December 2009 - Posts
The 2009 Picks from *Passionate Readers*
(*Humanities Department Staff*)
Philip The Wild Things by Dave Eggers
Based very loosely on the storybook by Maurice Sendak, this is a story about Max, a boy making his way in a world he can’t control. Funny, dark, and alive, The Wild Things is a timeless and time-tested tale for all ages. (From Amazon.com)
Jasna The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Cases rarely come much colder than the decades-old disappearance of teen heiress Harriet Vanger from her family's remote island retreat north of Stockholm, nor do fiction debuts hotter than this European bestseller by muckraking Swedish journalist Larsson. At once a strikingly original thriller and a vivisection of Sweden's dirty not-so-little secrets, this first book of the Millennium Trilogy* introduces a provocatively odd couple: disgraced financial journalist Mikael Blomkvist, freshly sentenced to jail for libeling a shady businessman, and the multipierced and tattooed Lisbeth Salander, a feral but vulnerable superhacker... (Publishers Weekly - Starred Review)
*Millennium Trilogy: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo; The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest
The book cover image courtesy of Flickr.com
Carol nad Ursula A Dog Named Christmas by Gregory Kincaide
When Todd McCray, a developmentally challenged young man still living on his parents’ Kansas farm, hears that a local animal shelter is seeking temporary homes for its dogs during the days leading to Christmas, he knows exactly what he wants for the holidays. His father objects, but Todd’s persistence quickly wins out. Soon the McCrays are the short-term foster family for a lovable pooch the young man names Christmas. (From Amazon.ca - Product Description)
Pat The Guernsey and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Anne Shaffer
“I can’t remember the last time I discovered a novel as smart and delightful as this one, a world so vivid that I kept forgetting this was a work of fiction populated with characters so utterly wonderful that I kept forgetting they weren’t my actual friends and neighbors. Treat yourself to this book please - I can’t recommend it highly enough.” Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love
Carolyn Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood
...a dystopic masterpiece and a testament to Margeret Atwood's visionary power...(Amazon.com Review)
Cellist of Sarajevo by Staven Galloway
In this elegiac novel inspired by an actual event during the siege of Sarajevo in 1992, Steven Galloway explores the brutality of war and the redemptive power of music. Crafted with unforgettable imagery and heartbreaking simplicity, his small book speaks forcefully to the triumph of the spirit in the face of overwhelming despair. (From Amazon.com - The Washington Post Review)
Anne Mesopotamia: Assyrians, Sumerians, Babilonians by Enrico Ascalone
This beautifully illustrated guide to the ancient civilization of Mesopotamia, the region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, is the perfect companion for travelers and armchair travelers alike. It provides a concise survey of three ancient cultures that have often been misunderstood, both because of Biblical and neoclassical traditions, and because of twentieth- and twenty-first-century events. Lavishly illustrated in full color on every page, the book is arranged topically to cover the broad areas of life, such as people, politics, religion, the world of the dead, and important places and monuments. (From Amazon.com - Book Description)
Sarah Good to a Fault by Marina Endicott
Book cover illustration courtesy of Flickr.com
In a novel reminiscent of the work of Penelope Lively, Anne Tyler, and Alice Munro, acclaimed author Marina Endicott gives us one of the most profound and most memorable reads of the year.
Absorbed in her own failings, Clara Purdy crashes her life into a sharp left turn, taking the young family in the other car along with her. When bruises on the mother, Lorraine, prove to be late-stage cancer, Clara - against all habit and comfort - moves the three children and their terrible grandmother into her own house. (From the Publisher - Freehand Books Calgary)
Book cover illustration courtesy of Flickr.com
Patti The Sound of Language by Amulya Malladi
In this luminous story of bravery, tradition, and the power of language, an Afghan woman and Danish widower form an unexpected alliance. Escaping the turmoil and heartbreak of war-torn Kabul, Raihana settles with distant relatives in the strange, cold, damp country of Denmark. Homesick and heartbroken, Raihana bravely attempts to start a new life, trying hard not to ponder the fate of her husband, who was taken prisoner by the Taliban and never heard from again. (From Amazon.com - Product Description)
Donna Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
The first words of this exuberant and capacious novel take us right to the heart of its unique narrator: "I was born twice: first, as a baby girl, on a remarkably smogless Detroit day in January of 1960; and then again, as a teenage boy, in an emergency room near Petoskey, Michigan, in August of 1974. Middlesex is the story of Cal or Calliope Stephanides, an epic tale of a family's American life, and the expansive history of a gene travelling down through time … (From the Publisher - Knopf Canada)
Sonya Dog On It by Spencer Quinn
In this irresistible new detective series featuring a canine narrator, Quinn speaks two languages - suspense and dog - fluently. Sometimes funny, sometimes touching, and in a few places terrifying . . . 
