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Mystery! Science fiction!

by Candice on May 11th, 2013

I wanted to do a quick update on what I’ve been reading…I realized that the most recent titles I posted about were nonfiction, and I didn’t want anyone to get the wrong idea about me suddenly having switched to the dark side. No, I’m still firmly rooted in the world of fiction, happily delving into some good ol’ fashioned pleasure reading (dedicated readers of nonfiction, please take no offense…I have nothing against it, I’m just generally more of a murder and mystery type of gal. This says more about me than it does about nonfiction.).

I’m just a few chapters into Stuart MacBride’s Birthdays for the Dead, a gritty little tale of a serial killer who has abducted 12 young girls who are 12 years old. With each girl, he waits one year after the abduction, then starts sending the parents photographs that document the torture and eventual death of their child–one photo each year. Investigators are just beginning to find the bodies of some of the victims of the ‘Birthday Killer’ when a 13th girl goes missing. Even more harrowing is that one of the investigators, Det. Constable Ash Harrison, has a daughter who went missing years ago; he has already received five pictures from the Birthday Killer, but Harrison continues to tell people that she ran away so that he can stay on the case. Each time a body is found, his tension is palpable as he prays–begs–for it not to be his daughter. There’s a small amount of relief provided by the new forensic psychologist Harrison has been partnered with; Alice McDonald is young and has keen insight, but is also a bit neurotic and has some odd issues to deal with. Overall, though, this is a proper Scottish thriller, violent and a bit grimy, with some dark humor thrown in.

As for the science fiction, I’m not reading but watching…I’m a bit of a latecomer, but I’ve just gotten into the Dr. Who series that began in 2005. I know!! I’ve had many people tell me to watch it, and so now I am, and it’s far better than what I imagined. Having grown up in the 70s and 80s, watching a few episodes from the original series, I was totally hesitant to watch it again. Then I saw Torchwood (SO good!) and made the commitment. I’m only a couple episodes in, and am very happy I have more than 80 to go.

Published in Fiction, Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy
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2013 Pulitzer Prize Winners

by Melody on April 30th, 2013

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 »

Tags: Pulitzer Prize
Published in Biography & Memoir, Fiction, History, Politics and Current Events, Poetry
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Staff Picks April 12, 2013

by Bond on April 13th, 2013

Anne talks about Sebastian Junger’s book, War; Patty shows off a novel about high end art thieves and forgeries and a book about making cities walkable as they grow.

Published in Business, Law & Politics, Fiction, Nonfiction
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Mission Creek Festival: The Lit List

by Melody on April 1st, 2013

Since 2006, the Mission Creek Festival (April 2-7) has been bringing together national and local artists for several exciting spring days of music, performance art, and literature. This year, ICPL is joining the festival programming with its teen concert on April 5, featuring Other Band, Conetrauma, and Bass/Drum.

But beyond this new collaboration, I am personally excited to see Mission Creek’s literary fare continue to grow. How can a book-lover not be excited by this literary lineup? A lit crawl, a small-press book fair, and a “broadway-quality” poetry concert? This is hot stuff.

If you are the type to “try before you buy,” consider checking out some of the writers visiting Iowa City for this year’s literary events. We don’t have everything, but the Iowa City Public Library does have works by the following exciting authors and poets:

Nonfiction

Poetry

Fiction

Don’t see the book here you’re most interested in checking out? Let us know through a Purchase Suggestion.

Tags: Mission Creek Festival
Published in Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Young Adult
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Video Staff Picks March 29, 2013

by Bond on March 29th, 2013

Published in Fiction, Historical Fiction, Young Adult
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Video Staff Picks – Mid-March 2013

by Bond on March 15th, 2013

Check out these great recommendations!

Items mentioned include
Rififi
a film by Jules Dassin

Mr. Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore
by Robin Sloan

Safari: A Photicular Book
by Dan Kainen and Carol Kaufmann

Published in Fiction, Movies & Documentaries, Nonfiction, Outdoors & Nature
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Blood Gospel by James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell

by Candice on February 8th, 2013

I’m not your most high-minded of readers, but I do occasionally make the effort to take in something that offers just a little bit more; a book that elucidates some part of history I know little about, a book that helps me learn and improve something about myself, a book that provides reflection on the beauty of this world.

