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Shadow country : a new rendering of the Watson legend by Peter Matthiessen (Find this book in our catalog) - a HCPL staff review

"Peter Matthiessen is an amazing author. He’s a prolific author, having written dozens of fiction and nonfiction books, a number of which have been either the recipient of, or a nominee for, various prestigious awards. To call his nonfiction efforts “travel literature� would be doing this enormous talent a disservice, since he goes places other people cannot reach and insinuates himself into cultural milieux from which most of his fellow writers are barred. His novels plumb the heights and depths of the human spirit with subtlety, realism, and unblinking objectivity. His characters are not stereotypes, but rather complex, tortured souls trying to sail straight in a world without any reliable moral compass to serve as guide or rudder.

In 1990 published Killing Mr. Watson. This book, which became the first part of a trilogy, is the tangled tale of E. J. Watson, a much-admired and simultaneously feared man of enormous talent and personal magnetism. The stage on which this possible murderer acts his part is the swamplands and keys of southwestern Florida around 1900. This is a harsh place to eke out a living, and many of the area’s inhabitants are loners, fugitives of the law, and people who cannot stand to live according to civilized society’s rigid and hypocritical strictures. But Mr. Watson is the orneriest of all of them—or is he? The book uses the highly subjective voices of numerous fascinating and memorable characters to carry the story along and demonstrate time and again just how subjective our notion of reality really is. The more witnesses we hear from, the farther we seem to be from the truth.

Killing Mr. Watson is brilliantly written, with vibrant characters, an amazingly rich sense of time and place, and a convincing argument for the subjectivity and prejudice that propel human society into its darkest corners.

Matthiesson followed Killing Mr. Watson with two additional installments, each from the viewpoint of a different character, and now the author has combined and rewritten his three related novels into a more compact, even more powerful blockbuster of a book, Shadow Country."

Labels: Bone by Bone, Florida - Fiction, Killing Mr Watson, Lost Man's River, Peter Matthiessen, Shadow Country

The Revenge of the Kudzu Debutantes was the Abingdon Book Group read for April. What I thought was going to be a light and entertaining read for the group, turned out to provoke some very intense discussion. We talked about adultery, sin, the spread of HIV, slavery in the south and its customs & traditions. Wow! The book is set in the south and features an unlikely trio of friends who decide to take revenge on their cheating husbands. This is a very funny and entertaining story with a good ending. A fun book to take to the beach, even as it covers some serious topics.

From Booklist
Not since the Ya-Ya Sisterhood has there been a group of good ol' gals to rival Holton's trio of scorned Southern women. Best friends for years, earthy Lavonne, mousy Nita, and feisty Eadie are at once privy to and frequently at odds with the creme de la creme of Ithaca, Georgia, society, courtesy of their husbands' stations in life. All three are married to pillars of the community, lawyers who care more for their annual Montana hunting trip than they do for their spouses. As the preparations for this year's getaway ratchet into high gear, the wives uncover evidence that the only conquests their husbands are interested in making are of the two-footed, female variety. Hell hath no fury, as the saying goes, and the wives concoct a deliciously devious scheme to make their husbands pay--big time--for their indiscretions. Irresistibly entertaining, Holton's debut is hilarious, a cunning, rollicking addition to the popular Southern "steel magnolias" genre. Carol Haggas
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Other Books by Cathy Holton
The Secret Lives of the Kudzu Debutantes
Virginia Broadwell decides to destroy the ladies for the social havoc they have wreaked. What will the girls do?

Beach Trip
A reunion of four friends becomes a cathartic journey into the past in Cathy Holton’s luminous new novel. Darkly comic and deeply poignant, Beach Trip is an unforgettable tale of lifelong friendship, heartbreak, and happiness. May 2009

Some questions for book groups and readers:
Revenge is the theme of this novel – have you ever done something to get revenge – was it satisfying?

What characteristics did the husbands exhibit besides lying & cheating? Which of the husbands (if any) behaved the worst?

Did any of the husbands have any redeeming qualities?

What did you think about the scene at the ranch? Did the husbands get what was coming to them as far as Mr. Ramsbottom’s treatment of them?