one-of-a-kind novel. (Stephen King)
In the Garden of Iden by Kage Baker
In 16th-century Spain, everybody expects the Spanish Inquisition, as they have a well-known tendency to cart people off to their dungeons on trumped-up charges. What 5-year-old Mendoza, on the brink of being tortured as a Jew, is totally unprepared for is to be rescued by the Company - the ultimate bureaucracy of the 24th century - and made immortal. In return, all she has to do is travel through time on a series of assignments for the Company and collect endangered botanical specimens... (From Amazon.com Review)
Kayla Extreme Vinyl Cafe by Stuart McLean
If you ask them, Dave and Morley's friends will tell you that no matter how long you've known people, they can still surprise you.
After all, no one expects to see a grown man dive into the trunk of his car to chase a rat. And despite what they may claim, few people are actually prepared to have their backyard, never mind their twelve-year-old son, shoot to stardom on YouTube's Most Watched Videos. And yes the sight of an 87-year-old bungee-jumping off a cruise ship is...unusual. But well-wishers at the Vinyl Cafe will advise you to be philosophical about such things. (From Amazon.com - Product Description)
Mia Fever Chart by Bill Cotter
Having spent most of his life medicated, electroshocked, and institutionalized, Jerome Coe finds himself homeless on the coldest night of the century — and so, with nowhere else to go, he accepts a ride out of New England from an old love's ex-girlfriend. It doesn't quite work out, but he makes it to New Orleans, and a new life — work, friends, and only the occasional psychotic break. What follows involves his last two chances to find real happiness, the old vicious enemies that may prevent him from obtaining it, and a cast of Crescent City denizens that makes for one of the most vivid ensembles since Toole's A Confederacy of Dunces. (From Amazon.com - Product Description)
Christine Losing Mum and Pup: a memoir by Christopher Buckley
"Intense, beautifully written and often achingly personal . . . One suspects that somewhere, beyond all this, Bill and Pat Buckley are very proud of their son." (From Washington Times)
For this holiday season, curl up with a good book! We present you with a selection of Christmas titles - from family stories to murder mysteries - from our collection.
Happy Holidays!
The Gift by Cecelia Ahern
"The Gift is a magical, fable-like Christmas story from Cecelia Ahern. This is the story of Lou Suffern, a successful executive frustrated by the fact that he spends more time in the office than with his doting wife and two young children, The Gift is a tantalizing tale wrapped in a tale. . . . [the] perfect treat for the holidays..." (Sara Gruen)
This Year It Will Be Different by Maeve Binchy
"An anthology of Christmas stories reflecting on the various ways in which the holidays serve as a catalyst to promote change, growth, and new beginnings." (From Novelist). If you like Maeve Binchy, visit our catalogue or go to your nearest branch for more!
Merry, Merry Ghosts by Carolyn Hart
When a determined heir moves to block a wealthy woman's attempt to include her newly discovered grandson in her will, it is up to good-intentioned ghost Bailey Ruth Raeburn to protect a little boy, foil a murderer, and save Christmas. (From Novelist) For more Carolin Hart novels check our catalogue.
Holiday Grind by Bleo Coyle
"In this charming eighth coffeehouse mystery from Cleo Coyle, Clare Cosi, owner of the Village Blend, is preoccupied with creating flavorful and memorable drinks for the upcoming holiday season. Then one snowy December day, Clare discovers a beloved customer, Alf Glockner, shot to death in a nearby alley. Doubtful of the police conclusion that Alf, a part-time comedian who was working as a charity Santa, was the victim of a random murder, Clare sets out to find out what really happened..." (From Library Journel - Starred Review). For more "Coffeehouse series", visit our catalogue.
Frozen Tracks: an inspector Eric Winter novel by Ake Edwardson
Christmas is fast approaching, but life is anything but festive for Detective Chief Inspector Erik Winter. Days of dwindling daylight find the Swedish detective haunted by two puzzling—and seemingly unconnected—sets of crimes. Several university students have been viciously attacked at various points around the city. At the same time, children are being abducted from nurseries all around the city. Leads followed by Winter and his colleagues take them to the parched prairies of rural Sweden, whose inhabitants are every bit as bleak and desperate as the landscape... (From Booklist). Check our catalogue for "Frozen Tracks" and other Ake Edwardson's mysteries.
