The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

Driving in to work today I heard an interesting segment on NPR about the Swedish author Stieg Larsson . Stieg Larsson wrote a trilogy of books with the first one being The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, which is currently #17 on the New York Times Hardcover Fiction list. I have not read the book myself, but a couple of my colleagues have been raving about it. What I didn't know is that Stieg Larsson died in 2004. When Knopf picked up the rights for publishing it in the United States they needed to use some inventive marketing techniques since they had an unknown author who could not do book tours. First they starting giving out advance copies to booksellers, and basically to anyone who asked. They went so far as to take an ad out in the New York Times Book Review telling readers if they wrote asking for a copy they would get one in the mail. They also made use of bloggers. The books were already popular in Europe and so getting the book into the hands of some influential book bloggers was important. When the book was finally published it had glowing blurbs on the back from Michael Connelly, Lee Child and Harlan Coben, and debuted at #4 on the New York Times Best-Seller List.

The King of Gross Out Grosses Himself Out

I just read about Stephen King's latest book of short stories "Just After Sunset", which apparently includes a story about which Mr. King said "I even grossed myself out." Wow that is saying something! But this started me thinking, didn't he retire at one point? In fact in 2002 he declared that "he would stop writing." Well since 2002 he has published more books that the average writer does in a lifetime. Just imagine how many books he would have published if he wasn't "retired". Crazy Stephen.

Remembering Michael

When I was ten years old my dad took me to see The Andromeda Strain. I remember sitting very tensely in the dark movie theater, barely breathing, watching the riveting, horrifying tale play out. I can still see the figures in their astronaut suits walking through the eerily quiet town, past citizens who had dropped mid step. It was my first experience with one of the maestros of thrillerdom, Michael Crichton. Since then he has written many bestsellers that were often turned into movies; Jurassic Park, Sphere, Congo, The Great Train Robbery, Timeline, and The Terminal Man, to name just a few.

Sadly, the world lost a great story teller Tuesday when Michael Crichton passed way. He will be missed.

If I had the time...

My latest list of newly-received non-fiction which I'd read...if I had the time:

Stalking Irish Madness: Searching for the Roots of My Family’s Schizophrenia
by Patrick Tracey (a journey to trace his two sisters’ illness)

Alphabet Juice: the Energies, Gists, and Spirits of Letters, Words, and Combinations Thereof; Their Roots, Bones, Innards, Piths, Pips, and Secret Parts, Tinctures, Tonics, and Essences: with Examples of Their Usage Foul and Savory by Roy Blount Jr. (witty, punny wordplay)

Fabergé’s Eggs: the Extraordinary Story of the Masterpieces That Outlived an Empire by Toby Faber (the tale of the czar’s 49 bejeweled eggs)

Getting Into Guinness: One Man’s Longest, Fastest, Highest Journey Inside the World’s Most Famous Record Book by Larry Olmstead (why do people do this? Olmstead explains the obsession.)

The Big Necessity: the Unmentionable World of Human Waste and Why It Matters by Rose George (Sanitation as a central challenge to human development)

Dark Water: Flood and Redemption in the City of Masterpieces by Robert Clark (Story of the 1966 flood in Florence which killed 33 and damaged over 14,000 artworks.)

The Man Who Made Vermeers: Unvarnishing the Legend of Master Forger Han van Meegeren by Jonathan Lopez (Bio of a phony paintings peddler and his Nazi ties)

Unforgettable Walks to Take Before You Die by Steve Watkins & Clare Jones (I’ve done two of them!)

Writing on Stone: Scenes from a Maine Island Life by Christina Marsden Gillis (a summer resident of Gotts Island, SW of Mt. Desert, for 40+ years)

Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes by Thomas Cathcart & Daniel Klein (originated as zany schtick on NPR’s Weekend Edition)

Voting in Dover

Just in case it slipped your mind, national and state elections are being held Tuesday, November 4. The polls will be open in Dover from 7AM to 7PM. The City Clerk's office has posted a list of voting locations. You can also look at sample ballots for your ward. Not sure what ward you are in? Use the Street Finder.

November--Time to Vote!

The Ladybug Picture Book Award, a project of the Center for the Book at the New Hampshire State Library, is designed to promote early literacy and honor the best in recent children's picture books. Each year, a committee of children's librarians from around New Hampshire selects 10 picture book titles and during the month of November, New Hampshire children from preschoolers to those in third grade vote to select the award winner. The winning picture book is announced at the end of the year and the author and illustrator receive a crystal award created by Pepi Herrmann Crystal.

