Thursday, May 31, 2012

New Customer Review - Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
by Grace Lin [j Lin]

Lin's Newbery Honor book Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a fantasy inspired by Chinese folklore. In the tradition of journey stories, this is about Minli, who goes on a trip to seek a solution to a problem. Minli seeks the Man of the Moon to ask how the family can change their fortune. As in The Wizard of Oz, Minli meets characters along the way who also need help from the Man of the Moon. Unlike in The Wizard of Oz, only one travels with her: a dragon who can't fly. In what seems almost too conveniently like The Wizard of Oz, these two comrades encounter evil monkeys when trying to cross the woods to their destination. Other dangers are more original to Lin such as a poisonous tiger. I recognized two motifs from folklore: the disguised king and sacrificed children. Others such as the guardians of the city, the borrowed line, and the fruitless mountain may or may not be derived from Chinese tales with which I am less familiar. In any event, Lin has seamlessly blended various aspects of folklore into one beautiful story. What makes Lin's books so special are their themes of family, friendship, love, and heritage. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon has another theme, which is found in the answer to Minli?s question about how her family can change their fortune. This is an absorbing fantasy, deserving of classic status. -- review submitted by Allison H.-F. - a customer of the Bennett Martin Public Library [See Allison's issue of the Customer Snapshot newsletter!]

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New Customer Reviews appear regularly in the pages of the BookGuide web site. You can visit the Customer Reviews page to see them all and/or submit your own, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually as we receive them.

The Shepherd of the Hills

The Shepherd of the Hills
by Harold Bell Wright

Essentially a country "western" depicting a love story, regret, and redemption in a historical context of the Ozark Mountains near Branson, MO. Being originally from southwest Missouri, I have seen the original outdoor amphitheater production numerous times. The play is an excellent adaptation of the book, but the book is far superior in its account of detail. More intriguing are the mysterious "Baldknobbers" which ride horseback in the night and terrorize banks and settlers across the hills. This is a great depiction of the Ozarks region in Missouri in a historical/spiritual context. -- recommended by Jeremiah J. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ Wikipedia entry for Shepherd of the Hills ] | [ Wikipedia entry for Harold Bell Wright ]

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Office Space

Office Space
[DVD Office]

This 1999 film is something of a cult classic -- not a huge blockbuster, but a quirky oddball comedy that fans keep coming back to again and again. Written and produced by Mike Judge, the man behind the animated hits Beavis and Butthead and King of the Hill, Office Space is, in part, based on a series of short animated pieces that feature nebbishy office worker Milton. Ron Livingston headlines the cast, as Peter Gibbons, a cubicle-inhabiting cog in a corporate environment at Initech. When the company appears to be going into downsizing mode, Peter and his co-workers hatch a scheme to use a software bug to skim a vast amount of money from the company's accounts before they get canned. The humor here is painful and absurd. Gary Cole is a scene stealer as Bill Lumbergh, the main boss, who puts his employees through sheer hell in preparation for firing them. Peter, the unsuspecting victim of a hypnotist, who leaves him suspended in a state of mind in which his inhibitions are removed, is a fascinating character, as is Milton (Stephen Root), a mumbling cubicle dweller who was fired but never left the building. Jennifer Anniston is featured as Peter's new girlfriend, who is working for a T.G.I. Friday's-like restaurant, whose management is obsessed with the employees wearing "flair" -- buttons, badges, etc. This is smart, savvy comedy, poking fun at corporate culture as well as examples of idiocy in other venues as well. Totally unbelievable, but cathartic for anyone who's felt like taking revenge on a boss. You'll never look at the red Swingline stapler in your office the same way again!-- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library [subscribe to Scott's It's All Geek to Me! newsletter or any of the libraries' 37 other monthly booklist newsletters!]

