Grey Gardens

Adam introduced me to another of his 'film picks' last week and I have to say it was the best one yet.  We saw the documentary Grey Gardens made in 1975 by the Maysles brothers.  It is a look into the lives of mother and daughter Edith Bouvier Beale and Little Edie Bouvier Beale, relations of Jackie O, who were living in a squalid estate in East Hampton.  It was a vouyeristic look into the lives of this once prominent society family, much like some of the books I have recently reviewed (see Wendy Burden's Dead End Gene Pool and Ivana Lowell's Why not say what happened?)  Grey Gardens could be equated with the worst episode of Hoarders (complete with cat urine).  It is truly enlightening to see how others live behind closed doors.  I went on to watch the movie version starring Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange, which very closely resembled the documentary.  I don't know which version I enjoyed more.  Upon further research I found this blog has amazing photos and background information.
People are fascinating creatures and it's always interesting to get a glimpse into other's lives.  A much tamer look can be found in the January 2011 issue of Marie Claire, which profiles international womens' lifestyles including how much they spend on shoes!  The article by Lea Goldman 'What it costs to be me' is on page 82.  A look into my life is certainly not as interesting as the women in the article.  My weekender for this weekend would be:  $6.00 for 2 loads of laundry and $12.00 for dinner with my daughter's Girl Scout troop on Saturday night.  Ok, maybe I'm not quite shattering the librarian stereotype!

Fragments of Marilyn Monroe

Fragments:  Poems, intimate notes, letters by Marilyn Monroe is a new book composed of snippets of the star's writings.  I loved all the photos between chapters which show her reading.  It seems uncharacteristic of the public persona of Marilyn Monroe, but she enjoyed leisure reading and expressing her thoughts on paper.  I was highly impressed by some of the titles that were found in her 400+ volume private collection (I suppose if we believe they were all read by her - I mean, sure, War & Peace may be on my bookshelf, but it doesn't mean I've read it).  A great deal of intelligence and critical thinking is shown by her introspective letters, poems, and organized lists, but like the 'Jekyll & Hyde' personality Monroe herself claimed to possess, these fragments also reveal her delicate emotional state and self-doubts.  The great aspect of the book's format is that the reader can see the documents in their original format, but read their text (typed on the opposing page) without having to decipher Monroe's script and scribbles.  This is a look past outward appearances to the real heart of Marilyn Monroe.

The Passage

You know the feeling when you are halfway into a book and you're not really sure you want to invest any more time in reading the rest?  That was how I felt about Justin Cronin's The Passage.  This book sounded great in the pre-pub summaries, and there is a really neat accompanying website Enter the Passage. This epic (over 700 pages) was exciting in the beginning, but quickly turned monotonous.  The reason it is so long is that Cronin tells this futuristic tale of viral beings in excruciating detail; at times with no need to do so.  The list of characters is also long, with detail and introspective views into their lives so that the reader really feels connected, but then characters are taken with the virus and the reader has to make friends with a new cast of characters.  I believe I was about 450 pages into The Passage when I decided I really didn't care what happened next, I just really wanted to know how it would end.  I read the 300 odd pages between this point and the end without much enthusiasm, only to find the ending to be unfulfilling and I realized I could have skipped to the last sentences to figure it all out.  This was also extremely heavy (another strike in my book - I prefer my workout time to be separate from my reading time).  I know there were several nights that I was pulling for the extra blanket at the bottom of the bed only to  find it weighed down by The Passage.  I struggled with this book, both physically and emotionally.  My opinion:  Wait for the movie.

A Motley life...