Children in preschool through third grade are invited to choose their favorite picture book from the 2008 list of nominees. Ballots and tally sheets are available in the Children's Room and on our website. All votes MUST be received at the Center for the Book (mailing info is on the tally sheet) by December 1, 2008.

Haunted Dover

Curious about what ghosts roam through Dover on All Hallow's Eve? You might be surprised at what you find...

Treat yourself today!

You've got the candy, now how about something to go with it: come in and browse our "still gigantic" book sale. The lowest prices were just posted this morning, ranging from just .10 for paperbacks to $1 for hardcovers. These prices will continue through Sunday.

Trick or Treat Tactics

The following excerpt is from The Shadow Year by Jeffrey Ford. In it, Jim explains Halloween strategy to his little sister Mary, who will be participating for the first time.

“The idea,” he told Mary, “is to get as much candy as possible. You want candy, wrapped candy. If you get a candy bar, that’s the best—a Hershey bar or a Milky Way. Mary Janes are okay if you don’t mind losing a few fillings, little boxes of Good & Plenty, Dots, Chocolate Babies, packs of gum, all good. Then you’ve got your cheapskate single-wrapped candy—root-beer barrels, butterscotches, licorice drops—not bad, usually given out by people who are broke, but what can they do? They’re trying.

“You don’t eat anything that’s not wrapped, except for Mr. Barzita’s figs. Some people drop an apple in your bag. You can’t eat it, but you can throw it at someone, so that’s okay. Once in a while, someone will bake stuff to give out. Don’t eat it—you don’t know what they put in it. It could be the best-looking cupcake you ever saw, with chocolate icing and a candy corn on top, but who knows, they might have crapped in the batter. I’ve seen where people will throw a penny in your sack. Hey, a penny’s a penny.

“You always stay where we can see you. If someone invites you into their house, don’t go. When we tell you to run, run ‘cause kids could be coming to throw eggs at us. If you hear someone shout ‘Nair bomb,’ run like hell.

“What’s a Nair bomb?” asked Mary.

“Nair is that chemical stuff women use to take the hair off their legs. Kids pour it into balloons and throw them. If you get hit on the head with it, all your hair will fall out. If it gets in your eyes, it could blind you for a while.”

Mary nodded.

More Candy Please

One of our blog readers recommended Candyfreak by Steve Almond after reading the previous post on candy corn. I thought I would share a bit of Almond's Halloween reminiscences with you in the spirit of the season.

"I can think of nothing on earth so beautiful as the final haul on Halloween night, which, for me, was ten to fifteen pounds of candy, a riot of colored wrappers and hopeful fonts, snub-nosed chocolate bars and SweeTARTS, the seductive rattle of Jujyfruits and Good & Plenty and lollipop sticks all akimbo, the foil ends of mini LifeSavers packs twinkling like dimes, a thick sugary perfume rising up from the pillowcase. And more so, the pleasure of pouring out the contents onto the rug in the TV room, of cataloging the take according to a strict Freak Hierarchy, calling for all chocolate products to be immediately quarantined, sorted and closely guarded, with higher-quality fruit chews and caramels next, then hard candies, and last of all anything organic (the loathsome raisins). A brief period of barter with my brothers might ensue. For the most part, I simply lay amid my trove and occasionally massed the candy into a pile which I could sort of dive into, a la Scrooge McDuck and his gold ducats."

An Ode To Candy Corn

Candy corn may seem timeless but it was born at the Wunderle Candy Company in the 1880s. That whole school of candy - mellocremes - was already in full swing, in various agriculturally inspired shapes and sizes. Then in 1898 Goelitz Confectionary Company took candy corn into the big leagues, associating the confection with Halloween. It was, needless to say, a big hit. And why shouldn't it have been? Candy Corn was made for stardom. Those shiny, waxy yellow ends demand to be clutched by the handful and eaten, top, middle, bottom, top middle, bottom, in a compulsive rhythm until they are gone. Chocolate gets all the fanzines, but it is the clay of candy. Matte, endlessly shapeable, chocolate is all about taste. Candy corn gets by on looks alone. Odes should be written to its waxy gleam, its whimsical design, its autumnal shades. I fell for candy corn hard. It was the first candy for which I had a specific desire rather than a generic sugarlust. I loved how it returned, Halloween after Halloween. We trick-or-treated on the overly lit cul-de-sacs of suburban Maryland, compromising our store-bought costumes by donning coats. We ran from house to house, suffocating plastic masks pulled up onto the tops of our heads. One popular house distributed full-size Three Musketeers bars. Candy corn came in slender, oblong boxes or little plastic bags cherishing only four or five kernels. At the end of the night our brown paper bags were awkwardly heavy. It was never enough. I usually ate all of my candy by the next evening, and then started in on my brother's. When I got tired of the sugary candies in our bags, I switched to chocolate, then back again.
From Candy and Me: a love story by Hilary Liftin

