DRAGONS! A Game of Thrones If/Then Post

June 21, 2016 peaadmin

Courtesy of The Guardian: www.guardian.co.uk

As I mentioned a little while back, when I’m not hanging out with the books, I teach at A Local University. And, as it happens, all my students are obsessed (seriously…obsessed) with HBO’s Game of Thrones. To the point where we make Game of Thrones analogies in class to help them better understand the History of the British Empire. To the point where we had to delay class for ten minutes today so that everyone could finish venting, speculating, wondering, and lamenting what was, apparently, a stellar episode.

For the record, I love when students bring their outside lives to class, because 1) It means they are comfortable enough in class to bring their whole selves, 2) It means they are engaged with their other students, 3) It gives me ideas for blog posts to listen to them talk.

As many of you may have heard, George R.R. Martin, the author of Song of Ice and Fire series (the first of which is titled A Game of Thrones) had always intended the books to be ahead of the series, so that readers would know in advance what was going to happen (to the extent that the show and the books aligned). Lately, however, life has gotten in the way, and Martin missed the deadline for the seventh book in the series, The Winds of Winter, meaning that, for the first time, the show was ahead of the book in term of “what happens next” (sources report, however, that we may see the book by the end of this year, or early in 2017). While this was certainly a blow to readers, who adore Martin’s detailed prose, his insanely complex world-building, and the sheer grandeur and goriness of his books, it’s made this season of Game of Thrones as much of a surprise for long-time fans as it is for those who discovered the series through HBO’s adaptations.

It turns out, my students fall into both categories. Many are just discovering the addicting power of Martin’s work, but there are a number of students who are casting around for something to keep them going through the long, dragon-less days ahead. And so for them, especially (and for you, of course!), I started putting together a list of other epic fantasy series that will tide even the most devoted Game of Thrones fan until the next scintillating episode, or series installment….

If you enjoy/enjoyed Game of Thrones, Then be sure to try:

The Darkness that Comes Before: R. Scott Bakker’s The Prince of Nothing novels are perhaps a bit more philosophical than Martin’s books, as it focuses on a world undergoing a Second Apocalypse and all the holy men, crusaders, magicians, and prophets that herald its coming, but it does have that sense of dark foreboding that makes Martin’s work so compelling. Bakker also does an impressive job balancing the epic scope of his fiction world, known as Eärwa, its armies and teeming streets, with court intrigue, love affairs, and personal interactions, making this book a page-turner on a number of levels. There are two other books in the Prince of Nothing series, all of which have been published, so you won’t have to wait to find out what happens next.

Chronicles of the Black Company: For those whose favorite parts of Game of Thrones are the scenes on the Wall with the Night Watch, then this book is definitely for you. The men of the Black Company wander their shadowy world, doing the work that no others are brave enough–or foolhardy enough–to do. But as rumors of the White Rose begin to filter into their camps, the promise of a source of good in their bleak days, the world as they know it begins to change. Glen Cook brings the world of epic fantasy down to the individual in these books, and the relationships and interactions between the men of the Black Company is what makes this book such a success. As before, this the the beginning of a full series, so you can enjoy all their exploits without worry.

The City Stained Red: For what it’s worth, Sam Sykes is my favorite author on this list, not only because I love the world that he has created in his Bring Down Heaven series, but also because his books are delightfully funny, his characters quirky, and its evident he is having so much fun creating this world that its impossible to not have fun while reading. In these books, a rag-tag band of adventurers, lead by Lenk,(a man whose past is in itself the stuff of legends) must somehow defeat an ancient god who is tearing the city of Cier’Djaal apart at the seams. Their quest will bring them into the heart of a deeply complex city, and up against the might of two frighteningly powerful armies, with plenty of action and some great plot twists to keep things interesting. The adventures continue, and the stakes grow even higher, in the recently released The Mortal Tally.

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Saturdays @ the South: Reading Rules

June 18, 2016 peaadmin

dog-734689_640 — There really weren’t any pictures that encompassed “reading rules,” so here’s a picture of a stern looking dog reading, instead.

Recently on the library’s Facebook page, our excellent Archivist posted an article from blog favorite Book Riot about reading rules. This wasn’t a recent article from Book Riot, but it was new to me and so I read it with the usual alacrity I give to things bookish (i.e. a lot). While I didn’t find it to reveal a great deal about the personality of the writer, or myself (as indicated in the title), it did get me thinking about my own reading rules.

