You Know My Name

Oh my goodness, it has been an age! Many things have been happening in the interim, among them: moving, job searching, seeing family and new places. This blog, however, is not the place I have chosen to go into detail about these things (my IRL experiences are contained in my social media, thank you very much). This blog is about books and libraries and do I ever have some new and excellent reads to share.

First foray into Bond books!

A couple of nights ago, my family and I went to see the new James Bond movie "Skyfall". It was quite epic and classic Bond - with girls, explosions and dastardly villains. At the end of the movie, there was an acknowledgement that the Bond franchise had turned 50. 50! You must imagine my horror when I realized that even though the franchise had been around for that period of time, I have not read a single book. Seen tons of the movies but have not read one book. Oh, the shame! So, as I prepare to dive into "Casino Royale" by Ian Fleming, here are some other reads that not only remind me slightly of James Bond, but also have movies out (or coming out) that are inspired by book series.



Killing Floor by Lee Child

Jack Reacher is the hero of this long running series of books. Reacher is easily twice as brutal and not even a tenth as suave as James Bond. However, both heroes are able to walk into situations that seem utterly impossible to the rest of us poor mortals and manage to escape unscathed. They also attract the ladies like crazy and when the battle is won, ride off into the sunset in search of more mayhem. In this first book, we meet Reacher who is an ex-military cop on a cross-country ramble. He decides to stop in the tiny town of Margrave, Georgia just for kicks. As he is polishing off breakfast in the town's greasy spoon diner, he gets arrested for murder. After a stint in jail (and a little ass kicking) Reacher convinces the local police that he was innocent of the crime. Reacher discovers that the murder victim is in fact his long estranged brother, who works for the United States Treasury. Jack Reacher decides to pick up where his brother's investigation came to an abrupt halt and soon finds that the tiny town of Margrave hides some pretty sinister activities. This book is a great "easy" read, and by "easy" I mean tons of action, a powerful hero and pages that seem to turn themselves. If you like your heroes big, slightly bad and holding blazing guns, look no further than Jack Reacher. Furthermore, Tom Cruise will be starring as Jack Reacher in a film of the same name. I urge (perhaps beg would be a better word) you all to read the book before Tom is cemented in your brain as Jack Reacher forever.

The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum

This is one book series I did manage to get to before the movie came out. The books were passed between my younger sister, her friends and I. When the movies starring Matt Damon came out, we all went to see them. However, the discrepancies between the books and the movies soon became apparent. So much so, in fact, that one of my sister's friends joked that the movies should be called "The Bob Identity". I am not knocking the movies - they're good stories in and of themselves - but if you want to read the book series, you have to prepare yourself for a bit of a different story. The first part of the book starts out similarly. A man is found floating in the Mediterranean ocean with hideous injuries. He is picked up and nursed back to health. The man has no idea who he is or where he came from. As he searches for answers, he discovers that he comes from a violent past. He finds references to Jason Bourne, a ruthless assassin who is wanted for countless atrocities. When the man is cornered at a hotel, he takes a Canadian government worker named Marie St. Jacques hostage. As they both fight to stay alive, Marie helps the man known as Jason Bourne to discover who he really is and what he is capable of doing. The main character in Robert Ludlums series is also an international man working in the shadows, just like James Bond.      

Book Club: Chocolat by Joanne Harris

I belong to a wonderful book club. In the time I have been with the group, we have read all the way through Austen, the Brontes, science fiction, non-fiction and classics from every decade. This very evening, we will gather to discuss one of my all time favorite books Chocolat by Joanne Harris. Many of you will know the book from the Oscar nominated film adaptation, starring Juliette Binoche, Judi Dench and Johnny Depp. I myself discovered the book after I watched the movie and what a wonderful discovery it was. The book is a much darker creature than the movie. In the book version, the antagonist is the priest, not an aristocrat. Additionally, many of the events that happen in the story are not resolved neatly or at all in the book. In spite of these differences, I believe the book is all the more delicious for its darkness. In honor of this great story (regardless of what medium you use), here are some readalikes for Chocolat by Joanne Harris.

Five Quarters of the Orange: A Novel by Joanne Harris
If you've polished off Chocolat and are hungry for more books in the same style, I recommend continuing with another Joanne Harris book. In this story, you'll discover the same rich language and symbolic use of food and cooking. After many years, Framboise Simon returns incognito to her childhood village in France. She does her best not to let anyone know that she is in fact Framboise Dartigen, the daughter of a woman the entire village still holds accountable for a tragedy that occurred during the German occupation. The reader will jump back and forth with Framboise as she looks from her present to her past to discover what happened during one fateful summer.

 Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
Sarah Addison Allen is one of my new favorites. Although she doesn't have the same amount of darkness in her stories as Joanne Harris does, Addison Allen captures that feeling of magical realism. That is, Sarah Addison Allen makes her stories dance on the edge of the fantastic. None of the characters overtly practice magic. Rather, like Vianne in Chocolat, magic trickles through their lives and manifests itself in particular talents or places. In Garden Spells, the town of Bascom, North Carolina is home to Claire Waverley. Claire, like all of the Waverleys before her, has a special talent. Claire's talent lies in cooking - magical things happen if you eat her meals. Claire is content with her quiet life, until her sister Sydney and Sydney's daughter Bay come to town. Unbeknownst to Claire, they are running from something. It will take all of the Waverleys combined talents to help Sydney stop running and aid Claire with letting go and healing past hurts.

Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
This is the story of the De la Garza family, which consists of Mama Elena and her three daughters: Gertrudis, Rosaura and Tita. They live on a ranch near the Mexican-United States border. This story spans a number of years, but primarily takes place during the Mexican Revolution (1910-1929). Early on in the story Tita falls deeply in love with a neighbor, Pedro. Unfortunately, Mama Elena forbids the marriage, citing a De la Garza tradition that the youngest daughter remain unmarried at home to care for the mother until the mother's death. Pedro instead marries Tita's sister Rosaura, in order to stay close to Tita. Tita consoles herself by working hard in the ranch kitchen. However, when Tita cooks she unwittingly transfers her emotions into the food. This is a beautifully written, sensual story.

 Pomegranate Soup: A Novel by Marsha Mehran
Three Iranian immigrant sisters (Marjan, Bahar and Layla Aminpour) flee to the tiny village of Ballinacroagh, Ireland seeking safety. In order to support themselves, they open a restaurant celebrating the food of their homeland called the Babylon Cafe. At first the villagers are cautious, but soon the three sisters win over friends with their strength, kindness and their exotic cooking. Youngest sister Layla also begins a sweet romance with a young local man. But when a combative and close-minded villager threatens the sister's hard won peace, it's up to the young women and their new allies to prove that they belong in this new place. This is another story that celebrates magical realism through the medium of food.

For more Food Fiction, check out this awesome list, courtesy of Bellingham Public Library.
    

Read like "Pride and Prejudice"

I have wonderful friends. One of the ways my friends show they care is that they will often send me geeky videos, websites, memes, pictures, etc that they think I'll enjoy. Just the other day, one of my friends sent me the following awesome video:

If you haven't already seen this video, this is the official "video blog" of one Lizzie Bennett. Complete with crazy sisters and an overbearing (southern belle) mother, Lizzie talks her way through the arrival of the rich, handsome new neighbor Bing Lee and his mysterious (and apparently hot) friend Darcy. Thus far, this YouTube series is a very clever spoof on "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen.

Since the book was written, there have been countless adaptations of books, movies, stage and television shows. There have been the good (Colin Firth), the bad ("Pemberly Ranch" or "Mr. Darcy, Vampyre" anyone?) and the decidedly odd ("Pride and Prejudice: Hidden Lusts"** - no, I'm not kidding). Everyone has an adaptation that they love and in honor of the above video, I thought I'd share a few of my favorites.

Pride, Prejudice and Jasmin Field by Melissa Nathan
This book was one of my first adaptation reading experiences. In this book, Londoner Jasmin Field is a columist for a woman's magazine. At the beginning of the story, Jasmin is coerced into auditioning for a role in a stage production of "Pride and Prejudice" that will raise money for charity. To everyone's surprise (including her own) Jasmin scores the leading role of Elizabeth Bennet. Playing opposite her as Mr. Darcy is wealthy, talented, Oscar-winning and arrogant actor Harry Noble. In addition to starring in the play, Harry Noble is also acting as director and financier to the production. Of course, sparks fly between Harry and Jasmin and the classic story is played out in the modern setting, with a complete cast of characters. I think what I liked best about this version is that it is just different enough to make me feel as though the author wasn't adapting sentence by sentence. The characters have their own quirks and personalities, while still being true to the original story. I also liked some of the adaptations to modern technologies, for example, Harry Noble saves Jasmin's family reputation by keeping them out of the tabloids.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Graphic Novel
Funnily enough, I didn't like reading "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" at all. Instead of being amused by the changes to the story, I found myself being put out by the tweaks to some of my favorite lines from the book. Reading that book, frankly, felt like some sort of evil, zombie-loving editor had gone through and added sentences or paragraphs that all looked wildly out of place. I kept visualizing the original graceful prose written in cursive, with the new additions scribbled over it in red crayon (some of the jokes were quite juvenile). Having said all that, when I picked up the graphic novel edition I was completely entertained. I enjoyed the heck out of the illiustrations of the Bennet sisters wreaking havoc on the invading zombie hordes. This story was made to be in graphic novel format - with minimal text and lots of action packed pictures.



By the way, the original "Pride and Prejudice" has also been converted to graphic novel format. If you have reluctant readers in your life, or you just want to have a graphic novel reading experience of this Austen classic, I would absolutely recommend you pick up "Pride & Prejudice" by Nancy Butler. The cover for the book is especially clever, as it has been made to look like the cover of a magazine.

Bride and Prejudice (2005)
All right! One of my first movie suggestions. "Bride and Prejudice" is a Bollywood adaptation of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" and it is, simply put, a blast to watch. Lalita Bakshi is one of four sisters in a family living in Amritsar, India. When Lalita and her family attend the wedding of a friend, they meet London barrister Balraj and his good friend Will Darcy. Darcy is wealthy, arrogant and gives Lalita the impression that he is very disdainful of India and Indian culture. Initially, Lalita can't stand Darcy but as the story progresses her impressions of him change. This leads to misunderstandings, wacky capers and eventually happy endings all around. In addition to a well-done adaptation of the classic story, there are several song and dance numbers that are quite fun to watch.