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Tough Without a Gun: The Life and Extraordinary Afterlife of Humphrey Bogart

Tough Without a Gun: The Life and Extraordinary Afterlife of Humphey Bogart
by Stefan Kanfer [Biography Bogart]

A detailed study of Humphrey Bogart. Told chronologically, the biography really picks up when "Casablanca" enters the storyline. The author discusses and evaluates Bogart's films, the other actors, interesting stories of everyone involved. Last couple chapters discuss Bogart's influence on Hollywood and society, and why there will never be another Humphrey Bogart. Not for the first-timer seeking initial info on Bogie. Best read by those already familiar with his filmography and life to really enjoy the depth of discussion. -- recommended by Charlotte K. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[Also available in downloadable E-book format.]

[ Publisher's official Tough Without a Gun web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Kirinyaga: A Fable of Utopia

Kirinyaga: A Fable of Utopia
by Michael Resnick

This short novel by Michael Resnick is actually what they call a "fixed up" novel, comprised of a series of ten interconnected short stories, all of which were originally published on their own. Because of this, Kirinyaga is actually one of the most acclaimed science fiction novels ever published -- each of the stories included was nominated for multiple awards, and two of them actually won Hugo Awards in their respective years of release. The stories all involved a transplanted tribe of African Kikuyu, who have settled on a protected artificial planetoid, whose atmosphere and weather patterns are controlled by orbiting technicians. The Kikuyu people, under the guidance of their Mundumugu (witch doctor) are attempting the preserve their primitive culture, so that all traces of their existence are not wiped out by their assimilation in more advanced modern cultures and communities. Koribe, the mundumugu, teaches by means of parables, but as the stories progress, his hold over his own people weakens and their utopian experiment may be endangered. It's extremely well written, and thought provoking fiction at its best. But you may find yourself intensely disliking the protagonist. None-the-less, it makes the reader consider the plight of other ancient cultures on the brink of cultural annihilation -- what if a Native American tribe, or a group of Inuit, or Australian aborigines were given the opportunity to relocate to a protected place with the sole purpose of recapturing their ancient ways? Or is this even a worthwhile quest? Read Kirinyaga: A Fable of Utopia and you can be the judge! -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library [subscribe to Scott's It's All Geek to Me! newsletter or any of the libraries' 37 other monthly booklist newsletters!]

[ Wikipedia page on the novel Kirinyaga ] | [ official Mike Resnick web site ]

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Sh*t My Dad Says

Sh*t My Dad Says
by Justin Halpern [817 Hal]

Did your dad ever scold you for not knowing the difference between a hammer and a crescent wrench? If so, this book is for you. The stories and "dad-ism's" in this book are absolutely hysterical. While the language can be a little crass, parts of this book made me laugh until I cried. A good comedic read for anyone who celebrates the fun-loving (yet maniacal) man in their life they call "father." -- recommended by Jeremiah J. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[Also available from the library in downloadable audio and downloadable E-book formats.]

[ official Sh*t My Dad Says web site ] | [ Wikipedia page for Justin Halpern ]

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

The Great San Francisco Earthquake (on DVD)

The Great San Francisco Earthquake
[DVD 979.46 Ame]

This episode of the popular PBS series American Experience utilizes actual old film footage as well as photographs and survivor interviews to encapsulate one of the biggest of American catastrophes. Oscar-winner F. Murray Abraham narrates. I found the background music choices a bit odd and distracting at times but this is a nice synopsis of the whats and whys of this major historical event. Interestingly, the very same photo is used for the cover of this DVD and the cover of the suggested companion book. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Disaster! The great San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906, by Dan Kurzman] -- recommended by Becky W.C. - Walt Branch Library

[ The Great San Francisco Earthquake page on the PBS American Experience web site ]


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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Disaster! The Great San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of 1906

Disaster! The Great San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of 1906
by Dan Kurzman [979.461 Kur]

