul is enduring, and just wish he had a “Blue Rain” in his life to help him succeed and rise above.

As coarse as his language is and as heartbreaking as his life is, I kept reading just to see what happened next. This book definitely will stir strong emotions, and you won’t forget Abdul Louis Jones for a long time!

Andrea King, Poplar-White Station Library

Upcoming Authors Event at the Library: Bookstock

2011-08-18T16:17:00.000-05:00

The Memphis Public Library will be hosting Bookstock, an inaugural event for authors on Saturday, October 1, 2011 at the Benjamin Hooks Central Library.

Bookstock will give authors an opportunity to autograph and sell books, plus the chance to meet and network with other local authors, exhibitors, and writing groups at the same time.

There will be morning and afternoon workshops and seminars on various topics of interest pertaining to writing, publishing, and marketing.

More details are soon to come.

[Book Review] GARDEN SPELLS by Sara Addison Allen

2011-08-16T09:00:00.000-05:00

Fiction

Parkway Village Book Club recently discussed GARDEN SPELLS by Sara Addison Allen (Bantam, 2007)

The Parkway Village Book Club read this quick read and discussed it at our July meeting. Most of us really liked the quirky characters in this small town. Waverly women all have special gifts or talents that the town relishes.

Claire Waverly can make certain foods that set the mood of a gathering. Certain foods make people see only the beauty of your home, none of the flaws. Other foods can make you keep secrets, see in the dark, or think that something good is going to happen, even if it isn’t.

Evanelle is Claire’s 69-year old cousin and she is compelled to give people presents but does not know why. She is considered strange to the entire town. However, they have quickly learned that a present from Evanelle is usually something that you need eventually, so you better keep it.

There are many more Waverly women to learn about in this book and they all have special gifts or talents. Other families in this town have quirks as well. One family always has a man named Phineas in each generation and he is known for his superior strength. Everyone wants to hire him to do heavy jobs for them.

Hollye Ferguson, Parkway Village Branch Book Club

[Author Obit] L.A. Banks (1959 - 2011)

2011-08-15T13:00:00.000-05:00

Mediabistro's GalleyCat reports that author Leslie Esdaile (L.A.) Banks passed away on August 2, 2011 after a battle with adrenal cancer. She is best known for her paranormal novels as well as mainstream African American fiction. Full article.

Fans of her novels can leave tributes on her Facebook page.

[News and Notes] NPR's Top 100 Science Fiction and Fantasy Novels

2011-08-15T09:00:00.006-05:00

Readers at npr.org nominated and voted for the best Science-Fiction and Fantasy books of all time. There were 237 finalists.

Click the link below to view the feature

Your Picks: Top 100 Science-Fiction, Fantasy Books

Did your favorite novels make the list? How many of the 100 novels have you read?

[Library Events and Programs] What's Your Flavor? Teen Fiction

2011-08-11T08:00:00.001-05:00

What's Your Flavor? August session:

“Oh, the Drama of It All”: Teen Fiction
Presented by: Sharon Evrard

Thursday, August 18, 2011
2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Meeting Room L-56

[Book Review] JOY FOR BEGINNERS by Erica Bauermeister

2011-08-10T10:30:00.001-05:00

Fiction/Women's

Laura reviews JOY FOR BEGINNERS by Erica Bauermeister (Putnam, 2011)

This book begins with a dinner party that Kate is hosting for her friends as a thank you for their support as she battled cancer. Her friends insisted it was to celebrate that she is now cancer free.

Her friends had been encouraging Kate to take a white-water rafting trip with her daughter, Robin, but Kate has always been too scared to do it. At the dinner party, Kate announced she would do this if each of her six friends would agree to take up their own challenges within a year. Since Kate did not get to choose her challenge, she proposed that she should be allowed to choose the challenge each friend received. Each woman agreed, but with some apprehension.

Each chapter of the book is named after one of the women and reveals how they came to meet another person in this tight-knit circle; how the relationships among the friends developed before, and after, Kate’s cancer; how they approached their challenge; and how their individualized challenge was significant to a weakness they would deal with to help them live their lives more fully.