I definitely have reading rules. I always have, even though they’ve changed somewhat as I’ve grown and changed with my books. When I was a kid, I was a voracious reader (OK, that much hasn’t changed) but I was a fan of purchasing books nearly to the point of being a book hoarder. The library was always a part of my life, but it was mostly for research and standalone books. If a new book came out in a series I was reading (particularly The Baby Sitter’s Club) I was there, allowance money in hand, only to go home and read it in 2 hours and carefully place it on my shelf with the others. Now that the library is a larger part of my life, and since my reading tastes are so varied I couldn’t possibly purchase even a fraction of the books on my to-read list, I’m definitely more of a book-borrower than a book-buyer. A few other of my reading rules have changed, but for now, here are my own personal reading rules:

reading-498103_640 — I have no rules about reading outside. Clearly this cat doesn’t, either.

1) Always document reading. This is particularly important rule for me now that most of what I read isn’t purchased, which means I don’t have the luxury of wandering through my bookshelves to reminisce about the story, characters, etc. This is also gives me recourse when I read a plot summary of something that sounds vaguely familiar; I can check to see if I’ve read it before. Book journals and lists have helped me in the past, but as I’ve mentioned here before, I’m a pretty aggressive user of Goodreads to track what I’ve read and what I want to read. While the book journals are comforting and often adorable, there’s something to be said for a searchable book database that can tell you not only what you’ve read, but when you read it as well.

2) Books must remain pristine. This is one with which I’m sure many people won’t agree with me. I’m not a dog-earer (though I was in a past reading life) and I’ve never been a spine-breaker. For me, books are a totem, items that aren’t necessarily sacred, but deserve an exorbitant amount of respect. I have paperbacks I’ve read multiple times that look, at least from the outside, as though they’ve never been read. For me, a well-loved book doesn’t have to look that way (another reason not to judge a book by it’s cover). I know in my heart (and on my reading list) that the book is well-loved and that’s good enough for me.

3) Certain bookmarks for certain reading. I agree with the Book Rioter about this rule. Some bookmarks just seem made for certain books. I’ve previously mentioned my “Travel by Book” bookmark. This is used specifically for the travel memoirs that I love reading. I have a “Celebrate the Season” bookmark with some adorable cartoon penguins that is reserved solely for the reading of Christmas books. Library books get an embroidered bookmark I purchased as a kit in a London gift shop as it’s thick enough for me to notice when it’s still in the book, so I don’t accidentally return it to the library.

4) My books and books that are not mine remain separate at all times. It’s not that I’m some sort of purist about my books versus other books and never the twain shall meet. I’m just very persnickety about making sure that books end up back with their rightful owners, be it the library, a friend who was kind enough to loan something to me or books that I’m weeding from my personal collection and are going to donate. My library books have their very own spot next to my bed, and unless I’m currently reading one of them, that’s where they stay until they go back to the library. You get the idea…

Perhaps you have your own rules about reading. Reading Rainbow has delightful rules about reading that I think are worthy of everyone following. Or, perhaps you feel I take my books too seriously. (I am a librarian, after all!) I suspect, however, that if you’re a reader of this blog, you have some of your own rules about reading and whether or not they agree with mine, they deserve to be followed. And for your reading pleasure, here are some books about and/or written by people who tend to take books as seriously as I do:

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

I utterly adored this novel, largely because the author had so many beautiful passages about books as objects and books as portals to the soul. The story itself, about a woman who is personally invited to take down the memoirs of a well-known author who is gravely ill and the secrets she reveals, is gripping in its own right and has a beautiful, Gothic tone that makes the book lovely and atmospheric. The main character also works in an antiquarian bookshop. This book is essentially a Meta book-about-books and what the process of writing and reading means to different people. I have no doubt that both of the primary characters have their own rules about reading.

So Many Books, So Little Time: A Year of Passionate Reading by Sara Nelson

This book isn’t so much about reading rules as it is about rediscovering a passion for reading. Nelson sets out with a 52-week plan to read a book a week for the entire year and record her experiences with those books. What results is a deeply personal account of the intersection of books with our lives and relationships. Warning: her bookish enthusiasm will likely increase your to-read list substantially.

