Hello and Happy Spring to you all, I hope you’re all enjoying this earlier than normal thaw! I don’t know about you, but it’s been a little tougher for me to find time for reading with the long daylight hours returning, and I admit that in March I read books that aren’t on the list. Lots of you are on track though as there were 70 submissions for the month of March.
Our prizewinner this time around is Deanna Thomas. Deanna gets lots of her “reading” in by listening to audio books on her commute. Congratulations Deanna!
For those of you who are interested in audio books and ebooks, there are several titles on the list available through the Alaska Digital Library. Here’s the link: http://alaskadigitallibrary.net/ If you’d like some assistance with getting started using the Alaska Digital library, you can call us at 235-3180 or stop by the library. We’re happy to lend a hand.
Here is a little more information about some of the books on the list, in case you’re wondering what to read next:
All Over the Map – Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller. Published in 2001, this is the author’s account of growing up in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) during the Rhodesian Civil War. One reviewer states, “Fuller writes unsparingly, unsentimentally and honestly about her family and their remarkable experiences.” Publisher’s weekly says, “Like Anne Frank's diary, this work captures the tone of a very young person caught up in her own small world as she witnesses a far larger historical event.”
Animal Nature – The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery. In this book, Montgomery explores the emotional and physical world of the octopus – a surprisingly complex, intelligent and spirited creature—and the remarkable connections it’s capable of making with humans. NPR’s Science Friday called it “one of the best science books of the year.” And when returning the book a couple weeks ago, a patron said, “Well I probably won’t be eating octopus ever again.”
Creative Types – Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John. This young adult novel is the story of Piper, a high school senior and her role as the manager of a rock band. She’s got a band to manage, graduation to think about, and troubles at home. She’s also deaf. Antony John was the winner of the Schneider Family Book Award which honors an author of a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience.
Election Year – Fifty Miles from Tomorrow by William Hensley. Hensley was born into a traditional Inupiaq lifestyle. In his lifetime he went from living in a sod igloo without much outside influence to becoming a political force whose purpose was to advocate for Native Alaskan rights. He was paramount in getting the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act signed into law in 1971.This memoir is an account of Hensley’s personal and political life, and if you’re at all interested in Alaska history, this book is a great choice.
Isn’t it Romantic? – Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf. This novel was published the year after the author died. Described as “quiet but never complacent” in the New Yorker, this book is about the friendship that develops between Addie Moore and Louis Waters, both advanced in age and alone after the deaths of their spouses. This novel “demonstrates that our desire to love and be loved does not dissolve with age.” – Joseph Peschel, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Laugh Out Loud – Skippy Dies by Paul Murray. This is one of the longest novels on our list this year, but it’s often described as fast-paced. Skippy and his friends attend an all-boys prep school in contemporary Ireland. Anne Bartholomew, a reviewer on Amazon states, “The events that lead to Skippy’s untimely (though tragicomic) death unfold scene by scene, in a chorus of perfectly executed moments that are powerful enough to make you laugh and weep at once.”
North Country – Kids from Nowhere by George Guthridge. This inspiring true story of teacher George Guthridge and a group of students from Gambell, Alaska takes the reader back to the remote village in 1982 where, despite the odds, they go on to compete in one of the most difficult academic competitions in the nation. It’s described as “hilarious, disturbing, densely atmospheric, powerful and poignant.” Those of you interested in education or rural Alaska will likely be moved by this one.
Southern Flair – Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horwitz. It’s been several years since I’ve read this book, but it’s one that has stuck with me. Being a northerner, I didn’t have a good understanding of just how current the Civil War discussion is for many Southerners. Both funny and informative, Horwitz takes the reader on a journey to the South and into the hardcore world of Civil War reenactors. It’s full of memorable characters and stories you won’t forget.
Staff Picks – The Crossover by Kwame Alexander. In 2015, this young adult novel was the winner of both the Newbery Medal and the Coretta Scott King Honor Award. Twins Josh and Jordan both play basketball for their junior high team. With a mom who is an assistant principal and a dad who is a former professional player, sports and education are both high priorities in their family. In this story, which is written in verse, the brothers start moving apart from each other for the first time. A Booklist review says, “Alexander eloquently mashes up concrete poetry, hip-hop, a love of jazz, and a thrilling family bond. The effect is poetry in motion.”
Wild West – The Meadow by James Galvin. Mixing up the line between fiction and nonfiction, James Galvin tells the story of people on a specific piece of land on the Colorado/Wyoming border over the space of one hundred years. One reviewer describes the book well by saying, “It would be misleading to say that there is a specific and traceable plot in The Meadow. Reading this book is more like browsing through an old photo album, viewing scenes of familiar people, all wearing faces that seem to defy time.” I’m probably partial since I’m originally from Northern Colorado, but I can say that this book is one of my all-time favorites. Galvin’s writing is deliberate, honest and poetic.