Look It Up

We have quite a few word geeks working here at the Library, really no surprise when you consider our profession. This morning the hot topic of conversation was not the Red Sox, or politics, but an obscure little word that appears in The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Both librarians had made the effort to look up the word, gallimaufry, to find out its meaning. They had some fun tossing it around at the Circulation Desk, to see who knew what it meant. This of course led to a discussion of favorite words. One librarian's current favorite word is "heinous", and she likes to use it whenever possible. Another librarian favors "bogus". My particular favorite is from the Bridget Jones novels and cannot be used in polite society. How about you, have you added a new word to your lexicon that you are particularly fond of?

By the way, if you are planning on reading The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, gallimaufry means hodgepodge. There, I saved you a look-up.

The Booksale Starts This Saturday

The Friends of the Library Booksale starts at 9AM tomorrow for library card holders only. The general public may attend starting Sunday, October 26. There are thousands of books and AV materials for adults and children available. Don't miss this huge sale!

But It's Mostly Just Pictures!

Yesterday one of our voracious readers eagerly came in to pick up the new entry in Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series. The new book is called Welcome to the Jungle, and is a graphic novel, or as some like to call them, cartoons. There is a debate about how cartoons and graphic novels differ, if at all, but that is fodder for another blog post. Anyhow, our fan of the Dresden Files was crushed at what he saw. At first glance he didn't realize it was in comic format, he was mainly concerned about the length--it was less than half the size of the other 10 novels in the series. You know how it is when you are looking forward to reading the latest offering by your favorite author--you might have to have your name in the queue to get it and it finally arrives. Book nerds I know, but fun none the less. I felt for this man. He flipped through the book and kept repeating "But it's mostly just pictures!" To make matters worse he had requested we purchase this book. He dejectedly handed back the novel, not interested. Graphic novels are immensely popular in our library, but I'm not sure how crossing between two formats will fare with readers. How would you feel about reading 10 novels in a series and having the next one be in graphic format? To be fair this is apparently a prequel so it can stand alone as a graphic novel. There are many angry reader comments on Amazon's review section for the book. Apparently our fan was not the only one caught out by this.

Advertising Books on TV

This morning I was flicking through channels looking for a news show that was not featuring endless commercials or discussions of Sarah Palin's new clothes when I saw video of a man walking with a group of frisking Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers. Since I have Goldens I had to stop and see what it was about. I was startled to discover it was an advertisement for a book! Dean Koontz was walking with a group of dogs and talking about his book The Darkest Evening of the Year. It is very rare to see books advertised on TV. Why is that, I wonder. Is it because they assume people who read don't watch TV? Or that people who watch TV can't read? Anyway, you should read Dean's hilarious account of the making of this commercial. And it is a great book, especially for Golden Retriever aficionados.

Keep It Safe in a Book Safe

I have seen hollowed out book safes selling from $35 all the way up to $175. There is no need to spend that kind of money when it is very easy to create your own using a book you bought at the library book sale! My husband bought an old Physician's Desk Reference at a previous book sale and created quite a spacious book safe to hide valuables in. He had so much fun he hollowed out another book to hold a liquor bottle as a creative Christmas gift. Take a look at these comprehensive step by step instructions for creating your own hollowed out book. There are many different methods, you will find other instructions on the Internet. Make sure to come to the Library book sale this Saturday and pick out a nice fat book for your very own book safe.

National Book Awards Finalists Announced

On Wednesday the finalists were announced for the 2008 National Book Awards. For a full list, and more information, visit the National Book Foundation web site.

