Ray's Autumn Reads

Dog On It by Spencer Quinn

You don't have to be a dog lover to love this book. Chet, the canine partner of Bernie, a private investigator, will work his way into your heart by the second page with his intuitive but often flawed manner of helping out his boss to crack the case and capture the perp. Chet is smart, but not that smart. He is, after all, only a dog. They are, however, a team, and would be nowhere without each other. The first book of a series, it's lots of fun, very endearing, and has a bit of real suspense thrown in.

The Dirty Life by Kristin Kimball

An account of the author's journey from one life to another, this tells the story of how a vegetarian, city dwelling journalist finds herself on a 500 acre farm in upstate New York, milking cows, eating animal organs, and working fields with a horse drawn plow. It is a story of letting go of everything familiar to follow one's heart. The journey is not without it's travails and setbacks, and you may wonder how the author and her partner on this adventure manage to prevail.

We The Animals by Justin Torres

The youngest of three brothers describes their experiences growing up in an unconventional family as the sons of a white mother and Puerto Rican father. At once heartwarming and frightening, it is a glimpse into family life and loyalties and the ways that family bonds and love can conquer, or sometimes destroy.  

BOOK GROUP READS

October 2011

This month as we introduced ourselves, we recommended a book or two we’ve read recently (that we liked).

SARA: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

SHARON: In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin by Erik Larson and Pope Joan: a Novel by Donna Woolfolk Cross

PAM: John Adams by David McCullough and First Family: Abigail and John Adams by Joseph Ellis

MARY LOU: The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown

HSIU LI: Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson

KATHLEEN: True, (…Sort Of) by Katherine Hannigan and Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea

KATE: Caleb’sCrossing by Geraldine Brooks

NORMA: Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne

MOIRA: The Devil All the Time by Donald Ray Pollock

MIDORI: The Dressmaker of Khair Khana: Five Sisters, One Remarkable Fantasy and the Woman Who Risked Everything to Keep Them Safe by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

NANCY: Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks and Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross

Ray's Summer Reading Report

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich
Slightly mindless, entertaining and funny, at least at the beginning. It painted a good picture of the caricature people might have in their minds of the New Jersey underworld. The appeal is in the main character, Stephanie Plum, who is on the one hand kind of vulnerable and sexy and on the other hand fearless and determined.
The Call by Yannick Murphy
The unusual format (paragraphs labelled with repeating categories), lends appeal. This is the story of a rural Vermont veterinarian, his family, love and forgiveness. Recommended!
Northwest Corner by John Burnham Schwartz
This slightly dark, yet redemptive story is about what happens to two families after a tragic accident which occurred in Schwartz's Reservation Road. Events occur which look like the son will follow in the footsteps of his ruined father but in the end, it's his father's support and love which saves him. The bonds of love that were in place before the accident, ultimately prevail. 

Ray, a  former non-reader, read three books this summer.

Mystery Book Group Discussion

Do you have comments about the August mystery book group selection, The Eyre Affair Jasper Fforde? Let us know here what you think so far.

Deerfield Town Reports

The Library has copies of Deerfield Town Reports beginning with 1889 and ending with the 2010 report, just published. The 1895 Report of Library Trustees states that the Library was open throughout the year with the exception of two weeks when it was closed for repair of books. That year, twenty-two new volumes were placed on the shelves.  The same report also lists the dogs licensed in Deerfield.. Prince, Jack, Rover and Skip were among the most popular names and the unusual were Dandy Dude, Robert Bruce, Muldoon, Grover Cleveland, Growler and Racket. The 2010 report is available for free in the Library foyer and at town hall on Conway Street.

What We're Reading

The Priest's Graveyard by Ted Dekker - "Whew, what a spellbinder." - Irene

What You Like - As I Recall

Irene just read and liked Frank: The Voice by James Kaplan. She says, "Loved it - but then it was my era!"

Janet read Zeitoun by Dave Eggars.She doesn't usually read non-fiction but this read like fiction. It's the story of long time New Orleans resident and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Bill introduced this poster to Liza Marklund's books (see previous post). She is the co-author of The Postcard Killers with James Patterson and he liked that book and wanted to read something by her. A few libraries have some of her older titles and The Red Wolf just came out in this year.

When Pam brought  back the audio book Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel she said she was sorry it ended and that she couldn't stop thinking about the characters. 

Stop by my newly painted red office and let me know what you've been reading.

On the Night Stand

Mr. Chartwell by Rebecca Hunt, read  by Susan Duerden. Mr. Chartwell is a dog, also known as Black Pat who is "really" Winston Churchill's depression personified (or is it dogified?). Black Pat is often at Churchill's side and has also recently moved in with Esther Hammerhans, a House of Commons librarian. I bet if dogs could talk they'd sound like Duerden's interpretation of Black Pat's voice - and she's got Churchill down too, especially when he intones, "KBO".

Red Wolf by Liza Marklund translated from the Swedish. A new addition to the Nordic crime list. Journalist Annika Bengzton is investigating the murder of another journalist when she uncovers a sensitive plot involving the minister of culture. Side stories about her relationship with her husband and her friend's relationship appeal.

The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler. I recognize the English words but put together, the phrases and dialogue form a new language. A mystery book group selection.

Blood, Bones and Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton. A memoir that starts with a happy childhood scene of a large family party taking place outdoors with lots of good food and people. It segues into Hamilton's difficult teen years but doesn't dwell on what must have been an awful experience. She shares the times that defined her life. Hard to put down.

The Mole People: Life in the Tunnels Beneath New York City  by Jennifer Toth. About a large and diverse group who live in the subway, railroad and sewage tunnels in New York.

Librarian's Day Off!

I started early, took my dog, and visited the sea. Not really, but Emily Dickinson did, or so she says in poem 656. You can read it here thanks to The Poetry Foundation.  It's hard for me to imagine Emily Dickinson going to the ocean, and I wonder if she ever did and if so, how she got there.

Kate Atkinson's fifth Jackson Brodie mystery similarly titled, "Started Early, Took My Dog" comes out this week. If you're interested, you can reserve it today and be the first to read our copy when it comes in.

I actually went to the Dickinson Memorial Library  at 115 Main Street in Northfield, Massachusetts because I'd never been there and I needed a new audio book for the weekend. I used my Tilton card and borrowed "The Old Wine Shades" by Martha Grimes.

Most Requested Titles List

http://www.cwmars.org/western_titles

The list of the top three most requested titles for WMARS libraries starts with James Patterson's "Tick Tock", then "Toys", also by Patterson  and Neil McMahon (March 14th release date). Six of McMahon's titles are owned by CWMARS libraries and include "Blood Double", "Dead Silver", "Lone Creek", "To the Bone" and "Twice Dying". Third on the list is Amy Chua's "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother". Tiger Mother is nonfiction - about extreme parenting and the catalog lists some similar titles which include "Zombie Spaceship Wasteland" by Patton Oswalt and "Henry's Demons: Living with Schizophrenia" by Patrick Cockburn. The cover of Chua's book states: "This is the story about a mother, two daughters and two dogs. This was supposed to be a story of how Chinese parents are better than western ones. But instead it's about a bitter clash of cultures, a fleeting taste of glory and how I was humbled by a thirteen year old". Sounds compelling.

What's In a Name

Tilton Library was founded in 1915 with money bequeathed by a local grocer, Chauncey B. Tilton. Julie came up with the blog name during a particularly productive staff meeting back in 2007. I like the connection to a grocery, where people gather and get what they need.