Voices: a Reykiavik murder mystery by Arnaldur Indridason
The Christmas rush is at its peak in a grand Reykjavík hotel when Inspector Erlendur is called in to investigate a murder. The hotel Santa has been stabbed to death, and Erlendur and his fellow detectives find no shortage of suspects between the hotel staff and the international travelers staying for the holidays. As Christmas Day approaches, Erlendur must deal with his difficult daughter, pursue a possible romantic interest, and untangle a long-buried web of malice and greed to find the murderer. Voices is a brutal, soulful noir from the chilly shores of Iceland. (From Amazon.ca). There are several other titles by Arnaldur Indridason in our collection, check them out!
The Christmas Train by David Baldacci
On a train ride to Los Angeles, cash-strapped journalist Tom Langdon encounters a ridiculous cast of characters, unexpected romance, and an avalanche that changes everyone's Christmas plans.
Illustration: Christmas Holly, courtesy of Todd Austin and Flickr.com
GREAT INSPIRATIONS
By Bridget
Have you ever read a book that literally changed your life? Maybe it was a novel that opened up your perspective to a differernt culture or lifestyle. Or maybe it was non-fiction - a "how-to", self help book or memoir - that opened up your world and literally changed the course of your life.
In The Book That Changed My Life,Edited by Roxanne J. Coady we learn which books have changed the lives of many of today's most well-known and well loved authors.
For example, in The Book That Changed My Life we learn that Elizabeth Berg was inspired by the J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye.
SARKwas influenced by Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Ian Rankin found inpiration in Anthony Burgess's A Clockwork Orange
And Wally Lamb was inspired by Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird
Want more life-chaning books? Check our catalogue and our great selection of Book Club in a Bag titles (including "You've Got to Read This Book).
Time Out 1000 Books to Change Your Life
You've Got to Read This Book!
Native
Canadian Writers 
By Sue
Discover a new and valid perspective on the country we call home. Native and Metis Canadian writers bring their own aesthetic, philosophical and cultural viewpoints to works of fiction, poetry and playwriting. There are, of course, many native cultures of northern North America and they are widely represented in their literary works.
Sharron-Proulx Turner is a Calgary based Metis poet whose poems are saturated with wisdom and relevation. Check our catalogue for her poetry.
She walks for days inside a thousand eyes : a two spirit story
The award-winning playwright and novelist Tomson Highway’s
The Rez Sisters : a play in two acts became a smash hit across Canada
Enter into the world of magical realism with the acclaimed works of Thomas King and, of course, Joseph Boyden has given us two back- to-back treasures with “Three Day Road” and “Through Black Spruce”
CBC Canada Reads 2010
By Bridget
Jian Ghomeshi announced the five panelists who will each be defending a chosen book in the Canada Reads literary debates in March 2010. At the end of one week of debating and defending their selections, the panel will have whittled the list down to one book they think every Canadian should read.
The books are:
Good to a Fault by Marina Endicott (defended by Simi Sara)
Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture by Douglas Coupland
(defended by Roland Pemberton aka Cadence Weapon)
The Jade Peony by Wayson Choy (defended by Samantha Nutt
Fall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald (defended by Perdita Felicien)
Nikolski by Nicolas Dickner, translated by Lazer Lederhendler
(defended by Michel Vézina)
For more information check out the website at: http://www.cbc.ca/books/canadareads/
To reserve you copy, go to Calgary Public Library catalogue.
WITH THE LIGHT: raising an autistic child 
Story and art by Keiko Tobe
This is a story about a young mother Sachiko Azuma raising her autistic son Hikaru, whom she named after the morning light; “Hikaru” meaning “Light” and “Azuma” meaning “East” in Japanese.
Sachiko Azuma works hard at shattering the boundaries of her child’s diagnosis, her family’s indifference, and society’s ignorance. She is driven by the hope that her son will find a place in the world and be a contributing and happy adult. From the early days of diagnosis, through changes in the family (having a little sister), going to school, and making friends, we as readers are given a glimpse of the not so glamorous but nonetheless triumphant life of a mother and the love for her children.
With the light is an example of “josei manga” (Japanese comics for women). Usually targeted to adult women, the stories tend to be about the everyday experiences of (usually) adult women in Japan. They are characteristically less idealized, less fanciful, and less derived – and as a result, in my opinion, are more engaging!
Calgary Public Library currently holds the first 4 volumes of this series with more on the way -- I urge you to give it a try!
Other Josei series:
NANA
Story and art by Ai Yazawa
Nana follows the adventures of two very different girls named Nana: one seeking fame and recognition and the other seeking love and happiness. After meeting on the train during their move to Tokyo, and later meeting unexpectedly while looking for an apartment, the two decide to live together in apartment #707 (The number “7” can be pronounced “nana” in Japanese). This story chronicles their friendship and their lives as they pursue their dreams.