Staff Picks Blog
On April 15, 2013, Columbia University announced the 97th Annual Pulitzer Prizes in journalism, letters, drama, and music. Curious about this year’s Pulitzer Prize winners? Take a look at the following books:
Fiction–The Orphan Master’s Son by Adam Johnson. From the media release: “an exquisitely crafted novel that carries the reader on an adventuresome journey into the depths of totalitarian North Korea and into the most intimate spaces of the human heart.” Read the rest of this entry »
One could argue, in a very wide sense, that all books matter. Or rather, the idea of books and what they are, what they mean, makes them all matter. You know? In a real sense, though, not all of them matter as much as others, both objectively and subjectively. I won’t go into details about that, though (no need to thank me, fans of Nicholas Sparks).
Frye Gaillard has written a lovely book titled The Books That Mattered: A Reader’s Memoir. He speaks of books that have had a profound effect on him and his life, for reasons too numerous and important to go into here; his explanations are wonderful little stories in themselves, and convey the meanings and relations of these books to him in a way I cannot. Sometimes the book itself, and the story it contains, is the essence; other times, it’s a moment or part of his life that has some connection to a book that makes it indelible in his memory. Each chapter tells you something about Mr. Gaillard, something about the books he’s read, and something about the importance of books in general, and in the lives of the people who read them.
One wonderful thing about a book like this is it prompts me to recall the books in my own reading history that have mattered most; I imagine that many of us would do the same. I could never be as eloquent in my explanation of why those books matter, but here are a few titles that come immediately to my mind:
The Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson, because it was the first book I can recall reading that had a main character who dies, and I distinctly remember crying when I got to that part…I was shocked and saddened, and surprised (disappointed? hurt?) to read a book that seemed very, very real.
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, because it was so cool, so unlike my own life, and it was even better than the movie that I loved so much. I wrote several book reports on this book, re-reading it every year, and I’d be a little mortified to go back and read them. Also–this book encouraged me to read Robert Frost, and I’d like to think that Ms. Hinton is responsible for others doing the same thing.
Atonement by Ian McEwan…I think I’ve mentioned this before, but my husband and I have had more than one major argument over this book, and it is simply–in my opinion–one of the best reminders of the power of the written word.
So, dear reader(s), please chime in with some of the books that have mattered most to you…
I love to talk about books! Recently I had the honor of speaking to the ICCSD Retired Teachers Association. Not only is this one of my favorite groups to visit, but I also have an opportunity to see some of the teachers who made a big difference in my life (thank you!). After my presentation I received a number of requests for the book list I shared. I thought others may enjoy the list as well so I’m posting it here. I hope you enjoy these books as much as I did!
Recommended Books for Iowa City Community School District Retired Teachers Association, January 2013
| Wakefield, Dan (Editor)
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Letters shows a very human side of a person who mentored others, was proud of his heritage, was frustrated when he was misunderstood, pushed back against censors, and profoundly loved his family. Vonnegut’s last word of advice he was writing for an audience, “And how should we behave during this Apocalypse? We should be unusually kind to one another, certainly. But we should also stop being so serious. Jokes help a lot. And get a dog, if you don’t already have one …” (Page 413). Biography |
| Marshall, Penny | Marshall’s biography reads like a Who’s Who of 70′s, 80′s and 90′s pop culture. Each chapter represents a different phase in Marshall’s life, and she often relates the story to a life lesson she learned from her mother. Marshall is pragmatic and unrepentant. She worked hard and played harder. In the midst of her life choices, and despite her many successes she distills life down to four simple lessons: “try hard, help your friends, don’t get too crazy, and have fun.” Biography |
| James, Eloisa | Eloisa James, also known as Mary Bly, is an Associate Professor of English Literature at Fordham University. She is from Minnesota but has degrees from Harvard, Yale and Oxford. She is probably best known for the Regency Romances she writes. After a successful fight with breast cancer, she and her Italian husband, on a whim, decide to go to Paris on sabbatical for a year with their 11 and 15-year-old children. Biography |
| Thompson, Jean
2013 All Iowa Reads selection |
My favorite All Iowa Reads book so far. Many events described in the book are memories from my childhood and memories long-time Iowans will share. Lyrical writing conjures experiences of cold Iowa winter days and the joy of an Iowa spring or fall. The book follows four siblings in one family and their life events. Although they go different places and have different experiences, their roots are deep in the Iowa soil and family ties. Fiction |
| Moriarty, Laura | Laura Moriarty’s newest novel is a hybrid story about the life of silent-film star Louise Brooks and fictionalized character Cora Carlisle. The story begins in 1922 when 36-year-old Cora Carlisle agrees to chaperone 15-year-old Louise Brooks for a summer in New York City dancing with the Denishawn School of Dance. Readers learn Cora’s life, just like Louise Brooks’, is not what it appears and the story revolves around Cora’s path of self-discovery and quest for happiness. Fiction |