This is not that book. I’m totally okay with that. I’d read a review of it a while back that included the words far-fetched, religious, Vatican and pet cemetery, and it likened St. Peter to an action hero; I put a hold on that book before you could say sounds kinda like Dan Brown. There are times where I am really in the mood for something akin to his works, a book that has some basis in a wildly interesting past, and then just loads on the speculation and conspiracy and silly, too simplistic dialogue spoken by characters who, let’s admit it, totally under-react to the insane situations they find themselves in. This book does not disappoint!

In fact, it excels to some degree by really layering on the improbable elements. It’s not enough that an archaeologist (super pretty and hyper-intelligent, of course) is on the verge of finding something huge and heretofore undiscovered about King Herod; in the real world, that would be news enough. No, there also has to be an earthquake at Masada that destroys the ancient fortress and requires her attention, and there has to be a US military attache (super handsome and good-at-heart, of course) sent their to make sure the area is secure and the bodies removed, and they meet up. And there has to be a mysterious Roman Catholic priest. And a boy with cancer who might be healed by the noxious fumes escaping the ruins (they killed everyone else, of course). And a gospel written in blood by Jesus. Then it throws in some vampires, both good and bad. The lucky ones survive by drinking consecrated wine, which as those of you in-the-know of the wily ways of the Church will recall, means that it’s been turned into the blood of Christ though a miraculous process called ‘transubstantiation.’ This is a topic that monks and priests have pondered for centuries, religions have cleaved over it, lives have been lost by those who refused to believe in it…and what I love about this book is that it takes just about three paragraphs to introduce the concept, have people say ‘no way!’ and then say ‘well, I never would have guessed.’

And it’s great. If you’re in the mood for a wild story and a little bit of contentious history, this might be the book for you.

Published in Fiction, Mystery & Suspense
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Recommended Books List

by Kara on February 5th, 2013

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) Kurt Vonnegut: Letters	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 My Mother Was Nuts	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 Paris in Love	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 The Year We Left Home 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 The Chaperone	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 Beautiful Ruins	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 The Beginner’s Goodbye	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 The House I Loved	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 The Invisible Bridge	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 Paris Wife	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 Clara and Mr. Tiffany	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. Force of Nature	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 Elegy for Eddie	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 Speaking from Among the Bones	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 Quiet	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 Unbroken	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

Published in Audiobooks, Award Winners, Biography & Memoir, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery & Suspense, Nonfiction
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Romance Unashamed

by Anessa on January 23rd, 2013

It’s easy to dismiss the genre of romance as one filled with shoddy writing and salacious goings-on. The truth of the matter is that there is more to the story. As with any genre, there is a great deal of variation. There are many different flavors of romance. Some are spicy and exciting, others are thrilling and suspenseful, still others are sweet and charming. And yes, some are more well written than others, but isn’t that true of every genre? The settings vary from medieval castles to alien space ships to modern-day New York. One of the things that make romance unique is that it, more than any other genre, borrows from and combines elements from other genres. A romance may have all the elements of a good mystery, or a fantasy novel, or a political thriller, and still have that little pink sticker on the spine. So no matter what your taste in literature, chances are that there is a romance out there, somewhere, that appeals to you.

So now it’s time for me to make a confession: I actually do like romances. It took me a long time to admit it, and even longer to stop feeling like I had to apologize for it. The renowned library educator, Dr. Betty Rosenberg, had a motto, “Never apologize for your reading tastes.” But all too many of us do anyway, whether we like romances, or science fiction tales of aliens and robots, or even People magazine. It’s far too easy to feel ashamed of something that brings us pleasure, if it isn’t ‘cultured’ or ‘sophisticated’ or ‘educational’ or ‘great literature’ or even ‘bestselling.’ The truth of the matter is that personal taste is a highly varied thing, and something that brings joy and satisfaction is always worthwhile. So here are a few romance authors I would recommend, a sampling of the genre. I invite you to set aside any scruples about the sticker on the spine, explore a little, relax, and have fun.