Fiction:

Aleksandar Hemon, The Lazarus Project

Rachel Kushner, Telex from Cuba

Peter Matthiessen, Shadow Country

Marilynne Robinson, Home

Salvatore Scibona, The End

Nonfiction:

Drew Gilpin Faust, This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War
Annette Gordon-Reed, The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family
Jane Mayer, The Dark Side: The Inside Story of How the War on Terror Turned into a War on American Ideals
Jim Sheeler, Final Salute: A Story of Unfinished Lives
Joan Wickersham, The Suicide Index: Putting My Father’s Death in Order

Young People's Literature:

Laurie Halse Anderson, Chains
Kathi Appelt, The Underneath
Judy Blundell, What I Saw and How I Lied
E. Lockhart, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks
Tim Tharp, The Spectacular Now

Hitchhiker Trilogy Expands to a Sixth Book

Can you really still call it a trilogy when it is comprised of six books? It seems to be the sort of silliness that Douglas Adams, now deceased writer of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series, would have approved of. Eoin Colfer, author of the Artemis Fowl series, is undertaking the daunting task of resurrecting Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect, and Trillian (we hope) in the new book to be titled "And Another Thing". Fans of the series will be watching closely. It doesn't seem right to me to take over another author's work although it has certainly been done before, with Margaret Mitchell's "Gone With The Wind" being a prime example. The only rendition of her story I enjoyed other than the original was Carol Burnett's spectacularly hilarious parody "Went With The Wind". How do you feel about an author co-opting the characters and storylines developed by another writer?

My favorite book of the year (so far...!)

I've read some fabulous novels this year but I just finished one that stands head-and-shoulders above the others. It's American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld and it's a stunner! It's loosely based on the life of Laura Bush (the author says 85% is fictionalized) and focuses on the modest Wisconsin upbringing of Alice Lindgren. After a life-changing traffic accident as a teenager in which she causes a fatality, Alice becomes a teacher and later a librarian in her hometown. Still single in her early 30s, she meets "churlish" Charlie Blackwell and they (oddly) fall madly in love and marry. Charlie's from a prominent, wealthy, and politically-connected family (his father is a former Governor and his domineering mother Maj [for "Her Majesty"] still rules the roost.) Charlie and a couple of his brothers work in the family business but later Charlie buys the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team, his "dream job". The main focus of this wonderful story is the evolution of Alice and Charlie's marriage: his frustrations about his legacy, her capitulations to his lifestyle and politics, his alcoholism and recovery, and his eventual election to the U.S. Presidency, but it's Sittenfeld's writing that immediately captures the reader. Alice's careful, yet honestly detailed narrative of her life and her insightful introspection as to how she ended up as The First Lady are pure magic. As much as I cannot wait for the real-life presidency of George W. to end, I will sincerely miss reading more about Alice and Charlie!

Will We Ever See the Midnight Sun?

Stephenie Meyer's fans have been on a rollercoaster ride lately. They have been anxiously awaiting publication of Midnight Sun which the author is still writing. Then came the news that someone had posted the unfinished manuscript on the Internet. The author was so upset by this violation of her rights that she may not continue with the story. She says " My first feeling was that there was no way to continue. Writing isn't like math; in math, two plus two always equals four no matter what your mood is like. With writing, the way you feel changes everything. If I tried to write Midnight Sun now, in my current frame of mind, James would probably win and all the Cullens would die, which wouldn't dovetail too well with the original story. In any case, I feel too sad about what has happened to continue working on Midnight Sun, and so it is on hold indefinitely."

We will all have to wait, perhaps, forever, to discover Twilight from Edward's perspective. To read more of Stephenie Meyer's discussion on the stolen story, visit her blog.

Nobel Prize in Literature

Alas the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature was named today, and it was not an American but a French writer by the name of Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clezio. Horace Engdahl, permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy, described Le Clezio's work as having "cosmopolitan character. Frenchman, yes, but more so a traveller, a citizen of the world, a nomad." Mr. Engdahl recently sparked controversy by saying that United States "is too isolated, too insular" and doesn't really "participate in the big dialogue of literature." This drew angry responses from American writers and critics. An American author has not won the prize since Toni Morrison won in 1993.

If I had the time...

More wonderful new non-fiction I'd read...if I had the time. Each one seems to have an English connection this time:

The Terminal Spy: a True Story of Espionage, Betrayal and Murder by Alan S. Cowell
Cowell, NY Times London Bureau Chief , spins the intriguing and terrifying tale of the fatal poisoning of former KGB agent Alexander Litvenenko in the Millennium Hotel's bar. The former spy drank green tea with honey, lemon and, as it turns out, radioactive polonium. Who was behind the killing? There are competing conspiracy theories, but the finger points eventually back to Putin.