**I just have to share the summary for "Pride and Prejudice: Hidden Lusts" - I've not read it but I'm half curious to after reading this hilarious blurb from NoveList. "Imagine that Jane Austen had written the opening line of her satirical novel Pride and Prejudice this way: "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a good romp and a good wife - although not necessarily from the same person or from the opposite sex." In Pride and Prejudice: Hidden Lusts Mr. Darcy has never been more devilish and the seemingly chaste Elizabeth never more turned on. The entire cast of characters from Austen's classic is here in this rewrite that goes all the way. This time Mr. Bingley and his sister both have designs on Mr. Darcy's manhood; Elizabeth's BFF Charlotte marries their family's strange relation and stumbles upon a secret world of feminine relations more to her liking; and, in this telling, men are not necessarily the the only dominating sex. And of course there's some good old fashioned bodice ripping that shows no pride or prejudice and reveals hot hidden lusts in every page-turning chapter".

Library Fines

We've all had that disagreeable experience. You meant to return that book, you truly did. But life happens, and here you are, book in hand and that smug so-and-so behind the library circulation desk is telling you that money is owed. I have been in both positions - both the individual with the late fees, pleading for mercy and the person behind the desk cringing as the amount due is revealed. Today I thought (being the generous individual I am) that I'd give you the benefit of my experience and write a little bit about how to deal with library fines.

1. Don't blame the person behind the desk
I understand, believe me. It's frustrating when you get a bill you weren't expecting. The person behind the desk may be disagreeable. Maybe it's the last straw to a truly rotten day. Whatever the reason, I urge you to resist snarling at this person. After all, this person was probably blithely mowing their lawn or watching a favorite TV show while the soulless computer was tallying up your library fines. Ultimately this is the person with the power to help you out and you want them on your side, so be civil even if you can't bring yourself to be nice.

2. Be honest about why the items are late (even if it's just 'I forgot') and ask for a break
As I've grown to adulthood, I have been amazed at what people can get simply by asking. This includes forgiveness for library fines. Much of the time, if you're upfront and ask for it, the person behind the desk will waive some or all of your fines. Sometimes, there are even policies or programs in place that can be used to make your fines go away (like Food for Fines). Whatever you do, don't make up a story. While amusing, these little works of fiction will not get results beyond a good chuckle in the library staff room (alien abduction or government confiscation of library materials are among my favorites).

3. Don't ask too often or for minuscule amounts
I once had a person come up to me and complain for over 20 minutes about a 10 cent library fine. By the end of the 20 minutes, both of us were out of temper and my attitude went from "how can I help you" to "you are paying that dratted library fine". Library workers are more than happy to help you out if you're in a fix, but if you are in a fix every single time you're in the library (or if your fix is incredibly minor) the helpfulness tends to diminish. If you tend to accumulate library fines (I'm pointing to myself furiously), pick your moment to appeal for mercy. Also, note that most libraries allow you to accumulate a certain amount (say, 10 dollars, but check with your library) before your use of the library is limited.

4. Don't demand ownership of an item if you've paid fines in excess of what it costs
I was truly surprised the first time this happened. A family brought a book from a popular children's series back quite late (I think the fines were 5 dollars). The book had a $3.99 price on it and once the fines were paid, the family asked for the book, since they felt they had paid for it. Fines are not based on the price of a library item. Fines are like parking tickets. You pay because you did something with your vehicle you weren't supposed to do. If you have fines, it's a fee because you didn't bring your item back, not payment for the item itself.

Even Charlie Brown has to pay fines

5. You've begged, pleaded and were MORE than nice, but the gargoyle at the front desk is still making you pay
There comes a point in every life where you must own up to your mistakes. I'm afraid, my friend, that this moment has come for you. There comes a point where you simply must pay your library fines. You may have done everything I recommend, but at the end of the day, you didn't bring your item back when it was due. If you talk to any library worker, you'll find that most (if not all) of us have had to pay library fines (and if that's not sad, I don't know what is - we WORK here for goodness sake). We empathize, believe me. So, take a deep breath and pay up.           

Old-Fashioned Stories

Most of the time I consider myself a pretty modern girl. After all, these days being a librarian means keeping up with the latest and greatest in technology and information science. However, every once and a while I find myself longing for a read that was written long ago. Many of these books are known to us as "Gentle Reads", or books without any hardcore violence, sex or language. I crave that simple sweetness in my life from time to time. Even better, if you have an e-reader you can often find some of these older favorites for free downloading at Project Gutenberg. Here are some of my favorite "Old-Fashioned" reads.

Swiss Family Robinson  by Johann David Wyss
I can still remember when I first picked this book up. Even though now, as an adult, I raise an eyebrow at the fact that lions, tigers, bears, penguins and ostriches all shared the same land, when I first picked up the book I took it as a matter of course. If you haven't heard the story, a family of six (mother, father and four boys) gets stranded on a deserted island and works to survive and prosper. I think what I loved most about this book was the endless possibility. Although the characters found themselves in a situation that had the potential to be frightening and terribly dangerous (shipwrecked on a deserted island) they made the situation work for them with their survival skills, their family bonds and their faith (er...also by shooting everything that moved, but I digress). The best lesson I learned from "Swiss Family Robinson"? When life shipwrecks you, use the lumber to build a tree house.

 An Old Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott
I'm sure most people will know Louisa May Alcott from her widely read book "Little Women", but fewer know about her many other books. After I had first read "Little Women" I returned to the shelf to find - to my joy - several other Alcott novels just waiting to be discovered. One of my favorites was "An Old-Fashioned Girl" which centered around a 'country' girl named Polly Milton. At the opening of the story, fourteen year old Polly goes to stay with her stylish city friend Fanny Shaw and the Shaw family. Although Polly feels sadly out of place, she wins over almost everyone she meets with her good heart and happy nature. The book follows Polly and the Shaws through several years and changes of fortune. I adored Polly, simply because she stayed true to her own sweet nature in spite of frustrations and lack of wealth or beauty.

Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome
I read "Swallows and Amazons" for the first time because of a smashing review from the lovely ladies over at Book Smugglers. The book hooked me with the first paragraph in which we find a very young boy running towards his mother. However, this young boy isn't running in a straight line, but beating windward (running in a zig-zag) the way a ship does. First of all, this made me laugh because when you're young you never can just run in a straight line (there's always lava or shark infested waters or some other interesting thing you must avoid). Secondly, it beautifully set the stage to introduce four sailing-obsessed children who were planning to sail on their ship (the Swallow) and camp out on an island for the summer. The book follows the four 'Swallows', John, Susan, Titty and Roger as they have adventures and clash with the fearsome Amazon pirates (Nancy and Peggy) who eventually turn friends. Although I haven't read further, this series apparently follows the Swallows and Amazons every summer and watches them as they grow and change.

A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter
I tend to gravitate towards stories that show an underdog succeeding. Elnora Comstock is the only child of stern widow Katharine Comstock. The two live on the edge of the Limberlost swamp in the state of Indiana and scrape by. We enter into the story on Elnora's first day of high school, where the girl is made fun of because of her raggedy clothes. Elnora discovers that she must buy her own books and supplies if she wants to attend high school. Elnora can't go to her mother for help because Katharine blames Elnora for the death of her husband and holds her at a distance. However, Elnora finds that her extensive knowledge of the Limberlost (in particular her habit of gathering and learning about moths) and the love of her friends will enable her to make her way in the world. This is a wonderful story of love, forgiveness and the beauty of nature.
    

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson
I freely admit that there have been several instances where I have seen the movie before I have read the book. After seeing the movie version and thoroughly enjoying it (it's adorable and comes highly recommended from me) I was overjoyed to find there was a book so I could enjoy the story all over again.  In 1930s London, middle aged spinster and governess Guinevere Pettigrew is mistakenly sent to the home of glamorous actress Miss Lafosse. Miss Pettigrew swiftly becomes the companion of the flighty beauty and finds herself blooming as she guides the girl through a series of romantic and social mishaps. "Miss Pettigrew" is a Cinderella story of sorts that sends the message that one is never too old to shine.

Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons
"Cold Comfort Farm" is another recently discovered read that has risen to become one of my all time favorites. Stella Gibbons penned this comedic novel in the 1930s, slyly poking fun at popular themes in literature of the day. The story follows one Flora Poste, a thoroughly modern girl who decides to move in with distant relatives rather than find gainful employment. Flora journeys to Cold Comfort farm in Sussex, England where she discovers several mournful relatives, each with their own unique issues. One example is matriarch Aunt Ada Doom, who keeps her family in line by wielding a scarring experience she had as a child when she "saw something nasty in the woodshed". Flora is determined to help her poor backward family, so, armed only with her firm common sense and modern ideals, she sets off to make things right. This book is completely hilarious and I was giggling helplessly by the first chapter. Enjoy a little satire with this timeless comedy.

People I'm Going to Miss

I'm sorry to say that one of the ways I deal with loss is denial and avoidance. Some of my all time favorite authors passed away last year and I have been furiously burying my head in the sand in an attempt to make the whole issue go away. However, as most people know, this method doesn't work forever. It is with a heavy heart that I finally acknowledge that Russell Hoban, Diana Wynne Jones and Anne McCaffrey passed away in 2011. Here, to honor their memories, are some of their books that I loved.

Russell Hoban is best known (to me) for his children's picture books featuring Frances, a precocious little girl badger. Frances is a wonderful character - one with all sorts of human characteristics, from stubbornness to creativity. Over the course of several books, Frances has all sorts of common childhood adventures. I adored Frances because I recognized in her some of the same characteristics I saw in myself. In particular, I loved the little songs Frances made up and sang whenever she was struggling to understand a particular issue - be it a new baby sister or friendships. I received my first Frances book when I became a big sister (just like Frances!) and I can't tell you how much it comforted me to know that other people (and badgers) went through the same thing. I often recommend Frances books for beginning readers or kids who enjoy reading along to a picture book. Another wonderful aspect to these picture books was that Hoban's wife illustrated them - what a wonderful partnership. Whenever I leaf through one of Hoban's picture books, Frances still charms my socks off all these years later. Russell Hoban, thank you for your lovely 'every-girl' character - you will be missed.

If there was one author I was genuinely devastated about, it was Diana Wynne Jones. Jones was an incredibly prolific children's fantasy author and one of my all time favorite writers. She wrote with a deft hand and produced fantasies that were not only lyrical and creative, but also smart. Jones never fell into the trap of assuming that children would be satisfied with (or wouldn't notice) lazy writing. Although the books were geared towards children, they appealed to readers of all ages. Just look at the book "Howl's Moving Castle", which inspired Hayao Miyazaki to make a gorgeous film adaptation. Jones wrote fantasies that were unique and spoke to issues we have all faced, including prejudice and finding one's own place in the world. Long before I read Harry Potter, I read about Jones' Chrestomanci - a powerful enchanter who could move between realities and had nine lives. If you want to start from the beginning, Jones' Chrestomanci stories have been collected in volumes. Begin with "The Chronicles of Chrestomanci Volume I", although I will have to admit that two of my favorite stories in the Chrestomanci universe come much later.