Into the Looking-Glass Wood: Essays on Books, Reading and the World by Alberto Manguel

Novelist Manguel puts down his thoughts on books and reading and how they have affected him in crucial points in his life. His essays talk about childhood reading experiences, how his world is shaped around language and how it’s used (he’s multi-lingual) and how reading affects his humanity. These essays are deep, lovely and utterly delightful. They gripped me as much as any plot-driven novel simply because there was so much thought and feeling behind them.

Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

This is a book about reading, the pursuits of a lifetime passion and how they can engage our lives in unusual, unexpected ways. This book has literature, details about typeface (put together in an interesting way one would have previously thought impossible) and a global conspiracy that integrates the technological world with more traditional forms of reading in a way that shows how both can be necessary and enlightening. (Oh, and many of the covers glow in the dark!)

Voracious: A Hungry Reader Cooks Her Way through Great Books by Cara Nicolietti

This book puts together two of my favorite things, books and food, and in a passionate, delightful way. Nicoletti has a deep-rooted understanding of how books and food can bring people closer or enliven them and seeks her own adventures as such by cooking the dishes that appear in the literature she’s read. From Emma’s soft-boiled egg, to brown butter crepes from Gone Girl to a clam chowder inspired by Moby Dick, nothing is off-limits so long as it involves both food and books. This is my kind of read! (And no, I don’t have a reading rule against eating while reading.)

Till next week, dear readers, I hope your reading, whatever rules you may apply to it, gives you pleasure and comfort. Happy reading!

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Five Book Friday!

June 17, 2016 peaadmin 1 Comment

And a very happy birthday to Russian composer Igor Stravinsky!

Stravinsky was born on this date in 1882 in a suburb of St. Petersburg, then the capital of Imperial Russia. Though he showed musical promise from an early age, his parents sent him to law school…where he attended approximately fifty classes in four years. Though he managed to get a “half degree” in law, he had already begun taking private lessons from his mentor, Rimsky-Korsakov, and was very soon on his way to becoming famous. He became an overnight sensation with the performance of The Firebird in 1910.

Stravinsky, his wife and family were staying in Switzerland, as they did most summers, when the First World War began, forcing them to remain far, far from home. Though finances were tight during this period, Stravinsky eventually found work with Sergei Diaghilev Ballet Russe, one of the most famous, avant-garde ballet companies of the 20th century (see him pictured with star Nijinsky at left). Stravinsky wrote the music for the ballet Rite of Spring, which, I kid you not, led to a riot in the Paris theater where it was first performed. Though no details exist about the specific choreography, the Joffrey Ballet spent seven years recreating the performance, tracking down costumes around the globe, locating the last surviving witnesses of that performance, and compiling newspaper reports, diaries, notes, and sketches from an incredible array of archives in order to make the most accurate re-creation possible. Here is a clip from that performance, which debuted in 1989:

So today, feel free to be a little revolutionary–a little ahead of your time–and check out some of our great recordings of Stravinsky’s immortal (and still rather shocking) works–along with some of these books that made their way onto the shelves this week!

Homegoing: Yaa Gyasi’s first novel has been getting quite a bit of attention, and has been making its presence known on a number of “Best Of” lists–and for good reason. Her story is at once a sweeping epic that covers three hundred years of history, and also a deeply personal story of families and belonging, crossing genres and boundaries with effortless grace. At the heart of this tale are two half-sisters, Effia and Esi, growing up in separate world at the close of the 18th century in the land that would come to be known as Ghana. While Effia is married off to an Englishman, and enjoys the privileges and comforts that such a life includes, Esi is imprisoned in the dungeon beneath the caste, and shipped to America as part of the phenomenally lucrative trade in human beings. The novel follows both women, and their descendants, across time, as they navigate life in the United States and in Ghana, creating a tale that The New York Times Book Review called, “hypnotic…the great, aching gift of the novel is that it offers, in its own way, the very thing that enslavement denied its descendants: the possibility of imagining the connection between the broken threads of their origins.”