Dry Storeroom No. 1: The Secret History of the Natural History Museum by Richard Fortey
The retired senior paleontologist at this world-renowned London museum takes readers on a fascinating and affectionate behind-the-scenes tour of the institution, and tells marvelous and often humorous anecdotes about the staff, the exhibits, and its hidden stores. So enjoyable!

The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell
While the words "witty" and "Puritan" seem destined never to co-exist in the same sentence, Sarah Vowell has done it! This is a quote from the Publishers Weekly review which really intrigued me about this book: "While the Puritans who had earlier sailed to Plymouth on the Mayflower were separatists, Winthrop's followers remained loyal to England... Vowell underscores that the seemingly minute differences between the Plymouth Puritans and the Massachusetts Puritans were as meaningful as the current Sunni/Shia Muslim rift."

Get Your Bets In Now

On Thursday, Oct. 9th the winner of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Literature will be announced. If you have been listening to the news you know that this will not be an American--for more on that read Charles McGrath's article in the New York Times. Anyhow, what I didn't know is that you can actually bet on who you think is going to win. Is there anything that you can't bet on these days? I am not much of a gambler and so perhaps I am showing my naivete, but I find this bizarre. What do you think? Apparently there are 4 to 1 odds on the Syrian poet Adonis. If you hear of any hot tips let me know.

Books Becoming Films

The previews for the big movies of the fall season are coming out and some of them look intriguing. Many of them are based on books, although you would never know it from the advertising. This is your chance to read up on the complete story, not the abridged version the studios offer. Coming to a movie theater near you soon, and already at your public Library:

The Duchess starring Keira Knightly is based on Georgiana:Duchess of Devonshire by Amanda Foreman.

The Secret Life of Bees starring Queen Latifah and Dakota Fanning is based on the novel of the same name by Sue Kidd. This is a great story by the way, you should definitely read it.

The Road starring Viggo Mortenson is based on the novel of the same name by Cormac McCarthy. McCarthy's last novel turned film, No Country for Old Men, won last year's best picture Oscar.

And for the kids, The City of Ember, based on the novel of the same name written by Jeanne DuPrau, looks so good I am going to go see it. This book was chosen by the children of New Hampshire as a Great Stone Face Award winner.

Name That Banned Book!

How much do you know about books that have been banned or challenged around the country? In honor of Banned Books Week, take our quiz and find out.

"Git up and hump yourself, Jim! There ain't a moment to lose. They're after us!"

Jim never asked no questions, he never said a word; but the way he worked for the next half an hour showed about how he was scared. By that time everything we had in the world was on our raft and she was ready to be shoved out from the willow cove where she was hid. We put out the camp fire at the cavern the first thing, and didn't show a candle outside after that.

Click on comments for the answer....

Name That Banned Book!

How much do you know about books that have been banned or challenged around the country? In honor of Banned Books Week, take our quiz and find out.

Lennie reluctantly reached into his pocket. His voice broke a little. "I don't know why I can't keep it. It ain't nobody's mouse. I didn't steal it. I found it lyin' right beside the road."

George's hand remained outstretched imperiously. Slowly, like a terrier who doesn't want to bring back a ball to its master, Lennie approached, drew back, approached again. George snapped his fingers sharply, and at the sound Lennie laid the mouse in his hand.

"I wasn't doin' nothing bad with it, George. Jus' strokin' it.

Click on comments for the answer....

Name That Banned Book!

How much do you know about books that have been banned or challenged around the country? In honor of Banned Books Week we will be posting a paragraph or two from a challenged book each day. Can you name this book?

What Jem did was something I'd do as a matter of course had I not been under Atticus's interdict, which I assumed included not fighting horrible old ladies. We had just come to her gate when Jem snatched my baton and ran flailing wildly up the steps into Mrs. Dubose's front yard, forgetting everything Atticus had said, forgetting that she packed a pistol under her shawls, forgetting that if Mrs. Dubose missed, her girl Jessie probably wouldn't.

He did not begin to calm down until he had cut the tops off every camellia bush Mrs. Dubose owned, until the ground was littered with green buds and leaves. He bent my baton against his knee, snapped it in two and threw it down.

Click on comments for the answer....

