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
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Video Staff Picks – Mid-March 2013
by Bond on March 15th, 2013
Judging Books By Their Covers
by Melody on March 6th, 2013
I am a cataloger here at ICPL. As such, I get to see many of the books we have before they ever get put on a shelf. I’ve found myself oooh’ing and ahhh’ing at some of these books—often spending a wee bit too much time fawning over the book before I finish working on its catalog record. This week, here are a few that caught my attention and were hard to put down.
Underwater Dogs
Oh my goodness. Dogs. Underwater. High-resolution. Enough said.
Video Staff Picks – March 2013
by Bond on March 5th, 2013
This video features Susan Craig, Jason Paulios, Nick Twemlow, and Kara Logsden. Items mentioned include:
Cooking off the Clock by Elizabeth Falkner
Baking out Loud by Hedy Goldsmith
R.A.P. Music by Killer Mike
The Green Lake is Awake by Joseph Ceravalo
The Walnut Tree by Charles Todd
Safari:A Photicular Book Created by Dan Kainen and written by Carol Kaufmann
by Maeve on March 5th, 2013
Sometimes a book just reaches out and grabs me. “Safari: a photicular book”, grabbed me and I am having trouble letting it go. I had it with me for days while out at the Reference Desk because I wanted to write about it and couldn’t figure out how to describe it. But now it is ready for another reader and I have to say goodbye. At least while I had it at the desk I was able to share it with others, (whether they really wanted to see it or not).
In the introduction Kainen he shares that his grandfather was an inventor, his father an artist and the curator of graphics at the Smithsonian, and that as a child, he was a magician. He explains that photicular imaging is an old technology, lenticular or integrated photography, done in a new way. His third patent is for the Motion Viewer, his first product in the field of integrated imaging and the Motion Viewer is what makes “Safari” so spectacular. The writer, Carol Kaufmann, tells the story of the safari from its day of big game hunting to the important role it plays today in animal conservation and preservation in Africa.
While it isn’t a large book, it is thick. It contains eight remarkable photicular pages, each of an animal one might encounter while on a safari on the Masai Mari in Kenya. Each time you turn the page you encounter another animal, and the animal moves. The lion is running toward you and you can control the speed. The gorilla is chewing, slowly or very quickly, depending upon you the reader. The cheetah is my favorite with its fluid stride. The image is from the side and it is as if you are running along side it. For each of the animals Kaufmann includes the size, land speed, habitat and distribution the current population, if known, and its lifespan in the wild. Pick it up, you will want to see these animals move.
Here, There, Elsewhere
by Katherine on March 5th, 2013
The author of Blue Highways, Roads to Quoz, and PrairyErth, William Least Heat-Moon, has written his newest book called Here, There, Elsewhere; Stories From the Road. This volume is a series of chapters, each one unique, about his lifetime of travels all over the world and here at home. There is something for everyone in this collection of articles, many never before published. Because my daughter was married in Yosemite National Park I especially loved that chapter and felt like I was right there with the wandering author. I felt the same about all the Missouri connections as well. What is really neat for me is that I knew the author, not by his pen name but as Bill Trogden, in my years at the University of Missouri in Columbia. He was a doctoral student in the English Department and I was an English major and then Library School graduate student. I knew he traveled, kept a journal, loved his beer, and was a thoughtful and introspective kind of guy–but who would have known that he’d become such a well-respected and famous author! I thought he’d end up as an English professor somewhere. He also grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, like me, so I was familiar with many of the places he mentioned in his writing. I can’t remember if it was Prairie Lights Bookstore or the Writers’ Workshop at Iowa that brought Bill to Iowa City a few years ago. He stopped in the Iowa City Public Library and I happened to see him; we enjoyed catching up with each others’ lives. Back to his new book… I don’t drink beer and yet even I enjoyed the chapter on micro-breweries in the United States and all the references made to the pubs in Ireland, England, and Wales. The chapter on his hiking in Oregon was also appealing because my daughter now lives in Corvallis and I’ve visited there as well as Portland and the Oregon coast. My husband and I are taking an Alaskan cruise in August and I enjoyed reading about the Tlingit people in another chapter. Throughout the book, the author who is part Osage Indian, makes many comments about the injustices done to our native people. Bill is brilliant and well-read, with a terrific grasp of history and literature, not to mention his enviable travels all over the globe. His vocabulary is astonishing. The selections contained in this latest work of travel writing are appealing to a readership who like a challenging book and yet can pick and choose the parts they want to read. Of course I read his book from cover to cover and was completely amazed at the fine writing. Check it out if you like intellectual quest books and introspective, articulate travel writing about journeys of the mind, body and soul.
