Daughter, Days, Dreams.......a perfect fantasy world

In the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy, the reader may originally assume that the story is about angels (good) and demons (bad). However, it soon becomes apparent that this is not about angels and demons as we understand them but rather about two races who are locked in a deadly struggle for survival.  As their war escalates and the fight for survival becomes more desperate, it appears that they have tapped into the world of humans for resources.
We meet Karou, a beautiful blue-haired orphan girl who lives alone, attends art school, and disappears on mysterious errands.  Her only human friends are Zuzana, a tiny, fierce girl and Mik, Zuzana's boyfriend.  Although they express concern about Karou, they have learned that there are certain things she won't (or can't) share.  They provide both comedy and comfort in a trilogy that could have been dark and desperate instead of an inspiring and rewarding read.

Karou appears to consort with monsters and have an angel for an enemy. Akiva, the angel hunting her, appears to be haunted by his past and lost love. He is tortured by his past and a desire for revenge, she is determined to save her demon friends.  It soon becomes apparent that the demons are not entirely demonic nor are the angels completely angelic. They are two separate races who despise one another.  Karou and Akiva's relationship is the source of unending heartbreak in the past and blossoming hope for a future.
It is this relationship that is the driving force behind the books.  Karou is strong and intelligent, not whining or fearful.  Although Akiva's personality is originally dark, brooding and vengeful, it becomes lighter, as though he comes back to himself, through his contact with Karou.  Even in times of tears and pain, the relationship is well developed with a tender back story and an uncertain future that they are struggling to create together.
Throughout the trilogy, the author takes the reader on a journey that destroys assumptions and opens the mind.  This is not merely a love story between two otherworldly creatures. This trilogy is about longing, forgiveness, understanding and redemption.  We come away believing in the world that the author has created.  A highly recommended teen read that adults will love.

Don't just "like" us on Facebook, we want you to be our Friend

Thank you to all who turned out for our 16th anniversary celebration this past weekend. The festivities began with an author visit and book discussion with Brian Freeman, (our first author to attract self-proclaimed "groupies" to an event).  Mr. Freeman shared his unique story of getting published and read from a recently released novella in his Jonathan Stride series, Turn to Stone. Stride stops in Shawano, WI one snowy evening to visit his mother's grave and stumbles upon a shocking small town mystery in the process. The author has also recently released his eighth suspense novel in the Stride series called The Cold Nowhere.  This story has the detective back in his native town of Duluth, MN battling the elements and the worst parts of human nature.
The book discussion pick for July's event was a stand-alone psychological suspense novel called The Bone House.  However, the author has recently completed a second book called Season of Fear which features the same detective.  Although the second book is not set in lovely Door County, WI, it promises to have all the thrills and chills of the first title in the author's second suspense series.
It's wonderful that we have the means to host author events at our library. Most authors are eager to share their love of writing, the writing process, and even give tips on how to get your work published.  They are thrilled to talk about their work and enjoy it with others.  The exchange allows the reader to gain new perspective and insight into the author's work. And so, dear readers, the biggest "thank you" for our most recent author visit goes out to the Friends of the Manitowoc Public Library group who support these fun and enriching activities.  (It's extremely easy to join and then you can share your love of the library with like-minded folks.)  

The (fictitious) History of Ice Cream

Occasionally you will meet a character who manages to be both compelling and reprehensible at the same time.  This individual is shrewd, daring, bold and self-serving.  Oftentimes it is those contradictions of character that creates the blend of personality that causes the reader to become and remain transfixed.  What will happen next?  What will this person do next?  What won't they do in order to survive?

The queen of expediency.