| Walter, Jess | Jess Walters weaves a wonderful story that easily switches between 1962 and the present day. The characters are real and readers will understand the friction between dreams and reality that each character faces. I thought the writing was beautiful and I especially appreciated the strong sense of place Walters creates in Italy. The Cinque Terre is on my short list of places where I want to visit, so I appreciated the opportunity to vicariously travel to Italy in the pages of this book. Fiction |
| Tyler, Anne | Pulitzer Prize winning author, Anne Tyler, is well-known for novels with subtle plots that explore complex issues. These issues often include personal discovery, relationships, life changes, and characters who are seeking meaning in their lives. The Beginner’s Goodbye is definitely subtle and I had to be patient and let Tyler tell me the story when she was ready. It was delightful to slow down and pay attention to the words and story as it unfolded. Fiction |
| Rosnay, Tatiana de | A fictionalized story of Rose Bazelet and her opposition to the destruction of her family home during Haussman’s renovation of Paris, 1853-1870. Haussman’s radical plan was criticized for the large-scale destruction it caused; however, in recent times he has been credited with establishing Paris as a modern city. de Rosnay is best known for debut novel, Sarah’s Key. Like Sarah’s Key, this book features solid characters, a strong sense of place, and a time of significant historical events. Fiction |
| Orringer, Julie | Sometimes books come along and leave a lasting impression, forcing the reader to ruminate about events and characters long after the book is done. This is one of those books. Andras and Tibor Levy are Jewish brothers who grew up in a small village in Hungary. It is the 1930′s and both aspire to do great things. The book focuses on Andras, his adventures and studies in Paris, and the relationship he establishes with the mysterious Klara Morgenstern, a Hungarian ballet instructor. Fiction |
| McLain, Paula | The fictional story of Ernest Hemingway and his first wife, Hadley Richardson. After a whirlwind courtship the couple marries and moves to Paris so Ernest can pursue his writing career. The Hemingways are drawn into Parisian life and meet many other writers and artists. There is a constant friction, though, between Ernest the writer and Ernest the husband. Highly recommended. Fiction |
| Vreeland, Susan | Because of this book, I went to New York City to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and other places to see Tiffany Glass. Fictionalized story of Clara Driscoll who worked with Louis Comfort Tiffany at his New York studio and possibly the person who conceived the idea for the iconic Tiffany stained glass lamps. Set with the turn-of-the-century New York City backdrop with issues such as the rise of labor unions, women in the workplace, and advances in technology. Fiction |
| Box, C.J. | Game Warden Joe Pickett’s friend, Nate Romanowski, knows a secret about a governmental official. That official plans to kill Nate to keep him quiet, and is targeting the entire Pickett family to get to Nate. Will Nate’s actions justify the outcome? Can Nate survive and save his friends? All C.J. Box books recommended including Pickett series and stand-alones. Mystery |
| Winspear, Jacqueline | It’s April 1933 in London and the Private Investigator, Maisie Dobbs, is grappling with how she fits into the world. Maisie comes from the working-class neighborhood in Lambeth where her father was a costermonger before going to work at a country estate. Maisie inherited a considerable estate from her mentor and feels an obligation to use her new-found wealth to help others but struggles to balance the moral obligation she feels with the wishes of those she wants to help. Mystery |
| Bradley, Alan | The fifth book in the Flavia de Luce Series. Step aside Nancy Drew and Harriet the Spy, eleven year old Flavia de Luce is on the case! It’s 1950 and Flavia is living in an old English estate with her family. Flavia is a budding chemist as well as a precocious pre-teen. The books are well written, the characters are well developed, and the mysteries are solid. Mystery |
| Cain, Susan | More than 33% of people are introverts. Through research in psychology and neuroscience, and personal interviews, Cain demonstrates the difference between introverts and extroverts and our country’s perception of the “Extroverted Ideal.” The author also focuses on the power of introversion and ways introverts have successfully coped with living in an extroverted world, providing suggestions for how introverts can harness this power while remaining true to themselves. Nonfiction |
| Hillenbrand, Laura | Olympic runner Louis Zamperini enlisted in the US Army Air Forces in 1941. When the plane he was assigned to crashes into the South Pacific, Louis survives the crash and 47 days at sea in a plastic life raft. He was then captured by the Japanese and sent to a labor camp. I respectfully refer to this books as the, “I will never complain about anything ever again book.” An older title but highly recommended! Nonfiction |
I dream of moving to Paris. Walks along the Seine, long lunches at outdoor cafes, and immersion into French culture would be an amazing experience for a Midwestern girl. Mary Bly, who hails from Minnesota and is only a couple years older than me, survived breast cancer and decided to do something remarkable. After a lot of discussion, she and her husband move to Paris for a year with their two children, ages 11 and 15. Mary Bly, better known as romance writer Eloisa James, is a Shakespeare professor and has degrees from Harvard, Oxford, and Yale.