Duke of Sin: Elizabeth Hoyt is a genius at historical romances, and any new book from her is always cause for celebration. In this story, Valentine Napier, the Duke of Montgomery, is, quite literally, the stuff of society’s nightmares. He lives above the rules, blackmailing and carousing without scruples. But when Valentine encounters a women hiding out in his bedroom, he soon realizes that he’s met his match. Bridget Crumb is determined to discover all of Valentine’s secrets in order to save her mother from extortion, even if it means hiding in Valentine’s house as a housekeeper. But the longer she spends in his company, the harder it is to remember that Bridget has to keep her distance from the man who holds her fate in his conniving hands. Hoyt outdoes herself in developing her characters in this book, and even though many of Valentine’s and Bridget’s choices are challenging, it only makes their relationship that much more gripping, producing a story that RT Book Reviews raves “delivers a unique read on many levels: a love story, a tale of redemption and a plot teeming with emotional depth that takes readers’ breaths away. Kudos to a master storyteller!”

End of Watch: If you’re anything like me, and have been waiting for Stephen King’s blockbuster Bill Hodges trilogy to be released in its entirety before reading it–rejoice! For our long wait is over! This book closes out the story that began with Mr. Mercedes, and has followed Bill Hodges’ quest to destroy Brady Hartsfield, perpetrator of the Mercedes Massacre. Hartsfield is trapped in a Brain Injury Clinic, but even as his body deteriorates, his mind has come alive, filled with a dark new power that will send Hodges and his partner, Holly Gibney, on their darkest, most dangerous case yet. King has evolved this series from a police procedural into something supernatural, showing off the full range of his talents, and giving fans yet another reason to sleep with the lights on. Library Journal concurs–they gave this book a starred review, and cheered “One would assume that a writer like King, who has been at the top of his game for decades, would eventually run out of ideas. Instead, he serves up one of the most original crime thrillers to come along in years…A spectacular, pulse-pounding, read-in-one-sitting wrap-up that will more than satisfy King’s Constant Readers.”

Joe Gould’s Teeth: Jill Lepore is not only a dedicated historian–she’s also a darned good story teller, and both of those gifts make this strange, odd sort of biography into a tragic, gripping, and utterly original study, not only of one man’s life, but of the journey it took to find him. Joe Gould believed that he was the most brilliant historian of his generation, and was determined to write a history of real life by writing down every word that he overheard. He was a friend to modernists like E.E. Cummings and Ezra Pound; he was associated with the Harlem Renaissance; he worked as a eugenicist on Native American reservations. He was also, quite probably, insane. For years, it has been assumed that his history was an invention of his troubled imagination, but Lepore was determined to look beyond those decades-old assumptions, and find the troubled man who created them. As NPR noted in its glowing review, “Joe Gould’s Teeth is more than just a fascinating footnote to a beloved literary landmark. Using the tools of her trade, Lepore ended up broadening her search for his lost notebooks to encompass trenchant questions about journalism, race, and mental illness. The result has bite.”

The Mistresses of Cliveden : Three Centuries of Scandal, Power, and Intrigue in an English Stately Home: Those of you mourning the end of Downton Abbey, this book, featuring a colossal English manor, and the secrets that hide behind its ivied walls, will go a long way to helping you through this difficult time. The estate was originally built under the reign of Charles II for the Duke of Buckingham, who needed a place to carry on his affair with his mistress, Anna Maria, Countess of Shrewsbury. That relationship led to a fatal duel, but also ensured Anna’s position at Clivenden would remain unchallenged, leading to a history that is replete with strong, fearless women who were willing to challenge society in order to carve a place for themselves in it. Natalie Livingstone’s book places each of these women within the broader context of their time, but never loses sight of their remarkable strength and ingenuity, making for a story that the Evening Standard called, “Well-researched, well-written and narratively enthralling”.

And so, beloved patrons, until next week–happy reading!

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Summer Reading: Staff Picks!

June 16, 2016 peaadmin

It’s getting to be that time of year again, dear readers, when we all begin looking around for books to take with us on our summer getaways, our beach days, or our ‘staycation’ days. And, once again, your friendly neighborhood library staff are here to help you find that perfect book to take with you on your adventures, be they far-flung expeditions, or cozy retreats. We’ll be adding to this list over the course of the summer, so feel free to check back frequently for more updates.

One very general recommendation that we would like to make is that library books are very much like sandwiches: it’s much harder to enjoy them if they are sandy, or dunked in water (or carried off by a seagull, but that’s another story for another day). So take care of your books the same way you would your lunch, as both are usually imperative to enjoying your vacation thoroughly. This also ensures that the books have a long and healthy life, and get to go on lots of adventures with lots of patrons, so everyone wins!