Name That Banned Book!

How much do you know about books that have been banned or challenged around the country? In honor of Banned Books Week, take our quiz and find out.

Carrie went to see Tommy the day before the prom. She was waiting outside one of his classes and he said she looked really wretched, as if she thought he'd yell at her to stop hanging around and bugging him.

She said she had to be in by eleven-thirty at the latest, or her momma would be worried. She said she wasn't going to spoil his time or anything, but it wouldn't be fair to worry her momma.

Tommy suggested they stop at the Kelly Fruit after and grab a root beer and a burger. All the other kids would be going to Westover or Lewiston, and they would have the place to themselves. Carrie's face lit up, he said. She told him that would be fine. Just fine.

This is the girl they keep calling a monster. I want you to keep that firmly in mind. The girl who could be satisfied with a hamburger and a dime root beer after her only school dance so her momma wouldn't be worried...

Click on comments for the answer....

A Timely Biography

Alice Schroeder has just published a biography of Warren Buffett titled Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life. Though I find Warren Buffett to be a fascinating man, a new biography of him would not have normally been picked up on my book radar--yes I have book radar. However since he has been in the news as of late, discussing the state of our sagging economy, my interest has been peaked. Can you imagine being so powerful that world leaders consult you about the state of the economy? Can you imagine being so rich that you can boost an investment bank with a $5 billion dollar "cash infusion"? If you are of a certain age you may remember the commercials for E.F. Hutton with the slogan "when E. F. Hutton talks, people listen." That is what I think of when I hear the name Warren Buffett. The library has the biography on order and so you can place a hold on it now. You may be thinking that it would be a dry and boring read the reviews are making it sound very entertaining. And if you are curious about the title, snowball refers to "Mr. Buffet’s way of making things get bigger and bigger". You can read a read a review of the book in the New York Times Book Review.

Name That Banned Book!

How much do you know about books that have been banned or challenged around the country? In honor of Banned Books Week we will be posting a paragraph or two from a challenged book each day. Can you name this book?

There were shelves upon shelves of the most succulent-looking sweets imaginable. Creamy chunks of nougat, shimmering pink squares of coconut ice, fat honey-colored toffees; hundreds of different kinds of chocolate in neat rows, there was a large barrel of Every Flavor Beans, and another of Fizzing Whizbees, the levitating sherbert balls that Ron had mentioned; along yet another wall were "Special Effects" sweets: Droobles Best Blowing Gum (which filled a room with bluebell-colored bubbles that refused to pop for days), the strange, splintery Toothflossing String-mints, tiny black Pepper Imps ("Breathe fire for your Friends!"), Ice Mice ("Hear your teeth chatter and squeak!"), peppermint creams shaped like toads ("Hop realistically in the stomach!"), fragile sugar-spun quills, and exploding bonbons.

Scroll down for the answer....



Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling. The entire Harry Potter series leads the list of most challenged books of the 21st century.

Oh Waiter!

Fans of Anthony Bourdain will enjoy Waiter Rant by Steve Dubanica. It has that same cynical, sardonic, just tell-it-as-it-is style, only this time its from the waiter's perspective. Dubanica offers some tips on how to be a valued customer, and also advises about some things that really annoy waiters, and how they get their revenge. Spitting in your food is the least of it. Restaurants keep much more information stored on their computers than you think; they keep records on troublesome customers as well as the ones who warrant special treatment. Don't even think of claiming you are a friend of the owner! The book details power struggles over prime shifts and tables, the paranoia of restaurant owners, and how a waiter can tell within seconds of seating you what kind of tipper you will be, amongst other interesting tidbits. This is an interesting eye opener for foodies, spiced with amusing anecdotes like what happened when Russell Crowe came to the restaurant.

"The front-of-the-house version of Kitchen Confidential; a painfully funny, excruciatingly true-life account of the waiter's life. As useful as it is entertaining." Anthony Bourdain

Where Did the Audio Books on Tape Go?

No need to panic, we still have our collection of audio books on tape. There is still a loyal base of fans that prefer tapes over books on CD and they have been very concerned when they can't find them in the Browse Room. Sad to say it is a dying medium. Very few titles are now offered on tape, and most of our patrons have moved on to books on CD or downloadable audio books since cars don't even come with cassette players any more. As the collection of books on CD grew larger, and the audio books on tape dwindled we had to give the growing collection the premier spot in the Browse Room. Fear not, the audio books on tape have simply moved to the back of the book stacks on the right side. You may even find them easier to browse now that they are on tall shelves.