I particularly enjoyed how it seemed that both similarities and differences among these women and their own life challenges were important to the establishment of their friendships. The group dynamic was interesting in that certain pairs of friends seemed to have closer relationships and see each other more often, but the entire group could still get together and enjoy each other’s company, too.

Laura Salehi, Bartlett Branch

[Library Events and Programs] Books & Beyond: Behind the Scenes at Booktalk

2011-08-08T11:45:00.000-05:00

Join us for Books & Beyond in August

"Behind the Scenes at Booktalk: Stephen Usery, host and producer of WYPL Radio's nationally-syndicated program Book Talk, will discuss the history and the process of putting the program together, and share favorite anecdotes from the over 200 interviews he has conducted."

August 16, 2011 at 10 a.m.
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Meeting room L-56

[Book Review] THE HELP by Kathryn Stockett

2011-08-04T09:00:00.008-05:00

Have you made plans to see the film adaptation of THE HELP? Have you read the novel? Refresh your memory with details from the following review submitted by Alberta Bell.

Kathryn Stockett, author of The Help, grew up in Jackson, Mississippi and used various sources (stories from her family and her family’s beloved black maid, her friends, other authors, and news media) to shape her fictional characters and their secretive part in stopping an unthinkable and unjust initiative on the black maids in Jackson, Mississippi during the turbulent Civil Rights Movement. Kathryn Stockett magnificently brings the reader into the lives of all the characters, why they are the way they are, and the racial lines that have existed between blacks and whites for generations.

Miss Hilly, the President of the Jackson Women’s League, has drafted the “Home Help Sanitation Initiative“ and plans to take it to the local government for possible action for white families to build a separate bathroom in their backyards for use by their black maids. It is Miss Hilly’s belief that black people carry germs that could be harmful to white people and black maids should not be allowed to use the home’s guest bathroom facilities. Ms. Elizabeth Leefolt (being new to Jackson and the Jackson Women’s League and wishing to win favor with Miss Hilly) persuades her husband to call in a contractor to build a separate bathroom in the backyard just for their maid, Aibileen.

Miss Skeeter, a recent college graduate and editor of a weekly column in the local Jackson newspaper, contacts a New York publishing company about an idea she has to stop Miss Hilly. She wants to write a book of interviews from black maids of “what it feels like being Negro and working for white women.” No maids want to do any interviews because they fear retaliation by their white women employers. However, when Miss Hilly does a mean, hateful act to her maid Yule Mae, then Aibileen, Minnie, and 11 other maids agree to risk their lives and their families’ lives by granting Miss Skeeter the interviews for a tell-all book that will stop Miss Hilly and her Home Help Sanitation Initiative!

Alberta Bell, Library Volunteer

The film version of The Help arrives in theaters Wednesday, August 10. The full cast can be found here at The Internet Movie Database.

[Book Review] IMPACT by Douglas Preston

2011-08-02T11:30:00.003-05:00

Fiction/Thriller

Darletha reviews IMPACT by Douglas Preston (Forge, 2010)

I read this book based on my personal “read a random book from the shelves” challenge. The cover art intrigued me, since I’m always game for a potential disaster type of novel. I also chose this book because the title reminded me of the movie, Deep Impact, which has a similar theme of Earth’s possible destruction by really big rocks from space.

The story begins after a meteor crashes off the coast of Maine. Another crater is discovered on the opposite side of the world in Cambodia. A scientist who was researching the ominous presence of gamma rays in the solar system has been murdered; the hard disk containing his classified research information is missing.

The plot unfolds from the alternating perspectives of a waitress, a scientist, and a government agent. Abbey, a Princeton dropout-turned waitress, witnessed the meteor event as it flew across the night sky in Maine. She uses her father’s lobster boat to hunt for the crater site, hoping to profit from any findings. Mark Corso has been promoted to the same position once held by the murdered scientist at the National Propulsion Facility. By digging further into the classified gamma ray research, Corso’s job and his life are on the line. Wymon Ford is a former CIA-agent sent on a mission into Cambodia to find the source of rare, but radioactive, gemstones.