Tattoos & Tequila book jacket



I haven't yet read the acclaimed autobiography Life by Keith Richards, but am interested in doing so.  Instead this weekend I quickly breezed through the years of hard rock, partying, and drama that is Vince Neil's life.  His story, written with the assistance of Mike Sager (I personally think he must have done more than assist), is titled Tattoos & Tequila.  The lengthy subtitle sums up almost everything between the covers, 'To hell and back with one of rock's most notorious frontmen'.  As with other celebrity biographies that speak of addictions, the events described by Neil are at times comical and stupid and at other times, just plain sad.  Sad in the way that no one's life should be so controlled by substance abuse that quality of life becomes non-existent and so little care or responsibility is taken for one's actions.  I've previously read The Dirt, Neil Strauss' biography of Motley Crue, and although the unruly behavioral episodes described are of the same ilk, the stories in The Dirt were far more enjoyable.  But then I suppose it was difficult for Neil to recall with specificity the many blackout periods during his years of fame.  Of interest to any Motley Crue fans who remember when their music was good (and you have to be over 30 to remember that).

Modern Ruins

I first saw Shaun O'Boyle's photographs of Modern Ruins: Portraits of place in the Mid-Atlantic region while visiting the booth of the Penn State University Press at the PALA annual conference in Lancaster last month.  After a brief look, I thought this collection highlighting the Mid-Atlantic regions 'architectural sacrifice zones' (as termed by Geoff Manaugh in the introduction) would be of interest to PCL patrons.  The book is divided into four sections of buildings:  institutions (featuring psychiatric hospitals), steel (with photos of Bethlehem Steel's facilities), coal (an industry introduced as the foundations of 'hardy and industrious Pennsylvanians'), and arsenal (with stunning images of Bannerman's Island, near Cold Spring, NY).  This collection takes the reader to the present state of the past and is relevant to those who appreciate black and white photography, local history, and the progression of deindustrialization of the region.  I highly recommend browsing this new acquisition.

Work off that Turkey!

Do you have a plan on how to make it through the holidays without putting on weight?  PCL has a great selection of DVDs to keep you active when the weather outside turns frightful.  Here's my take on several I've tried:

Ultimate Tae Bo - this is a long, intense workout that will have you dripping with sweat, and in great appreciation of Blanks and the crowd who works out with him on this DVD.  I can't keep up with the speed, but this one is fun and you know you're burning calories.
Yoga Meltdown with Jillian Michaels - Did you think yoga was relaxing?  I didn't think so of this Jillian Michaels version.  Watch out for some of these moves.  I did more than one face plant during this workout.  I'm not writing off this one (or yoga in general) off yet, though.
Fashion your body with Pilates - I really like this workout, but even after months of Pilates, I can't make the moves look as easy and smooth as on this program.
Leslie Sansone's walk and kick - This is a bit easier than some of Leslie's other walking-at-home routines, but I was expecting more aggressive kicks tae bo style.  This is great if you're just getting started in an exercise routine.  I love Leslie's workouts for raising the heartrate and getting the body in motion.
Dancing with the stars cardio dance - This DVD looks so fun...however it was laughable as I tried to do these steps.  Despite good directions from the dance instructors, I am hopelessly uncoordinated.  Consequently I cannot Cha Cha or Samba (sigh).  But I have learned how to untie my shoelaces by stepping on my own feet.


No hula for me...

 Island Girl Cardio hula - This is a fabulous concept and looks so easy.  I suppose it would be if I had any coordination.  I'm not ready for the islands.
Invitation to Dance: Line dancing - This was so much fun.  Even though I could only coordinate about half the moves, this was the only dance DVD I thought I might have an iota of potential with.  I'll be working with this one over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Keep your routines interesting and varied and stick with it through the holidays...you'll be able to have another slice of apple pie or a few more sugar cookies without gaining a pound (who really cares about turkey anyway?).

Why not say what happened?

