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".

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.

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.

My Favorite Unknowns

If you read enough books, eventually you'll come across reads that have never, ever graced the New York Times bestseller list. In fact, as you struggle to find a copy, you realize that this book you read may not have ever graced any recognizable list anywhere. This doesn't mean that the book has no value. Rather, dear reader, it means that you have found a diamond in the rough. A story that has spoken to you where it has not spoken to many people before. In short, you've found a choosy book - and it's up to you whether to share it or not. I have found very few books that have not been recognized by someone in my acquaintance, but the following reads have stumped even some of my librarian friends.

Instructions by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Charles Vess
 Rarely do I read a book and then rush home and buy it the first chance I get. However, as soon as I had finished this wonderfully charming picture book, I sprinted home and did exactly that. This poem by Gaiman was first published in A Wolf at the Door but has since been reborn in this short book. The illustrations are also gorgeous - Vess has made them as charming and whimsical as the prose. "Touch the wooden gate in the wall you never saw before" begins the poem. The reader and the quester (or are they the same thing?) are guided through a familiar landscape filled with the scraps of famous fairy-tales, folklore and old stories. I loved the 'advice' that is offered to the reader, on everything from being polite to overcoming obstacles to never, ever losing hope.

The Only Alien on the Planet by Kristin D. Randle
I always have the greatest difficulty describing books that I wholeheartedly adore. This book was the 'Twilight' of my early teenagerdom - I still have my worn copy that I re-read every one and a while. In this book, the main character and narrator (Ginny) has had to face some tough changes. Her beloved older brother has left for college and she and her entire family have moved across the country. As Ginny adjusts to a new school, she finds herself becoming fascinated with a strange boy named Smitty Tibbs. Smitty is beautiful and intelligent but has never interacted with another living soul. In fact, his classmates call him the Alien because he acts so strangely. As Ginny gets drawn into Smitty's life, she has to decide whether she can live with the secrets in Smitty's past. I have always loved Ginny because I identified with her so strongly. Here was a girl who wasn't stunningly beautiful, who didn't have magical help or stumble onto the perfect answer. Instead, Ginny felt more like someone you could actually encounter. She felt normal and very real. The title, by the way, refers to something Ginny says in the first chapter in the book. She says that we all have to remember we're never 'the only alien on the planet'. Even though we may feel like it, we're never alone in our struggles and issues.

The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery
I have always been a romantic soul. Of course, between present day and my early teens my tastes have matured (er...immensely) but I often find myself coming back to this old favorite whenever I require a very gentle romance. Valancy lives a miserable existence as the odd one out in her very unpleasant family. At 29, she's never fallen in love, rebelled or even had many moments of undiluted happiness. All of her enjoyment comes from reading her favorite books and daydreaming about life in a mystical Blue Castle. One day, Valancy is informed via a letter from her doctor that she hasn't long to live. She has a heart condition that will make her heart give out within a year at most. After Valancy reads the letter, she vows that she will live life to the fullest. She begins at once, much to the horror of her snobbish family, and ends up doing all kinds of 'shocking' things like becoming friends with the town scapegraces and cutting her hair (oh horrors). She revels in all the adventure, love and wonder that life has to offer. By the end of the book, Valancy has finally discovered all the joy that she only had in her imaginary Blue Castle. This book is full of gratification, from a very sweet romance, to devilish relish when Valancy finally stands up to her awful family and comes into her own. L.M. Montgomery, by the way, is also the author of the Anne of Green Gables series.

Guys Read

I was going to write a post on my favorite fairy tales. There were a few Princesses, quite a bit of magic and more than a few sparkles. However, right before I finished the post, I read the library newsletter. Staff gets a weekly newsletter that lets us know what is going on across the system. There were not one but two extensive articles that involved reading dudes of all ages. One was an extensive program to get young (middle school) guys reading and the other was a visit from author Christopher Paolini (the guy who wrote Eragon) who chatted with a crowd of hundreds.

Then, at work today, I had an interaction with a young man who was looking for a good science-fiction book. Although I did manage to find one or two, suggestions don't come as quickly (for me anyway) for boys as they do for girls. I don't get nearly enough practice making recommendations for the guys so in this post I'll toss out a few of my favorites. If you're interested in further reading for all cool dudes, check out the Guys Read website for suggestions and news on all things male and reading.

Fiction

Chicken Butt! by Erica S. Perl and illustrated by Henry Cole
I don't know about you, but I've certainly noticed that most boys go through a gross out stage. They enjoy dancing on the line between being a little outrageous and all out disgusting. This particular picture book feeds that type of humor. In addition to the classic question-and-answer that we've all experienced on the playground ("Do you know what?" "Chicken butt!") the author expands into a series of silly rhymes that kids and their parents will find hilarious. The dynamic illustrations only add to the fun. The only word of warning I will add is that this book is compulsively readable...and you may find yourself the "butt" of a certain joke many times over.

