The Nobodies Album

 The Nobodies Album by Carolyn Parkhurst

Adult New Fiction Parkhurst

Octavia Frost is a novelist whose life is once again thrown upside down when her rock star son, Milo, is accused of murdering his girlfriend. Did he do it? Did he not do it? Even Milo himself is not sure. Octavia is still recovering from the pain of having lost both her husband and young daughter in a tragic accident when Milo was just 9 years old. Mother and son have become estranged ever since Milo read the line “They were exactly the wrong two to die” in one of Octavia’s novels. Octavia thought she was only writing fiction but now she’s not sure.
In what seems to be an attempt to rewrite her own history, Octavia has decided that she needs to rewrite the endings to all her previous books. Her publisher is willing to support this experiment and publish a book consisting solely of new endings. Octavia submits her new book and heads to see her son. She wants to rewrite real life, as well. Confused and in pain, Milo eventually accepts Octavia’s gentle attempts to reconcile and find out what really happened the night of his girlfriend Bettina’s murder.
Parkhurst intersperses Octavia’s new endings as chapters throughout The Nobodies Album. Sounds confusing, right? This is where Parkhurst really proves her skill as a writer. Rather than come across as confusing, they add to the story’s emotional complexity.
This is a book that works on many levels, and which convincingly explores the concepts of guilt and innocence… and forgiveness. Oh, and it’s a pretty decent little mystery, too.

Power Hungry: The Myths of "Green" Energy and the Real Fuels of the Future by Robert Bryce

Power Hungry: the Myths of “Green” Energy and the Real Fuels of the Future
by Robert Bryce Adult Nonfiction – New Book Shelves Upper Level 333.79 B



“Power Hungry” explains and runs the numbers on various types of “Green” energy generation, and the math doesn’t turn out the way supporters would prefer. Anyone interested in the energy debate in this country should read this book; it will open their eyes even if they disagree with the conclusions Bryce reaches. Simply put, he does not feel that solar and wind power are sufficient in their current forms to even begin taking over supplying the world’s power needs and will not be anytime soon. In his opinion the logical choice is Natural Gas in the short term and increased Nuclear power in the long term. He explains the terminology and science understandably without condescending to the reader, and even manages to make it interesting. Bryce notes the inconvenient realities that most authors overlook, such as the need for building natural gas generators alongside windmills to supply power when the wind doesn’t blow. Unfortunately, flipping them on and off reduces their efficiency to the point that leaving them on all the time would use no more fuel and supply enough additional power to make the windmills unnecessary. Heresies like these win Bryce few friends among environmentalists, but it does make for educational reading. For those desiring further reading or disputing what he says, Bryce includes seventy pages of fully cited notes and documentation, with web addresses for the source articles and a full bibliography.

Fallen

Fallen by Lauren Kate
Teen Zone New Fiction-Main Level – KATE

Luce has been seeing dark shadows her entire life. She does not talk about them because she knows that no one else can see them. Luce is spending her senior year of high school at a Sword and Cross Reform School. She is not happy about being there but after the tragedy that took place the year before she has no choice. Luce’s boyfriend died in a mysterious fire and the only thing that Luce really remembers is the dark shadows that surrounded them before the fire. Luce’s new school is interesting, the dress code is all black and there are strict rules to follow. Luce’s new classmates are intriguing as well. She is not sure who to trust and who is her friend. Luce first sees Daniel and feels an instant pull toward him. At first Daniel wants nothing to do with her. The sweet and sensitive Cam is also quite smitten with Luce and will do anything and everything for her. Luce will do anything in her power to get to know Daniel, even if it kills her and eventually they develop a strong bond. Now that Luce is at Sword and Cross the strange dark shadows are appearing more frequently. The triangle between Cam, Daniel and Luce has astonishing twists and turns. Some questions are answered but a lot more are left unanswered leaving the reader wondering what will happen next. Torment (due out September 2010) is the next book is this new paranormal teen fiction series.