And now, without further ado, here are just a few of the books that have been recommended for you from the staff of the Peabody Library!

From the Children’s Room:

The Book of Speculation: Erika Sawyer’s debut novel is a wonderfully inventive historical mystery that brings together circus freaks, mermaids, old love letters, with an intrepid librarian (we love books with intrepid librarians, for obvious reasons). Simon Watson, the librarian in question, receives a strange old book from an antique bookseller that tells the story of Amos and Evangeline, doomed lovers who lived and worked in a traveling circus more than two hundred years ago…a story that has startling implications for Simon, and, particularly, for the women in his family. Realizing that he has only weeks left to rescue his sister from their bizarre family’s fate, Simon begins trying to decode the story, and understand how a two-hundred-year-old love story has the power to reach across time and touch his own life so profoundly. This is a book that even the most time-strapped amongst us devoured, so it’s a perfect choice for your own summertime adventures!

From Technical Services:

I Let You Go: Our friends upstairs in Tech Services get their hands on all the new books first (I’m not jealous. Not at all.), so we often here about the greatest new thing from them first. This week, it’s Clare Mackintosh’s twisty, and consistently surprising thriller. Jenna Gray’s life is forever changed by the moment her young son’s hand slipped out of hers, and by the car accident that followed. Desperate to escape her memories, and find some kind of future, she moves to a ramshackle cottage on the Welsh coast, but no where seems far enough to escape the past. Meanwhile, two Bristol detectives are still trying to get to the bottom of this hit-and-run, putting their professional and personal lives on the line to get to the bottom of an increasingly complicated case. Mackintosh’s book is one that is sure to keep you guessing to the very end, with a surprise ending that will blow your socks off.

From the Circulation Desk:

The Weirdness: Summer is a perfect time for adventure and for trying new things, and it seems pretty fair to say that you have never read a book in any way like Jeremy Bushnell’s perfectly-titled debut. Billy Ridgeway is a not-terribly-remarkable young wanna-be novelist living a not-terribly-remarkable life in New York…he has his friends. He has a girlfriend (sort of). He makes poor life choices. And then, one day, he wakes up to find the Devil in his apartment, using his coffee-maker. Lucifer explains (via a Powerpoint presentation) that the most powerful warlock on the eastern seaboard has stolen a small cat figurine that has the power to destroy the universe. And that Billy is the only person who can help rescue it. And, though I know it’s difficult, please believe me when I tell you it just gets stranger from here. Despite the absolute outlandishness of this plot, and the utterly bizarre twists and turns of this undefinable story, there is something really touching about Billy’s journey, that makes it a perfect choice for someone looking for something totally off-the-wall different.

Whatever your summer brings, beloved patrons, may it be fun and memorable, and full of good stories! Check back for more recommendations soon!

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“Pray for Peace” by Ellen Bast

June 13, 2016 peaadmin 1 Comment

Pray to whomever you kneel down to:
Jesus nailed to his wooden or plastic cross,
his suffering face bent to kiss you,
Buddha still under the bo tree in scorching heat,
Adonai, Allah. Raise your arms to Mary
that she may lay her palm on our brows,
to Shekhina, Queen of Heaven and Earth,
to Inanna in her stripped descent.

Then pray to the bus driver who takes you to work.
On the bus, pray for everyone riding that bus,
for everyone riding buses all over the world.
Drop some silver and pray.

Waiting in line for the movies, for the ATM,
for your latte and croissant, offer your plea.
Make your eating and drinking a supplication.
Make your slicing of carrots a holy act,
each translucent layer of the onion, a deeper prayer.

To Hawk or Wolf, or the Great Whale, pray.
Bow down to terriers and shepherds and Siamese cats.
Fields of artichokes and elegant strawberries.

Make the brushing of your hair
a prayer, every strand its own voice,
singing in the choir on your head.
As you wash your face, the water slipping
through your fingers, a prayer: Water,
softest thing on earth, gentleness
that wears away rock.

Making love, of course, is already prayer.
Skin, and open mouths worshipping that skin,
the fragile cases we are poured into.

If you’re hungry, pray. If you’re tired.
Pray to Gandhi and Dorothy Day.
Shakespeare. Sappho. Sojourner Truth.