The suspenseful plot takes off after a mysterious apparatus is discovered on Mars. The apparatus wasn't placed on Mars by humans, so how did it get there?

This was a solid, well-paced story with a good balance of science and intrigue.

Darletha Matthews, South Branch

[Quick Picks] More Beach Reads

2011-07-28T08:00:00.000-05:00

We have more summer reads to share from our enthusiastic library staff. One novel was so memorable we received two reviews for it. The titles are listed in alphabetical order.

The Best of Simple, by Langston Hughes

This book consists of selections from a series originally published by Hughes in the Chicago Defender. These stories center around Jesse B. Semple, "Harlem’s Everyman," who ponders the nuances of life while enjoying drinks with his unnamed friend. Whether he's talking about his job, his women, or the cruelties of Jim Crow, "Simple's" jazzy dialog and wit give a glimpse into black culture during the 1940s. I looked forward to picking up this book every day because of Simple’s homespun humor. These stories are funny, unpretentious, and timeless.
--Darletha Matthews, South Branch

Garden Spells, by Sarah Addison Allen

This slim book provides pure escape. Allen's characters are well-developed as is the small-town setting. The plot involves the slow healing of a strained relationship between two adult sisters. Restoration begins when the "free spirit" sister moves back to the family home which is now occupied by the "steady and sensible" sister. What makes this story stand out is the subtle theme of magic which runs through the plot. A fun, fast read.
--Jessie Marshall, Business/Sciences Department

Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver

This is the book to take with you if you only have room to pack one. In this absorbing book, the chapters rotate between three separate, main characters living in the same rural area. Each story is complete unto itself, but there are subtle connections between the characters. In each case, the character has suffered a major life-blow. As the story progresses, each person moves from a very low point to a position where bright hope is surfacing.
--Jessie Marshall, Business/Sciences

Prodigal Summer takes place on a beautiful North Carolina mountain and in the farmlands and village that surround it. Several stories are cleverly interwoven as the human, animal, insect and vegetative characters are developed. This invented geography became so real to me that by the end of the book I felt I could easily wander through it and never be lost. Prodigal Summer is a summer read for me because it is dense with life in all its forms.
--Barbara Wallace, Business/Sciences

Rising Tide: The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and How It Changed America, by John Barry

In the Spring of 1927, America witnessed what is still unarguably it's greatest natural disaster -- the flooding of the Mississippi River. John Barry's highly readable account of the impact of the flood and how it profoundly changed the mid-South and America is an epic historical account that will wash you away with its narrative power.
--Robert Bain, Randolph Branch

The Septimus Heap series by Angie Sage and illustrated by Mark Zug.

The series includes Book One: Magyk, Book Two: Flyte, Book Three: Physik, and Book Four: Queste. I’m about 20 pages from the end of the final book, Queste. It’s the perfect summer read for kids ages 8-13 and parents who enjoy fantasy.

The book follows the adventures of a Kingdom run by its highest Wizard and a Queen. At the beginning of the first book the young Queen has been murdered and the ExtraOrdinary Wizard has been murdered trying to protect her. The kingdom has been thrown into chaos because the newborn daughter of the queen has disappeared. At the same time, in the Heap family, young Septimus, the seventh son of a seventh, has been announced dead soon after his mother delivers him.

The book is full of adventure, funny, odd humans and creatures, both alive and dead. Rats are just as likely to be the hero in a given situation as a boggart or a dragon. Septimus Heap and Jenna Heap (actually the young princess rescued that terrible night) save their kingdom from the Darke Magyk that wants to control their world. They are assisted by various Heap relatives and friends, a scrawny orange cat who after dark transforms into a panther, and the ghost of that murdered ExtraOrdinary Wizard. Great adventure, great characters, great beach read!
--Janet Wyatt, Central Children’s Department

She's Come Undone, by Wally Lamb

I took this book and other books that "had absolutely no academic merit" (as I told my husband/ travel companion, Neale) to Pensacola this summer. I especially liked this book, though, because I could pick it up at any place in the book and get a good laugh from the main character, Dolores Price. She didn't have it easy, but her sarcastic sense of humor made her life a little less jaded.
--Andrea King, Poplar-White Station Branch