Torment by Lauren Kate

Sweater Quest

Sweater Quest by Adrienne Martini
New Book Shelves – Upper Level – CRAFTS 746.432 M

Martini’s last book, Hillbilly Gothic was a memoir of severe postpartum psychosis. Grim subject, that one, saved by Martini’s delightful sense of humor. This book brings the same thoughtful approach and humor to a more cheerful topic, one also dear to my heart (did you know that the sanity and well-being of new mothers was a cause dear to my heart? It is.) Martini took up knitting as part of her sanity-maintaining efforts – hooray! And in this book she tracks her quest to knit one exquisitely beautiful, terrifically difficult sweater, after a knitting diet of mostly hats. She starts by going over the tangled history of the gifted yet prickly knitting designer Alice Starmore, as well as a little bit of the Tudors, the inspiration for Starmore’s pattern book in which is contained Martini’s dream pattern. The supplies are hard to come by; the technique takes some work to master. But this isn’t just about this one project. Over the course of the year, Martini visits various knitting luminaries to discuss deep knitting questions with them: why do we knit? If she is knitting a Starmore sweater designed it to be knit with Starmore’s brand of yarn, no longer available, is it still a Starmore? How much of the sweater is Starmore and how much Martini, and does it matter? Many of the knitting luminaries are ones whose blogs and books I read myself – Ann Shayne and Kay Gardiner of http://www.mason-dixonknitting.com, and Stephanie Pearl McPhee, aka http://www.yarnharlot.ca, as well as Clara Parkes, whose The Knitter’s Book of Wool is on our new bookshelf. She’s still both funny and insightful; this was another book where I found myself reading bits aloud to my love every other page or so, and even that was restraining myself. Thank you for sharing, Martini. The sweater is beautiful.

Afghan Star

Afghan Star
Dvd Collection-Main Level - DOCUMENT AFG

American Idol is one of the most successful shows in the history of American Television. While there have been many international adaptations (American Idol itself being an adaptation of the British Pop Idol) no adaptation has raised as much controversy in its own country as Afghan Star. In a country with a recent history of cultural repression under the Taliban, coupled with an even more recent new government after the US led invasion, some people are rallying around this new television sensation where many Afghans are voting for the first time.

Afghan Star follows one season of the show of the same name, broadcast on Tolo TV. The four front runner contestants represent four different ethnic groups within Afghanistan. The competition gives different ethnic groups someone to rally behind, but the competition also brings the country together.

The filmmaker interviews the producer of the show and you get such an interesting perspective. He lauds Kabul as being "cosmopolitan" and as you learn throughout the movie, for Afghanistan, it is. Some of the hometowns of a few of the contestants start to get angry about the content though, especially when one of the female contestants dances (modestly, but still dances) while singing one of her songs.

For anyone interested in contemporary Afghan culture, especially how it blends old world tradition with influences from global pop culture, this film is for you!
.

The Dog with Golden Eyes

The Dog with Golden Eyes by Frances Wilbur
Youth Fiction - Lower Level - WILBUR

Cassie Beasley is a lonely 13-year-old girl living in California. Her mother works many late nights as a waitress at the local fast food restaurant, and her father recently left the family without saying goodbye. Furthermore, her very best friend, Lindsay, has ditched Cassie for "cooler" friends. As a result, Cassie finds herself with plenty of time on her hands and frequently tries to fill her sadness with food. If only her father would come back; then everything would be normal again.

In the meantime, Cassie would absolutely love to own a dog. Her mother doesn't want a dog because of the time and cost that an animal requires. Thus, when Cassie spies a beautiful white dog around her house one day, she decides not to tell anyone about her discovery. She soon begins to feed the dog every day and as time passes, the dog makes friends with Cassie and takes her to the woods behind Cassie's house—his home.

Feeding this large dog with yellowish eyes which Cassie thinks is an Alaskan dog is quite expensive. Therefore, Cassie has to secretly get a job weeding a local neighbor's yard to earn the necessary funds. In addition, with the help of her science teacher Cassie spends plenty of time researching Alaskan dogs. As days pass, Cassie starts to realize that “her” dog isn’t like any other Alaskan dog. Could he perhaps be a wolf?