Paris in Love is written as a series of social media posts documenting Mary Bly’s experiences in Paris. From the early days of transitioning into Parisian life to the final days of savoring a few final meals with friends, Bly captures everyday life and the transformation her family experiences during their year abroad. Some posts are laugh-out-loud funny while others capture the coming-of-age experiences of her children and memories of family and friends. I listened to the book on disc, narrated by the author. The narration was wonderful and added to my enjoyment of the book.
Although it is not likely I will move to Paris, I thoroughly enjoyed moving there vicariously with Bly and her family. I was very sorry when the book ended and miss my daily commuter dose of Paris. I haven’t read an Eloisa James novel, but now I am curious about those stories as well. ~~Enjoy~~
Kick back, relax, maybe move a bit closer the the fireplace. What could be better during an Iowa snowstorm but some great biographies recommended by Iowa City Public Library staff? You’ll be so engrossed in these books you’ll forget about the snow!
2012 was a great book year. Yesterday we released our “Best of 2012-Nonfiction” list. Keep an eye out for upcoming recommendations for Fiction, Mystery and Books for Children.
| A Good Man: Rediscovering My Father Sargent Shriver | Mark Shriver | |
| After Camelot: A Personal History of the Kennedy Family 1968-To the Present | J. Randy Taraborrelli | |
| Cronkite | Douglas Brinkley | |
| Kurt Vonnegut: Letters | Dan Wakefield, Editor | |
| Let’s Pretend This Never Happened (A Mostly True Memoir) | Jenny Lawson | |
| Letter: My Journey Through Life, Love, and Loss |
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| Mercury: An Intimate Biography of Freddie Mercury | Lesley-Ann Jones | |
| Passage of Power: The Times of Lyndon Johnson | Robert Caro | |
| Patriarch: The Remarkable Life and Turbulent Times of Joseph P. Kennedy | David Nasaw | |
| Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail | Cheryl Strayed | |
Library staff love to read and share their favorite books. As 2012 comes to a close, we thought others would enjoy knowing our favorites for the year. We had a lot of fun putting together this list of ICPL Favorite Books of 2012. Watch the Staff Picks Blog this week for lists of books within individual genres. Today’s list is our “Best of the Best” list. These books received nominations from more than one staff person.
We hope you enjoy these lists and would love to hear which books were your favorites in 2012.
The #1 ICPL Staff recommendation for 2012 is John Green’s Young Adult book, “The Fault in our Stars“
There was a tie for the #2 book between Gillian Flynn’s Fiction book, “Gone Girl” and Katherine Boo’s Nonfiction book “Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity”
Honorable Mention Titles: (in alphabetic order by title)
| Fiction | Beautiful Ruins | Jess Walter |
| Fiction | Bring Up the Bodies | Hilary Mantel |
| Fiction | Dog Stars | Peter Heller |
| Nonfiction | Mortality | Christopher Hitchens |
| jEasy | Olivia and the Fairy Princesses | Ian Falconer |
| Nonfiction | Paris: A Love Story | Kati Morton |
| Nonfiction | Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking | Susan Cain |
| Science Fiction | Redshirts | John Scalzi |
| jEasy | Sleep Like a Tiger | Mary Logue |
| Fiction | Train Dreams | Denis Johnson |
| Fiction | The Year We Left Home (2013 All Iowa Reads Book Selection) | Jean Thompson |
What does Kurt Vonnegut have to say about Iowa City? “Run with the painters, I did. The best guy in Iowa City is painter Byron Burford. There isn’t anybody to watch out for. Nobody pays any attention to anybody else, so there isn’t any jealousy or competition or any of that crap … Go to all the football games. They are great. Iowa should be a .500 club this year.” (Page 132 – August 10, 1967 letter from Kurt Vonnegut to Dick Gehman about teaching at the University of Iowa Writer’s Workshop.)