Eadie & Trevor have a strange relationship even before Trevor goes off with Tonya – comments?

Why was Eadie a better companion for Trevor than Tonya?

Describe the relationship between Nita & Charles. How does Charles treat Nita & their children? What role have Charles’ parents had in his life? Can we excuse his behavior because of his parents influence? How much are we responsible for our choices as adults?

What did you think of Virginia Broadwell? How was she different from someone like Mrs. Shapiro? How did their values differ?

In what ways is Jimmy Lee very different from Charles?

Lavonne gave up her career for her husband and children, was this a good thing? How did it affect her?

Did you enjoy the humor in the novel? How did the author use humor to enhance the book’s subject matter?

Describe the relationship between the 3 women. How do they support each other?

What were your hopes for the women as you read this book? How did you expect it to end? Was the ending satisfactory? Did the men get what they deserved?

Would you read the sequel or another book by this author?

Labels: Abingdon library, book discussion group, Cathy Holton, humorous fiction, Revenge of the Kudzu Debutantes

Plea of Insanity by Jilliane Hoffman, released on April 14, is garnering a lot of press and publicity. Find this book in our catalog

Here's what it says about the book in our catalog: "The prosecutor—Julia Valenciano. Young and ambitious, and facing a case that could launch her career. The defendant—David Marquette. A successful Miami surgeon and devoted family man. The victims—Marquette’s own wife and three small children. The plea—Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity. The perfect father and model husband, David Marquette seemingly just snapped. His experienced defense team claims paranoid delusions caused by schizophrenia drove him to slaughter his entire family.But the state suspects Marquette’s insanity defense is being fabricated to disguise murders that were cold blooded and calculated. Worse, Julia believes Marquette could be responsible for a string of unsolved, brutal homicides. Could he be one of the most prolific and elusive serial killers in the country’s history? To bring him to justice, Julia must embark on a terrifying personal journey back into her own past—something she has struggled to forget for fifteen years. And this will lead her to confront a future so chilling, she’s not sure she will ever be able to face it...Plea of Insanity confirms Jilliane Hoffman as a major thriller writer at the peak of her powers."

If you like this, you may also like:
The Interview Room by Roderick Anscombe

Labels: legal thrillers, Mysteries, plea of insanity, women - lawyers

A librarian from the Abingdon Branch just sent me this book review:

"Here is a review about a book I just finished.

Feasting on Asphalt by Alton Brown (Find this book in our catalog)

I am certainly not one for the hype of food network celebs or just sit down and read a cookbook. This book certainly superseded all of my low expectations.

Alton Brown, Food Network chef, uses wit and humor to document his trek via motorcycle from New Orleans to the top of the Mississippi River. He stops at small dives along the way; places you would almost certainly go out of your way to avoid. He writes about the communities and the people who make up these great places. He supplies about 40 recipes, some given straight from a generous cook or ones he adapted to fill the readers need. (Some recipes are carefully guarded family secrets.) Brown shows us he isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty, jumping in to make delicious pies just so he can see how it is done. He takes himself and his crew lightly but always gives the utmost respect to all of the people he meets. If you are looking for an interesting read with a mix of food, humor, people, and delectable recipes, this book if for you.

This is totally on the fly but I hope you can use it." Kristina Stemple

Labels: armchair travel, Feasting on Asphalt by Alton Brown, motorcycle journeys, recipes

The McFaul Center book group read The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry (Find this book in our catalog) for the month of April. This is what the group facilitator reported about their discussion:

"Not many of us liked it and several didn't even finish it. Just as lace can do, I found that the book completely unraveled at the end and left loose threads that made me feel that it wasn't worth the time that I spent reading it. Instead of being mysterious, I found it convoluted. I have no idea how the author managed a 2 million dollar sale of this book (along with book 2 whatever it may be). All of us were just shaking our head."

Check the Harford County Public Library catalog entry for this book to see a couple of magazine reviews. Why not check out the book and see what you think?