Written in a simple yet absorbing manner, The Dog with Golden Eyes by Frances Wilbur is a fascinating story filled with many true facts about dogs and wolves. Moreover, Cassie is a relatable and delightful character who matures and learns life lessons throughout the novel. Any animal lover who enjoys the bonds that exist between humans and animals will deeply enjoy this sweet little story!

Detroit Disassembled

Detroit Disassembled
Photographs by Andrew Moore
Essay by Philip Levine

New Book Shelves – Upper Level – 779.4 M

Fort Pontrain, Paris of the Midwest, Motown, Motor City… Throughout its relatively long history, Detroit has been known as many things. Now, we mostly see it as a tragic demise from its grandeur of only two generations ago. In this photo essay entitled Detroit Disassembled, photographer Andrew Moore unabashedly shows us the reality Detroit faces today – crumbling landmarks, deserted factories, pieces of history that are literally rotting. Looking closer, one catches glimpses of artistic surrealism (I never thought I’d see Dalí’s famous melting clocks in real life) or the sublime (the deserted Michigan Central Station is surely as beautiful as it is incredibly frightening). To an outsider, Detroit could easily be mistaken as a battlefield or even a not-so-far-away post-apocalyptic future. At no point in Detroit Disassembled is there a chance to look away.


Through his grim photographs, Moore is silently posing an uneasy question: What now? How do we deal with a city whose history is rotting away, poverty abounds, and land is abandoned and left to be consumed by nature, square miles at a time? The solutions may be as radical as the questions.

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog
DVD Collection - Main Level - Musicals DR


Joss Whedon created this musical during the writers strike of 2007-2008. It's a very short (43 minutes), three-part musical. Neil Patrick Harris plays Dr. Horrible, who is trying to join the Evil League of Evil. In order to gain admittance, he has to do something that the League considers truly evil. The problem is that he's head over heels for a girl named Penny. Penny brings out the good side in Dr. Horrible (whom she knows as Billy). How can he be evil when she's always making him smile and laugh?

Enter Captain Hammer. Penny is wooed by Captain Hammer, who is a narcissistic fool. He has ruined Dr. Horrible's plans in the past, and always seems to show up when Dr. Horrible is about to make a move. (Well, ok, if you broadcast your evil plans on your blog, it kind of alerts the authorities!) Dr. Horrible decides to build a freeze-ray to take out Captain Hammer and win Penny back. Of course, things don't go exactly as planned.

Watch the movie to see what happens!

America's Home Front Heroes - An Oral History of World War II

America’s Home Front Heroes


by Stacy Enyeart Adult Nonfiction – Upper Level 940.537 E

An affectionate look back at the America of WACs, WAVES, and Rosie the Riveter. When blackout curtains, ration cards, and gold stars in the windows were regular fixtures in daily life. “America’s Home Front Heroes” by Stacy Enyeart uses first-person reminiscences and contemporary letters from Americans to illustrate the atmosphere of life on the Home Front during WWII. For those accustomed to the current relative apathy about the war effort, the commitment to winning and supporting the troops during WWII will come as a surprise. Life generally did revolve around the war effort, and entire families often served in one way or another. The patriotism was strong, and sometimes misdirected; Enyeart includes a section about the experiences of Japanese-American internees and Conscientious Objectors who were not treated well. This is an eye-opening, quick read of 122 pages that illustrates how much things have changed since WWII. Whether that is good or bad is up to the reader.

How To Train Your Dragon

How To Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell
Youth Fiction-Lower Level – Cowell

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III is the 10 year old son of Stoick the Vast, Viking Chief of the Hairy Hooligans. Hiccup may be the chief’s son but he is not exactly Viking material. The first mission to becoming a heroic Viking the young boys must go on a trek and catch their own dragon and if you failed you were exiled from the tribe! Well Hiccup catches the scrawniest, smallest dragon there is! The dragon is named Toothless; he is also rude and lazy. The young Vikings must train their dragon and the only bit of advice they have is “yell at it, the louder the better!”. Hiccup is having the most terrible time training Toothless. He has tried yelling but it does not work so he tries to come up with other creative ways to train Toothless. After many failed attempts Hiccup finally figures out what will make Toothless listen.