Ivana Lowell's memoir Why not say what happened? reminded me of another I have read lately (See my blog entry on Wendy Burden's Dead end gene pool).  The elements in both titles are similar:  an heiress from an eccentric family, old money, no strong adult figures, boarding schools, trans-Atlantic moves, etc.  Lowell's memoir suggests the Guinness family curse may have preordained the family to alcoholism (more likely the Guinness ale) and personal tragedy.  Lowell relates her tale of childhood in drafty English manor houses, dinners with the Queen Mother, childhood abuse, and her stepfather's (the poet Robert Lowell) sudden death.  The Guardian claims it is poorly written, but I found it intensely engaging and couldn't help but reading on to see what would happen next.   Although many of Lowell's life experiences are beyond the average reader's experiences, this memoir is a fly-on-the-wall look at how the other half lives has always been and I feel this genre continues to be popular with readers.
If this sounds like something you'd like to read, you might also like:
Dead End Gene Pool by Wendy Burden
Fierce by Kelly Osbourne
Uncharted Territori by Tori Spelling

November Happenings

Readers, please forgive the lack of November posts.  It has turned into a busy month.  Let me give you an update of what has been happening around the library.

• History Day research is getting serious.  Reference staff have been making a lot of referrals to the History Day wiki.  The wiki has both primary and secondary online sources as well as an explanation of the differences between.
• The PCL Reader's Advisory has been expanded to include Juvenile & Young Adult Series titles.  I also reorganized the Adult Series page to find items easier.  Keep watching for more authors, titles, and reading lists to be added.
• Have you noticed the new travel guide titles?  PCL has purchased guides for some new areas from a wider range of publishers including Cadogan, Lonely Planet, Rick Steves, National Geographic, and Eyewitness Travel.

• New volumes have been added to the reference collection including Britannica's Dynamic Earth 3 volume series, the Princeton Field Guide to dinosaurs and the 6 volume Magill's Medical Guide.  Watch for the arrival of the 12 volume forth edition of Masterplots & the 2011 World Book Encyclopedia being published in December.

 Did you know?... According to US Dept. of Agriculture statistics, an estimated 9 million turkeys were raised in Pennsylvania in 2009.  This places PA 8th in the nation and this accounts for about 3.6 of the total turkeys raised in the US.

What is a sacrifice zone?

The term 'sacrifice zone' was used during the Cold War to identify areas contaminated by radioactive pollutants in the course of manufacturing nuclear weapons.  Author Steve Lerner has re purposed the term and applied it to low-income and minority neighborhoods located near heavy industrial pollution sites in Sacrifice zones:  The front lines of toxic chemical exposure in the United States.  Each chapter describes a zone affected by polluted air, water, or soil.  These areas are found nationwide but have several similarities.  Each neighborhood contains poor or ethnic communities and in these communities grass-roots organizations are being formed by residents to hold accountable the industries responsible for the pollution.  The statistics provided by the author are alarming, with many industrial sites releasing massive amounts of chemicals into residential areas.  The material in this book was gathered from interviews with the residents of these areas and offers a balance between personal stories and hard statistics.  The effects of living in sacrifice zones runs the gamut from skin irritations, ash and soot deposits, noxious odors, difficulty breathing, cancer clusters, and even death.  Some of the chapters seem a bit redundant, however each is important for the sake of all those living (and dying) in the sacrifice zones.

How much?

Steve Dublanica, the brutally honest writer of Waiter Rant, answers the question 'how much should I tip?' in his new book Keep the change.  Dublanica starts out seriously exploring where tipping began, the origin of the name, and discussing just how much employees rely on tips as part of their income.  The following chapters are a narrative of his first-person interviews with workers in various professions (and they are very varied - some legal, some not), their straight talk on tips, and appropriate amounts for each service provided.  He takes a comic approach to gathering his data and the tax write-offs he claimed for researching this book must have garnered a few chuckles.  His wit and storytelling ability make this a quick, enjoyable light non-fiction book.  The insight gained by the reader in directly hearing from tipped employees is invaluable.  Never will I look at tips I leave in the same way.  Although as someone who has worked for tips in the past (I waitressed my way through one degree), I always feel I overcompensate when leaving gratuities (even though I usually can't afford it).  This look at tipping is especially relevant as the holiday season is approaching and an extra gratuity to service workers is a nice way to remember their attention throughout the year (or insure good service next year).  Take a tip from me:  Read Keep the change.

