Tips for Staying Safe, or, Paranoid Much?

Ever since we read Little Brother for our One Book One Zip Code program this year, I've wanted to learn more about maintaining my privacy online. So I picked up J. J. Luna's How to Be Invisible: Protect Your Home, Your Children, Your Assets, and Your Life. I quickly realized that this book wasn't going to help me much in the way of online privacy protection, as it is geared more toward physical invisibility, but it was so extreme, I couldn't stop reading it. Here's what I learned:

1. Don't ever give out your home address to anyone, ever, under any circumstances. No utilities, no magazine or paper subscriptions, letters, packages, etc. Nothing. Ever. Never have mail delivered to your home. No pizza delivery. Don't put your return address on anything. In fact, don't even put your address numbers on your house. If someone is visiting, assuming you've run a background check and they've been given clearance, give them general directions, put out a pink flamingo on the lawn and tell them to look for that. Take down the flamingo after they've left. Get a P.O Box or a commercial box and have all packages and correspondence mailed there. When setting the box up, don't give them your home address either. If you (or someone else) accidentally leaks your home address, move. When moving, preferably rent. Pay the lease in cash, up front. If you must buy, pay in cash. How does one get a cell phone or utility or anything if you don't provide an address? He has tips for this, which include using a fake name, setting up an LLC, or using a "ghost address" which is like using an abandoned building as your address.

2. Aside from never giving out your address, he also advises that you never give out your DOB, SSN, or even your real name, to anyone.

3. If you need a cleaning person for your home or office, hire a Jehovah's Witness. They'll never leak your address to anyone. And they are used to taking trash with them to dispose of in other locations.

4. Don't put anything in the trash outside your home except for food scraps. No paper, no Rx bottles, even condom wrappers. Because someone can use this to figure things out about you. When destroying papers, use a cross-shredder, put the remains in separate garbage bags and dispose of them off site in different locations. Or better yet, burn everything and scatter the ashes somewhere else.

5. Need to go to the doctor or ER? Don't ever provide your true DOB, SSN, address or anything. Pay for all medical services in cash, or go to Canada or Mexico for treatment. If you have to call 911, do so from a cell phone, so they can't track your address.

6. Don't use a cellphone. Get a pager, like it's 1985. Facebook and other social media is out of the question. If you must use email (which you shouldn't), make sure you are encrypting every message you send. No WiFi connections. Make sure the room you are using the computer in has steel plates around it and no windows. Preferably underground. The best method of communication is actually via the US postal service. When sending a letter, use a regular envelope. Do not use a seal or tape, because this draws attention to the envelope. Make sure you have the correct postage. Wrap the contents of the letter in carbon paper. This prevents someone from using freon to make the envelope transparent. Try to mail the letter from a city other than the one in which you live.

7. Have a secret room in your house to store your computer, documents, etc.

And this is just low-level basic security that everyone should employ. If you need even higher security because you are on the run from an abusive ex, loan sharks, mafia, criminals, or the authorities, he has even more extreme tips.

Luna claims that all his suggestions are legal and he never condones any illegal activities or lying to the IRS. But his tips just feel borderline unethical and frankly, creepy. Who would want to live this way, constantly suspicious of everyone? If you needed to hide from an abusive ex or a stalker, I can see how these tips could be useful, but for the average person, most of this is just too extreme and impractical. And it's clear that he has absolutely no idea what it's like to be young and middle class in today's age. Pay for your home in cash? Pay for medical treatment in cash or go outside of the country? Ha! Avoid cell phones, Internet, email, etc.? That's how the world works today.

I consider myself to be a pretty suspicious person. I don't talk to strangers. I don't let strangers into my home. I don't give out personal information to random callers over the phone. I don't give my bank account information to Nigerian princes online. Granted, there are things I should do, like beef up my passwords and be more diligent with shredding my documents, but I think I'll take my chances with the rest.

Start Your Ovens!

Some of you are old hats at preparing a Thanksgiving feast, but I'm still relatively new to the game. This year will be my fourth year preparing Thanksgiving for my family, so I'm still perfecting my game. Sam Sifton's new book Thanksgiving: How to Cook it Well has been getting a bit of press, so I thought I'd check it out.

I was surprised to see what a slim little book it is. At 133 pages, it's practically shorter than the instructions for just cooking the turkey in Cook's Illustrated! On the one hand, I found it to be a little Martha Stewart-ish: "A correctly set Thanksgiving table is of paramount importance to the success of your meal... Thanksgiving is a holiday that calls for a table set as if for a sacrament." Wow. No pressure or anything. On the other hand, he does give me a pass on putting out appetizers and serving a salad. He advises not to fill people up with appetizers and salads. Thanksgiving is a day for rich foods and it's ok to skip the salad. Noted. Striking the salad from my menu. A quick little read with some helpful tips, although I'm sticking with the Cook's Illustrated turkey recipe, as it never fails.