I thoroughly enjoyed the recent publication of Kurt Vonnegut’s letters edited by Dan Wakefield, Vonnegut’s longtime friend. The letters begin in 1945 and run through 2007. The letters are divided by decade and Wakefield provides an introduction to each chapter that gives background information about Vonnegut’s life at that time.
My favorite letters are about Vonnegut’s time teaching at the University of Iowa Writer’s Workshop. He describes the small-town, innocent Iowa City I remember from my childhood and is eager for his family to join him here. “As I’ve already said at a minimum the town is a Utopia. I can walk to everything, and everything’s cheerful and clean.” (Page 105 – September 24, 1965 letter to his wife, Jane Vonnegut, about life in Iowa City.)
I also enjoyed the letters Vonnegut wrote to his family. They demonstrate a profound love and affection for family as well as his hopes for happiness and meaning in the lives of his children. “Jane and I read your letters to each other over the telephone. We celebrate you. We find nothing to complain of. You are doing what my father and grandfather did when they were your age, what used to be a conventional thing for middle class people aspiring to lives of cultivation do: You are making le grand tour.” (Page 260 – October 21, 1978 letter to his daughter, Nanny Vonnegut.) And twenty years later, “Darling Daughter Nanny– In my sunset years I missed the precise moment of your forty-fifth birthday. These things happen. An you have been most forgiving and modest about this lapse. But scarcely a waking hour passes, any day, any month, in which I am not serene about how beautiful my daughter Nanny is in every way.” (Page 386 – October 8, 1999 letter to his daughter, Nanny Vonnegut.)
I wasn’t sure what I was expecting from this book, but I came away from it with a rekindled respect for one of my favorite authors and an admiration for the life he lived. The letters show a very human side of a person who mentored others, was proud of his heritage, was frustrated when he was misunderstood, pushed back against censors, and profoundly loved his family. Vonnegut’s last word of advice he was writing for an audience, “And how should we behave during this Apocalypse? We should be unusually kind to one another, certainly. But we should also stop being so serious. Jokes help a lot. And get a dog, if you don’t already have one …” (Page 413)
There’s a lot more to Penny Marshall than Laverne and Shirley! I don’t typically read Biographies but picked up this book, read the intro, and couldn’t put it down. In the introduction, Penny Marshall tells the story about when her apartment was broken into by two bandits dressed as Ninjas. Marshall was in her PJs and wearing a face mask. The story she relayed was funny, and even funnier when she washes off the face mask and one of the would-be thieves recognizes her as Laverne De Fazio.
Marshall’s biography reads like a Who’s Who of 70′s, 80′s and 90′s pop culture. Each chapter represents a different phase in Marshall’s life, and she often relates the story to a life lesson she learned from her mother. Marshall is pragmatic and unrepentant. Yes she got pregnant at 19, did drugs, was married and divorced a couple times, and rode across Europe on the back of a motorcycle with Art Garfunkel. She worked hard and played harder. In the midst of her life choices, and despite her many successes (first female director to gross over $100M for the movie, Big), she distills life down to four simple lessons: “try hard, help your friends, don’t get too crazy, and have fun.”
Penny Marshall’s book was well-written and funny. It made me want to watch the movies Big, Awakenings, and A League of their Own and maybe catch a couple episodes of Laverne and Shirley. Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer Incorporated …
Do you have summer travel plans? No? Then let reading be your escape. Travel writing is a wonderful way to take a trip vicariously, especially a trip to a destination that you wouldn’t necessarily choose or to ones that no longer exist. My picks are a mixture of new and classic travel stories.
Start with “Wild: from lost to found on the Pacific Crest Trail” by Cheryl Strayed. This new bestseller takes readers on Strayed’s 1,100-mile trek on the Pacific Coast Trail (PCT). It is a trip Strayed is ill-prepared to take. She is almost always alone. Her shoes are too small. Her pack is too big – so big in fact that she names it Monster. As she hikes she sheds items from her overstuffed backpack and the grief and pain she has carried for years. While “Wild” is the story of Strayed hiking the PCT, it is so much more; it is the journey of Strayed’s redemption.
A much older but classic travel title is John Steinbeck’s “Travels with Charley: in search of America.” Originally published in 1962, “Travels with Charley” recounts Steinbeck’s 10,000-mile journey with his standard Poodle, Charley. They cross the United States in Rocinante, (the name of Don Quixote’s horse), his three-quarter-ton truck, outfitted with a cabin. Steinbeck’s goal was to reconnect with America. “Travels” was well received by the public, but not so by all the critics. Put me firmly in the public camp. I like Charley and I enjoyed Steinbeck’s reflections.