Mad Crafting

The new Amy Sedaris book Simple Times:  Crafts for poor people is absolutely hilarious.  Know someone who's been bad this year?  There are instructions for making gifts cheaply...how about a Green Stamp tissue box cover?  or a rusty nail windchime?  Personally I am expecting a lot of toothpaste box bookmarks this year!  On the other hand, do you know anyone that's been good this year?  Great gift idea = Simple Times.  Outrageous, entertaining, and lol funny!  Great conversation starter at family gatherings!

Amy Sedaris talks about Simple Times

What's new cupcake?

I've been baking again - this time for my son's 4th birthday.  I turned to What's new cupcake? (by Karen Tack & Alan Richardson) for my latest birthday treat creation.  Some might remember I whipped up waves, fish, and twinkie sharks for my daughter's summer birthday [from the author's earlier book Hello cupcake! See blog photos].  My son loves cars and this Indy car was easy to make.  Well, easier than the melted icing dipped Twinkie sharks.  The only alterations I made to the book directions were not using the pretzel stick to anchor the driver's head (I just placed it directly on the frosting), and I changed the car number to 0 4 to match my son's age.  There are super cute ideas for the upcoming holidays in these books as well.  Check them out!

Sourland

Joyce Carol Oates is the type of writer I remember studying in high school.  The readings often ended suddenly and left an open interpretation to the end of the story.  Sourland contains those types of stories.  The dialogue and actions rise toward an apex and then like a balloon suddenly popped, deflate to nothing left for the reader.  Nonetheless, like other Oates work, Sourland is intense and the stories interlink through similar character actions and feelings.  As for the nature of the stories, I found it difficult to relate to the common theme of widows as dysfunctional, weak women.  In Oates' tellings these women are aimless without their mates, unable to be self-sufficient or decisive enough to ask for help.  These women without the presence of a strong male constant in their lives, revert to a childlike state of helplessness and confusion.  Carefully written like Oates' other work, each word seems chosen for the impact and effect it relates to the reader.  Be pulled into these sixteen short stories.

From the Ashes

On February 20, 2003, a fire in The Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island killed 100 people.  Sparks from a live band's pyrotechnics display ignited the highly flammable and toxic insulating foam that had been applied to the walls and ceiling of the club.  Within several minutes the entire building was consumed.  Gina Russo, a survivor of that night, writes an emotional, if occasionally repetitive memoir, From the ashes.  The summary of the events of the fire and the code violations that allowed for its rapid spread were descriptive and detailed, as were the medical procedures Russo endured, and the legal and criminal aspects of the tragedy.  In the more personal and emotional part of the story, Russo writes about her loss, hospitalization, rehabilitation, and depression that somehow was laced with optimism.  I think this segment of the retelling cast a slight doubt in the credibility of the author to accurately recall events.  The topic interested me as a historical disaster, however the copious spelling and grammatical errors throughout the text made me wonder if maybe I should look into moonlighting as a proofreader?  This is a self published book which has received a lot of promotion in the Northeast.  Too bad for the writing...this was a story worth telling...this could have been a good seller.

Sanitarium childhood

Gloria Paris spent most of her youth (from age 5 to 14) in sanitariums in upstate New York battling spinal tuberculosis.  In her book, A child of sanitariums:  A memoir of tuberculosis survival and lifelong disability, she recalls the treatment of her disease (full body casts, traction, fusing of bones) and the social and cultural implications of growing up in an institution instead of with her family.  She looks back on her hospital 'family' and details her adult pilgrimages to her childhood care facilities.  There is no lack of scientific fact in her writings regarding the disease or its impact on the country.  After Paris was discharged, she finished high school and college, earning a degree in microbiology.  Her first position was studying the microscopic tubercle bacilli at the hospital on Samson Air Force Base led her directly to the bacteria which had infected her body and caused bone deformity which would render her disabled.  Despite her disability, Paris leads a full life which includes raising awareness for disability rights and fundraising and advocating for minority groups.  Paris still resides in her hometown in upstate New York.
A few important points to take from this work:
*Tuberculosis is not only a disease of the past.
*Tuberculosis is treatable with a lengthy course of antibiotics.
*According to CDC statistics, there were over 12,000 cases of TB in the US.