Tigerlily’s Orchids, by Ruth Rendell

Rendell is an award-winning master of psychological mysteries! In Tigerlily, she draws a large cast of characters from one neighborhood, examines their foibles and obsessions – and creates a story that is definitely habit-forming. (Hint – there is a surprise at the very end!)
--Kay Due, Central Public Services

[Book Review] CHANGE OF HEART by Jodi Picoult

2011-07-25T13:00:00.000-05:00

Fiction

Kay reviews CHANGE OF HEART by Jodi Picoult (Atria, 2008)

This is a disturbing story on many levels and yet so very uplifting! Shay Bourne, a convicted killer on death row, learns that the sister of his victim needs a heart transplant - and he sees this as his salvation. Unexpected allies – a priest and an attorney – determine that Shay should die on his own terms. The death penalty, the meaning of salvation, and the fate of the soul- all are probed in this moving story.

Kay Due, Public Services

[Quick Picks] Beach Reads

2011-07-22T08:00:00.037-05:00

Vacation season is in full swing, so we asked our library staff to share their favorite Beach Reads with Memphis Reads. This label includes any captivating works that help pass the time while sunning on the beach, on a extended airline flight, a road trip, or during a much-needed staycation. Titles below are listed in alphabetical order.

Can't Wait to Get to Heaven by Fannie Flagg

This is a light, funny story bursting with quirky characters all of whom live in the small town of Elmwood Springs, MO. The premise is a little like the film, It's a Wonderful Life. Reading the "Southernisms" might bring back childhood memories!
--Jessie Marshall, Business/Sciences Department

The Emperor’s Tomb, by Steve Berry

Maybe because they are so far removed from my pretty routine real life, I indulge myself in spy thrillers in the summertime. The Emperor’s Tomb takes place in exotic locations all over the world, including the Himalayas, and uses a fiction surrounding Emperor Qin's Terra-cotta Army as the motivating force for Cotton Malone to do all his retired-but-not-quite spy tricks. It’s a fast enough read to read quite a bit between planes or swim sessions, and interesting enough to make all the background noise fade out as you follow the plot to its exciting conclusion.
--Mary Seratt, Central Children’s Department

A Gate at the Stairs, by Lorrie Moore

Acclaimed writer Lorrie Moore's 2010 fiction A Gate at the Stairs was a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award and the United Kingdom's Orange Prize for Fiction. It was also chosen as a best book of the year by The New York Times Book Review, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, The Christian Science Monitor, Kansas City Star, Financial Times, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and Real Simple; yet has resulted in reader reviews that range from "couldn't put it down," to "couldn't wait to put it down." Lorrie Moore, a professor of English at the University of Wisconsin, having won honours from the Lannan Foundation, The Irish Times, the American Academy of Arts and Letters, as well as the Rea Award and the PEN/Malamud Award itself recommends the reading of A Gate at the Stairs if only to find out where on the "couldn't" or "couldn't wait" spectrum you might fall.
--Robert Bain, Randolph Branch

The Lacuna (Audiobook), by Barbara Kingsolver

I listened to this book in the car on my way to and from a family vacation. The narrator is a Mexican-American man, who reveals the story through his journals from childhood through adulthood. I love reading about other locales while I am on vacation, and most of this story is set in Mexico – on a tropical island, and in bustling Mexico City. Characters include artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera and historical figures like Leon Trotsky. Kingsolver is a marvelous storyteller, and part of what makes this such a delightful “listen” is that Kingsolver herself reads the book, complete with Mexican and Russian accents. The writing is so filled with the color and music and food and politics of the setting that you feel that you are there, eating pollo mole as a guest at the table. --Audrey May, LINC/2-1-1 @ Central

One Day, by David Nicholls

The first chapter of One Day introduces Emma and Dexter on a particular date in 1988 - the day that they graduated from college and also the day that they met. Afterwards, each chapter revisits the two characters on the very same day a year later. At times very funny, at times very sad, this story takes you through a complex and dynamic relationship across the span of two decades. It's hard not to get caught up in their journey. (A movie based on this book will be coming out in August, so if you are like me and you prefer to read the book first, now is the time.)
--Sarah Frierson, History Department

Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen

I couldn’t put it down. There was a little mystery, character development, great life story.
--Arlene Handerson, Frayser Branch

What do you like to read during the summer?