Lisa Kleypas has written a number of books that are set in nineteenth century England, though she has recently begun a new series that is set in the modern day, in a small town not far from Seattle. Her books are whimsical and charming, with realistic characters and elegant prose. Many of her characters are overcoming various emotional problems, and find comfort and solace with each other. Her heroines in particular are strong and vivid, without feeling anachronistic for their time period. There is tension, even heartbreak, followed by satisfyingly happy endings. Kleypas’s books generally include one or two fairly explicit sex scenes, but are not erotic marathons. Nor is there a sense that all the couple’s problems can be worked out in bed. Particularly fine examples of Kleypas’s work include Love in the Afternoon and Someone to Watch Over Me.

Julia Quinn is another author who writes about nineteenth century England. Her books are effervescent comedies, bubbling over with wry good humor and ridiculous situations. Her books generally contain less emotional tension than Kleypas’s, and are rollicking good fun. Particularly entertaining are Ten things I Love about You and An Offer from a Gentleman. Again, these books contain one or two explicit scenes, but are not erotica.

Angela Knight has two series, set in two completely different universes. One is science fiction, involving time travel and genetic engineering. The other is urban fantasy, set in our own time, involving vampires, werewolves, and the Knights of the Round Table. Her stories are fast paced and exciting, often with an element of mystery heavily flavored with magic or fantastic technology. Her books contain more sex than the other two authors I’ve mentioned, and are more graphic. I particularly enjoyed Master of Swords.

For those who enjoy suspense, Pamela Clare has a series of books that involve men, usually with military backgrounds, helping women in life threatening situations. Despite the ‘damsel in distress’ set up, her heroines are fully developed and interesting people. The plots are complex and thrilling, with elements of mystery and horror. Her novel Breaking Point involves a U.S. Marshall who was captured by narcotics traffickers in Mexico and must escape with the help of a beautiful, kidnapped journalist. The tale is tense and sexy, with some fascinating twists and turns that will leave the reader on the edge of their seat.

These are just a few of the many romance authors out there. There is an almost infinite variety, with something to suit every taste. Genreflecting by Dr. Rosenberg, has a chapter dedicated to romance, with reading suggestions that cover much of the romance spectrum. So whether you are an experienced romance reader or someone just trying out the genre, it’s time to stop apologizing and enjoy!

Tags: Romance
Published in Audiobooks, Fiction, Romance
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ICPL Best of 2012-Fiction

by Kara on December 23rd, 2012

Drum roll please. Which Fiction books do Library staff recommend?

Spy stories, thrillers, historical fiction, families, suspense, drama, and even a mystery that somehow escaped from that list. Hippies, baseball, horse racing, mercenaries, journeys, friendship, and J.K. Rowling sans Harry Potter.

These books also represent many formats including regular print, large print, spoken word, eBook and eAudio. A great book in the format of your choice. There is something for everyone here.

A Hundred Flowers	Gail Tsukiyama
Afterwards	Rosamund Lupton
Alys, Always	Harriet Lane
Arcadia	Lauren Groff
Art of Fielding	Chad Harbach
Bloodland	Alan Glynn
Casual Vacancy	J K Rowling
Confession	Charles Todd
Derby Day	D J Taylor
Double Game	Dan Fesperman
Expats	Chris Pavone
Flight of Gemma Hardy	Margot Livesey
Heading out to Wonderful	Robert Goolrick
HHhH	Laurent Binet
Home	Toni Morrison
House I Loved	Tatiana De Rosnay
Mirage	Matt Ruff
One Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared	Jonas Jonasson
Red Book	Deborah Copaken Kogan
Round House	Louise Erdrich
St. Zita Society	Ruth Rendell
Telegraph Avenue	Michael Chabon
Tell the Wolves I’m Home	Carol Rifka Brunt
Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry	Rachel Joyce
Up Jumps the Devil	Michael Poore

Published in Audiobooks, Fiction, Historical Fiction
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