Centers for Disease Control information on Tuberculosis

Teen Read Week...My favorite YA titles

One of the most interesting courses I took during library school (in fact, I took it twice, both at the undergrad & grad levels) was Library Services for Young Adults.  Not only is the material written in this category entertaining, but the stories are concise enough (usually) that they can be finished in a single sitting (if you read for a couple hours at a time, like I do).  The theme for this year's Teen Read Week is Books with Beat.  I've interpreted that loosely (to include heartbeat, pulse, fetal heartbeat, etc.) and compiled my short list of great YA fiction.
Newes from the Dead (Mary Hooper)- Based on a documented event in 1650's London, Anne Green is hanged, but comes back to life, beating the odds.
November Blues (Sharon Draper)- November, about to be a teenage mother, falls in love with her baby's heartbeat.
Twilight (Stephenie Meyer) - What vampire can resist a throbbing pulse?
Are you in the house alone? (Richard Peck) - an older novel, but one that is sure to have adrenaline beating through your veins
The house of the scorpion (Nancy Farmer) - I can't quite tie this one into 'beat' but I highly recommend this futuristic sci-fi novel...a bit longer than the novels recommended above.

Also see the PCL website Teens page for library events celebrating Teen Read Week.

By the full moon's light

In the spirit of Halloween (personally my favorite holiday) I watched The Wolfman last night.  I wonder if anyone else noticed these strange coincidences...
Isn't it odd that Anthony Hopkins is a reclusive widower and has his dead son's girlfriend as a house guest, now suddenly attracted to his surviving son?  Legends of the fall?
And the unfortunate stag tied on the moor as bait for the werewolf? It actually met a kinder fate than the goat which was to be T-rex's dinner in Jurassic Park.
How about the final werewolf fight sequence in the burning house where the wolves collide in mid-air attack? New Moon?
I think this would've been a good flick, if I hadn't been having flashes of deja vu through it all.  See it for yourself and give me your opinion...

Art History

History can be a dry subject, however the new volume How to read world history in art takes a different approach to those famous dates that are so easily forgotten.  Beginning in 1792 BC with the code of Hammurabi and spanning through the terrorist attacks of 9/11/2001, significant events in history are paired with illustrations of renown artworks commemorating or memorializing the events.  The text analyzes the artwork, while the artwork complements the text.  Insets give timeline chronicles of the events and take a look at the global context of the affairs.  This work has lovely illustrations, is easy to read, can be read in parts or as a whole, and gives the reader a greater sense of comprehension through association.  Written by Flavio Febbraro & Burkhard Schwetje and published by Abrams.

Chills close to home...

For true crime readers, don't miss Predator.  Author Steven Walker details the chilling crime spree of Timothy Krajcir, who was ultimately convicted for crimes committed since the 1970's by the introduction of DNA testing of evidence.  This page-turner hits close to home and certainly made me check the locks.  Krajcir actually lived in Laurys Station in the early 80's and was arrested at the Mountainville shopping center in South Allentown.  He was then held for a time at Lehigh County Prison (where he attempted to escape by scaling the prison wall), before being sentenced to 5 years in Pennsylvania's largest maximum security correctional facility, Graterford. 
Author Walker will be speaking at PCL about his research into these crimes and writing in the true crime genre - Monday, October 25th from 7 - 8PM.  To reserve a seat for this event, contact Erin at 610-398-1361, ext. 13.  PCL calendar entry:  http://catalog.parklandlibrary.org/Parkland/calendar.asp?cal=45&detail=1708&date=10/25/2010
Steven Walker's website http://www.steven-walker.com/
Steven Walker titles available at PCL:
Blood Trail (2005)
Predator (2010)