On Thor’s Thursday, the final rite of passage for the young Vikings takes place. During the challenge Toothless offends another dragon and a fight breaks out causing all the young prospective Vikings to fail and be exiled. During their last night with the tribe a monstrous storm blows up and with it 2 sea dragons are washed onto shore. The sea dragons are ready to destroy everything on the island. Hiccup realizes it is his time to shine. He devises a plan that will hopefully change him from “Hiccup the Useless” to “Hiccup the Useful”. If the plan works he will save himself, Toothless and all the other boys and dragons from exile.

Check out the other books in the Heroic Misadventures of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III

How To Be a Pirate by Cressida Cowell
Youth Fiction-Lower Level – COWELL

How to Speak Dragonese by Cressida Cowell
Youth Fiction-Lower Level – COWELL

How to Cheat a Dragon’s Curse by Cressida Cowell
Youth Fiction-Lower Level – COWELL

How to Twist a Dragon’s Tale by Cressida Cowell
Youth Fiction-Lower Level – COWELL

A Hero’s Guide to Deadly Dragons by Cressida Cowell
Youth Fiction-Lower Level – COWELL

How to Ride a Dragon’s Storm by Cressida Cowell
Youth New Book Shelves-Lower Level – JPB COWELL

How to Break a Dragon’s Heart- COMING SOON!

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter
By Tom Franklin

Adult New Fiction Franklin


I learned to spell Mississippi the way the title suggests, M, I, crooked letter, crooked letter, I, crooked letter, crooked letter I, humpback, humpback I. This is a stong mystery with a great sense of place, Southern rural Mississippi. You feel like you've been to this town on the
skids where people even have to go to get gas the next town over. Here two boys were friends in the eighties, one white, Leonard, and one black, Silas, but they had to keep their friendship hidden from Leonard's parents and Silas' mom who lived in a shack in the woods on Leonard's family's land.

Then one evening Leonard took Cindi on a date, at least that's what he thought he was doing. She'd asked him to take her to the drive-in, but she had other plans. She wanted to meet her secret boyfriend in the woods and for him to go on to the drive in. When he returned to pick her up, she was gone, and though Leonard was never accused, his already lonely life was made more miserable as everyone decided he was a rapist and murderer. Twenty-five years later Silas returns to town as the town constable and their paths and secrets cross again. Great characters and Southern dialogue, this is a book that you can't put down.

Burma VJ

Burma VJ : Reporting from a Closed Country
Foreign film DVDs-Main Level - BUR

Without plans on the Fourth of July, I decided to watch this documentary that I had heard so much about. It turned out to be a poignant film to watch on the fourth of July, as we celebrated our freedom and independence from Great Britain, to watch another people strive to create some form of democracy against a cruel military dictatorship.

Burma has been under strict control of media and expression since the current military junta took control in 1988, crushing an uprising. Since then, gatherings and political expression has been limited, and most citizens can only get their news from official state media. However, a band of rogue journalists have been able to capture footage of a new uprising using small, clandestine digital cameras. Through an underground network of digital and physical tape smugglers, the creators of this documentary were able to piece together enough footage via Democratic Voice of Burma.

In many ways, the documentary plays out like a suspense film. In my opinion, it was more thrilling. The recent movement covered in the film, from 2007, was started by Buddhist monks, who command enough respect to be left alone by the authorities for the most part. Chilling and terrifying, this film made me feel lucky to live in a country with so many freedoms. But it also reminded me that not every world citizen enjoys these freedoms yet.
.

You're a Horrible Person, But I Like You

You’re a Horrible Person, But I Like You Edited by Eric Spitznagel

Adult New Nonfiction 814.54 B
Funny, irreverent, and at times frustrating, You’re a Horrible Person, But I Like You is a good choice for those looking to add some humor to their reading this summer. This book is a compilation of advice column questions from the readers of The Believer magazine that are answered not by the editors, but by various actors, comedians, and writers including Zack Galifianakis, Judd Apatow, and Patton Oswalt. The often hilarious responses range from actual answers to rants that are completely unrelated to the proposed question. For example, Michael Showalter and Michael Ian Black each provide their own answers to the same set of questions, in which they use the questions as a platform to insult each other. My only complaint was that some of the question submissions were desperate attempts by the readers to display their own, often deficient, comedic ability. Overall, this book is a good bet to keep you entertained and cause you to laugh out loud more than a few times.