Kurzman is an award-winning former reporter and native San Franciscan. He takes us on a journey from shortly before this devastating event to several years after. Highlighting the stories of certain individuals among the mainstream chain of events gives this a sense of immediacy and intimacy. Find out how people such as world-famous operatic star Enrico Caruso, renowned actor John Barrymore, and ten-year-old Del Crespi, lovesick boy and future baseball star, each coped with the catastrophe. Or how Italian-American banker Amadeo Giannini made fortuitous choices about what to do with his overnight deposits. Then there was the power struggle between the corrupt mayor and the autocratic general. It's an intriguing digest of one of America's best known large-scale tragedies. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to watch The Great San Francisco Earthquake, an episode of PBS's American Experience (DVD 979.46 Ame)] -- recommended by Becky W.C. - Walt Branch Library

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Monday, May 14, 2012

The Chronicles of Harris Burdick

The Chronicles of Harris Burdick
by Chris Van Allsburg [813.08 All]

In 1984, Chris Van Allsburg published a collection of illustrations entitled "The Mysteries of Harris Burdick." The illustrations were ostensibly the work of a mysterious author/illustrator who had drawn them to accompany his stories, but who disappeared, leaving no trace of the stories to go with the pictures. In actuality, the illustrations were intended to inspire readers to write their own stories. Now, in "The Chronicles of Harris Burdick," the illustrations have been reissued with accompanying stories by noted authors such as Stephen King, Cory Doctorow, and Jules Feiffer. The results are mixed. Some of the stories are intriguing, such as M. T. Anderson's "Just Desert," which has a "nothing is what it seems" theme that may appeal to fans of "The Prisoner." Others are pleasant fantasies, such as "The Harp" by Linda Sue Park and Van Allsburg's own "Oscar and Alphonse." Several of the stories are on the disturbing side (as are some of the original pictures), and some are surprisingly disappointing (Walter Dean Myers' "Mr. Linden's Library" seems to have little to do with the illustration it is supposed to be based on). While the stories here offer an intriguing look at different authors' approaches, ultimately the illustrations are probably best used for their original intent: getting readers to write stories of their own. Stories by readers can be submitted on the official "Harris Burdick" Website. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try The Mysteries of Harris Burdick.] -- recommended by Peter J. - Virtual Services Department

[ official "Harris Burdick" web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

My Future Boyfriend

My Future Boyfriend
[DVD My]

P-A-X 497/341 is an archeologist from the future. On an expedition he uncovers a book written in 2011 by Elizabeth Barrett. In the book she talks about love; this is a concept unknown to humans in the future because it is thought to be too dangerous and it was wiped from the database. PAX goes back in time to meet Elizabeth Barrett so she can explain love to him. Elizabeth lives in New Orleans in 2011, she's an author and she's also a writer for a magazine called "Strange Times" which covers all your usual UFO, Elvis isn't dead, National Enquirer-type stories. She of course thinks he's crazy but listens to his story so she can write an article about it. Along the way they fall in love which is only complicated by the fact that she's about to get engaged to another man. Similar to other ABC Family movies, this one was sappy, cheesy, and a complete lovefest. It makes you laugh, it makes you cry. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try the Back to the Future series starring Michael J. Fox or Less Than Perfect with Sara Rue as a TV news anchor (available through interlibrary loan).} -- recommended by Carrie K. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ] | [ official My Future Boyfriend web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Monday, May 7, 2012

Sacrilege

Sacrilege
by S.J. Parris

Parris gives us a mix of political intrigue, action, and sleuthing in this historical thriller. Multiple plots include the disappearance of a number of young boys to a plan to revive a Sir Thomas Becket cult, dormant ever since the disappearance of the saint's bones. A rich portrayal of daily life in Elizabethan England. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try the first two titles in the Giordano Bruno series: Heresy (2010) and Prophecy (2011). The Roots of Betrayal by James Forrester, Hilary Mantel's Bring Up the Bodies.] -- this recommendation, based on the downloadable audio version of this title, is from Diane E. - Technical Processes Department

[Also available in print format.]