Labels: Brunonia Barry, child abuse - fiction, Families - Fiction, Lace Reader, Mysteries, Salem - fiction

Finalists have been named for this year's Shirley Jackson Awards, which are given for "outstanding achievement in the literature of psychological suspense, horror, and the dark fantastic" in several categories, including novel, novella, novelette, short story, collection and anthology.
Shortlist for novels:
* Alive in Necropolis by Doug Dorst
* The Man on the Ceiling by Steve Rasnic Tem and Melanie Tem
* Pandemonium by Daryl Gregory
* The Resurrectionist by Jack O'Connell
* The Shadow Year by Jeffrey Ford
* Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan
The other nominees can be found at the Shirley Jackson Awards blog
Winners will be presented on Sunday, July 12, at Readercon 20.

Also, for a list, "Outstanding Recent Horror" picked by Harford County Public Library staff, see Readers Place.

Labels: horror, psychological suspense, Shirley Jackson Awards

Patty, Harford County Public Library staff member recommends...

"I just read Selections from 90 Minutes in Heaven (Find this book in our catalog). It's the true story of a man who was in a fatal car accident, was pronounced dead for 90 minutes, went to heaven and returned to life. I read the "Selections" version because I was a little skeptical about the story itself even though it came highly recommended to me by a customer. I thoroughly enjoyed this short read and found it very inspirational and thought provoking. Whether you believe all the accounts of Don Piper, the author, or not, it is clear to me that he really believes it and is traveling world wide to spread his message. I recommend this book to anyone who believes in an afterlife and anyone who isn't sure."

Labels: 90 Minutes in Heaven, afterlife, Don Piper, inspirational nonfiction, near death experiences

The Orange Prize finalists are:
* Scottsboro by Ellen Feldman
* The Wilderness by Samantha Harvey
* The Invention of Everything Else by Samantha Hunt
* Molly Fox's Birthday by Deidre Madden
* Home by Marilynne Robinson
* Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie
The winner will be announced June 3.

Labels: Orange Prize

Labels: Pulitzer Prizes

This book recommendation was sent to me by a Harford County Public Library staff member:

"I have the perfect book to take on a trip to read in the car on a plane or on the beach or to relax with on a mountain top – The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood. (Find this book in our catalog). I love her writing style and it’s a wonderful book for those who like to read about contemporary characters with whom they can identify. I felt like each character was a friend of mine. The only problem is that you might have to have a Kleenex with you!"

Labels: Ann Hood, contemporary fiction, female friendships - fiction, Knitting Circle, knitting-fiction

Novelist J.G. Ballard died Sunday, April 19. He was 78. The Guardian newspaper said that Ballard "has been a giant on the world literary scene for more than 50 years. Following his early novels of the 60s and 70s, his work then reached a wider audience with the publication of Empire of the Sun (Find this book in our catalog) in 1984 which won several prizes and was made in to a film by Steven Spielberg. His acute and visionary observation of contemporary life was distilled into a number of brilliant, powerful novels which have been published all over the world and saw Ballard gain cult status."

Labels: empire of the sun, J. G. Ballard

Nature lovers have a lot celebrate in April. Arbor Day is the last Friday of the month in most states, and the National Gardening Association has declared April National Garden Month.

Why not participate by planting trees and gardens, and by reading fun and informative books offering helpful advice for designing a wildlife-friendly garden and getting to know the wildlife around you.

Try these recent titles to be found in our Harford County Public Library catalog:
Backyard bird secrets for every season : attract a variety of nesting, feeding, and singing birds year-round by Sally Roth

The backyard bird lover's field guide : secrets to attracting, identifying, and enjoying birds of your region by Sally Roth

The nature-friendly garden : creating a backyard haven for plants, wildlife, and people by Marlene A. Condon.

Welcoming wildlife to the garden : creating backyard and balcony habitats for wildlife by Catherine J. Johnson and Susan McDiarmid

Beastly abodes : homes for birds, bats, butterflies, & other backyard wildlife by Bobbe Needham

Labels: attracting wildlife, backyard birds, backyard wildlife, bat houses, bird house, butterfly houses, gardening, landscape design

Imagine a future where the world is ruled by a dictatorship and they have the power to take you away at any moment. But they don't...instead, they leave it up to chance. Once a year, your life is on the line and if chosen, your death will be considered entertainment for the masses.