The first is "The Pinhoe Egg", in which a young student of the Chrestomanci finds that a small village has been suppressing good magic and snarling up the balance of nearly everything. This young student (Cat) and a girl from the village must work together to bring things back into balance again. This is another one of those stories where the seemingly smallest and least important people become the most important (I love stories like these). The eventual, triumphant wild breaking out of magical beings is all thanks to Cat and his friend from the village. My other favorite book is "Enchanted Glass", where a young orphan seeks shelter with a magician. This orphan discovers family, friends and his own strength - and he also finds out about the curious nature of a magical stained-glass window. Diana Wynne Jones was one of the first fantasy authors to awaken my imagination. Indeed, she is one of the reasons that I love fantasy - world building, hidden truths and all. So, Diana, thank you - from the bottom of my heart - for writing furiously and keeping me in wonderful, complex fantastical stories.

My final farewell goes to Anne McCaffrey, dragon-lady and creator of the wonderful world of Pern. I owe all of my youthful dragon riding fantasies to Anne McCaffrey (although, really, who wouldn't love a friendly dragon who adores you and flies you about?). As famous as that world was, Anne McCaffrey was not just about dragons. She also wrote about Acorna the unicorn girl, a group of people called Talents who flew ships and had amazing mental powers, survivors on alien worlds, miners with powerful connections to their gemstones and many other wonders. McCaffrey's books were my bridges, both to the genre of science-fiction and a little bit more mature reading. Her books are also what we in the library world call "stretches". I had never enjoyed science-fiction until I read one of her books - thereafter, I knew that science-fiction could be enjoyed (and even loved). I tend to be a huge fan of world-building and McCaffrey builds wonderful places by the score. Although I'm only going to list two books that I loved, I must stress that I loved most of her other books as well.

"Freedom's Landing" is the first book in a quartet and a fairly recent discovery by yours truly. Kristin Bjornsen lived a normal life in Denver, Colorado until a hostile alien race called the Catteni moved in and conquered planet earth. Being a resourceful woman, Kristin escapes slavery and flees into the woods. Her bare existence is threatened when she runs into a rogue Catteni. The two are captured and then abandoned with hundreds of other slaves on a new planet. The Catteni wish to see if the planet is fit for colonization. The slaves all work together to make this strange place into a survivable home. However, soon it becomes apparent that Kristin, her Catteni ally and the rest of the slaves must be prepared to defend their home from more than just the Catteni overlords.

I am a mighty revamped cover. Fear me.

"The Rowan" is the other book that I absolutely adored. This book is the first in a series where people called Talents are among the most valued citizens in the universe. The Talents are able to transport everything from cargo to people between planets with their mental powers. The Rowan is a young orphan with an incredibly powerful Talent who is discovered in the ruins of a settlement. She grows up isolated because of the incredible strength of her Talent. It isn't until The Rowan is a young woman that she makes a connection with another similarly strong Talent on a distant star that she escapes from her self-imposed isolation and decides to trust in the love of another person. **Side note: Don't judge the book by the cover on the right. Had I seen that cover, I may never have picked up the book in the first place. The cover girl has crazy eyes.

Book Review - Infinite Kung Fu

Infinite Kung Fu written and illustrated by Kagan McLeod

This past year has marked the beginning of my love affair with graphic novels. I have always had an issue sticking with series that seemed to stretch into eternity, so when I discovered this book (through a recommendation from the Unshelved team) I was thrilled. This is an entire series that has been condensed into one volume and I am so glad. I can easily see tearing my hair out while waiting for another installment. "Infinite Kung Fu" takes place in a world known as 'The Martial World'. We are told that planet Earth has gone through some catastrophic changes and has reverted back to what looks like the ancient Far East (for the most part - there's also a section that looks like a psychedelic city, but I digress).There is no technology - black magic and kung fu reign supreme.

In this world there are Eight Immortal beings who have discovered the deepest secrets of kung fu. They are not allowed to help the human race directly, so they each have chosen a single disciple to aid humanity and represent them on Earth. These disciples went out into the world with their teachers to fight off...wait for it...the hordes of zombies plaguing mankind (yes, there are hordes of zombies and kung fu - fully awesome). However, partway through their studies the disciples all gave in to the temptation of studying the forbidden arts of poison kung fu. The Immortal beings cast aside these disciples and feel they have failed the human race. Now the disgraced disciples fight for the corrupt Emperor as his sadistic generals.

Lei Kung, kung fu hero

Enter into this world weary soldier Lei Kung who was once a conscript in the Emperor's army, but deserted when he saw the atrocities committed by the generals. He encounters the leader of the Eight Immortals on a mountaintop. The Immortal informs Lei Kung that he is now a disciple and the last remaining hope for his world. Lei Kung is tasked with mastering kung fu and taking down the evil Emperor, who has ruled for time immemorial through supernatural means. Lei Kung is aided in his quest by his Immortal master as well as former disciple Moog Joogular. Although initially skeptical, Lei Kung slowly turns into the hero he was always meant to be. This book is a strange and wonderful combination of zombie-apocalypse, "Kill Bill" and love poem to old school kung fu culture. The pictures are dynamic and mesmerizing - and the awesome kung fu battles are practically a work of art. The one thing I will mention is that the violence is quite graphic. However, if readers enjoyed "Kill Bill" or "300", the epic splatters and disintegration scenes shouldn't be bothersome. If you're in the mood for a frankly fantastic kung fu adventure, check out this complete volume of "Infinite Kung Fu".     

Mysteries and Crime Solving - in Two Flavors

I am not a mystery buff. However, the mystery love is strong in both my family and my library acquaintance, so I'm not sure exactly where I missed the boat. Over a lengthy (ish) reading life, I have definitely found a few mysteries that have kept me interested and/or on the edge of my seat. I've compiled a list of my very favorite fictional (not-true) and non-fiction (true) items for your perusal.