The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World (and Land)

Travel books are one of the most popular types of books in our non-fiction book collection.  Lots of people like to check out travel books before they go to a new destination so they know what sights to see and good restaurants to try.  Your basic travel book has listings for the sights, hotels, and restaurants.  The Unofficial Guides to Walt Disney World and Land are a little different.  If you are planning a trip with your family to either of the Walt Disney resorts these guide books are a must have.  The Unofficial Guides are designed to help you create a strategy for dealing with the crowds and lines at both locations.  If you use these guides they will save you a huge chunk of time and aggravation and will make your visit to the Magic Kingdom so much more enjoyable.

What the Unofficial Guides do is explain how the parks work at both Disney World and Disney Land and how to best take advantage of the ways things work.  The books explain when the best times to visit are based on how busy the parks are.  They also explain how the lines work for each of the rides and how to best avoid those lines.  They give you a clear and easy to understand method for how to get in the most rides while avoided the long lines.  You'll feel like an "insider" while you rush through the fast pass line at Space Mountain at 2pm with the free fast pass ticket you picked up at 10am.  These books go as far as providing a detailed itinerary explaining what rides you should go to and when.  For instance, go to the Peter Pan ride as soon as the park opens.  Otherwise you'll be in line for at least an hour.

What is nice as well is although they provide a detailed itinerary for what rides to do when it is also fairly flexible.  The book explains the system they use and how to use that system to develop your own itinerary as well.

Each ride is also rated for how fun it is along with how kid friendly it is as well as if you should ride it if you have issues with motion sickness.  All of the other features of the parks including every restaurant and hotel is also rated in terms of quality and price.  There are also insider tips about how to deal with disabled guests, elderly guests, babies & toddlers, large groups, and the special events that happen throughout the year.

These are perhaps some of the most useful travel books on the market.  They provide clear results if you follow their advice.  You'll end up saving literally hours of time each day by not standing in long lines.  These are travel books that will truly enhance and improve your trip.  If you are planning a trip to either Disney Land or World you MUST read these books before your trip.

Meet the Author!

Join us on October 9th at 7pm at the Deerfield High School Auditorium.
Author Cory Doctorow will discuss his novel Little Brother,
the 2012 One Book One Zip Code selection.
Register now!

 

Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt

Joe Sacco occupies an interesting niche in the world of graphic novels.  Sacco has created his own unique sub-genre of graphic novel journalism.  In his best works Sacco visits various hot spots in the world just as the average journalist does.  But instead of writing stories about what he sees and who he interviews, he draws comics in a graphic novel form.  His work is unique as his drawings often capture scenes and faces in a way that makes the people that you read about seem more real, perhaps more human, than they would be if you were just reading about them in print.

“Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt” is a collaboration between the liberal writer Chris Hedges and Joe Sacco, who provides the illustrations.  It is a fascinating look at current conditions in the United States.  In the past all of Joe Sacco’s works have taken place in far flung places around the world that are desperate in some way.  The West Bank, Yugoslavia during the civil wars there, Iraq, but this book is placed right here at home.  Sacco and Hedges visit four of the most economically depressed places they can find in the USA.  Each spot seems to be a perfect representation of the problems that face different types of people in our country.  The problems of First Tribe Native Americans are shown by visiting and talking to people who live on the reservation at Pine Ridge, South Dakota.  Then we visit Camden, New Jersey, a formally thriving industrial center that is now a wasteland, which seems to represent the plight of African Americans.  Then Hedges and Sacco visit several small towns in West Virginia that have been decimated by hilltop removal mining.  The residents of these towns are all white and many remember the days when the unions were strong.  Finally they visit the town of Imoakalee Florida, a center of migrant workers who work in virtual slavery, to represent the plight of Latinos in this country.