If I Had the Time

So many books so little time. I came across two non-fiction titles recently that I would love to read, but the stack on my nightstand is too big and my one year old is too energetic so they will be added to "the list". However, if you have the time you might want to check them out and let me know how they were.

• The End of Food by Paul Roberts who wrote The End of Oil. "Roberts lays out the stark economic realities behind modern food and shows how our system of making, marketing, and moving what we eat is growing less and less compatible with the billions of consumers that system was built to serve."
  
• A Year With-Out "Made in China" : One Family's True Adventure in the Global Economy by Sara Bongiorni. "On January 1, 2005, Sara Bongiorni's family embarked on a yearlong boycott of Chinese Products. They wanted to see for themselves what it would take, in will power and creativity, to live without the world's fastest growing economy--and whether it could be done at all."

Hot Off the Press!

Chris Paolini's lastest book in the Inheritance series is finally here! Hardcore fans lined up at bookstores on Friday for the midnight release of Brisingr. Paolini was just 15 when he started writing the first book, Eragon, and is now a whopping 24. Brisingr will have a first press run of 2.5 million books, the largest ever for Random House's children's division--pretty impressive. Put all 784 pages on hold today at the Dover Public Library.

Oprah Has Spoken

Oprah announced her latest book club pick today--The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski. You can visit Oprah's web site to find out more about her book club and her latest pick. Here is a description of the book from the publisher:

Epic in scope, evoking the ancient kinship between people and dogs, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski is an unforgettable debut novel set against the majestic backdrop of the northern Wisconsin wilderness.Born mute, speaking in a sign language of his own invention, Edgar Sawtelle has led an idyllic childhood on his parents' remote farm, where, for generations, the Sawtelles have raised and trained a fictional breed of dogs whose thoughtful presence is exemplified by Almondine, Edgar's lifelong companion. During the summer of his 14th year, Edgar seems poised to excel in his family's work. He has a way with the dogs, and he has just been given his first litter of pups to raise. But that summer brings two unexpected visitors: a stray dog who refuses to come in from the wild, and Claude, Edgar's uncle, who cannot seem to tame his own ferocious nature. In this masterful novel, Wroblewski brilliantly examines the limits of language and the elemental forces of love, loss and revenge. At once a riveting adventure and a multilayered family saga, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is a bold, ambitious novel that will captivate readers from its mysterious opening to its breathtaking finale.

Shiver Me Timbers!

Today is International Talk Like a Pirate Day!If you board their web site, you can learn to talk like a pirate, generate your own pirate name, and even pick up some knitting patterns for pirates. In the spirit of the day, I would like to share some great pirate novels with you. I heartily recommend Pirates! The True and Remarkable adventures of Minerva Sharpe and Nancy Kingston, Female Pirates by Celia Rees. Its the swashbuckling tale of a wealthy merchant's daughter and her slave who find freedom by escaping to the high seas. Arrr!

Anatomy of Deception

I don’t read a lot of mysteries. Those that I do read must bring something extra to the plate. I enjoy the Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters for its humor and Egyptian atmosphere. I like the Jade Del Cameron series by Suzanne Arruda for its exotic African surroundings, and I love the Phryne Fisher series by Kerry Greenwood for its 1920s feel and feisty heroine. Recently a co-worker who enjoys the same historical fiction I do urged me to read The Anatomy of Deception. It is a mystery by Lawrence Goldstone but has the intriguing background of a 1889 Philadelphia medical school. It is billed as forensic thriller. Things were very different then, doctors operated in street clothes with bare hands, anesthesia was still an uncertain, dangerous science, the theory of antisepsis was just being explored, and autopsies had just been legalized. Young doctor Ephraim Carroll is studying under the brilliant William Osler when he stumbles into the mystery of the beautiful girl’s corpse that disappears from the Dead Room, a.k.a., the morgue. His search for the truth will lead him into impoverished, dangerous neighborhoods, and the equally dangerous drawing rooms of the rich and powerful. True life characters like Osler, and artist Thomas Eakins add flavor and depth, as do details like Bayer patenting and marketing Heroin as a non prescription pain reliever, even as a cough remedy for children. If you enjoyed The Alienist by Caleb Carr and The Interpretation of Murder by Jed Rubenfeld, you will like this novel too.