Fiction

The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
If you haven't picked up the first book in this extensive series, you are in for a treat. Precious Ramotswe lives in Botswana and has just come into an inheritance from her beloved father. With the money she decides to start a detective agency (the first women's detective agency in Botswana and perhaps in all of Africa - thus the No. 1). The ensuing series follows the mysteries and adventures that Precious encounters as a tenacious female detective. While this series is very gentle and full of humor, it does not shy away from serious obstacles modern Africans face. Also, if you end up liking this book series, HBO did an excellent television series adaptation of the first couple of books.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan C. Bradley
Flavia de Luce is the youngest of three sisters growing up in 1950s England. Her passions are chemistry and poisons and she spends most of her time tinkering in her inherited laboratory. One morning Flavia hears a strange noise coming from the family garden. Going out to investigate, Flavia discovers a dying man, who manages to gasp out a single word before he expires in the cabbages. Flavia could not be more delighted by this interesting event and immediately sets out to solve the mystery of the murdered stranger. Flavia is a spunky, interesting and very well written heroine. It's a pleasure to follow her further adventures in this continuing series.

The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King
I have read many adaptations of the "Sherlock Holmes" mythology and to my mind author Laurie King does one of the best jobs of keeping the original character intact and recognizable, while introducing new characters and circumstances into his well known story. In 1915 England, fifteen-year-old Mary Russell has an extraordinary encounter with an elderly beekeeper. It turns out that the beekeeper is in fact the semi-retired Sherlock Holmes and he sees something of himself in the fiercely intelligent, standoffish Mary. Soon, Holmes takes Mary on as an apprentice and the two are swept up in a mystery that will take them into the darkest recesses of British Intelligence in WWI England.

The Chalk Circle Man by Fred Vargas
With the soaring popularity of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" series, the American public has suddenly become much more aware of some of the fantastic international mystery writers - and not a moment too soon in my book. One of my absolute favorites is french writer Fred Vargas (a pseudonym for historian, archeologist and writer Frédérique Audoin-Rouzeau). She writes police thrillers, all centered around Parisian detective Chief Inspector (Commissaire ) Adamsberg. Adamsberg follows intuition as much as he does evidence, which is frustrating to his colleagues (even more so when his hunches prove to be true). Paris has been baffled when a series of chalk circles are drawn around the city. Each circle contains an object, seemingly at random. Adamsberg knows that it is only a matter of time before a body appears in one of these circles and, as usual, he is correct. Adamsberg must use his unique perspective to catch an intelligent and ruthless killer.


Non-Fiction

Vanished Smile: The Mysterious Theft of the Mona Lisa by R. A. Scotti
Here, I have to admit my own embarrassing amount of ignorance. I had no idea that the Mona Lisa was ever stolen and remained missing for over two years. No idea. None (somehow this was never covered in the history classes I took). On a sultry day in August, 1911 the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre. Famous detectives from all over Europe were called in a desperate attempt to recover the famous painting. Everyone from the famous (Pablo Picasso) to the common was accused of stealing the painting and still it was not discovered. This was the era of the telegraph, and what might have been a local drama turned into a media fueled international sensation. The world followed breathlessly as the investigation continued. Strangely, over two years after the painting disappeared, it was discovered when a man attempted to sell it to an Italian antique store. How had the Mona Lisa gotten to Italy? Why (and how) was it stolen in the first place? Author Scotti pens this excellent exploration of these questions as well as a riveting play-be-play of the event itself.     

The Man Who Loved Books too Much: The True Story of a Thief, a Detective and a World of Literary Obsession by Allison Hoover Bartlett
The degree to which the individuals in this book are obsessed with books is staggering, even for a bibliophile like myself. John Charles Gilkey is an extreme book lover turned international book thief. As of this books publishing, Gilkey had stolen a king's fortune worth of rare books. However, Gilkey did not steal these books to be sold. Gilkey kept them for his private collection. Facing off against Gilkey was another book obsessed man, Ken Sanders. However, Ken was determined to catch Gilkey and find the many volumes that had been disappearing into his extensive collections. What follows is a riveting chase between criminal and detective across the country, from book show to book exhibition. Bartlett chronicles this chase and supplements her materials with extensive interviews with both men.

The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York by Deborah Blum Sometimes we forget that there was a time before modern discoveries that we take for granted. Forensic medicine is one such discovery. Once upon a time, long before CSI or Bones, investigators couldn't tell whether someone had been poisoned or died peacefully in their sleep. This is the true story of two scientists who pioneered forensic medicine and chased murderers during the prohibition years. The author organizes the book by the type of poison and the case that contributed to its discovery. This book is very well written and completely engrossing, with all the details and twists of a fictional crime novel. I highly recommend this book for dedicated mystery readers and watchers.

The Murder Room: The Heirs of Sherlock Holmes Gather to Solve the World's Most Perplexing Cold Cases by Michael Capuzzo 
 If you thought that detectives with seemingly otherworldly abilities to solve mysteries existed only in the realm of fiction, then "The Murder Room" is the book for you. Ever since 1990, a group of extraordinary individuals gather once a month to have lunch and discuss the world's most puzzling cold cases. They call themselves the Vidocq Society, after a famous detective that was said to be the inspiration for Sherlock Holmes. They come from everywhere, from every level and aspect of law enforcement. The only requirement is that each person must have an unmatched brilliance at solving crime. Although Capuzzo's narrative does occasionally get bogged down when he switches from the cases to the personal lives of three awe-inspiring detectives, the overall story of the Vidocq Society is entirely fascinating.

