All Our Wrong Todays

Thu, 02/09/2017 - 10:42am by Lucy S

Screenwriter Elan Mastai’s debut novel is a delightful, insightful and wild ride that takes us on a winding path through time, space, and alternate realities, impelled by strong, witty dialogue and a looming sense of “what-if.”

All Our Wrong Todays is difficult to describe. It challenges your mind with a plot that twists through the space-time continuum with rapidity, but I highly recommend that you pick-up this witty, worthwhile book and take this incredible, zigzag of a journey with Mastai’s affable narrator, Tom Barren, as he loops back and forth through time, space and consciousness. Mastai has created in Tom a wonderfully readable narrative voice who keeps his story funny and artful even when describing frightening situations that reveal the darker forces that might be at play inside all of us. When we are introduced to Tom, he is living in a futuristic-like 2016 that could have been imagined in the 1950s and featured in The Jetsons; hover cars, clothes that are a second skin and regenerate every day, perfectly designed, person-specific meals. Everyone in this “future” has everything they could want or need. In a world where “oil was irrelevant, basic resources were plentiful, and everyone had access to all manner of technological enhancements...scientific discovery was the dominant social motivator.” And the scientific discoveries in this book are decidedly big and life-altering, sometimes literally. Tom’s father is hard at work developing the first time-travel machine, and Tom is employed as one of his back-up “chrononauts.” Tom’s failure in his father’s lab sets off a mad-capped series of events that have us boomeranging through various time periods, past and future, and altered versions of Tom himself, and of his friends and family.

All Our Wrong Todays is positively mind-bending in its whorls through these dimensions, as Tom introduces who he might have been, or still could be, in a parallel universe. Tom asks “What happens if the hard skin of reality punctures? What comes out?” His alter egos, John and Victor, show what might happen by demonstrating the success and failure, and the good and bad, that live inside each of us. Ultimately All Our Wrong Todays is about how we choose to live in the present we are given, and the way we reconcile all the dreams and voices we carry with us.

For fans of The Martian and Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore

Fabulous Fiction Firsts #628, Pt.1 "If you are here today... you are a survivor. But those of us who have made it through hell and are still standing? We bear a different name: warriors.” ~ Lori Goodwin.

Wed, 02/08/2017 - 10:12pm by muffy

Two extraordinary debut novels set during WWII come out on Valentine's Day, and both speak to the capacity of the human spirit to endure in the face of the 20th century’s darkest moment.

We Were the Lucky Ones is based on the true story of the Kurc family of Radom, Poland. In 1939, prosperous and educated, Jewish merchants Sol and Nechuma were trying their best to live normal lives with their family as war was looming, observing religious holidays and doting on their new grandchild. When Germany invaded Poland, Sol and Nechuma decided to stay with daughters Halina and Mila, while their sons Genek and Jakob joined the Polish army.

Middle son Addy, an engineer and budding composer was stuck in France and was eventually conscripted. Over the course of the war, the three generations of Kurcs were flung to distant points on the globe, from the jazz clubs of Paris to the beaches of Rio de Janeiro to Kraków’s most brutal prison and the farthest reaches of the Siberian gulag, they were driven by an extraordinary will to survive and to reunite.

Debut novelist Georgia Hunter first learned that her beloved grandfather Eddy (Addy in the novel) came from a family of Holocaust survivors as a result of a high school English project "to dig up pieces of our ancestral pasts" (Author's Note). Through oral history interviews with her grandmother, a memorable Kurc Family reunion on Martha's Vineyard, and a decade of research, thorough and precise in its details, "Hunter sidesteps hollow sentimentality and nihilism, revealing instead the beautiful complexity and ambiguity of life in this extraordinarily moving tale." (Publishers' Weekly)

Read-alikes: City of Women by David Gillham; Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly; and The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah.