[Library Events and Programs] Book Signing with Linda Reaves

2011-07-20T10:50:00.016-05:00

Only ten days away from this special event at the Cordova Branch Library:Text: Linda Reaves, Founder/CEO of Recess Unlimited, will do a talk and sign her book, THE PIG IS IN MY MOUTH: IN MEMORY OF BEA

Date: Saturday, July 30, 2011

Time: 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.

Location: Cordova Branch Library

[Book Review] ALONE TOGETHER by Sherry Turkle

2011-07-15T09:00:00.021-05:00

Nonfiction/Sociology

Laura reviews ALONE TOGETHER: WHY WE EXPECT MORE FROM TECHNOLOGY AND LESS FROM EACH OTHER by Sherry Turkle (Basic Books, 2011)

Sherry Turkle is the Abby Rockefeller Mauze’ professor of Social Studies of Science and Technology at MIT, as well as the founder and director of the MIT Initiative on Technology and Self. This book is the third in a trilogy which includes The Second Self and Life on the Screen, but it can be enjoyed on its own.

The title caught my attention and appealed to a sense of apprehension about the evolution of technology and how it is affecting human civilization, including how some people seem to experience a detachment from other people and a lack of purpose in living their life. I wanted to better understand people’s attachment to technologies I don’t use and to obtain some persuasive arguments for others to use them less.

Several themes are examined, supported by Ms. Turkle’s interviews over about 15 years, of hundreds of children and adults about the use of robots, internet, email, cell phones, etc. I found the discussion of the following trends caused by technology most disturbing: changes in relationships and communication among friends and family, lack of privacy and community, and lack of sensitivity to (and understanding of) the wants and needs of others.

But all is not lost. Reading this book reminded me of how I felt when reading Future Shock by Alvin Toffler back in the 1970s. I reached the same conclusion then as now, that although one person usually has limited impact on changing the world, as individuals we have an incredible impact on how we choose to accept and use technologies to our best advantage to help us live a happy and fulfilling life.

Laura Salehi, Bartlett Branch

[Awards] 2011 Thriller Awards

2011-07-13T09:00:00.000-05:00

The winners of the 2011 Thriller Awards were announced July 9, 2011.

Bad Blood, by John Sandford won "Best Hard Cover Novel."

Still Missing by Chevy Stevens won "Best First Novel."

View the rest of the winners at The International Thriller Writers' website. Fans of thriller fiction can also view past nominees and winners by clicking here.

[Library Events and Programs] What's Your Flavor? in July

2011-07-11T14:50:00.000-05:00

Join us at the Central Library for our next session of "What's Your Flavor?"

"Out of the Closet”: Gay and Lesbian Fiction
Presented by Conrad Pegues and Audrey May
Thursday, July 21, 2-4 p.m.
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, Room L-56

[Book Club Review] THE HELP by Kathryn Stockett

2011-07-06T11:30:00.000-05:00

Fiction/Historical

North Branch Women’s Book Club recently discussed THE HELP by Kathryn Stockett (Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam, 2009)

The Help was an interesting read, for it showed the dynamics of Southern relationships concerning "the lady of the house" and "the help." This fictional writing takes a look at Jackson, Mississippi during the 1960's. The injustices that went on let us know that the maids were true heroines. They worked under stressful conditions while trying to provide for their own families.

Some readers thought that there was too much dialog that bogged down an otherwise enjoyable read. We wondered if the movie (scheduled for release in August) will be better than the book?

Karen Hall, North Branch Women's Book Club

[News and Notes] June 29, 2011

2011-06-29T12:15:00.001-05:00

Tea Obreht was awarded the Orange Prize for Fiction on June 8 for her debut novel, The Tiger's Wife. Obreht is youngest recipient of this prize, awarded to the best of women's writing from around the world.