Fairy - Tale Fun

I am going to confess right now that I love fairy tales. I love the fantasy, the "good" that almost always prevails and the fact that we have been collectively retelling these tales for time beyond imagination. For example consider this story. A girl goes to a gathering where the ruler of the land sees her and falls in love with her. He neglects to get her name (dude, seriously?), but by luck finds one of her shoes. This shoe leads him straight to the girl - and they live happily ever after. Do you know the name of this story? We know it as Cinderella - and the first version of the story was recorded by a Roman historian in the first century B.C.! How cool is it that we've been retelling it ever since? Here are some of my favorite re-told fairy tales.


Beauty and the Beast
The basic story is this. A young woman named Beauty lives with her merchant father and family (any combination of sisters, brothers, a mother or no mother). Beauty's merchant father loses his fortune and his business and must move his entire family to a much smaller house far away from 'civilized' lands. After a period of time, Beauty's father hears that there may be a possible reversal of fortune for their family. Believing his family will soon be rich again, he asks what he can buy everyone. Most of the family members ask for material things, but Beauty asks for a rose. When Beauty's father returns to town he finds that all is indeed lost and there will be no reversal of fortune. Heartsick, he heads back to his family, only to become lost. He stumbles upon a house/mansion/castle with magical qualities and passes a night in safety. Upon waking, he sees a rose which he wishes to take home to Beauty. However, when he tries to take it a Beast leaps out and demands either his life or the life of one of his daughters. When the merchant returns to his family, Beauty willingly gives herself up in exchange for her father. Beauty lives with the Beast in his magical palace and comes to care for him (sometimes a nightly proposal of marriage is included, sometimes not). After a period of time, Beauty becomes so homesick (or discovers her father is ill, her family in trouble), she begs to go home. The Beast lets her go but warns her that he will die without her. Beauty does return home and her family convinces (maliciously or out of love) her to stay longer than she told the Beast she would. Beauty returns to the Beast only to find him dying. When Beauty declares her love, the Beast miraculously changes into a handsome prince and they live happily ever after. After all this, we learn that the handsome Prince was changed into a Beast due to a family curse, excessive pride or a nasty personality.
 
Sometimes the Soul: Two Novellas of Sicily by Gioia Timpanelli. I discovered this little known book when I was looking for 'Beauty and the Beast' stories. Timpanelli re-tells two well known stories, both set in her native Sicily. The first is a riff on the story of Scheherazade and the second is a 'Beauty and the Beast' adaptation. The lyrical nature of Timpanelli's writing is beautiful - and the story is too. I don't want to spoil too much, but suffice it to say, there is no magic or physical transformations at the end of the story. Instead it is Beauty's perspective that undergoes a great change.

Heart's Blood by Juliet Marilliner Juliet Marilliner has also written a wonderful series based on another favorite fairy tale 'The Seven Swans'. The author focuses on Irish/Celtic mythology. In this story, Caitrin is on the run from abusive family members - carrying only her scribing materials and hope that she can get far away enough. She stumbles into the cursed lands of crippled Lord Anluan where, against all odds, she finds a place in his home and in his heart.

Fire Rose by Mercedes Lackey This book is one of the very first in Lackey's "Elemental Masters" series. This is a series that retells well known fairy tales, except in a historical place and time where there are magicians that can control the four elements (earth, air, fire and water). In the "Fire Rose" a powerful magician of fire and railroad magnate (Jason Cameron) hires female scholar Rosalind "Rose" Hawkins to help him find a cure for a spell gone horribly wrong. It's interesting to read this first entry in the series and then see how the author changes the mythology of this world as the series progresses.  

Rose Daughter by Robin McKinley Robin McKinley is much better known for her first retelling of 'Beauty and the Beast', which was her young adult book "Beauty". "Rose Daughter" was her second retelling of the tale. I love both, simply because they are two such different and unique stories that have the same general fairy tale base. Unlike many other 'Beauty and the Beast' tales, Beauty's two sisters are not unkind. Rather, all three girls pitch in when their fortunes change and find tasks suited to their skills and personalities.

Beastly by Alex Flinn This is one of those books that I firmly recommend to be read in spite of (or as a cure for) the movie. Although I can't claim the book has literary clout, it is still an interesting take on the fairy tale. This book is told entirely from the Beast's perspective, as well as featuring several transcripts of online chats between him and a bunch of other recognizable fairy tale characters. The 'beast' in this story is Kyle Kingsbury, the spoiled and cruel son of a news anchor father. He reigns supreme at an expensive private school, bullying the less popular and loafing his way through classes. When he insults a goth-dressing, 'witchy' classmate, she turns him into a beast (complete with hair and fangs). Kyle then has the requisite year to get a girl to love him, or remain a beast forever.


The Snow Queen
Before our story begins, we are told that an evil sprite (or sometimes the devil himself) made a mirror that reflected all that was good and beautiful as being inferior and bad. This sprite shatters the mirror and the millions of pieces flew around the world, causing mischief wherever they landed. Two young people, Gerda and Kay live in a small village and are the best of friends. As they are playing one day, Kay gets a piece of the magic mirror stuck in his eye and his heart. He becomes cruel and no longer plays with Gerda. As Kay is sledding one day, a beautiful woman dressed all in white takes him away. It is the Snow Queen and she is impressed with his cold heart. Gerda discovers Kay's disappearance and decides to go and look for him. On her way, she meets a woman with a cottage and flower garden, a prince and princess from a faraway land and a robber girl. All of these characters try and keep her with them and then eventually aid her on her quest. Gerda finally comes to the palace of the Snow Queen where she finds Kay, playing with a frozen puzzle. She hugs him and weeps over him - and her tears wash the pieces of mirror from his eye and his heart. The two children return home to find they are all grown-up.