[ Publisher's official Sacrilege web page ]

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Sunday, May 6, 2012

When You Are Engulfed in Flames

When You Are Engulfed in Flames
by David Sedaris [817 Sed]

Another collection of stories by David Sedaris about shenanigans in his life, this one includes living in France, crazy old lady neighbors, awkward airline experiences, family memories, and trying to quit smoking in Japan. The collection is easy to follow because of his writing style, and the book is hard to put down as Sedaris' humor will make you laugh out loud. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try other books written by David Sedaris such as Me Talk Pretty One Day and Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim or something by his sister Amy Sedaris like I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence.] -- recommended by Carrie K. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[Also available in downloadable audio, book-on-cd and downloadable E-book formats.]

[ Wikipedia page for David Sedaris ]

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Conan O'Brien Can't Stop

Conan O'Brien Can't Stop
[DVD 817 Obr]

This DVD provides a behind-the-scenes look at the creation and making of Conan O'Brien's summer tour after leaving "The Tonight Show" and during his contractual ban from television. While this documentary contains snippets of the tour show, be advised it is NOT an entire filming of the show itself. The DVD provides an interesting perspective of a Conan O'Brien we don't see on his late night show. It is hysterical how funny Conan can be, even when not in front of an audience. While his crass attitude can be offensive, even to his own support team of colleagues, you really see the commitment and loyalty of his staff that have stuck beside him through thick and thin. The DVD shows Conan really as his raw self- a man who eats, sleeps, and breathes humor every day in almost every situation. This DVD ultimately shows the true master of improvisation at his lowest moments trying to turn lemons into lemonade...while apologizing for really bad hair. -- recommended by Jeremiah J. - Bennett Martin Public Library
[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ] | [ official Conan O'Brien Can't Stop web site ]



Have you seen this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

The Three Musketeers (2011)

The Three Musketeers (2011)
[DVD Three]

Logan Lerman and Matthew MacFadyen star in this action/comedy. D'Artagnan, a young and reckless swordsman, teams up with the Three Musketeers to stop the Duke of Buckingham and Milady de Winter from seizing the throne and bringing war to Europe. A great storyline with a lot of comedic and action moments, plus you got to see Darcy with a sword and Orlando as a bad guy, where can you go wrong? [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try the Pirates of the Caribbean saga, the original Three Musketeers novel by Alexandre Dumas, or any of the previous Three Musketeers movies.] -- recommended by Carrie K. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ] | [ official The Three Musketeers (2011) web site ]
 
Have you seen this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

The Last Coyote

The Last Coyote
by Michael Connelly

This title was the book read and discussed by the Just Desserts mystery discussion group in March 2012, and I think I may have added another author to my "must read" list. The Last Coyote was an early volume in Connelly's "Harry Bosch" series, featuring a committed but sometimes obsessive LAPD homicide detective. This particular volume goes a long way towards explaining many of Harry's many personality quirks and what drives him -- he's on leave after having assaulted a superior officer, undergoing psych treatments. Unable to completely cut himself off from police work -- despite orders to do so -- Harry decides to finally open the "cold case" file on his mother's murder from over two decades earlier. What results is an intense dip into Harry's formative years, and the dredging up of old memories, both good and bad. The investigation also sends up red flags for a variety of prominent people, who'd just as soon see the case remain unsolved, even after this much time has passed. Harry is an engaging, laconic character, even when he's breaking the rules for the greater good...and this book merely makes me want to see more of him. This volume works well as a stand-alone title, but you may wish to read the series in order -- check out our Harry Bosch booklist. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try the rest of the Harry Bosch series by Connelly, as well as Connelly's other series.] -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library [join us for future Just Desserts meetings!]

[Also available in book-on-cd and downloadable E-book formats.]

[ official The Last Coyote on the official Michael Connelly web site ] 

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide website. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.
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