The book shows four distinct areas in the country, and four distinct ethnic groups, and yet they are all linked by the fact that each area has been destroyed by the economic greed of corporations and capitalists.  These are the people where the social safety net has completely failed and they seem to have no hope.  This is a deeply disturbing and grim book.  It’s not light reading.  It also is unapologetic about representing an extremely liberal point of view, especially in Chris Hedges writing.  In many ways it shows how effective Joe Sacco’s own work is.  Chris Hedges is an excellent writer but sometimes his prose seems so one sided that there is little room for any grey areas or debate.  Joe Sacco’s drawings however, let the characters tell their own stories, and it’s up to the reader to interpret them in their own way.  Their two different approaches work well together and seem to strengthen their argument that something is terribly wrong with the economic structures that are in place in the USA.  There have been many reviews written about “Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt” that say it’s one of the most important books that has come out about the current state of our country.  If nothing else it is an amazing eye opening look into four cities in the USA that seem to be more like they are from the third world than our own country.  After reading this you might find it hard to believe that these cities and conditions like this even exist in our own country.  But they do.

Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom

When I was a teenager I read a lot of Science Fiction.  I was very much into the "golden era" of SciFi and loved Arthur C. Clarke, Larry Niven, Robert Heinlein, and Isaac Asimov.  The last SciFi book I remembered reading was "Neuromancer" by William Gibson and it was fantastic, but that was twenty years ago.  It recently hit me that perhaps I should give the genre another chance but I wanted to read something current.  I assumed there were new and exciting Science Fiction writers out there but who were they?

I did a little research and discovered that indeed there is a whole new generation of current SciFi authors who are writing fantastic stuff.  Connie Willis, China Mieville, Paolo Bacigalupi, Robert Charles Wilson, and Neil Gaiman are all current authors who are considered some of the top SciFi writers of today.  One name, Cory Doctorow, caught my eye however because I had read some of his technology articles in various magazines.  I had known him from his work with the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the Creative Commons.  I had no idea he was also known for writing Science Fiction.  "Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom" got fantastic reviews so I thought I would give it a try.  I was so happy that I did.

"Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom" is a great Science Fiction novel.  Like most great SciFi novels his ideas about the future and how technology will be used is amazing, but the story itself is also very interesting and gripping.  What also made it interesting for me is the setting for most of the story, Disney World, and more specifically The Haunted Mansion.  I've been to both Disney World and Disney Land and in both places The Haunted Mansion was perhaps my favorite ride.  It was fascinating to read a book that imagines what Disney World will be like in the future.

What I also found interesting about "Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom" is this it is a very "current" SciFi book.  This book couldn't have been written 20 or 30 years ago.  It is a book written by someone who is very familiar with the technology of today and imagines where that technology will lead us in another couple of hundred years.  If you are not familiar with current concepts of Web 2.0 and social media you will simply not "get" a lot of the book.  In many ways the book itself is very cutting edge.

Then there is the plot itself.  In many ways this book is a good old fashioned "who done it" murder mystery.  The only difference being that in this world everyone can live forever so the main character spends most of the book trying to figure out who killed him.  If you die in an accidental death a doctor uses a cloned body and dumps your more recently downloaded set of your memories into the new body.  As long as you've been doing your backups in a timely way you'll be OK and come back alive with most of your memories.  But bad luck if you haven't done a backup in say, a year, because then you've lost any memory of what happened in the last year of you life.  (This ends up being a key "clue" in this murder mystery)  So remember to back up your data!  Sound familiar?

I think often people dismiss the Science Fiction genre as being nerdy or geeky or whatever.  But think of how many big budget films are based on Science Fiction novels?  I could easily see "Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom" being turned into an amazing film.  The story itself is so interesting that I think any number of readers would enjoy the book.  So if you're looking for something a little different and would like to check out one of the great new current Science Fiction writers check out "Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom".

PS - Because Cory Doctorow published this book under the Creative Commons license it is available as a free digital download from Project Gutenberg.  You can download the eBook for free here.  Otherwise feel free to come into the Deerfield Public Library and check out our copy of the book.

John Wayne Gacy

I'll admit it.  I like non-fiction and I like true crime books.  I'd rather read about a real killer than read a mystery.  I started reading, "John Wayne Gacy:  Defending a Monster" by Sam Amirante thinking it would be a true crime book in the vein of "In Cold Blood", but it turned out to be a little different and very interesting indeed.  It was one of those books that I couldn't stop reading and I was constantly thinking about while I was reading it.

"John Wayne Gacy:  Defending a Monster" was written by Sam Amirante who was one of Gacy's defense lawyers during his trial.  The book begins by going into detail about Gacy's final victim and murder and then goes into detail about Gacy's life story.  Then the book tells the story of the police investigation and the eventual trial.  The story of the police investigation was fascinating.  The police had searched his house several times and followed him for months but couldn't find any evidence that he had done anything wrong.  What ended up turning the investigation around was a receipt from a set of pictures to be developed that they found in Gacy's garbage.  From that one receipt the police detectives were able to prove that the last victim had been at Gacy's house.  If they hadn't investigated where the receipt came from he might still be free.