Have you ever wondered...

at what point pollution became a national concern?  Earth day has already surpassed its 40th anniversary, but when was the topic introduced?  When were checks put on manufacturing corporations to reduce their impact on the surrounding area?  The Polluters:  The making of our chemically altered environment by Benjamin Ross & Steven Amter explores the history of pollution in America.  Water pollution was an area of congressional concern since 1890 and smoke from copper smelting spurred President Theodore Roosevelt to pursue federal regulation of factory emissions in 1907.  The polluters traces the rise of American chemical plants and their toxic by-products invading the groundwater, air and human population.  The major chemical corporations, Dupont and Dow among them, gained political influence and amassed profits and this in turn shaped the regulations that governed them.  The polluters contains the reasons for and actions of regulation of pollutants that should be of interest to all Americans, especially those focused on environmental awareness and conservancy.
The toxic 100 list

Guillermo del Toro

The name just rolls off the tongue.  His stories will stay with you as well.  I just finished the second book in the Strain Trilogy (co-authored with Chuck Hogan), The Fall.  The Master and the vampire hunters (Setrakian, Eph, Fet, and Nora) are back, navigating the dark tunnels of the subway and fighting against what the government recognizes only as a virus.  This book was as action packed as the first and left the reader with an ending that will be surely be expanded upon in the third book (set for publication in 2011).  This is intense vampire fiction (no gore spared the reader) and even Bella couldn't charm this Master.  If you like your vampires to just take a nip, this isn't the vampire series for you.  However, if you like a mystery for the quest of vampiric origins, and don't mind if the good guys don't win every battle, check out The Strain and The Fall.

Films at PCL directed by Guillermo del Toro:

Hellboy

Hellboy II: The golden army

Pan's Labyrinth

Russian Ark

Intrigued by the period costumes on the case and Roger Ebert's comment "One of the most astonishing films ever made", I sat down to watch the subtitled Russian Ark this weekend.  My daughter gave up about 20 minutes into it (she said the subtitles moved too fast), but I hung on for the full 96 minutes.  It wasn't the subtitles that gave me trouble.  I really haven't seen a film I couldn't follow in quite a while, but this is one.  Maybe it is my inadequate education in Russian history or poor appreciation for artistic films, but this one has me stumped.  The next morning my daughter asked me how the movie ended...I just told her I watched the whole thing, but still don't know.  Any comments?...This item has been checked out over 100 times...Someone must have an opinion...please share.  Adam you're one for subtitled films - what's your thoughts? 

Sources for movie picks:
1001 movies you must see before you die
Leonard Maltin's 2011 movie guide
VideoHound's golden movie retriever

Room

Emma Donoghue's Room, a novel about a woman who becomes a mother while being held captive, has received a lot of recent press attention.  Donoghue takes a dark topic and tells the story from 5-year-old Jack's point of view.  Jack was born in the room and knows nothing outside of its soundproof walls.  Despite the lack of space, freedom, and social interaction, Jack's Ma has created a world that revolves around her son. 
While reading Room I felt anxious about what might happen to Ma & Jack next and exhausted even though all the activity was taking place in an 11 x 11 space.  At no time does Donoghue's writing seem repetitive despite Ma & Jack performing the same activities within the same confines daily.  The strongest impression this book left on me was one of cloying closeness, devoid of privacy or personal boundaries.  Since I don't want to reveal any more of the plot, I will leave readers to draw their own conclusions and impressions by reading Room.

NYT Book Review (September 19, 2010)
Room book webpage http://www.roomthebook.com/ with a schematic diagram to bring the room into context and scale
Author Jennifer Weiner interviews Emma Donoghue - read interview text here 

My favorite banned books...