*Just for fun, here is a list of the books that have not been entered into our system yet for 15 in ’16: 1. Maphead by Ken Jennings 2. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein 3. The Last Unicorn by William deBuys 4. Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari 5. The Sasquatch Hunter’s Almanac by Sharma Shields 6. Voices in the Ocean by Susan Casey 7. Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff 8. Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John 9. Heat by Bill Buford 10. I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson 11. Out on the Wire by Jessica Abel 12. Symphony for the City of the Dead by M.T. Anderson 13. Things the Grandchildren Should Know by Mark Oliver Everett 14. All the King’s Men by Robert Penn Warren 15. The Best Laid Plans by Terry Fallis 16. Fifty Miles from Tomorrow by William Hensley 17. Zahra’s Paradise by Amir and Khalil 18. Bronze Horseman by Paulina Simons 19. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell 20. One Hundred Names for Love by Diane Ackerman 21. Accidental Saints by Nadia Bolz-Weber 22. Agent to the Stars by John Scalzi 23. Lafayette in the Somewhat United States by Sarah Vowell 24. Etta and Otto and Russel and James by Emma Hooper 25. In Manchuria by Michael Meyer 26. Kids from Nowhere by George Guthridge 27. Deep South by Paul Theroux 28. My Sunshine Away by M.O. Walsh 29. Under Magnolia by Francis Mayes 30. After the Parade by Lori Ostlund 31. Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman 32. Counting Heads by David Marusek 33. The Crossover by Kwame Alexander 34. The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen 35. Barefoot Heart by Elva Trevino Hart 36. The Meadow by James Galvin 37. The Oregon Trail by Rinker Buck *Upcoming event: The Friends of the Library Spring Book and Plant Sale will be on April 15-16. Please come buy books and help us empty out our storage room! And last but not least, I’ll leave you with this feel-good article about the benefits of reading fiction. http://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2012... Thank you all for participating in 15 in ’16 and here’s wishing you all another month of good books and sunshine! Teresa
Homer Public Library 500 Hazel Ave Homer AK 99603 907-235-3180
I hope you’re all enjoying this earlier than normal thaw!
I don’t know about you, but it’s been a little tougher for me to find time for reading with the long daylight hours returning, and I admit that in March I read books that aren’t on the list. Lots of you are on track though as there were 70 submissions for the month of March.
Our prizewinner this time around is Deanna Thomas. Deanna gets lots of her “reading” in by listening to audio books on her commute. Congratulations Deanna!
For those of you who are interested in audio books and ebooks, there are several titles on the list available through the Alaska Digital Library. Here’s the link: http://alaskadigitallibrary.net/ If you’d like some assistance with getting started using the Alaska Digital library, you can call us at 235-3180 or stop by the library. We’re happy to lend a hand.
Here is a little more information about some of the books on the list, in case you’re wondering what to read next:
All Over the Map – Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller. Published in 2001, this is the author’s account of growing up in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) during the Rhodesian Civil War. One reviewer states, “Fuller writes unsparingly, unsentimentally and honestly about her family and their remarkable experiences.” Publisher’s weekly says, “Like Anne Frank's diary, this work captures the tone of a very young person caught up in her own small world as she witnesses a far larger historical event.”
Animal Nature – The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery. In this book, Montgomery explores the emotional and physical world of the octopus – a surprisingly complex, intelligent and spirited creature—and the remarkable connections it’s capable of making with humans. NPR’s Science Friday called it “one of the best science books of the year.” And when returning the book a couple weeks ago, a patron said, “Well I probably won’t be eating octopus ever again.”
Creative Types – Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John. This young adult novel is the story of Piper, a high school senior and her role as the manager of a rock band. She’s got a band to manage, graduation to think about, and troubles at home. She’s also deaf. Antony John was the winner of the Schneider Family Book Award which honors an author of a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience.
Election Year – Fifty Miles from Tomorrow by William Hensley. Hensley was born into a traditional Inupiaq lifestyle. In his lifetime he went from living in a sod igloo without much outside influence to becoming a political force whose purpose was to advocate for Native Alaskan rights. He was paramount in getting the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act signed into law in 1971.This memoir is an account of Hensley’s personal and political life, and if you’re at all interested in Alaska history, this book is a great choice.