When you walk to your car, to the mailbox,
to the video store, let each step
be a prayer that we all keep our legs,
that we do not blow off anyone else’s legs.
Or crush their skulls.
And if you are riding on a bicycle
or a skateboard, in a wheelchair, each revolution
of the wheels a prayer as the earth revolves:
less harm, less harm, less harm.

And as you work, typing with a new manicure,
a tiny palm tree painted on one pearlescent nail
or delivering soda or drawing good blood
into rubber-capped vials, writing on a blackboard
with yellow chalk, twirling pizzas–

With each breath in, take in the faith of those
who have believed when belief seemed foolish,
who persevered. With each breath out, cherish.

Pull weeds for peace, turn over in your sleep for peace,
feed the birds, each shiny seed
that spills onto the earth, another second of peace.
Wash your dishes, call your mother, drink wine.

Shovel leaves or snow or trash from your sidewalk.
Make a path. Fold a photo of a dead child
around your VISA card. Scoop your holy water
from the gutter. Gnaw your crust.
Mumble along like a crazy person, stumbling
your prayer through the streets.

From The Human Line

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Wanderlust Reading List: Time-Traveling Edition!

June 12, 2016 peaadmin

When I am not hanging out behind the circulation desk at the Library and oogling all the books, I teach history at A Nearby University. This summer, I get to teach a course on the History of the British Empire, which is a favorite area of mine to study, and therefore, makes for a really fun class to teach.

Over the course of the semester, I’ve come to a few realizations…first, I know a ridiculous amount of information on the history of the British Empire that will probably never prove useful outside the classroom (unless Alex Trebek returns my phone calls…). Secondly, because my students really enjoy learning through fiction, I’ve been discovering a wealth of new and classic stories from around the British Empire that I though might be fun to share with you.

The great part about a course on Empire, and especially one with as vast and enduring a history as the British Empire, is that you get to read around the world as you study; we’ve read tales from India and Zimbabwe, Ireland to Burma, England itself to New Zealand, from the 18th century through to nearly the present day, exploring stories that give glimpses into native culture, into interactions between those natives and the British, and the ways in which Empire shaped, and forever changed the people who were involved in it.

Of course, there’s no escaping the damage that imperialism caused in many of these places, and one always has to contend with the kind of “rah-rah Empire” books that were especially popular in the late 19th century, with Alan Quartermaine and the Boy’s Own Adventure tales, and while those are useful, especially for understanding how empire looked to the imperialists, what’s really incredible are the local, native voices that we can still discover through the stories they left, and the memories they shared of a time that has passed, but from which we are still, as a species, trying to recover.

So let’s go on a bit of an expedition, shall we, and take a look at some stories from across the history of the British Empire. Here are just a few selections to sooth your Wanderlust (and Time-Traveling Desires!)…for a little while, at least…

Sea of Poppies: This first book in Amitav Ghosh’s Ibis trilogy is set in 1838, primarily aboard the Ibis, a ship owned by a wealthy and powerful opium merchant, and transporting Indian girmitiyas (indentured workers) to Mauritius. Ghosh takes exquisite care detailing the histories of the Ibis’ human cargo, showing just how vast and diverse the British-controlled areas of south-east Asia were, particularly during the opium wars (fought between the British and the Chinese Imperial Navy over Britain’s illegal marketing of opium in China). The trilogy spins out as the Ibis makes it way through hurricanes and human drama to its destination, and Ghosh, who is a master of language and description, makes sure that readers feel each event, not only on their skin, but in their souls.

Three Day Road: Next (in terms of chronological setting) is Joseph Boyden’s stunning novel about two Cree soldiers fighting on the Western Front in the First World War. Boyden based his novel on the story of Francis Pegahmagabow, the most decorated First Nations soldier in the Canadian Army, and also Canada’s most effective sniper during World War One, as well as John Shiwak, an Inuk, who also served as a sniper, and who died at the Battle of Cambrai . But this story is about far more than military exploits. Boyden explores every aspect of Elijah’s and Xavier’s life, from their upbringing on a reservation, and the indescribable harm that mission schools wrought on Cree culture, to their war experiences, and the agony of returning home. As a result, not only do readers get a sense of these men’s incredible spirit, but of their own individual strength, honed through years of oppression and dedication to their families, even as the world around them keeps trying to pull them apart. This book is fairly unique within the cannon of First World War literature, as it gives voice to a group of native peoples who tales, until very recently, have largely been overlooked in traditional histories, but for all that, is wonderfully readable and wholly immersive.