Odd and the Frost Giants

Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman
Youth Fiction Lower Level

Odd has had a hard life. He is very unlucky for a twelve-year-old. His dad, a Viking, tragically dies in a raid. Soon after this, Odd injures his leg chopping down a tree, forcing him to walk with a crutch. The other Vikings do not seem to like Odd because of his disability. To make things worse, his mother remarries a mean Viking who is too busy with his own children to pay any attention to Odd. So Odd runs away to his father's old cabinin the woods, where he meets a fox, a bear, and an eagle. He soon finds out that these animals are the Norse gods Odin, Thor, and Loki. They have been banished from Asgard, the home of the gods, by the frost giants. Will Odd accept his call to adventure and help the gods regain their kingdom, and most importantly, their true forms? You will have to read to find out.

This is another great book written by Neil Gaiman, the author of the 2009 Newbery medal winning, The Graveyard Book.
Gaiman does a fantastic job creating a new tale that will also give the reader an introduction to classic Norse myths. Young readers who are interested in mythology or Percy Jackson will enjoy this exciting Norse adventure.

Recommended for grades 3-6.

Kristy's Great Idea

Kristy's Great Idea by Ann M. Martin
Youth Graphic Novels-Lower Level – BAB

The Baby-Sitter’s Club (BSC) has been released in Graphic Novel form. Rania Telgemeier has adapted the original BSC novels (penned by Ann M. Martin) into a greatly illustrated novel. The illustrations are black and white and one can really see the personalities of the Kristy, Mary Anne, Claudia and Stacey. Kristy’s Big Idea is the first in the famous and popular series. Kristy has come up with a great idea to start a baby sitting business. Kristy and her friends Claudia and Mary Anne always get called to babysit in the neighborhood. Claudia and Mary Anne are excited about the club but they decided they need one more member. Claudia nominates Stacey, the new girl to Stoneybrook. Once Kristy and Mary Anne meet Stacey they decide that she will be perfect for the club. The organization of the Baby-Sitter’s leads the girls to becoming best friends. Not only does the club help the girl’s friendship; it also helps Kristy accept that her mom is getting remarried and that her family of 5 will become a family of 8. Currently there are 3 other BSC novels in Graphic form:
The Truth About Stacey by Ann M. Martin
Youth Graphic Novels-Lower Level – BAB
Mary Anne Saves the Day by Ann M. Martin
Youth Graphic Novels-Lower Level – BAB
Claudia and Mean Janine by Ann M. Martin
Youth Graphic Novels-Lower Level – BAB

Harry and the Potters

Harry and the Potters by Harry and the Potters
CD Bins – Rock - H

This is the time of year when I start feeling nostalgic for Harry Potter – waiting in line for the new book, then discussing it with all my friends. Why not celebrate Harry’s birthday (July 31) and relive the magic with some wizard rock? Harry and the Potters is one of the first wizard rock bands to make it big. The two performers, brothers Paul and Joe DeGeorge, recorded their first album in their garage with not much but a whole lot of enthusiasm. Intonation and timing were sometimes a bit off, but I couldn’t help smiling as I listened to lyrics like, “You can’t take my best friend’s sister and get away with it,” or “Why’d you have to kill my parents, Lord Voldemort, I mean You-Know-Who?” The songs in this album are taken directly from the plot of the first two books and sung from Harry’s point of view. Plymouth has the first album, from their visit here several years ago. The band is still going strong, with several more albums (the most recent one is available only for download), and active tours – their web page says they’re now touring Amsterdam and Ireland.