Where the book got interesting for me was during the trial.  Before he was apprehended by the police, John Wayne Gacy confessed his crimes to Sam Amirante in his office late one night.  Sam Amirante knew he was defending a dangerous serial killer.  The book gets into the question that I've often asked myself, "how could anyone defend someone like that in a trial?  Especially if you knew they were guilty?"

Sam Amirante answers this question in a very patriotic american way.  In his opinion the american system of justice is the greatest system developed in the entire world.  Where even a dangerous serial killer can get a fair trial.  He makes it very clear that he had no intention of trying to set Gacy free, or getting him off in some way.  That wasn't his job.  His job was to make sure his client was treated fairly, that the rule of the law was followed, and that Gacy got the sentence he deserved.  This book really did make me rethink the role of the defense lawyer in our justice system.

What was also fascinating to me was how the book ended.  Sam Amirante ended up being a judge and only recently retired.  While he was a judge he fought to change the laws and procedures for how police departments investigate missing children cases.  One of the difficulties facing police during their investigations of Gacy was that police departments had to wait 72 hours before beginning a search for a missing person.  Judge Sam Amirante fought to have this changed in the case of minors.  Ultimately his hard work for this cause ended up creating our current Amber Alert system.  At the end of the book he argues that this was a direct result of being involved in the Gacy case and seeing a flaw in the system.  Police had to have the ability to look for missing children right away.  He ends the book by stating that Gacy's victims didn't die in vain because of this.  Thus, this book about one of the most horrible killers in history, ended with a reflective and positive note.  If you are interested in a true crime story that much more to offer I would highly recommend this book.

Tell the Wolves I'm Home

Maybe it makes sense to simply give the wolves your address. In this coming of age novel, 14-year-old June Elbus would prefer to stop time--or better yet, step back into a romanticized medieval period complete with cloisters, music and dress. But it's 1987 and her Uncle Finn is dying of AIDS. Losing the one person who sees her so clearly will force June to explore her family relationships, understand Finn's love for his partner Toby, watch talent be embraced or denied, and discover ways to take care of others--in time foreshortened by a plague of medieval proportions.

I love books that keep me thinking about their themes and characters long after I've finished, and this is one of them. June is beautifully drawn, in that awkward time as childhood ends. Wolves appear as villains and protectors.  Time is captured in art, music, drama, architecture, and the moments we spend with each other.

Tell the Wolves I'm Home...pull up a comfortable chair and settle into this terrific debut novel by Carol Rifka Brunt.

Drop Dead Healthy

There are a bazillion books purporting to have the latest, greatest information about health and what you can do to lose weight or increase your life span. I used to read some of these from time to time, but I started getting tired of the conflicting messages and crazy regimes that so many of them suggest. Now I usually steer clear of "health" books unless I think there's a very good reason for picking one up. A. J. Jacobs is that reason. When I saw the title of his new book: Drop Dead Healthy: One Man's Humble Quest for Bodily Perfection, I knew I would read this. If you aren't familiar with Jacobs, he does what some people refer to as "stunt journalism" or "year of" writing: the author undertakes a project or lifestyle for a year in order to write about it. Jacobs has also written The Year of Living Biblically (which is self-explantory) and The Know-It-All, where he read the entire encyclopedia.

In his latest adventure Jacobs attempts to try all of the things that people claim will make you healthy, from simply exercising to wearing noise-cancelling headphones and taking testosterone supplements. Jacobs takes on every aspect of the body-not just the expected heart and stomach, but also the teeth, feet, skin, etc. He visits experts and consults scientific studies. His writing, as always, is entertaining and humorous. I appreciated that Jacobs cut through all the debates and tells the reader which recommendations actually have scientific data backing it up. In the end, he identifies what he thinks are the most important things he should be doing, and his own personal family experiences show that even if you do everything right, you can still get sick. I felt like much of what he determines to be important, I already knew and have been trying to do myself. But he does have some good tips for sticking with it (Thinking about eating that cupcake? Write out a check to the KKK and have a friend mail it if you give in.) He also reminds us of the importance of things like flossing and reducing our exposure to noise. His success in creating a less sedentary life is probably one of the most important lessons of his experience and the one I know I need the most help with. Treadmill at the reference desk? Not such a crazy idea.