Nervous Conditions: Tsitsi Dangarembga’s debut novel, which was named twelfth in a list of “Africa’s Top 100 Books” (an interesting list, though it continues ignoring the individual countries that make up the continent of Africa) is a partially autobiographical tale of a young girl struggling to get an education. Tambu–the primary character of the novel–is a fierce and determined little girl, who sees, with painful clarity, not only the injustices in the world around her, caused by the racist ideology fostered by imperialism, but also in her family, as her older brother is sent off to an elite boarding school while she is forced to remain at home. Everything changes, however, when her brother dies, giving Tambu the chance to go to school. This is a book that works on a number of levels; as a coming of age story, it is wonderfully moving, and immediately engaging. As a novel of colonialism, Dangarembga doesn’t back down from confronting the system that has limited her people and culture so forcefully. As a memoir, it is very sensitive to its characters, their traditions, and the motivations that drive them to act as they do, making the final, gut-wrenching scene that much more powerful.

The Wind that Shakes the Barley: So, this isn’t a book, I know. However, it’s been the favorite of my class to date this semester, so I couldn’t not include it on this list. This film, written and directed by Ken Loach, tells the story of the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921) and the Irish Civil War (1921-1923) through the eyes of the O’Donovan brothers and their comrades. Cillian Murphy plays Damien, the idealistic younger brother, whose life-long goal of being a doctor is utterly derailed when he sees firsthand the violence of the British on the people of his hometown. This is a challenging, brutal, and surprisingly human film that really gets to the deeply personal motives behind the Irish independence movement, and the effects of that struggle on those who fought it on both sides.

So, enjoy, felling Wanderers–and safe travels!

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Saturdays @ the South: Bookish Podcasts

June 11, 2016 peaadmin

I hope our faithful readers of this blog (and even the occasional passers-by) understand how much we love helping patrons here at the library. Let’s face it, you’re all why we’re here in the first place. We love helping you find just the right title you’re looking for or turning you onto something new. Sometimes, though, we love helping you help yourselves. We try to be as diverse as we can here at the library and I know sometimes our enthusiasm may seem superhuman, but we are just people after all and we simply can’t keep up with absolutely everything in the ever-expanding world of books. (I know, say it isn’t so! But it’s true…) The good news is there are some awesome resources out there to help you keep up with the world of books and help you explore it much in the way we would: with bookish enthusiasm and occasional, random bursts of excitement. Today, I thought I’d share with you one of my favorite ways to keep up with bookish news and upcoming titles: podcasts. The world of books and the world of podcasts intersect a surprising amount with some fantastic offerings by both publishers and independent sources.

For the uninitiated, a podcast is like a cross between a radio broadcast and a blog post; it is in audio format accessible through the Internet on-demand, and is an opportunity for hosts to share information about which they are particularly knowledgeable or enthusiastic. Most podcasts have a specific theme or topic and publish a new episode weekly, bi-weekly or monthly, with some posting multiple times each week. Podcasts can be downloaded onto media players like tablets, smartphones and iPods, but they can also simply be listened to on a computer. Downloading can be done through iTunes (which is free software), but can also be done through the podcasts’ individual website. The podcast’s website will allow you to listen on your computer, without any special equipment. You also have the luxury of subscribing to podcasts you particularly enjoy so you won’t miss an episode. However, if yo do miss an episode, you can often find scads of backlist episodes for your listening pleasure. There are hundreds of topics to choose from and, fortunately for us, there are some amazing bookish podcasts that offer current, relevant information and insights into the bookish world.

A word about sponsors: Many of the podcasts that have the best production value need money in order to keep their quality standards high. (This isn’t something the public library generally encounters because our funding largely comes from the City and donations like those received on behalf of the Friends of the Peabody Institute Libraries or the Peabody Library Foundation.) As a result, podcasts may briefly be interrupted by “commercials”, in which the podcast presenter talks about who has sponsored the show. This doesn’t necessarily make the podcast less reliable in terms of information. In the case of most podcasts I’ve listened to, the sponsors are at least tangentially related to the podcast content and hosts do not seem to introduce a sponsor that they are not familiar with or comfortable recommending. The appearance of sponsors does not seem to affect the content of the podcast. That said, most podcasts have an “advance 15 second” feature so you can skip through the sponsor notices like fast-forwarding through a commercial. Please know that any sponsors mentioned in the podcasts listed below are in no way affiliated with or recommended by the Library. As in most things, you should use your own best judgement.