The Human Heart of Immigration

Tue, 01/31/2017 - 10:32am by Lucy S

Lucky Boy

Ignacio is a boy with two mothers and two names. He is “Nacho,” to his birth mother, Soli, and “Iggy” to his foster mother, Kavya. In her touching and timely new novel, Lucky Boy, Shanthi Sekaran tells the story of Ignacio’s two mothers; one, an 18 year-old undocumented immigrant who arrives in this country only to discover she is pregnant, and the other, a young married woman of Indian-American descent, wanting very much, but struggling, to have a child of her own. These parallel plot lines underscore the strong desire that comes with wanting motherhood and the deep sadness that comes with losing it. Sekaran does an admirable job at presenting both viewpoints of this story without legitimizing one over the other. She tells her tale with humor and compassion and we know Ignacio is loved by many, but we are never told which mother is best for him. Ignacio is a “lucky boy” because of all this love, but also a boy in a complicated situation made more tangled by love.
The true-to-life and somewhat flawed characters keep us from aligning too closely with either mother and Sekaran does not try to mollify us by showing one side in a more favorable light. What she does highlight is the deep complexity of immigrant situations and the question of what it means to be an American and to enjoy the privileges that this country has to offer, or suffer from a lack of advantages.

Read-alikes: The Book of Unknown Americans by Christina Henriquez or The Tortilla Curtain by T. Coraghessan Boyle

"Ride With Me Through the Journey of More Success" - Khaled Mohamed Khaled

Mon, 01/30/2017 - 7:12pm by zurenkot

When Khaled Mohamed Khaled’s parents immigrated to the United States from Palestine in the 1970’s they came with the idea that the American Dream could work for them. And yet, while Khaled and his parents were selling clothes out of their van at New Orleans flea markets, they couldn’t have possibly dreamt of the success that their young son would eventually attain.

With a bevy of certified Gold and Platinum singles, collaborations with some of the most talented and most recognized rappers in the industry, major brand endorsements and an enormous presence on social media, DJ Khaled, as he's now known, has achieved everything his parents could have dreamed for him. But the best part is that DJ Khaled keeps dreaming.

In early 2016 DJ Khaled started posting short videos on social media in which the mogul/producer would lay out his keys to success. Everything from brushing your teeth, to recognizing loyalty within your circle of friends, were keys to success. And now, with the publication of Khaled’s first book, The Keys, those successes can be yours!

Being part autobiography, part self-help book, part business manual, layered with a whole lot of mogul talk make The Keys a must read for, well… anyone. Khaled’s keys to success can be applied across all disciplines and lifestyles. His writing is very accessible, and in some cases there is absolutely no denying his logic. The book is fun to read and has some surprisingly deep insights into social and business relationships.

So, if I were to ask you if you are the best library patron what would you say?

If you said no, then I am disappointed in you.

Because you are the best library patron.

We the best library patrons.

For more on DJ Khaled check out his Wikipedia page, or put a hold on his music or book.

Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me

Sat, 01/28/2017 - 4:25pm by ballybeg

…you’re movin’ on the back roads, By the rivers of my memory, Ever smilin’, ever gentle on my mind.

In the 1960s, Glen Campbell was the most sought after session guitarist in the industry. He played for the recordings of every singer and group you could name: Sinatra, Elvis, Ricky Nelson, Stevie Wonder, The Monkees, and dozens of others. For two years he was a Beach Boy. With the wildly-popular, 1967 Grammy-winning hit, Gentle On My Mind, he came out front, and charmed his way into people’s living rooms for four years with his weekly television variety show, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, full of popular music and hokey skits. He had a short-lived acting career, mostly because he was a mediocre actor, but as a musician and host he was brilliant. His fusion of country/pop/bluegrass/soft rock produced many more hits, and he has sold more than 50 million records over the course of his career. Boyishly good-looking and affable, with a down-home Arkansas persona which always seemed a bit out of place in LA, his smooth, lonesome, tenor voice, and his lightning-quick fingers on the neck of his guitar, he won all the major music awards, including, in 2012, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. I didn’t follow him after the early 1970s, but I grew up watching the tv show with my country music-loving grandparents, collected his albums as a young teen, and still thrill to the sound of that banjo at the beginning of Gentle On My Mind, and his astonishing displays of prowess on the guitar.