Nora Ephron



May 19, 1941 - June 26, 2012

Sadly, Nora Ephron died yesterday from pneumonia brought on by acute myeloid leukemia. Ephron was a filmmaker, director, producer, screenwriter, novelist, playwright, journalist, author, and blogger. She is best known for her romantic comedies and was a triple nominee for the Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay for three films: Silkwood, When Harry Met Sally... and Sleepless in Seattle. Her last film was Julie & Julia.  Ephron has published a number of humorous books, including I Feel Bad About My Neck, I Remember Nothing, and Heartburn.

Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence

The shortlist for the Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction were just announced. The awards were established in 2012 to recognize the best fiction and nonfiction books for adult readers published in the U.S. the previous year. The winners will be announced at ALA's annual convention in June. The finalists are:

 In Fiction:

Lost Memory of Skin by Russell Banks
An intelligent and fearlessly sympathetic portrait of a group of society’s outsiders—sex offenders—that illuminates the moral complexities at the heart of our justice system.


The Forgotten Waltz by Anne Enright
The vicissitudes of extramarital love and the obstructions to its smooth flow—including spouses, children, and the necessary secrecy surrounding an affair—are charted in sharp yet supple prose.


Swamplandia! by Karen Russell
This dazzlingly inventive first novel introduces 12-year-old gator-wrestling Ava Bigtree and her eccentric family, whose lives (and the Florida theme park they run) straddle the boundaries between the real and the surreal.

For Nonfiction:

 The Information: A History, A Theory, A Flood by James Gleick
A comprehensive study describing the melodious interplay between science and literature documents the transmission of human knowledge from talking drums to the Internet.


Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention by Manning Marable
This definitive work on the life of the Malcolm X corrects previous misconceptions and offers new information about the charismatic leader’s life and death during the turbulent years of the civil rights era.


Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman by Robert Massie
A compulsively readable biography of the fascinating woman who, through a combination of luck, personality, and a fine mind, rose from her birth as a minor German princess to become the Empress of all the Russias.

Who is your pick?  (I'm pulling for Russell Banks, although I haven't read the Enright book, which is probably phenomenal.)

Downton Abbey Fever

Like so many others, I caught the Downton Abbey fever. I ploughed through seasons 1 and 2 and now I'm left waiting until 2013 for season 3. What to do? Fortunately, so many readers have come up with read-alike suggestions for books to tide us over while we wait. I found two great reads that hit the spot.

While not set during the exact same time period as Downton, Daisy Goodwin's novel The American Heiress takes place few years before. Think a young Cora Crawley as she is just married to Earl Grantham. At the turn of the 20th century, wealthy American heiress Cora Cash is seeking a husband that will give her a title. While visiting England, she meets the Duke of Wareham, one of the most eligible bachelors in the country. The Duke needs an infusion of money to maintain his estate and lifestyle, so Cora's money makes her an appealing choice. The two quickly become engaged and marry. Despite it being a very advantageous marriage for both parties, Cora and the Duke seem to love each other as well. But the Duke's frequent lapses into silent and distant moods and the whispers and rumors that Cora picks up, leave her wondering about her husband's love life before their marriage. The story captures the fascinating details of the lives of English royalty as well as those who lived below stairs.

Did you know that there are still countesses and duchesses living in castles in England? There are. Lady Fiona Carnarvon is the Countess of Carnarvon and currently lives in Highclere Castle, which readers will recognize as Downton Abbey. Highclere is the setting for Downton and much of its own history is incorporated into the series. In Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle, Carnarvon details the real life of the former Countess of Carnarvon, who like Cora Crawley, brought an infusion of wealth to Highclere Castle and did much for her country during World War I. Almina was also a wealthy heiress, and used much of her wealth to update the Castle, including installing electricity. She threw lavish weekend parties, with royal guests, including the Prince of Wales. When her husband suffered an accident and struggled with ongoing illnesses, Almina discovered a talent and passion for nursing. When war broke out, she turned Highclere Castle into a hospital for wounded soldiers, and later as demand grew, moved the hospital to London, funding the venture with her own money. The story is filled with fascinating details of the time period, the lifestyles of the aristocracy, and the way a house like Highclere is run.

Chickens in Deerfield?

There was an article in the Deerfield Review last week about the Village discussing the possibility of allowing residents to keep chickens. I was so excited to read this! I would love to have chickens, so if the village of Deerfield decides to allow it, maybe my suburb will get on board. Keeping chickens in urban areas is becoming popular, although many people still aren't too keen on the idea. People worry about noise, cleanliness, destruction of gardens, etc. The Library just got a new book that's perfect for people who are thinking about keeping chickens, or if you just want to know a little more about keeping chickens in an urban setting. Free-Range Chicken Gardens by Jessi Bloom shows how you can keep chickens in your yard while still having a nice garden. She illustrates how to design your garden and coop and provides suggestions for plants that are chicken-friendly. She also provides descriptions of different breeds of chickens. Did you know that there are some breeds of chickens that are smaller and quieter, making them better suited to urban living? I would encourage Deerfield residents who are on the fence with the chicken issue to stop by and check out this book.