All the Books – This podcast is a lively bundle of enthusiasm that allows you to keep up with the newest books coming out each week. Run by blog favorite Book Riot, each week the hosts, known as the “Well Redheads” run through their favorite books that have come out that week, offering brief plot summaries and the reasons why they are mentioning those particular books out of the very many books that come out each week. You’re unlikely to find the newest James Patterson or Danielle Steel book mentioned here as the hosts prefer to give love to some of the lesser known books that they feel deserve attention. That said, many of the books they talk about end up on bestseller lists or other popular book lists, like Library Reads, so you won’t be getting a list of obscure books you can’t find in the library here. Just good reads.

Get Booked – This is a readers’ advisory podcast in which the hosts take readers’ questions about what they should read next. The podcast started off as a bi-weekly program, but was so popular and the hosts wanted to accommodate the flood of questions that came in, they’re now posting a new podcast weekly. This is also a Book Riot podcast, which pretty much guarantees that the presenters will love what they do and have an absolute blast doing it. This is a great podcast to learn about new genres as they sometimes have themed shows and it’s a great resource to hear about books that might not be new, but might be just to your liking.

New York Public Library Podcast – If you want to get to know the stories behind the stories, this is the podcast for you. This podcast is filled with author interviews, critic interviews, culture and art talks and more, often in front of a live audience, all of which allow you to delve deeper into the world of books and culture. The podcasts are widely varied in topic so there’s something for everyone here.

What Should I Read Next? – Blogger Ann Bogel (known in the blogosphere as Modern Mrs. Darcy) is an inherent bookworm who loves making reading recommendations. Each week, she has a guest on the show and the guest tells her what he/she is reading now, two books they love, one book they hate and if there’s anything they want to change in their reading lives (ex. I want to read books my more people of color, I want to read more nonfiction, etc.). With that information, she makes 3 suggestions for what the guest should read next. She recently had a “what did they read?” follow-up episode and it sounds like her suggestions were right up her guests’ alley. It’s a fun, non-fussy approach to readers’ advisory and you can get some fantastic recommendations from Bogel.

Publishers are also offering some pretty interesting podcasts that, while the publishers are likely hoping to boost sales for their individual titles by addition additional content, still offer some interesting background into books, book news and authors. Author interviews and audiobook previews (perfect for June, which is Audiobook Month!) are often included content. News outlets are offering similar podcasts and while they may not be as wildly enthusiastic as the more independent podcasts who are doing it mostly for a love of books, they have undeniable access to big-names that smaller, more independent outfits simply wouldn’t have. Some of these podcasts include: Harper Audio Presents, Slate’s Audio Book Club and The Guardian Books Podcast.

After the Funeral – In the “timely coincidence” category, we have this serialized podcast that is broadcasting a full reading of Agatha’ Christie’s After the Funeral. This podcast is presented by Sophie Hannah, who is the only author to have received authorization from the Christie estate to write new Hercule Poirot novels The Monogram Murders and the upcoming Closed Casket. It is read by Hugh Fraser. This is one of those publisher-presented podcasts; in this case it’s part of Harper Audio Presents.

That’s one of the cool things about podcasts. You can also find original, fictional, serialized content that can be pretty addictive. I have not personally listened to, but have heard many wonderful things about the podcast “Welcome to Night Vale” which gained such momentum that it was turned into a novel. Currently there’s “Alice Isn’t Dead,” a creepy, bi-weekly podcast about a woman following her missing wife’s trail by taking a job with a tractor-trailer company and crisscrossing across the US, encountering some very strange people and events. It’s like listening to an audiobook in small doses.

I hope this post has offered you some options for discovering new books or other things in the wonderful bookish world for yourself. Don’t forget, though, the Library is always here for you, whether you want to find those cool books that you just heard about through a podcast, or if you’d like recommendations a more traditional or personal way. We’re always happy to help! Till next week, dear readers, keep your ear to the ground for new bookish news. If you hear something you like, tell us! We always love to hear about new discoveries.

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"Once you learn to read, you will be forever free." ~Frederick Douglass