September 25th - October 3rd, the American Library Association celebrates Banned Book Week.  Books throughout history have been banned for being:  too political, sexually explicit, sacrilegious, and socially offensive.  I personally think some of the challengers of these books were just plain sticks in the mud, to put it nicely.  That's why libraries are such a nice idea...if you don't like a book for any reason, just return it...someone else might like it.  Even non-fiction books have been contested...does this prove the truth is really stranger than fiction???

Some banned books that I think are awesome:
Tess of the d'Urbervilles - Hardy has always been a favorite of mine.  My father (the English teacher) can't understand why.  Tess is not exactly a lighthearted novel, but I feel I can relate to her troubles & blues and grey existence.  Can't say that I've ever had treacle running down my back, but it usually is raining on my parade.
In cold blood - Capote's true crime that shocked in the 60's.
Fahrenheit 451 - I remember reading this in high school and still remember the smoldering storyline - Paper burns at 451 degrees..
The Scarlet Letter - too bad I can't think about this one without seeing Demi Moore as Hester Prynne.
Animal Farm - who doesn't like talking pigs?  And only a pig would say All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.


For more commentary on banned books, see the PCL Adult Services Blog. 

The girl...

I know there is a long wait list for the posthumous works of Stieg Larsson - The girl with the dragon tattoo, The girl who played with fire, and The girl who kicked the hornet's nest.  I often don't like what everyone else is reading, so I didn't give these too much thought, although someone had told me they were graphic.  I don't remember reading any reviews, although I do remember reading the New York Times Magazine (May 23, 2010) article on the familial squabbles over Larsson's body of work titled The afterlife of Stieg Larsson (is there a fourth in the series?).  I got to view The girl with the dragon tattoo on DVD this weekend.  The movie was riveting and I thought it was a well-plotted, complex mystery.  This movie is subtitled, but I also found it enjoyable to listen to the crisp Swedish dialogue.  I can't wait to see the next movie in the trilogy (DVD being released Oct 26th), so I have one of the rental copies of The girl who played with fire.  I'm interested in how Larsson writes and if the movies are doing justice to his books.  I highly recommend The girl with the dragon tattoo DVD and I'll let you know my opinion on The girl who played with fire.  Please add your comments...I know many of you have read these already.
See reviews in the NYT:
The girl with the dragon tattoo (Sept. 14, 2008)
The girl who played with fire (July 17, 2009)
The girl who kicked the hornet's nest (May 30, 2010)

World Alzheimer's Day

September 21st is World Alzheimer's Day, a time to raise awareness for a condition which causes degeneration of brain functions affecting memory, thinking, behavior, and emotions.  It is estimated 30 million people worldwide have Alzheimer's and an even greater number of individuals who are nurturers and caregivers are impacted by this disease. 

• See this factsheet from Alzheimer's Disease International on the prevalence of this condition.
• The Alzheimer's Association offers these brain health tips
• For a comprehensive look at facts, current statistics, economic and social impacts of the disease and recommendations for further research and involvement see the World Alzheimer Report 2010 (56 page PDF document)

PCL resources on Alzheimer's Disease:
If you missed last evening's library program by author Fred Buse, check out his recent book, A Caregiver’s Tips: My Wife Had Alzheimer’s Disease
Speaking our minds:  What it's like to have Alzheimer's
The last of his mind:  A year in the shadow of Alzheimer's
The Alzheimer's project:  Momentum in science
The 36-hour day: A family guide to caring for people with Alzheimer disease, other dementias, and memory loss in later life
Passages in caregiving: Turning chaos into confidence

Consumer tips on credit cards

The skinny on credit cards: How to master the credit card game by Jim Randel goes a long way in making the path to getting out of credit card debt seem like a fun journey.  This skinny book packed with facts and stick figures is a combination of graphic novel and tip sheet on personal finances.  The recent credit card act effective in February 2010 is detailed on page 146, while page 148 advises which issues the law did not address.  Randel gives advice on lowering your interest rates by calling credit card service centers, how to improve your FICO score (that is, the Fair Isaac Corporation), and how to get out of debt.  Start learning what you can do now and start spending wisely this winter.