Can you guess this Saturday's Matinee?

As I stated in an earlier blog post, due to our movie licensing agreements we are not allowed to announce the titles of the movies that we are showing, but we can describe them. So here is the description of the movie we are showing this Saturday, September 20 at 2:00pm in the Library Lecture Hall.

This is a live action adaptation of a 1960's Japanese cartoon/anime series of the same name. Emile Hirsch is starring as the title character, who incidently likes to drive fast, and Christina Ricci will portray his girlfriend.

Quote of the Day

Favorite comment overheard in the library today:
"There’s tons of cool stuff here.”

Do You Collect Books?

We have a small collection of special books that we will be selling off a few pieces at a time. These books range in price from $5 to over $100 because of their “antiquity” and/or value to collectors. Although we are still not asking full market price, prices are more than we ask for in our annual Fall book sale which begins October 25. These books have been in our basement collection for quite a number of years, and are being displayed a few at a time in the glass case near the adult circulation desk. So check back every week to see more!

All the Excitement is in the Library Parking Lot Today

Barack Obama is speaking at the McConnell Center adjacent to the Library today at noon. The excitement has been building all day.

Ever Heard a Didgeridoo?

The Friends of the Library will be hosting a lecture and concert with Joseph Carringer on Tues., Sept. 16th at 7:00pm in the library lecture hall, and yes he will be playing the didgeridoo. Joseph Carringer has been playing an Australian Aboriginal-made didgeridoo since 1997. Probably the world's oldest wind instrument, the didgeridoo originates in Northern Australia. Cave paintings by ancient aborigines suggest its age at 1500 years. Come and see how they are constructed, used in ritual and communication. Learn how it resonates and how its vibrations affect the human form. Check out its links to modern wind instruments and why many Celtic music groups are incorporating it into their arrangements. The lecture & concert is free and open to the public.

Still Writing at 88!

I assumed when The Lighthouse was published in 2005 that it would be the last mystery novel by P.D. James. After all she was 85 at that time, and so I figured PD might want to retire. Well The Private Patient is scheduled to be released on November 18, and PD is now 88. This is her fourteenth mystery featuring Commander Adam Dagliesh, the first being published in 1962. I am not going to make any further guesses about PD James retiring, but poor Adam has put in some long years for the New Scotland Yard. If you are a fan of PD's you can put your name on the list for the Private Patient now, and if you are not you might want to give them a try--they are quite fun.

Misleading Book Jackets

Do you know a book lover with a sense of humor? Or perhaps your child is sad about returning to school and dragging around a textbook covered with dreary brown paper. They might enjoy a creative book cover like How to Get Your Brother Kicked Out of the House, or Yes Dear and You’re Right- A Husband’s Guide to Marriage. Personally, I think I will buy How To Murder a Complete Stranger and Get Away With It before my next plane flight.

This is not a product endorsement, it just made me laugh!

Which Came First the Chicken or the Egg

Rick Riordan, author of the popular kids series Percy Jackson & the Olympians, is authoring the first in a new series titled 39 Clues. This new series, by Scholastic, is scheduled to release a book every 2 to 3 months. The books contain clues which are linked to an online game and to a set of 350 playing cards. Maybe I am just a stick in the mud (or old-fashioned because I just used the term stick in the mud), but I don't really like this cross-marketing. We spend a lot of time as librarians trying to get kids into the habit of reading, and hoping it will replace some of their online time. Also, it is yet another thing for parents to spend money on. Now I know there are plenty of games, web sites, and merchandise connected to other books, Harry Potter, for example, but the books came first. All of the "stuff" came as a result of the popularity of the series. Just my opinion--I'd like to know what you think. If you would like to read more about the series there is an article about it in the New York Times book section.

Saturday Matinee

The DPL will be resuming Saturday afternoon matinees beginning this Saturday, September 6 at 2pm in the Library Lecture Hall. Due to our movie licensing agreements we are not allowed to announce the titles of the movies, but we can describe them. So here is a description of the Sept. 6 movie: Singing performance by a wildly popular young actor/singer whose father, Billy Ray, had an "achy breaky heart". Also you can't shake a stick these days without seeing something about the young star's television show, concerts, controversial Vanity Fair photographs.... After all of my wonderful hints if you still don't know what it is, or if you want to know what future movies will be shown gives us a call at 516-6050. All movies are free and open to the public.