This is the society that Katniss grew up in. Her family lives in District 12, one of the many districts ruled by The Capitol. Years ago, the 13 districts tried to rebel against the government of Panem, but the Capitol squashed their rebellion. District 13 was completely wiped off the map, and the rest were turned into slaves to the Capitol, each providing a different resource for those citizens while leaving their own to starve. The Hunger Games, a twisted take on reality entertainment, were designed to remind the people of Panem the power the Capitol has over them; that at a moments notice they can take away a child and force them to fight a battle to the death. And everyone in Panem will be forced to watch as these children try to survive because only one can be declared the winner.

This book is action-packed and hard to put down. Reading the story, you can easily (and eerily) imagine an event like the Hunger Games airing on television today. Contestants are paraded around, try to win sponsors, and then have their trials and tribulations broadcast to the world. But Katniss has her wits about her, even if her people skills are not that great.

There's so much I want to say about this book but I don't want to spoil it for anyone. It is a fantastic read, with writing so vivid, you feel like you're watching a movie (though in a couple years, you will be as Lionsgate just optioned the film rights). It can get gruesome at times, since the kids are fighting to the death, but the violence isn't enough to turn you off if you've watched an action/adventure movie in the passed 10 years.

This is the first book in a planned trilogy, but The Hunger Games has a satisfying ending to itself, so don't worry about being left with a big cliffhanger. Collins leaves the story open just enough to continue, but not enough to leave you feeling like you should have waited for book 2 to be out (which it will be in September).

Do yourself a favor and read The Hunger Games now...because I have a feeling in a few months, everyone else will be talking about it.

Find The Hunger Games in HCPL's catalog (also available in Playaway format)

Labels: action, Adventure Stories, award winners, books to movies, young adult

The Philip K. Dick Award is presented annually for distinguished science fiction published in paperback original form in the U. S.

Emissaries from the Dead by Adam-Troy Castro and Terminal Mind by David Walton were co-winners this year. Results were announced at Norwescon 32, in SeaTac, Wash.

Emissaries from the Dead Find this book in our catalog
Notes from our catalog: "Two murders have occurred on One One One, an artificial ecosystem created by the universe's dominant AIs to house several engineered species, including a violent, sentient race of sloth-like creatures. Under order from the Diplomatic Corps, Counselor Andrea Cort has come to this cylinder world where an indentured human community hangs suspended high above a poisoned, acid atmosphere. Her assignment is to choose a suitable homicide suspect from among those who have sold their futures to escape existences even worse than this one. And no matter where the trail leads her she must do nothing to implicate the hosts, who hold the power to obliterate humankind in an instant. But Andrea Cort is not about to hold back in her hunt for a killer. For she has nothing to lose and harbors no love for her masters or fellow indentures. And she herself has felt the terrible exhilaration of taking life . . . . "

Labels: emissaries from the dead, Philip K. Dick Award, science fiction

Labels: literary nonfiction, Lukas Prize

Labels: fruits, gardening, homesteading, self-sufficiency, vegetables

Lifetime Television has just aired "Tribute," a television movie based on the Nora Roberts novel. Find this book in our catalog.

Labels: Nora Roberts, romantic suspense, Shenandoah Valey - fiction, suspense - fiction, Tribute

I recently read an article in Booklist by Joyce Saricks, author of Readers' Advisory Service in the Public Library, in which she states that classic adventure stories are making a strong come-back. If you like exotic locales, dangerous military missions or literary puzzles, missions with myriad dangers and obstacles, and plenty of action you might like to try these authors:

Clive Cussler
Dan Brown
Ted Bell
Jennifer Lee Carrell
Kate Moss
Katherine Neville
Bernard Cornwell
W. E. B. Griffin
James Rollins
Matthew Reilly

Labels: Adventure Stories

Bloomberg.com reported on April 2nd that the shortlist for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award includes Junot Diaz's The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, winner of a Pulitzer Prize and a National Book Critics' Circle award. Find this book in our catalog. The book was selected as one of eight finalists.