If you're interested in reading more about urban farming, check out our ebook, The Backyard Homestead Guide to Raising Farm Animals by Gail Damerow. It's a great resource for keeping animals such as chickens, bees and goats.

Fifty Shades of Blushing

E. L. James's Fifty Shades of Grey is the most in-demand title we've had since The Help came out in 2009. It's the title everyone is talking about. James has made her way through the morning news circuit and Fifty Shades is currently riding the #1 spot on the New York Times trade paperback bestseller list. I first heard about this title a few months ago when I got a request from a patron. Then I got another request. And another. I started asking whether any of my colleagues had heard of this book. No one had, so I did a little research. It turned out that James is a British writer and had published the title through a very small Australian publisher. The book hadn't been reviewed by any of the typical sources librarians use when selecting materials to purchase, so I decided to pass on purchasing it. But the requests kept coming and finally it got onto the Times list, and I knew we had to purchase a copy. One copy. Then three copies. Now eleven copies! For a first-time author from a small press that hadn't been reviewed by any major source, this doesn't happen often. So why does everyone want this book?

I have heard numerous times the whispered remark from patrons: "I've heard it's practically porn." Yes, Fifty Shades is an erotic romance novel. When I read descriptions of the novel, I frequently saw the term "BDSM" (bondage, dominance, submission, masochism) linked to it. Really? This many people want to read BDSM fiction? I was perplexed. As put off as I was by that description, I decided that I needed to see for myself why so many women wanted to read this book. Maybe we have a demand for erotic fiction that the library isn't meeting?
Fifty Shades of Grey features Anastasia Steele, a college senior who is still a virgin. When she interviews the wealthy 27-year-old businessman Christian Grey for the school's newspaper, the chemistry between them is palpable. After a few encounters, they can no longer deny that there is something between them. Ana believes this could be the beginning of a romance, but Christian admits that he is not interested in a typical relationship. Christian is a dominant and wants Ana to engage in a relationship as his submissive. Ana is shocked and scared by the idea of this, but her desire for Christian is so strong that she is willing to give it a try.

I found myself torn over this book. On the one hand, the writing is extremely flawed, the dialogue is awkward, and I felt Christian's character wasn't believable. On the other hand, I get why the book is appealing to readers. The story is a typical romance story at its core: sexy, yet troubled boy meets innocent girl; sparks fly; girl hopes she can "save" boy and they will live happily ever after. Add to that a fast pace and super-steamy sex, and you have a hot page-turner. I was concerned about the BDSM aspect, but it wasn't as horrifying as I imagined, just not my cup of tea. I was also concerned that the story would support the idea that causing pain to women is acceptable, but it doesn't. In fact, I was surprised that Ana actually stood up for herself in the end, which I found satisfying. I am curious to find out more about Christian Grey and how he became the way he is, so I'll join the building waiting list for Fifty Shades Darker. This book raises so many questions, that I think it would make an interesting discussion. Have you read it? If so, what did you think?

Autobiography of Malcolm X

It may sound rather silly to say this but, one of the joys of working in a library is that it is filled with great old books!  I think sometimes as librarians we forget that.  We spend a lot of our time thinking about new books.  We read reviews of new books.  We order new books.  It seems we tend to read a lot of new books when they come out.  Sometimes I almost forget that I work in a library that is full of fantastic old books as well.

I had a patron come into the library about a month ago who asked me for some help finding a good biography for a freshman in high school.  The light bulb went off in my head and I recommended "The Autobiography of Malcolm X".  She thought it was a great recommendation and checked one of our two copies.  It hit me that I hadn't read this book in almost 20 years.  I decided to check out our other copy to read it again.

I started to read it and remembered immediately why I loved it so much the first several times I read it.  It's one of those books that simply tells an amazing story.  It reads like fiction but the events are all very true.  It's hard to believe that a single individual could have so many things happen in their life.  That their life could take so many twists and turns.  It also hit me reading it again that as a librarian, and a lover of books, it's hard not to feel a connection to the story.  The part of the story when "Red" is in prison and starts to read the dictionary is amazing.  I have to admit it brought tears to my eyes.  Malcolm learns every word in the dictionary and then starts to read every book he can get his hands on and educates himself while in prison.  When his time is done he's a new and changed man.