Isn’t it Romantic? – Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf. This novel was published the year after the author died. Described as “quiet but never complacent” in the New Yorker, this book is about the friendship that develops between Addie Moore and Louis Waters, both advanced in age and alone after the deaths of their spouses. This novel “demonstrates that our desire to love and be loved does not dissolve with age.” – Joseph Peschel, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Laugh Out Loud – Skippy Dies by Paul Murray. This is one of the longest novels on our list this year, but it’s often described as fast-paced. Skippy and his friends attend an all-boys prep school in contemporary Ireland. Anne Bartholomew, a reviewer on Amazon states, “The events that lead to Skippy’s untimely (though tragicomic) death unfold scene by scene, in a chorus of perfectly executed moments that are powerful enough to make you laugh and weep at once.”
North Country – Kids from Nowhere by George Guthridge. This inspiring true story of teacher George Guthridge and a group of students from Gambell, Alaska takes the reader back to the remote village in 1982 where, despite the odds, they go on to compete in one of the most difficult academic competitions in the nation. It’s described as “hilarious, disturbing, densely atmospheric, powerful and poignant.” Those of you interested in education or rural Alaska will likely be moved by this one.
Southern Flair – Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horwitz. It’s been several years since I’ve read this book, but it’s one that has stuck with me. Being a northerner, I didn’t have a good understanding of just how current the Civil War discussion is for many Southerners. Both funny and informative, Horwitz takes the reader on a journey to the South and into the hardcore world of Civil War reenactors. It’s full of memorable characters and stories you won’t forget.
Staff Picks – The Crossover by Kwame Alexander. In 2015, this young adult novel was the winner of both the Newbery Medal and the Coretta Scott King Honor Award. Twins Josh and Jordan both play basketball for their junior high team. With a mom who is an assistant principal and a dad who is a former professional player, sports and education are both high priorities in their family. In this story, which is written in verse, the brothers start moving apart from each other for the first time. A Booklist review says, “Alexander eloquently mashes up concrete poetry, hip-hop, a love of jazz, and a thrilling family bond. The effect is poetry in motion.”
Wild West – The Meadow by James Galvin. Mixing up the line between fiction and nonfiction, James Galvin tells the story of people on a specific piece of land on the Colorado/Wyoming border over the space of one hundred years. One reviewer describes the book well by saying, “It would be misleading to say that there is a specific and traceable plot in The Meadow. Reading this book is more like browsing through an old photo album, viewing scenes of familiar people, all wearing faces that seem to defy time.” I’m probably partial since I’m originally from Northern Colorado, but I can say that this book is one of my all-time favorites. Galvin’s writing is deliberate, honest and poetic.
*Just for fun, here is a list of the books that have not been entered into our system yet for 15 in ’16:
1. Maphead by Ken Jennings
2. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
3. The Last Unicorn by William deBuys
4. Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
5. The Sasquatch Hunter’s Almanac by Sharma Shields
6. Voices in the Ocean by Susan Casey
7. Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff
8. Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John
9. Heat by Bill Buford
10. I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
11. Out on the Wire by Jessica Abel
12. Symphony for the City of the Dead by M.T. Anderson
13. Things the Grandchildren Should Know by Mark Oliver Everett
14. All the King’s Men by Robert Penn Warren
15. The Best Laid Plans by Terry Fallis
16. Fifty Miles from Tomorrow by William Hensley
17. Zahra’s Paradise by Amir and Khalil
18. Bronze Horseman by Paulina Simons
19. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
20. One Hundred Names for Love by Diane Ackerman
21. Accidental Saints by Nadia Bolz-Weber
22. Agent to the Stars by John Scalzi
23. Lafayette in the Somewhat United States by Sarah Vowell
24. Etta and Otto and Russel and James by Emma Hooper
25. In Manchuria by Michael Meyer
26. Kids from Nowhere by George Guthridge
27. Deep South by Paul Theroux
28. My Sunshine Away by M.O. Walsh
29. Under Magnolia by Francis Mayes
30. After the Parade by Lori Ostlund
31. Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman
32. Counting Heads by David Marusek
33. The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
34. The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen
35. Barefoot Heart by Elva Trevino Hart
36. The Meadow by James Galvin
37. The Oregon Trail by Rinker Buck
*Upcoming event: The Friends of the Library Spring Book and Plant Sale will be on April 15-16. Please come buy books and help us empty out our storage room!
And last but not least, I’ll leave you with this feel-good article about the benefits of reading fiction.
http://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2012...
Thank you all for participating in 15 in ’16 and here’s wishing you all another month of good books and sunshine!
Teresa
Homer Public Library
500 Hazel Ave
Homer AK 99603
907-235-3180