Billed as the richest award for a work of fiction in English and first awarded in 1996, the IMPAC award is meant to promote excellence in world literature. The contest is managed by Dublin City Libraries and draws on nominations from librarians around the globe. This year’s 146 nominations came from 157 public library systems in 117 cities worldwide, the organizers said in an e-mailed news release. Click here for details.



This is what the summary in our catalog says about The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao: "This is the long-awaited first novel from one of the most original and memorable writers working today. Things have never been easy for Oscar, a sweet but disastrously overweight, lovesick Dominican ghetto nerd. From his home in New Jersey, where he lives with his old-world mother and rebellious sister, Oscar dreams of becoming the Dominican J. R. R. Tolkien and, most of all, of finding love. But he may never get what he wants, thanks to the curse that has haunted the Oscar's family for generations, dooming them to prison, torture, tragic accidents, and, above all, ill-starred love. Oscar, still waiting for his first kiss, is just its most recent victim. Diaz immerses us in the tumultuous life of Oscar and the history of the family at large, rendering with genuine warmth and dazzling energy, humor, and insight the Dominican-American experience, and, ultimately, the endless human capacity to persevere in the face of heartbreak and loss. A true literary triumph, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao confirms Junot Diaz as one of the best and most exciting voices of our time."

Labels: Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Caribbean Americans - fiction, Dominican Republic - fiction, IMPAC Award, Junot Diaz

Find this book in our catalog

This is what it says in our catalog about Among the Mad: "In the thrilling new novel by theNew York Times bestselling author of An Incomplete Revenge, Maisie Dobbs must catch a madman before he commits murder on an unimaginable scale. It's Christmas Eve 1931, on the way to see a client, Maisie Dobbs witnesses a man commit suicide on a busy London street. The following day, the prime minister's office receives a letter threatening a massive loss of life if certain demands are not met and the writer mentions Maisie by name. After being questioned and cleared by Detective Chief Superintendent Robert MacFarlane of Scotland Yard's elite Special Branch, she is drawn into MacFarlane's personal fiefdom as a special adviser on the case. Meanwhile, Billy Beale, Maisie's trusted assistant, is once again facing tragedy as his wife, who has never recovered from the death of their young daughter, slips further into melancholia's abyss. Soon Maisie becomes involved in a race against time to find a man who proves he has the knowledge and will to inflict death and destruction on thousands of innocent people. And before this harrowing case is over, Maisie must navigate a darkness not encountered since she was a nurse in wards filled with shell-shocked men. In Among the Mad, Jacqueline Winspear combines a heart-stopping story with a rich evocation of a fascinating period to create her most compelling and satisfying novel yet."

I am a follower of Winspear's series about Maisie Dobbs, an ex-housemaid who has been encouraged to develop her extraordinary gifts of observation and start her own private detective agency. I thought this last book was easily the best of the series. Winspear has ironed out some of the kinks in her writing so that conversations and characterization now seem much more natural. Maisie's position as a classless person in a class-ridden society allows her to go among all sorts of people during her investigations. In this book it seems unforced and perfectly believable, perhaps because the time is now 1931 and class divisions are dissolving a bit following the Great War.

Though it is now some 13 years after the First World War, Maisie is still struggling with post traumatic stress. As a nurse she witnessed terrible wounds to both body and mind and also sustained a personal tragedy. As in the other books in the series, there is a theme of the enduring harm war does in both seen and unseen ways. Maisie, however, is beginning to feel that she at last can move on with her life. I can't wait for the next book to see what the 1930's have in store for Maisie!

Labels: Among the Mad, female investigators - fiction, Jacqueline Winspear, Maisie Dobbs, post traumatic stress - fiction, WW I - fiction

Find this book in our catalog

The High City by Cecelia Holland is a short but action- and character-packed historical novel set in Constantinople in the reign of Basil II at the turn of the first millenium.


In the book it is the early years of the reign of Basil II, who became one most successful, and most feared, Byzantine emperors. But for now, Basil rules as a co-emperor with his brother Constantine, and makes war on a would-be usurper, Bardas Phokas, son of a General who Basil supplanted. Basil’s most trusted troops are foreign mercenaries, the Varangian guard hired from the North. Rus and Norsemen, Viking raiders and wild horsemen from the steppes, they fall upon the elegant city of Constantinople like wolves on a garden party.