If the chill from an intense thriller is what you need on a hot summer day, take a look at the 2011 nominees for the Thriller Awards. What's better than browsing a traditional list of nominees? Galleycat.com has compiled a new "Mixtape" of web links to excerpts from the finalists' novels. Click here to browse the samples.

Science fiction and fantasy publication, Locus Magazine, has released the 2011 winners of the Locus Award. Blackout/All Clear by Connie Willis won the Locus for Best Science Fiction Novel. Visit LocusOnline for the full list of winners.

Flavorwire.com recently posted a great list of 10 Diverse Sci-Fi Authors You Should Know.

All library locations will be closed Monday, July 4th. Browse the library catalog to find any authors or titles mentioned above.

[Book Review] FORGED by Bart D. Ehrman

2011-06-27T09:00:00.000-05:00

Nonfiction/History

Philip reviews FORGED: WRITING IN THE NAME OF GOD: WHY THE BIBLE'S AUTHORS ARE NOT WHO WE THINK THEY ARE, by Bart D. Ehrman (HarperOne, 2011)

In Forged, noted New Testament scholar Bart D. Ehrman presents some seemingly convincing and compelling arguments that explain why some of the books of the New Testament are falsely attributed to authors who did not write them. Ehrman rejects the claim by some scholars that an author writing in the name of another author was a common and accepted practice in ancient times. On the contrary, he says that this was a practice condemned in antiquity and that an author making a false authorial claim was thought to be deceitful and his work was considered a “lie.” Ehrman thinks it is important that people know that many of the books in the New Testament were, in his words, “forged.”

Many conservative and fundamentalist Christians would undoubtedly take issue with Ehrman’s views and contentions. In this book, Ehrman also discusses gospels, letters and other writings that were rejected by the early Church and did not become a part of the canon of the New Testament. Many readers may not know that many of these writings still exist. While rejecting his main arguments, even conservative and fundamentalist Christians could find Ehrman’s discussions of these non-canonical writings fascinating. This is a thought-provoking, controversial book, to say the least, but one lucidly written and very interesting to read.

Philip Williams, Cordova Branch

[Book Review] WATER FOR ELEPHANTS by Sara Gruen

2011-06-22T09:00:00.003-05:00

Fiction/Historical

Nancy reviews WATER FOR ELEPHANTS by Sara Gruen (Algonquin Books, 2006)

Everything about Water for Elephants, except the ending, is so on point that even readers not of the Great Depression should find this story believable. A plausible tale wouldn’t be enough in itself, however, to inspire readers. Excellent historical fiction must also use its factual base to entertain and provoke thought, which Sara Gruen nails in her bestselling novel.

Without giving up too much of the plot, the book is about ninety-something-year-old Jacob Jankowski who waits 70 years to reveal his experiences with Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. He’d barely reached manhood when his parents’ simultaneous deaths produced the instant poverty that led him to hop a train for circus life after dropping out of vet school in his senior year.

All that follows forms a mesmerizing adventure that’s hard to put down. Eye strain was all that prevented my reading it from cover to cover in one sitting. For starters, the characters are unforgettable. They include Marlena, the star equestrian act and Jacob’s future wife; Marlena’s first husband, the handsome and charismatic circus boss who is unspeakably cruel at times; Rosie the elephant whose lemonade transgressions made me laugh out loud; a menagerie of other exotic animals; and a sad array of human freaks.

Jacob’s account of that desperate time in his life (spanning nearly seven years) is engrossing for the sights the reader easily visualizes and the sounds and smells of the big top that couldn’t seem more real. It’s also a commentary on the impact of circuses on Depression-era rubes, slang for gullible patrons. The circus vocabulary in general is an education for wordsmiths, the origin of “roustabout” being the most enlightening for me.

Overall the story is so wonderful that naysaying the final chapter feels almost mean-spirited. For liability reasons alone, nothing about the closing could happen in real life. While mildly disappointing, all is forgiven. This fascinating book has me understanding more about my deceased grandparents and my surviving mother, born in 1929, whose lives were forever changed by the Depression. My altered perception of them is one of the gifts of this story.