The Snow Queen by Joan D. Vinge This was one of those discoveries I did not make until I was well into library school. Vinge is best known for her science fiction - this particular work is a fascinating mix of science fiction and fantasy. The current Snow Queen has been ruling the planet of Tiamat for 150 years. Soon the time will come when she must hand over her power in a traditional change to the Summer Queen. However, the Snow Queen does not wish to relinquish her throne is attempting to perpetuate her rule forever. Into this comes the protagonist Moon, one of the summer-tribe, who must wrest control of her unique world and her beloved (Sparks Dawntreader) from the corrupt grasp of the Snow Queen.

The Snow Queen by Mercedes Lackey Lackey is a prolific writer and many of the books she has written are riffs off of or involve well known fairy tales and folklore. Other than her "Elemental Masters" series, she has also written the "Tales of the 500 Kingdoms" series. The '500 Kingdoms' universe is run by something called The Tradition, which ensures that many of the people who inhabit this world will be pushed into acting out well known fairy tales (to understand this better, reading the first book in this series "The Fairy Godmother" is recommended but not essential). These people are guided by magicians, witches and fairy godmothers who help them to their 'happy endings' and completed quests. Aleksia is a godmother who plays the part of the cruel Snow Queen to help spoiled young men reform and ensure her kingdom runs smoothly. However, when a true Snow Queen begins to destroy villages and kill young men, Aleksia must embark on a quest of her own to clear her name and find her own destiny

Winter's Child by Cameron Dokey Dokey writes several stories for the "Once Upon a Time" series which includes (you guessed it) books that retell fairy tales. In this retelling of the Snow Queen, Grace and Kai have more of a friendship than a romantic relationship. After Kai disappears with the exotic (and much more sympathetic) Snow Queen, Grace embarks on a journey to find him and discover her own strengths.

Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu This gorgeous tale features neighbors Hazel and Jack, who have been the best of friends ever since they were six. Hazel wishes that her special friendship with Jack won't ever change, but life interferes. Hazel's father leaves and Jack's mother gets sick - so sick that her eyes are almost completely blank. Then comes the snowy day when Jack gets something stuck in his eye and he seems to forget about Hazel completely. Hazel refuses to give up on Jack and when she hears that he has disappeared into the woods with a powerful snow witch, she goes in search of him. As Hazel braves the dangers of the woods, she learns a great deal about herself and about the changing nature of friendships. Although this children's book has fantasy elements, the author writes great truths about friends and growing up.

Jenna's Top 11 of 2011

Everyone loves to make 'best of' lists this time of year - and I am no exception. After much hair pulling and rearranging I have come up with a list of my favorite reads of 2011. I wanted to make sure that I had an equal-ish number across categories and age groups, so this is by no means all of my favorites (I have a disproportionate number of fiction reads that I loved but couldn't include, if I was going to have an interesting list). Without more nostalgic sniffling about time gone by, here's the top 11 of 2011!

Jenna’s Top 11 of 2011

Fiction – Adult

The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai

·         Children’s librarian Lucy is kidnapped by one of her favorite 10-year-old patrons (or is it the other way around?). The two embark on a road trip that helps them both wrestle with the challenges that face them.

Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson

·         Humanity fights to survive hordes of robots bent on world domination. The book is well written, philosophical and interesting despite the take-no-prisoners action feel.

Nonfiction – Adult

Nothing Daunted: The Unexpected Education of Two Society Girls in the West by Dorothy Wickenden

·         Two girls from well-to-do families on the East Coast decide to take a teaching job in a tiny settlement out west during the early 1900s.

Fire Season: Field Notes from a Wilderness Lookout by Philip Connors

·         During the summer a journalist travels to New Mexico to take his place as a fire lookout in one of the state’s national parks.

Nonfiction – Children or Teen

How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous by Georgia Bragg

·         This book describes in gruesome detail how a bevy of famous historical figures died.

Elephant Talk: The Surprising Science of Elephant Communication by Ann Downer

·         Discusses the different sounds that elephants makes and posits why they make them. Did you know that elephants squeak?

Fiction – Children or Teen

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

·         Seventeen-year-old Karou has always lived a double life. Some of the time she’s an art student in Prague and the rest she runs errands for a fantastical group of creatures. It isn’t until Karou meets a seraphim named Akiva that she begins to unravel the mystery of her past.

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor

·         After moving to Nigeria an albino named Sunny discovers her magical heritage. A richly imagined world (and a new method of making magic!) that takes place deep in Africa.

Horton Halfpott, or, The Fiendish Mystery of Smugwick Manor, or, The Loosening of M'Lady Luggertuck's Corset by Tom Angleberger

·         A lowly kitchen boy has adventures with cruel masters, romance, bumbling detectives and ferocious land-bound pirates.

A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park

·         Alternately tells the stories of two children from opposing tribes in Africa. One is a boy fleeing war and the other is a girl who has to make a grueling daily hike simply to get water.

The Secret Box by Barbara Lehman

·         A group of students discover a box hidden under the floorboards with instructions to a mystery location. This is a wordless picture book.