Helpful links referenced in this book:
http://www.annualcreditreport.com/ - Get your credit reports from the top three agencies once per year FREE. (Don't fall for online advertisements that offer a FREE credit score in exchange for purchasing a product.)
Sites to compare credit cards - http://www.creditcards.com/ http://www.cardratings.com/ http://www.bankrate.com/
Calculators for credit card pay off by interest rate and amount of debt - www.creditcardratings.com/creditcarddebtcalc www.bankrate.com/brm/calc/creditcardpay.asp

Hot X!

I really do like algebra, so I had to check out Danica McKellar's new book Hot X: Algebra Exposed!  In the introduction she writes about having the girl power to conquer x and not give up on life's  tough problems.  I think the style of this book is really appealing.  It has the feel of a teenage girl's notebook with flower doodles, handwriting and script mixed throughout the printed text.  Many algebraic concepts are covered in snips called reality math, by using examples that may be relevant to girls.  I found the examples of percentage markdowns on dresses to be relevant and useful. Blurbs headed what are they called? give definitions of terms while step-by-step breaks the problem down and watch out alerts problem solvers to common errors.  Hands-on readers might try using algebra while decorating for a party (the example shows how to to string lights diagonally across a pool in equal increments) or find the comparison between hair FOIL and multiplying polynomials using the FOIL method memorable.  Don't miss the last chapter titled What you can learn at the mall using the quadratic formula. There are great tips in this book which will foster retention of math rules and facts.  This book is fun, cool-intelligent, attention grabbing, and a great example of an innovative way of looking at math.  Also see: Danica's Hot X webpage

I love cake...

Chocolate is really my favorite, but anytime there is birthday cake, count me in for a piece.  With the kids back to school and providing snacks for their activities, and scouting, and holiday parties, I suggest the new book What's new cupcake?  or Tack & Richardson's first book Hello Cupcake!  Both books offer detailed instructions for decorating themed cupcakes (a great alternative to cake, but with the same great taste!).  The tempting color pictures look too perfect to actually be food.  Visit The Hello Cupcake Blog.

I am sure some of the recipes are more difficult than others, but the one I tried for my daughter's birthday last month (Shark Pool, below) was surprisingly simple, although time-consuming.  Be forewarned, it took me 6 hours to decorate these cupcakes.  My son's birthday is next month and he asked for cupcakes...I've chosen a design from What's new cupcake? and will post pics of the completed project.  Be on the lookout next month for a new baking book in PCL's collection Cake Pops (yes, they are lollipops made of cake).

Gina's shark cupcakes

Remembering 9/11

September 11, 2001 is a difficult day for many to forget.  Remembering the American tragedy which occured is an integral part of recent American history.  These sources provide relevant insight of the events of that day nine years ago.

102 Minutes:  The untold story of the fight to survive inside the Twin Towers - An account of the minutes between the first plane crash and the collapse of the north tower.

In the shadow of no towers - Art Spiegelman, who also created the Maus graphic novels, tells his personal story of September 11th in this graphic novel.  His text and drawings capture the nervous tension and fear of the time.

Watching the world change: The stories behind the images of 9/11 - A fascinating look at the coverage of 9/11 by both the media and the public.  The changing role of technology in media coverage is highlighted.

The 9/11 Commission report : Final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States

9/11 [DVD] - Jules and Gedeon Naudet documentary about a rookie New York City firefighter who is one of the first respondents on scene.


American ground : Unbuilding the World Trade Center - A look at the structures, how the towers collapsed, and the ruins which remained.

Never forget : An oral history of September 11, 2001 - Eyewittness testimony which is an important primary source for researching this event.

Report from Ground Zero - First person testimonials of firefighters, Port Authority personnel, & NYPD officers and the three month period of Ground Zero sitework following the attacks.