Pick up any travel book by Des Moines native Bill Bryson and you will not be disappointed. A favorite is “A Walk in the Woods: rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail.” It is a humorous account of one man’s attempt to walk the Appalachian Trail (AT). After returning to America following a long sojourn in England, Bryson decided to “rediscover” his home country by walking the 2,100-mile trail. He is joined by a childhood friend and the two of them set out on their trek. They too are ill-prepared and have packed far more than needed. But unlike the PCT the AT offers more stops and more opportunities for interactions with other hikers and the local folk. Bryson will provide a summer’s worth of enjoyment and exploration.
“Best American Travel Writing” is an annual publication and takes readers across the globe with some of the best writing from magazines and blogs. The short pieces can be serious or humorous and are often eye-opening. If one of the stories strikes your fancy the library may have a book or two by the author. Other travel anthologies include “The Best Women’s Travel Writing: true stories from around the world” or “Best of Lonely Planet Travel Writing.”
Your journey to another location need not involve a plane or train or passport, just a trip to your library. Come explore the shelves and transport yourself.
The Iowa City Public Library is happy to welcome its first Guest Blogger, Lisa Edwards.
Growing up, I almost always had a book with me and made time to read often. I loved getting lost in fiction stories, and never thought I would be one for non-fiction books. I thought biographies would be stuffy and boring, and why would I research anything outside of school? As I got older, I got busier (or lazier), and had a hard time even finishing readings for class, so my library card became lonely.
Now that I’ve gone through the motions and graduated college, I find myself craving books and regret skimping on homework in school. Motivated by interests and desire for knowledge, I’ve wandered into the non-fiction section more in the past year than I have in most of my five years of college. From autobiographies to athletic training, I’ve hit a range of topics lately, and I’m going to touch on three of my recent favorites.
10-Minute Toughness: The Mental Exercise Program for Winning Before the Game Begins by Jason Selk – I’ve always been naturally athletic, and very competitive, so I never thought it would be my head that would trip up my feet. A year after living in Iowa City, I joined the Old Capitol City Roller Girls and am now in my fourth year with them. As a chaotic, hard-hitting sport, I knew that I would physically get frustrated, but was utterly paralyzed during a couple of bouts when I mentally gave up. Knowing there was a deeper problem, I set off to the Library in search of sports psychology books. I came across Selk’s book and absolutely loved it. He is not only a performance coach for many professional and Olympic athletes, but provides mental training for the business world as well.
He lays out a very thorough, yet simple plan to help get your mental game into tip-top shape. With a clearer mind and goals to focus on, he helps you get mentally aligned before you ever step on the track/court/field. Even if you don’t follow his exact steps, his stories and words are inspiring and help you train in a different light. Everything he teaches can be applied to life outside of athletics as well.
Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex by Mary Roach – This book I picked up and put down multiple times over the last year. It wasn’t that I didn’t like it, I just had limited time and it was one of those reads that you could just pick up randomly. I was dying to finish it though, and that’s why I started it with a book in hand and finished it through an audiobook (Both available in the Library). Roach managed to write almost purely scientific, yet with a touch of humor, and kept it very interesting. I suppose it didn’t hurt that her topic was sex.
Sex is obviously a controversial subject and taboo to talk about depending on what decade or culture you live in. You probably never stop to think how so much knowledge about our sexual bodies has come to be, or how those experiments played out. Roach delves into that research and reveals how hard it was (and is) for researchers to be taken seriously about the one topic that drives human life. She traveled all over the world to various libraries, research labs, and pig farms (yes, pigs) to cure her every curiosity. She goes so far as to throw her and her husband into an MRI machine for an experiment. Pick it up for the laughs, and walk away with a little bit more knowledge about your body.
Nerd do well: A small boy’s journey to becoming a big kid by Simon Pegg. I got over my fear of biographies, thinking that they all would read like a history book, by reading a string of books by comedians. Pegg’s autobiography translated his life story in a unique way, by adding a touch of comicly-exaggerated prose, depicting him as a dashing superhero with a robot butler. The chapters would go back and forth between his real life and this imagined one.
I found myself connecting the dots with his background on becoming a comedian, creating Shaun of the Dead, and many other cinematic endeavors. I also found myself dying to know what would happen next in his fiction chapters. After reading this, I feel more inspired to go after what I really want in life. It’s hopeful to hear stories about how people get from one place in their life to another, and reminds me to be patient and keep working hard.
Lisa Edwards is a member of the Old Capitol City Roller Girls. She works as a production assistant and a barista. Edwards is known as Left 4 Deadwards on the flat track, and writes her own blog about roller derby: deadwards.blogspot.com.