For more Harry Potter-inspired music, try The Hogsemeade Diaries by Tonks and the Aurors, a local and more singer-songwriter-style take on wizard rock. Go more in depth into Harry Potter with The Sorcerer’s Companion by Kronzek and Kronzek. Feel the love with Kids’ Letters to Harry Potter from Around the World compiled by Adler, or knit yourself some Gryffindor gear from the patterns in Charmed Knits by Hansel.

The Unwritten

The Unwritten Vol 1: Tommy Taylor and the Bogus Identity by Mike Carey and Peter Gross
Adult Graphic Novels – Main Level – UNW

Metafiction! With action! Tommy Taylor is the star of a Harry Potter-like series, only it’s even more popular. And Tommy Taylor is not grateful that his father made the real Tommy Taylor star of a fictional series, making the fictional character close enough to the real that some die-hard fans believe him to be the boy wizard. But his father disappeared years ago under mysterious circumstances, leaving Tommy penniless. Now, suddenly, evidence turns up that Tommy might not really be his father’s son. A young woman calling herself Lizzie Hexam might have some answers – if Tommy can survive that long. While the excerpts of the Tommy Taylor stories as presented don’t seem like they would actually rival Harry Potter, the fiction within fiction and fiction crossing the borders to the real world is fascinating. It’s an exciting story, filled with references to other great works of literature for the discerning reader. Fans of Jasper Fforde’s Thursday Next books, which have more humor and less reflection on the capricious nature of fame and fan worship, may enjoy this as well.

Michiganfest 2002

Michiganfest 2002 by Bifocal Media and Makato Recordings DVD Collection - Main Level - Musicals MIC

Feeling a little disenchanted by the current state of the local music scene? Sick of generic pop music that purports to have some sort of artistic depth when in fact it’s as deep and sustainable as a kiddie pool? Tired of corporate created “artists” whose next relapse is of more merit than the handful of chords and auto tuned vocals they can muster? Well then step back into the year 2002, and behold Michiganfest. Containing performances and interviews from over 30 local and independent (at the time anyway) bands such as Hot Snakes, Ted Leo, Dismemberment Plan, Coalesce, Dillinger 4, Small Brown Bike and Death Cab for Cutie, Michiganfest 2002 is bursting at the seams with rocktainment. That’s right; this DVD is so cool I made up a word just to describe it. The now defunct festival ran for seven years and was a welcome remedy to larger festivals that were more focused on selling products from large corporations than they were providing excellent music. Not only did the shows have a more personal feel with bands, record labels, and fans all interacting on the same level, but a portion of the proceeds went to charitable causes. So instead of shelling out $175 for those Lady Gaga tickets, buy yourself some dignity and check out Michiganfest 2002.

Twin Peaks

Twin Peaks by Mark Frost and David Lynch
DVD Collection-Main Level TV TWI

In the northwestern town of Twin Peaks, Laura Palmer, the popular homecoming queen, is found murdered. FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper arrives to help the local sheriff solve the crime. But as the investigation progresses, it is soon revealed that Twin Peaks is much more than a quiet small town: it is full of strange occurrences and strange people, often with something to hide. It is up to Agent Cooper to make sense of everything, sometimes by unconventional methods, such as interpreting dreams and visions.

Although it only aired for two seasons in the early 1990s, Twin Peaks, created by David Lynch and Mark Frost, remains popular with a huge cult following. With its interesting and often bizarre characters and storylines, it is definitely a show worth watching. Be prepared to be confused at times; however, that is all part of the fun.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest” by Stieg Larsson
Adult New Book Display – Main Level Larsson

There are not many literary characters who can fascinate while bedridden and under arrest in a locked hospital room. Stieg Larsson’s Lisbeth Salander is one of the few who manage it. The brilliant, tiny, antisocial computer hacker with the vicious streak dominates his books despite seldom speaking. In this concluding volume of Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy she spends most of the book recovering from the events at the end of the previous volume “The Girl Who Played With Fire” while a massive legal and political chess game that could change Swedish history erupts around her. If you haven’t read the previous books, don’t start with this one; Larsson spends precious little time recapping or reintroducing existing characters. But for devoted Salanderphiles all the loose ends get tied up, the bad guys get what they deserve, and you’ll stay up far too late into the night unable to stop reading.