Nancy Campbell, LINC Department

[Quick Picks] June is Get Caught Listening Month

2011-06-16T08:00:00.000-05:00

Get Caught Listening Month takes place during the month of June. Publishers, narrators, and authors are promoting the value and enjoyment of audiobooks. We asked our library staff to share their favorite audiobook listening experiences. Click the format links next to each title for item availability. Titles are arranged in alphabetical order.

Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier (Unabridged cassette, Abridged cassette)

Innman, the principal character of Cold Mountain, is a wounded Confederate soldier returning home. While the Civil War is a subject matter for which I would ordinarily turn to non-fiction, this extremely well-wrought fictional work was a complete pleasure to read. Indeed, so much so, I subsequently purchased the audio version (read by the author) so to give equal gratification to my ears as I listened to Charles Frazier's exceptional prose as I drove across country.
--Robert Bain, Randolph Branch Library

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer (Audio CD, Downloadable audio)

A wonderful listen with a cast of readers that brings the letters and their authors to life. The main character, Juliet, begins corresponding with members of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society following WWII all thanks to a used paperback book by Charles Lamb. We, along with Juliet, learn about the German occupation of Guernsey and life during WWII.
--Beth, Highland & Randolph Branches

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (Audio CD)

Percy (who we come to learn is the son of Poseidon and a mortal woman) goes on a quest along with the help of another half-blood, Annabeth, and his best friend (who is half goat-half human), Grover. The quest involves retrieving one of Zeus’s lightning bolts and Hade’s helmet. Jesse Bernstein, the reader, who has appeared in Dawson’s Creek and hosts a talk show called The Underground, wonderfully brings to life the various characters. He has a gift for creating distinctive voices to portray a wide range of characters varying in age, gender and even species. Perfect for the action-oriented listener, The Lightning Thief is a plot driven story that helps the listener learn and remember the names and roles of various Greek Gods.
--Henrietta Alvarez, Cordova Branch Library

The Millennium Series-The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, etc., by Stieg Larsson (Audio CD, Downloadable audio)

I think I would have been tempted to either read ahead or speed through parts of this book, but listening to it really kept me on track. The pacing was excellent, and although the reader didn’t “do voices”, the individual characters were distinct and easy to tell apart. As an added bonus, the reader also had a much easier time pronouncing the Scandinavian names than I would have had reading them. --Mary Seratt, Children’s Department

The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall-Smith (Audio CD)

Precious Ramotswe is a clever, “traditionally built” (plus-sized) woman who has established the first detective agency in Botswana. She solves all types of mysteries and she dishes out life lessons. I read the first two or three books but I soon discovered that Lisette Lecat does a wonderful job narrating the audio recordings. Lecat voices for each character, regardless of gender, which is amusing because of her refined, elegant tone. I listen to the audiobooks while working around the house--they keep me relaxed and focused. Listening to the No. 1 Ladies series has been better than reading the books, because many words found in the novels are in complex languages found in and around Botswana.
--Darletha Matthews, South Branch

Do you know of other great audiobooks we missed? Leave us a comment.

[Book Review] SO MUCH FOR THAT by Lionel Shriver

2011-06-15T16:00:00.006-05:00

Fiction/Mainstream

Kay reviews SO MUCH FOR THAT by Lionel Shriver (Harper, 2010)

Note: This book was a 2010 National Book Award Finalist

Reading this book is not a walk in the park! While exploring the dark side of American medicine and the side effects of fighting grave illnesses, this talented author gives his readers some answers about how to live and perhaps even how to die. When his wife is diagnosed with a virulent form of cancer, Shep Knacker has to put off his dream of retreat to a tropical island. In spite of its themes of illness and death, the reader will not be able to stop reading!

Kay Due, Public Services

[Quick Picks] Great Dads in Fiction and Non-Fiction

2011-06-14T12:30:00.001-05:00

Father's Day is Sunday, June 19th. Many fathers and father figures will be honored on this special day. If you are interested in books with memorable fathers take a look at the staff suggestions we've listed below. *Titles are in alphabetical order*

An American Dream, by Clarence Adams

Clarence Adams was a Memphis native who became a prisoner of war during the Korean War. Unwilling to return to the racism awaiting him in America, Adams chose to remain in China, where he earned a college degree and started a family. Despite being considered a traitor, Adams' decision to stay in China shed light on the racism many African American veterans faced on their return to the United States. Della Adams is his daughter and co-editor of this amazing memoir.