Among them is Raef, the wiley son of an Irish slave, who was shipwrecked near the City on his roundabout way home. Raef is well-known to the Varangians, having fought with them before, but refuses to sign up as one of the Emperor's guards. Raef, however has come to the Emperor's notice because of his exceptional fighting skills and his gift of the sight. The Emperor insists that Raef go into enemy territory to retrieve the manipulative, vicious, and disloyal Empress. Will Raef succeed as the Emperor wishes? Will he escape from the seductive influence of the City, and the anger of the slighted Emperor, with his life?

Cecilia Holland is one of the most respected historical novelists in the world, and this book is incredibly well-written. It packs an awful lot in in a small space. Her writing is very economical and implies more than it says with great skill. The historical detail is very rich and well-researched. The depiction of the effete Byzantine court and the ravening Varangians is terrific! The book starts off really fast with a shipwreck and then a battle. The action is really good and sometimes horrific. The reader is also consumed with horror and awe as the psychotic and paranoid character of Basil is revealed.

What a pity that at the end of the book we don't know many details about Raef, only what we've been able to piece together. I was disappointed that there was no protagonist that I could get fond of.

In fact, it is hard to get fond of any character: many seem to have promise and then do disappointing, selfish, and vicious things. This jewel of a book allows just a glimpse through a prism into their lives and then moves on. Only the City remains.

Labels: Basil II - fiction, Cecelia Holland, Constantinople - fiction, High City, Vikings - fiction

Have you ever found a book you really like? A book that has transported you to a special world with engaging and fascinating characters that you are disappointed to have to leave at the closing of the final chapter?

Authors understand how almost devastating that can be; and so to help their readers out (and also to sell more books!) they often write books as parts of series. If you come in in the middle of a series you often want to read more, and it's best if you can start at the beginning most of the time.

It is often harder than you might think to work out which order the books were written - series are often not numbered, and books are even written and published out of order. We've all heard of prequels!

A librarian recommended a website to me the other day, which is designed by Kent District Library in Michigan specifically to help out with reading in series. It's called What's Next?: Books In Seriesâ„¢ Database of Kent District Library.

It says, "Our What's Next?: Books In Seriesâ„¢ database helps you search series fiction. A series is two or more books linked by character(s), settings, or other common traits." It is searchable by author, title or series and you can further limit searches by Adult or Youth and by a wide variety of genres. Search results list books in the order they occur in the series, so it's easy to start at the beginning and read in the "proper" order.

I'm going to put a link in my list of recommended sites and leave it up there for you for a while. Check it out! It's free and Kent District Library welcome links to their site.

Labels: Kent District Libraty, series fiction, What's Next

Find this book in our catalog

Labels: Ariana Franklin, Glastonbury - fiction, Grave Goods, medieval mysteries, women pathologists - fiction

Bill Cosby wins 2009 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor

Labels: African American biography, Bill Cosby, child rearing, comedy, Mark Twain Award, self-realization

National Library Week is an annual celebration of the contributions of our nation's libraries and librarians. All types of libraries - school, public, academic and special - participate.

Labels: National Library Week

Labels: National Poetry Month, Poetry - African American, Poetry - American, Poetry - contemporary, Poetry - women

International Thriller Writers have announced the nominations of the top thriller novels and short stories of 2008 for the prestegious Thriller Awards. Click here for more.

Highlights of the nominations:
BEST THRILLER OF THE YEAR
Hold Tight by Harlan Coben
The Bodies Left Behind by Jeffery Deaver
The Broken Window by Jeffery Deaver
The Dark Tide by Andrew Gross
The Last Patriot by Brad Thor
BEST FIRST NOVEL
Calumet City by Charlie Newton
Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith
Criminal Paradise by Steven Thomas
Sacrifice by S. J. Bolton
The Killer's Wife by Bill Floyd
THRILLERMASTER AWARD
David Morrell honoring his influential body of work.

Recipients will be recognized and winners announced at ThrillerFest 2009, July 8-11.

Labels: International Thriller Writers, Thriller Awards