Holy or the Broken: A Book for Earworm* Lovers
by Melody on March 1st, 2013
The first thing you notice when you decide to read The Holy or the Broken is that the song “Hallelujah” might be stuck in your head the entire duration you’re reading it. My initial thought when I began to read the introduction? I am about to read an entire book about one song. How is it going to keep my attention?
Thankfully, Alan Light doesn’t have a problem doing exactly that. The progression of the chapters builds nicely–beginning with waxing poetic about a lyric poet/songwriter, the great Leonard Cohen, smoothly transitioning into describing the short but passionate life of the very attractive Jeff Buckley (how many times did I Google image search him while reading? *tugs at shirt collar*), and ending with a comprehensive run-down of the artists influenced by both Leonard Cohen and this, his most well-known song.
One thing books that keep my attention have in common: excellent transitions. I’ve noticed that the books I read from beginning to end were all written by writers with an extensive background in journalism. Journalists write, publish, and workshop their writing with editors frequently, and have been students of the “transition sentence” from the beginning of their writing career.
Alan Light’s career began as an intern for Rolling Stone, and he rose through the ranks as a fact checker and later as a senior writer. He has also held the position of editor-in-chief at both Vibe and Spin. He’s an ideal candidate for writing an engaging book about one song. The library also has his book about the Beastie Boys and Greg Allman’s autobiography, to which Light contributed. If he can engage a reader for 200+ pages on just one song, I wonder what he can do with one iconic rap group and one Southern rock legend.
Still curious?
Check out reviews for The Holy or the Broken on NPR, New York Times Books, or Goodreads, or check out this interview with Light on Pitchfork’s website.
*Earworm: that song that wriggles its way into your head. See also: catchiness.
R.A.P. Music – Killer Mike
by Jason on February 28th, 2013
This was an album that, for whatever reason, I kept putting off listening to last year. I finally got around to it after seeing how many “Best Of 2012″ lists included Mike and it now tops my “Best of 2012 that I didn’t listen to until 2013″ list.
This is an aggressive album both musically and lyrically. The production is tackled by El-P who is known for his dark, tense beats, mixing synths, grime and classic samples; they are a soundtrack to a dystopian urban future. His soundscapes are detailed and crafted with Mike’s delivery and content in mind. A less skilled rapper would be swallowed by these sounds but Mike’s swagger and righteous anger fit hand and glove with El’s beats.
Lyrically this album is message-heavy with nods to classic hip hop (Eazy-E and Public Enemy are referenced) as well as R&B/Soul/Jazz/Blues legends that infused politics into their art (Nina Simone/Miles Davis). His song “Reagan” details government and political lies (“We invaded sovereign soil going after oil, taking countries is a hobby paid for by the oil lobby”), “Don’t Die” is a story of running from dirty cops (“Cause if I get caught it’s my life they terminate, or stick me in a cell at Guantanamo Bay … I’ll be an outlaw before I ever behave, I’ll die a free man before I live like a slave, and nothing changes if they catch me today, f*#k the police is still all I gotta say.”).
For me, Mike is probably at his best when he’s rapping about the difficulties of growing up poor in a racist society and the impact family and music can have. He ends the album with two inspiring tracks “Willie Burke Sherwood” and the title track: “What I say might save a life, what I speak might save the street, I ain’t got no instruments but I got my hands and feet … And the words that I put in the wind, coming back like a boomerang, when I take this microphone, point it at the crowd they start to sing.”