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

He is only known as "father" but he is one of the most heroic male characters I've ever encountered in a work of fiction. The father is determined to provide for and protect his son in a world where most of the animal, plant, and human population is dead. The father shows by example that there is still virtue in a world where starving people commit unspeakable acts to survive. Despite the bleak setting, this story shows the power and beauty of the bond between a father and son.
--Darletha Matthews, South Branch

Girls of Summer, by Barbara Bretton

If you have ever lived in a small town, seen movies, or read books about small town life, you will really enjoy this book! It has something for everyone. It will make you laugh and cry. This book deals with the different dynamics of restoring, reviving, and renewing old or new relationships and friendships. Hall Talbot is a thrice-divorced father trying to raise his four daughters. The main female character, Ellen Markowitz, is a single woman longing for a family of her own and a sense of belonging. She's grappling with the complex relationship that she has with the father who raised her, the birth father who didn't, her two sisters, and the growing feelings that she has for the thrice-divorced father.
--Twan Jones, South Branch

A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry

Arguably, Black America's best known literary family is the Younger family of Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun. While undoubtedly the family's moral center is Mama, the family's future is to be determined and handed down through the family's two fathers: recently deceased "Big Walter" Lee, who has left the family a life insurance policy inheritance and his son Walter Lee (now designated as the family patriarch) who is father to Travis who represents the the 6th generation of Youngers.
--Robert Bain, Randolph Branch

To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

Atticus Finch was a lawyer in the Southern Alabama town of Maycomb during the Great Depression. The small town was prominently white, and unfortunately, racist. When scandal between a well-to-do white girl and a poor, uneducated black man rocks the small town, Atticus teaches his children, Scout and Jem, as well the entire town, compassion and understanding for those who are different when defending Arthur (Boo) Radley.
--Andrea King, Poplar-White Station Branch

Can you think of any great dads from books you've read? Share them with Memphis Reads by leaving a comment.

[Book Review] LIGHTNING by Dean Koontz

2011-06-10T08:00:00.001-05:00

Fiction/Horror

Nancy reviews LIGHTNING by Dean Koontz (Putnam, 1988)

From the earliest pages, Dean Koontz’s riveting use of time travel had me glued to this unusual tale of horror. The aptly-titled Lightning avoids the usual suspects upon whom the genre so often relies. No evil clowns or chainsaw murderers here, just seemingly ordinary folk who could pass for the neighbors next door. That’s how believable they are.

But ordinary, they most certainly are not.

This is the story of Laura Shane’s lifelong dance with destiny. From the time traveler’s first appearance, when he saves her life at birth amidst thunderous bolts of lightning, the reader wants to know why he’s chosen her to rescue. After close calls with would-be murderers in later childhood, Shane figures out that Mystery Man is her guardian angel. Figuring the rest takes a while.

The fun of the figuring is in the maze of adventures that Shane must negotiate before knowing that her survival determines the fate of the free world. Koontz’s suspenseful, sci-fi brand of horror is a maze that mystery lovers would also enjoy navigating.

Nancy Campbell, LINC Department

[News and Notes] 10 Most Powerful Women Authors

2011-06-09T11:17:00.019-05:00

Forbes.com blog contributor, Avril David, lists her choices of the 10 Most Powerful Women Authors. According to David, "these women hold readers captivated with stories of fantastical worlds, suspense and drama, insights into the complexities of minority experiences and cultures, and fresh takes on societal issues and expectations…"

Click here to view the list.

[Library Programs and Events] What's Your Flavor? June 2011

2011-06-08T16:00:00.009-05:00

Join us for June's What's Your Flavor session:

“Just the Facts Ma’am—Murder, Malice and Mayhem”
Mystery Fiction

Presenter: Phyllis Appleby of Malice in Memphis
June 16, 9-11 a.m.
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
3030 Poplar, Meeting Room L-56