In many ways "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" is about the ability of individuals to grow and change and people.  He goes through so many pivotal events in his life only to learn and grow from each one.  He's willing to learn new things and change his opinions based on what he's learned and gone through.  This ultimately leads to his death at the hands of the Black Muslims, who he had once been a powerful spokesman for, because he had grown as a person and moved on, denouncing some of their most racist philosophies.

Malcolm X was a man who was often feared by our society at large when he was alive.  As the years have gone by and more and more people have studied his life and read this book his legacy has changed.  He is now considered by many to be a great American and someone who's contributions to the civil rights movement were extremely important.  If you want to read an amazing true story you should also consider checking out one of our copies.

Lost Memory of Skin

I have very strong opinions about sex offenders, as I'm sure many people do. I tend to see this issue as very black and white, but Russell Banks' latest novel Lost Memory of Skin, illustrates that there can be shades of grey. The main character, "the Kid," is a recently paroled sex offender. Typically, I have no tolerance for sex offenders, real or fictional, but Russell manages to create a very human and very sympathetic character.

The novel's premise is based on the actual colony of sex offenders that had been living under a causeway in Miami, Florida. Having no where else to go after his release from prison, the Kid takes up residence in this colony under the causeway. Soon he meets "the Professor." The Professor is a sociologist who is studying sex offenders and takes an interest in the Kid. From the Professor's interviews with the Kid, we learn the Kid's history, how he came to be a convicted sex offender, and what his life is like now. Russell does a superb job of capturing the Kid's fears and loneliness. While I didn't necessarily like the Kid, I found myself feeling sorry for him and wishing he could catch a break. This novel raises so many interesting questions about sex offenders, homelessness, and the criminal justice system, I think this book would make an excellent choice for book discussions. Squeamish readers need not fear: there are no descriptions of horrible sex acts. There is a lot of discussion about porn and masturbation and some crass language, but as a squeamish reader, I found it tolerable.

Red Ruby Heart in a Cold Blue Sea

Aside from my affinity for the title (which sucked me right in), I adored this story because of its strong appeal towards both adults and teens. Lately I've been on a kick when it comes to reading adult fiction with teens as main characters, and Florine Gilham, the star of this particular story, is a high contender for one of my favorite protagonists. Florine is a wonderful combination of sassy and vulnerable as, in her small Maine town of the 1950's, she endures more family heartbreak and crises than anyone of her age deserves.

Florine's beautiful and charismatic mother disappeared her twelfth summer, and this event catapults Florine into a spiral that is both intriguing and depressing. Yet as much as the story of Florine is based on her mothers disappearance, this is also a tale about Florine's fisherman father who suffers silently for the wife he lost, her loving and strong grandmother who holds the tiny town together, and a group of faithful friends who will do whatever it takes to pull Florine through.

For a character that only grows 5 years in the span of the story, you as a reader feel as if it's been a lifetime. Florine goes through more in her adolescent years then I hope to experience in fifty, and maybe the best part of the book is that in the end you still don't know if she'll come out on top (but you hope with everything you have that she does).

I also have a love for most stories that are set in Maine (despite the fact that I have never visited...) and this setting didn't disappoint. The imagery is rich, the characters are vivid, and Florine is one smart alecky, prickly, (and yet so endearing) soul who is looking for her own definition of life and won't let you forget it. If you're looking for an awesome mix of mystery, coming of age, and true heart, this is the title for you.

Horror Stories

I know you horror fans are out there!!  The Horror Writers Association have finally announced the 2011 Bram Stoker Award winners and the Vampire Novel of the Century Award winner. So,without further ado, here they are:

Superior Achievement in a NOVEL  Flesh Eaters by Joe McKinney (Pinnacle Books)
Superior Achievement in a FIRST NOVELIsis Unbound by Allyson Bird (Dark Regions Press)
Superior Achievement in a YOUNG ADULT NOVEL (tie) The Screaming Season by Nancy Holder (Razorbill)
 Dust and Decay by Jonathan Maberry (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers)
Superior Achievement in a GRAPHIC NOVELNeonomicon by Alan Moore (Avatar Press)
Superior Achievement in LONG FICTIONThe Ballad of Ballard and Sandrine by Peter Straub (Conjunctions: 56)
Superior Achievement in SHORT FICTIONHerman Wouk Is Still Alive by Stephen King (The Atlantic Magazine, May 2011)
Superior Achievement in a SCREENPLAYAmerican Horror Story, episode #12: Afterbirth by Jessica Sharzer (20th Century Fox Television)
Superior Achievement in a FICTION COLLECTIONThe Corn Maiden and Other Nightmares by Joyce Carol Oates (Mysterious Press)
Superior Achievement in an ANTHOLOGYDemons: Encounters with the Devil and his Minions, Fallen Angels and the Possessed, edited by John Skipp (Black Dog and Leventhal)
Superior Achievement in NON-FICTIONStephen King: A Literary Companion by Rocky Wood (McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers)
Superior Achievement in a POETRY COLLECTIONHow to Recognize a Demon Has Become Your Friend by Linda Addison (Necon Ebooks)