Bunnicula by James and Deborah Howe
As the author is sitting by his fireside one dark and stormy night, he hears a scratch on his door. When he opens the door, he sees a very damp and shaggy dog bearing a manuscript. After the animal disappears into the night, the author opens the manuscript to reveal that the dog has written his memoirs and brought them to the author in the hopes of being published. The resulting book is "Bunnicula" and if you like animals and haven't picked it up, you are seriously missing out. Our hero, Harold the dog, lives with his family and fellow animal, Chester the cat. It is a peaceful and quiet life until one evening when his family brings home a strange rabbit. Soon after the rabbit joins the family vegetables start showing up completely drained of their juices. Harold and Chester must work together to solve the mystery of the strange occurrences before any more food meets a grisly end. Readers will especially enjoy the personalities of Harold and Chester, which are pitch perfect for their species (Chester especially captures the catlike "I'm surrounded by morons, utter morons" philosophy). This chapter book is a fantastic read-aloud option.

Whales on Stilts by M.T. Anderson
Lily Gefelty's father works for a real, honest to goodness Mad Scientist. When Lily overhears that the scientist intends to take over the world through particularly nefarious means (Mind controlled whales. On stilts. With laser beam eyes. Oh yeah), Lily and her two best friends decide to foil the villain through any means necessary. Although the tongue in cheek humor may be a bit mature for younger readers, older kids who have loved "Captain Underpants" and "A Series of Unfortunate Events" will adore this humorous take on the common crazy-scientist-taking-over-the-world convention.

Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins
Were any of you aware that Suzanne Collins wrote another series before her insanely popular "Hunger Games"? Me either. It wasn't until I was casting about for an alternative to Harry Potter that I stumbled upon this gem of a book. Eleven-year-old New Yorker Gregor and his baby sister never dreamed that anything extraordinary existed beneath the floors of their apartment building. It isn't until one day when the siblings fall into an open grate in their laundry room that they discover the underland. The underland is a fantastical world where enormous talking rats, bats and cockroaches live in uneasy peace with humans. When Gregor and his sister enter the picture, the underlanders are on the brink of war. Only an overlander referred to in an ancient prophecy can save underlanders from complete destruction. With a prophesied hero, action packed battles and a satisfying amount of books in the series, "Gregor the Overlander" is a fantastic book to add to your reading lineup


H.I.V.E. (Higher Institute for Villainous Education) by Mark Walden
I have always loved series that buck the mundane and try something entirely new. Author Mark Walden takes the anti-hero to a whole new level when he writes "H.I.V.E.". Thirteen-year-old Otto Malpense has always known that he is far more intelligent than the average boy. After all, at thirteen he not only runs the orphanage where he grew up, but has also embarrassed the Prime Minister of Great Britain on national television - and gotten away with it. Otto can't imagine his life ever changing until he wakes up suddenly on a plane flying over a vast ocean. Otto and the other people on the plane have been kidnapped and forcibly enrolled in the Higher Institute for Villainous Education, where they will all learn to use their skills to become super villains. No one has ever been able to escape the volcanic island where H.I.V.E. is located, but Otto and his new group of friends are determined to try. A note of caution, this series is occasionally difficult to find as it was originally published in Britain. Fortunately, it is being re-issued here in the United States with new covers (and thank goodness - the first book ends on a cliff-hanger).

Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve
It is far in the future and life outside of great cities has become almost unsustainable. All cities are fully mechanized, rolling on wheels or walking on legs across the surface of the globe. In order to survive, the largest cities do something called "municipal Darwinsim". Huge cities will chase down smaller cities and towns and consume them like food, stripping the towns of everything that is needed to sustain life. Once upon a time, "prey" was plentiful, but small cities have gradually almost completely disappeared from the landscape. It is in this world that we meet Tom, a lowly apprentice who works for the Guild of Historians in London, which has become the magnificent Traction City. Tom has played hooky from his apprenticeship in order to meet his hero, adventurer Thaddeus Valentine. When Valentine is confronted by known assassin Hester Shaw, Tom steps in front of his hero in a valiant effort to save him. In the process, Tom falls out of the city and becomes stranded in the Out Lands with Hester. In his quest to return to London with Hester, Tom will discover some grim truths that London's leaders have been keeping from the people of the city. This series is a fantastic read-alike for fans of Scott Westerfeld's "Leviathan".

Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hern
In a fantastical version of feudal-era Japan, youth Takeo witnesses the death of his entire village at the hands of a cruel warlord. After his escape, Takeo is adopted by a different warlord – the noble Lord Otori. It is within the household of Lord Otori that Takeo discovers he was born to a special tribe of assassins, all of whom inherit supernatural abilities. Among these gifts is the ability to move in complete silence and to become invisible. As he learns to control his gifts, Takeo must seize his destiny as the man who will overthrow the warlord who slaughtered his family and step into a position of power in his world. This is the first book in a trilogy and is appropriate for older teen readers and adults.

Nonfiction

Everyone Poops by Taro Gomi
 This basic picture book has long been one of my favorites. Remember when I talked about the "gross" factor that so enchants young lads? Well, as you can see from the title alone, this is another book that they may enjoy. However, this book it great as it explains - without excessive humor or disgust - the whys and hows of #2. Gomi's illustrations are beautifully simple - one knows exactly what they are without excruciating detail. If you are looking for a perfect way to explain this particular bodily function without having to resort to uncomfortable humor or difficult vocabulary, give this book a try.