Imagine my dismay to watch this documentary, Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me, and discover that in 2011 Campbell was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. He and his family decided to make and film a farewell tour, as a way to celebrate his long career, but essentially documenting the course of his demise. The goal was to raise awareness about the dreaded disease and the urgency to understand it, fight it and fund it, and, to that end, we watch Campbell in a most vulnerable, delicate state, often forgetting the words to songs he sang thousands of times, not recognizing his children (three of whom played in his band), becoming disoriented more and more frequently as the year-and-a-half tour rolls on. It is hard to watch, but his family felt strongly it was what he wanted, and that it was a necessary sacrifice to shine light on the Alzheimer’s experience. Four years later, Campbell is currently in the seventh, and final, stage of the disease, where he cannot understand any language or communicate. His very brave choice to film his experience, has given voice to millions who suffer with the indignities of Alzheimer’s.

I knew I had to write this blog, when my 27-year-old daughter asked me, as she happened upon me crying over this film, “Who’s Glen Campbell?” You don’t have to be a country music fan to appreciate the talent of this man, or be grateful for his contribution to an understanding of the disease which has slowly stolen the “river of his memories” and eaten away his brain.

Happy Birthday Samuel Ting!

Fri, 01/27/2017 - 3:59pm by bengelty

Today marks the 81st birthday of American physicist and Nobel laureate Samuel C. C. Ting. Born to Chinese immigrant parents right here in Ann Arbor, Ting earned degrees in both mathematics and physics from the University of Michigan.

He went on to win the 1976 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work in the amazing field of subatomic particles. Ting then went on to propose and fight for the addition of the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-02) to the International Space Station in 2011. The AMS-02 is used to observe and study cosmic rays.

In his Nobel Prize acceptance speech Samuel Ting emphasized the importance of experimental work:
“I hope that awarding the Nobel Prize to me will awaken the interest of students from the developing nations so that they will realize the importance of experimental work.”

The AADL has some great books about science experiments you can do at home, to help you explore the world of science:

Check out: Amazing Science Experiments by E. Richard Churchhill, for more than sixty simple physics experiments that can safely be done with materials around the house.

Or: The Usborne Big Book of Science Experiments, which provides instructions for simple experiments that introduce basic concepts in chemistry, biology, and other areas.

Our collection of Science Tools will help curious minds explore the world around them!

Learn About or Sign Up for Health Care!

Fri, 01/27/2017 - 11:57am by Beth Manuel

If you missed the session about health care options held on January 18th, there are still opportunities to get the information you may need. You can meet with a Certified Application Counselor at one of the locations listed below.

Friday, Jan. 27 from 5:00-7:00pm
Ypsilanti Community Middle School
235 Spencer Ln, Ypsilanti, MI 48198

Saturday, Jan. 28 from 10:00am-4:00pm
United Way of Washtenaw County
2305 Platt Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Tuesday, Jan. 31 from 1:00-7:00pm
United Way of Washtenaw County
2305 Platt Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

These informational sessions are sponsored by the Washtenaw Health Initiative (WHI), the United Way of Washtenaw County and the U-M Health Policy Student Association.

Fabulous Fiction Firsts #626, Debut Mysteries

Mon, 01/23/2017 - 8:58pm by muffy

If you are waiting for The Girl Before *, J.P. Delaney's cunning debut, you might give these a try.

Little Deaths * * * by Emma Flint is inspired by a true crime case which occurred in Queens, NY in 1965.

When single-mother Ruth Malone reports her young children missing from a locked room with an open window, suspicion immediately falls on her. A stylish cocktail waitress who works long hours and is separated from her husband, Ruth smokes, drinks, and parties, often with married men and keeps their love letters under her bed.

When the bodies of the children are found, the police investigation focuses solely on her. The lead detective, a strict Catholic who believes women belong in the home, leaps to the obvious conclusion. The only person who becomes convinced that Ruth may not be guilty of the crime is Pete Wonicke, a rookie tabloid reporter determined to make a name for himself.

"This accomplished debut novel will intrigue fans of both true crime and noir fiction. Flint, a technical writer in London, is a welcome addition to the world of literary crime fiction. Readers of Megan Abbott may want to investigate." (Library Journal)

The Dry * (one of January's LibraryReads picks, and winner of the 2015 Victorian Premier Literary Award for an unpublished manuscript) is drawing debut novelist Jane Harper comparisons to Dennis Lehane.