Vampire Novel of the Century Award
I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

Deader Homes & Gardens

Joan Hess finally returns with Claire Malloy in Deader Homes & Gardens. Bookstore owner Claire is back from her honeymoon with Police Chief Peter Rosen and they are now feeling the confines of living in small quarters with Claire's teenage daughter Caron. Claire sets out to find the happy family a new home that will meet every ones expectations.

After an extensive search with her realtor, Claire finds the perfect home in Hollow Valley.  A meadow with a stream, an orchard, a pool, a library, crown moldings, hardwood floors...what more could a woman want?  How about a seller?  It seems the last owner died under mysterious circumstances and not only does rightful ownership of the house seems to be in question, but whether it is really for sale seems to be up in the air also. Claire's realtor then disappears while showing the house to Claire and can't be found.  Soon bodies start piling up and Claire needs to solve several mysteries before Peter gets home from out of town and so that she can buy her dream house.

Deader Homes & Gardens is a fun, fast read.  Claire Malloy has been one of my favorite fictional female sleuths since her arrival in 1986 in Strangled Prose. I have always admired Hess for her snappy, witty dialogue, especially between Claire and Caron, and she doesn't disappoint in this book.  Need a smile and a laugh?  This is the book for you.

My Friend Dahmer

"My Friend Dahmer" by Derf Backderf is one of the most memorable and disturbing graphic novels I've read in a long time.  This is the type of book that will make you stay up at night thinking about it.  When I was reading it I found I couldn't put it down because it was so interesting.

It is written and illustrated by someone who was a classmate of Jeff Dahmer and saw him get more and more strange and anti-social over the years.  It starts in the 7th Grade and ends when the author and his friends graduate from high school.  The author is one of a handful of people who attempted to talk to and become friends with Jeff Dahmer but even he has trouble relating to him.  The fact of the matter is that even in the 7th Grade Jeff Dahmer was "weird" for lack of a better word.  Even at that age he was doing things like collecting road kill and trying to decompose the bodies in acid.  He had no friends to speak of and a very troubled life at home.  We see how Dahmer gets more and more withdrawn as he gets older and closer to graduation.  We also learn that in high school Jeff Dahmer developed a severe dependence on alcohol and drank heavily during school.  The author's theory is that Dahmer drank to numb his senses to the evil and depraved thoughts that went through his head.

The author may have known Jeff Dahmer better than almost anyone during those high school years.  Even though the author and his friends think Dahmer is a "freak" they form the "Jeff Dahmer Fan Club" and they observe his antics and sometimes invite him into their group.  They "use" Dahmer to help them do pranks like getting Dahmer to pose in the back of all of the group and club photos for the yearbook.  The author is one of the few teens who knew Dahmer well enough to visit him at his home.  He admits he only visited him a couple of times because the visits were often weird and creepy in some way.

When you read the book you can't help but ask yourself, "how does someone cross that line from being a social outcast to a full blown serial killer?"  The author also clearly struggles with those questions as well.  Jeff Dahmer had a variety of issues.  He was an outsider.  A weirdo.  It is also revealed in the book that he figured out in high school that he was a homosexual.  Jeff Dahmer was bullied in school but he also picked on younger weaker classmates himself.  All of these are huge pressures on any teenager but there are thousands of other teenagers in the same position all across the country.  What made Dahmer snap?

What is also sort of scary is that the author and his friends could almost see it coming.  There is a scene in the book that takes place several years after high school.  The author and his friends are at a bar talking about their high school days and their old friends.  Jeff Dahmer's name comes up and they wonder what he's doing just then.  The author jokes that, "he's probably a serial killer by now", and they all laugh.  They would later be haunted by this memory.  The author asks himself if he could sense that something was seriously wrong with Dahmer why didn't he ever get help?  How could his parents be so clueless?  How could his teachers at school not notice that he was coming to school drunk every day?  By the end of the book it seems like there are more questions than answers and perhaps that is one reason why this book is so disturbing and yet so fascinating.