How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous by Georgia Bragg
History has, unfortunately, a bad habit of being presented in a way that is guaranteed to bore most people to tears. People and places seem very far away indeed. Bragg has written a book that changes all of the above. This book will appeal to the people who live for those gross moments when things squelch, smoosh and squish. "How They Croaked" gives all the nasty details of the deaths of nineteen famous figures from history. From Marie Curie to George Washington, readers can see some of the downright messy ways these people left this world. In spite of some gorily gruesome passages, the author is able to share some fascinating bits of history and humor in a way that is anything but boring.

Footnotes: Frustrating or Fascinating?

In the public library world, it never rains - it completely inundates and then floods your basement. The last few fictional books I have read have all used the same literary device. Footnotes. After the second book that included footnotes, I went to the internet to reacquaint myself with the fine art of footnoting. I discovered some interesting things [1], including the fact that 'modern literary style guides' recommend limiting use of them, since they are widely thought to be distracting. I myself have mixed feelings about footnotes. In some cases I have enjoyed them, laughing over references the authors have invented or quips the authors make in the margins. Other times I find footnotes to be an annoying distraction from the normal flow of reading. There are authors who do not do footnotes well and then authors who really make them into a unique and fun reading experience. Here are three examples of the latter for your reading enjoyment.

 The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud

Nathaniel is a magician’s apprentice that is just beginning his magical education. Before Nathaniel can get too far, an older, more experienced and very nasty magician named Simon Lovelace humiliates him in front of his teachers. Determined to get revenge, Nathaniel summons a djinni named Bartimaeus and sends him to steal a powerful artifact from Lovelace. Chaos ensues as Nathaniel attempts to control the powerful djinni and win back his honor. The real gift in this book is Bartimaeus himself, both to the reader and to Nathaniel. The djinni’s wisecracks and hilarious side comments make him the star of the show. Stroud uses footnotes to record Bartimaeus' asides, making the reader feel as though they are involved in a private conversation with a particularly funny main character. One of my colleagues also highly recommends this book in audio format [2], which she says is amazing for family road trips.

 Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

A plane full of Miss Teen Dream beauty contestants crash lands on a seemingly deserted island. The handful of girls who survive the crash anxiously await rescue. However, away from the cameras, pressures and watchful eyes of society, the girls who have always been defined by how well they perform in pageants finally get to explore who they are. Along the way, the teen beauties find out that the island is not in fact deserted and some of their fellow contestants are not...exactly...who they claim to be. There are explosions, feats of derring-do and (of course) scads of glitter. With the care of a master, Bray has built the world that created a Miss Team Dream contest, including references and explanations in footnotes throughout the story. I cannot even begin to describe how much I adored this book. Perhaps one of my favorite aspects was the 'applications' to the Miss Team Dream contest from the different characters. The reader not only gets to know the main characters better for it, but also realizes the forces (in the form of judges for the contest and the conflicting standards they press onto the characters) the girls are up against. Part comedy, part satire, this book can be enjoyed on a multitude of different levels. Also, if you want to get a look at the wonderful brand of crazy that is Libba Bray, take a look at her interview with herself (yup, a self-administered Q&A) on the Amazon page for this book.

 The Princess Bride by William Goldman

Inconceivable! There's an actual book that inspired the cult classic movie about 'twoo wuv' [3]? There is - and if you enjoyed (or loved) the movie I bet you'll enjoy the book as well. The humor that caused people to love the movie is present in the book in the form of footnotes the author makes as he "abridges" an earlier version by S. Morgenstern [4]. One of my favorite footnotes is the author relating a conversation between himself and his wife as to how much romance to include in a particular part of the book. The wife wants Golding to include details thank you very much and Golding objects and says not only do the readers not need to know how a romantic reunion plays out, the characters deserve a little privacy. You get the picture. Golding uses this literary device throughout the rest of the book to great success. The book provides the readers with the details that were not needed in the movie (how did Buttercup become the most beautiful woman in the world? Read and discover the answer). All of the adventure, romance and great characters are present in this work to be enjoyed at your own speed. Happy reading!


[1] I didn't know that one could use anything other than numbers for footnotes. Turns out you can - and there is even a specific order for them. Typographical devices such as the asterisk (*) or dagger (†) may also be used to point to footnotes; the traditional order of these symbols is *, †, ‡, §, ‖, ¶.
[2] I'm never sure what vocabulary to use here. When I say 'audio format', I am talking about books on CD (or tape), audio books, talking books, etc. Apparently the reader for this book is particularly hilarious.
[3] Twoo wuv = true love. You'll have to forgive me, this is a reference to the movie. The bishop that marries Buttercup and Prince Humperdinck has the most hilarious and unique way of speaking ever.
[4] No such earlier version of the work exists. S. Morgenstern is used as a pseudonym for William Golding.