Be sure to check out Killer Mike live at the Blue Moose on April 6th as part of the Mission Creek Music Festival!
Wonder Woman Vol 1: Blood by Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang
by Brian on February 27th, 2013
Wonder Woman Vol. 1: Blood rocked my world, and I meant to write a review for it. I didn’t, but now Vol. 2: Guts is out. I had never read a Woman Woman comic before Vol. 1. Nothing against the character. It’s just that none of her adventures ever appealed to me. Writer Brian Azzarello and artist Cliff Chiang have reimagined the title as a dark fantasy tale instead of superhero comic, and it works really well.
The story revolves around Wonder Woman protecting a woman who is pregnant with the child of Zeus. Hera, Zeus’ wife, is pissed, and wants the mother and child dead. Meanwhile, Zeus has disappeared, and Apollo is scheming to fill the power vacuum. Princess Diana’s own backstory is explored as well. The supporting cast is fleshed out with smartly designed Greek gods by Chiang.
Out of DC’s New 52 relaunch, only Scott Snyder’s Batman is better. I highly recommend it to comic book fans, but I also think that it could hook non-comic readers too.
New crafty books
by Beth on February 19th, 2013
Little Stitches: 100+ Sweet Embroidery Designs by Aneela Hoey.
This 150 page book is packed full of fun little designs to add to all sorts of things. Starting with a 33 page introduction to embroidery and 11 of the most common stitches and how to use them, Hoey gives you all the information you need to create some really cute embroidery. From small to large, simple to not quite so simple she leads you through not just the embroidery but all the other steps you need to make 12 different projects. From snails and sail boats to people on bikes, there are more than 100 embroidery patterns included.
Modern Quilts from the Blogging Universe
Quilts by eighteen of today’s most popular quilt bloggers are showcased in collection of modern quilts. Each project has a beautiful full color photograph and well written, easy to follow instructions. A personal biography written by each blogger is included, making this is a fun read as well as a great source for ideas – both for quilts and new blogs to follow.
NOTE: Most quilting books start with an introduction to quilting methods, supplies, and techniques, but this section was intentionally left out of this book. The information is available on the publishers website and the link is provided at the end of the book’s introduction.
In the mood to do something crafty but not quite sure what? Well this is the perfect book for you! From DK Publishing, this is over 300 pages of all things crafty, broken down into 6 main sections: textile crafts, papercrafts, jewelry, ceramics & glass, candles & soap, and eco crafts! With more than 50 different crafting techniques, there will definitely be something here to get you crafting.
Each main section begins with a photo colage and one page description of the crafts included, followed by six or more pages of Tools & Materials needed for each. Then you get easy to follow, full color photo instructions for each technique with suggestions on how to turn your finished piece into a project – some simple and some moderately advanced.
The final 20 pages include project templates, information on the 17 authors’ websites or blogs, a list of craft supply web sites, and a very thorough index. From dip-dying fabric, lino printing, working with polymer clay and precious metal clay, to creating mosaics, the inspiration goes on and on! This is definitely a book I want to add to my collection!
The Imposter
by Brian on February 10th, 2013
I love true crime. “The Imposter,” a documentary by Bart Layton, is a true crime story that’s hard to believe. It’s about the disappearance of Nicholas Barclay, a 13-year-old boy from San Antonio, in 1994. He’s found alive in Spain three and a half years later. His sister jumps on a plane to bring him home, but is this boy really Nicholas?
We, the audience, know that it’s not Nicholas. The man impersonating him looks vaguely like Nicholas, but how are the boy’s family members being fooled? There’s a palpable tension as to why the family doesn’t notice that there’s now a stranger living in their home. Soon a private investigator takes interest and this hard to swallow story takes a chilling turn… I recommend “The Imposter” to anyone who enjoys true crime or a good documentary.