It has been 20 years since he and his father were driven out under a cloud of suspicion, Melbourne-based Federal Agent Aaron Falk returns to his hometown Kiewarra for the funeral of his childhood best friend Luke. Beyond trying to repay the debt he owed Luke, he questions the official narrative that Luke killed his young family and committed suicide on his farm - the desperate act of a man pushed to the brink by financial woes caused by the area's two-year drought.

With the help of recently arrived Sgt. Raco, Falk finds that small towns have big secrets and Luke's death might be connected to Ellie Deacon’s suspicious death by drowning 20 years ago.

"From the ominous opening paragraphs, all the more chilling for their matter-of-factness, Harper, a journalist who writes for Melbourne’s Herald Sun, spins a suspenseful tale of sound and fury as riveting as it is horrific." (Publishers Weekly). Film rights to Reese Witherspoon’s production company.

Read-alike: The Broken Shore by Peter Temple which also offers a portrait of small-town Australia.

* * * = 3 starred reviews
* = starred reviews

Hygge-ing Away the Winter Blues

Sat, 01/21/2017 - 10:23am by mansii

Scandinavian style is known for its clean colors and edges, with high contrast. Think brilliant whites with striking red, softened by floral and wildlife designs with a geometric slant. What appears is a modern aesthetic that feels homey, while letting you breath peacefully in a room that lets in the light and is organized by useful objects that stand out by their artistic quality.
This external beauty can be an internal lifestyle as well. The Danes have designated this concept as "hygge" (pronounced hue-gah, rhyme with “cougar”) : setting apart simple pleasures as something very special, and cosying yourself away to enjoy them with good friends.
This is what winter is all about, and here are some books to help you feel the good vibes!

How to Hygge: The Nordic Secrets to a Happy Life
This book will give you a break down of all the delicious details and tips of taking things slow the Nordic way. Along with lots of warm, cardamom filled recipes, concepts such as enjoying kinship and nature, finding joy, self-care, and making lovely spaces enter these pages like a lick of ice-cream.

Scandinavian Gatherings: From Afternoon Fika to Midsummer Feast...
With a simple craft and some gorgeous and tasty food, Melisa Bahen elevates every day celebrations like tea time or brunch to something to wiggle your toes at and jump all in. I would check this book out just for the drool-worthy photographs.

The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living
Recommended by the New York Times, and authored by Copenhagen's think tank The Happiness Institute, this book also contains recipes and crafts, but stands out for its research-based look at this fast-spreading cultural phenomenon.

SO MUCH MORE can be found ON THIS LIST for endless inspiration in designing, gardening, cooking, baking, crafting, and music making to set apart your winter days as wonderfully memorable.

In the kitchen with Julia

Thu, 01/19/2017 - 12:40pm by Lucy S

The French chef in America : Julia Child's second act

Alex Prud’homme, Julia Child's grandnephew, was the co-author with Child of My Life in France. In his new book, The French Chef in America: Julia Child’s Second Act, he picks up where that story left off. Prud’homme takes us from the beginning of Julia Child's television career to the last days of her life, and succeeds in delivering many tales that highlight the essence and esprit of Child, strong in her convictions, yet always playful. Prud’homme chronicles Child's many successes but also reveals the books, shows and recipes that weren’t an immediate hit. We journey with her from France to Cambridge, Massachusetts and back again many times, and are given an intimate look at her long, loving marriage to and partnership with Paul Child. Paul was responsible for many of the photographs in her books, including all of the photographs in The French Chef in America. We also learn of Child's longtime partnership with her editor, Judith Jones, of her friendship and collaboration with Simca Beck, of her friends in the business, like Jacques Pepin and James Beard, and many celebrity chefs who got their start under her tutelage, such as Sara Moulton and Emeril Lagasse. Julia Child worked until the end of her life, and in a particularly poignant passage, Prud’homme shares the story of the 93rd birthday party that she planned, but never made it to. Yet there were all her biggest fans, colleagues, friends and family members now gathered together, thanks to her, to celebrate her life.
Julia Child created an enduring legacy and helped pave the way for women in the culinary field. Alex Prud'homme has given us a wonderful glimpse into her enthusiasm and vitality and the many lives she touched. She greatly informed the way we eat and celebrate food today.