This is the story of a young Jewish girl named Malka who immigrates from Russia to the United States with her family.  From the beginning, there are hints that this move may be the end of the family. While waiting for their boat, Mama and the other girls got sick which delayed the family's departure.  Malka and Papa were left to themselves and the tickets that were originally bought for South Africa are traded in for tickets headed west, across the Atlantic Ocean. Malka, the keeper of the secret money stash and tickets, was convinced by her father that this would be the best move for him and the family.
Their journey takes them to New York where they have no friends or family. Mama is furious with Malka and Papa but does her best to provide.  Soon the family is desperate and the two youngest girls (whom no one will hire due to the recent Triangle Factory Fire) are on the street doing odd jobs for pennies in order to help the family survive. Papa is quickly fading from the picture.
When Malka is run over in the street by the Italian man selling ices, she is abandoned by her mother for now she is crippled and useless. She is taken in by the man and his family.  Although she gradually becomes a part of the family, she is never really a family member.  This separation is the catalyst that will inspire her to work her way to the pinnacle of the ice cream trade.  It is also the impetus that causes her to be instrumental in the downfall of the very family that saved her.  As Malka, now named Lillian, would say, "You will see Darlings, my conscience never forgave me."
The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street takes the reader through the major political events and social changes of the twentieth century.  From failure to success and back again, this character has learned that she must make her own way even if it is at the expense of others.  Unlike Forrest Gump, whose successes were based on happenstance and dumb luck, this character commands her story through force of will.  This may not be a relaxing beach read, but it's engrossing none the less.
If you liked The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street, you may also enjoy:

Unreliable, Untruthful, Unbelievably Readable

A conundrum, a mystery wrapped inside of an enigma.  Selective amnesia, this is a coping mechanism which may aid in the physical and mental healing of a patient.  An extended family vacation may be a period of time which can lead to the strengthening of the bonds of love or the breaking of the bonds of love.  In conjunction with family vacations, privilege and wealth can be the final factor which decimates a family.  Symptoms of the aforementioned factors include manipulation, lies, prejudice, fear, in-fighting, favoritism and accidents.

We Were Liars is the story of a young girl from a wealthy family who can’t recall anything from the summer she was 15.  She is now suffering from severe migraine headaches.  She no longer desires to own possessions.  She can’t remember how she ended up hurt and in the hospital nor does she understand why her favorite cousins won’t contact her.  After spending a year healing, she desperately wants to return to their private island for the summer to see her cousins and hopefully find answers to her questions.

This mystery, with its unreliable narrator and family tensions, will keep the reader guessing.  The author slowly reveals the grasping avarice of the adults which has grown from the manipulations of the family patriarch.  This sets the stage for a mystery that will keep you glued to the pages because they were liars.

Two additional titles for mystery and suspense readers who enjoy working through clues dropped by a narrator that may or may not be telling the truth are Judy Blundell's What I Saw and How I Lied and Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey.  In What I Saw and How I Lied, the naive narrator often doesn't understand the underlying motivations and behaviors of the adults around her.  She slowly awakens to the world of adults only to find that it isn't as glamorous or safe as she supposed.  Elizabeth is Missing chronicles the desperation and confusion of one woman as she battles her personal weaknesses and attempts to convince those around her that her only friend is missing.  Her search is hindered by the downward spiral of her health and her memory. The reader must determine which events are real and present and what are memories from the past.  These are great reads for those prefer to solve the mystery for themselves instead of waiting for a detective to spell it out for them. 

I Am So Glad

I am so glad that summer's here.  It's time to bring home the plans and outdoor decorating ideas so that I can cozy up to my favorite book in one of these:

So relaxing!  Everyone should have one.

These next few months when we burst forth briefly from our weather-tight cocoons are a time of  both action and inaction.  Several of us have hurriedly planted a garden (during the few days when it wasn't raining, snowing, or blowing) this spring.  A few ambitious home owners have managed to start their annual maintenance projects and may even have begun the process of tackling a home improvement project.  Many brave souls are in the process of planning the family vacation, or perhaps the family "stay-cation", which often involves adventures such as camping......with children.

I am so glad that summer's here.  I plan to finish The Magicians by Lev Grossman in the next few days.  I also have Shotgun Lovesongs waiting at the top of my book pile.  Unfortunately, one of the hazards of working in a library is that we are constantly distracted from our lists and reading plans by the books we are passing to patrons.  Polly Horvath's Lord and lady Bunny-Almost Royalty! ambushed me the last time I visited our children's department.  Two chapters into the book on my lunch hour, I had laughed out loud several times.  My goal this summer: work on reading faster. Hammock, here I come.

The Science of Summer Reading

What are you doing this summer?  Have you already made plans to spend a few weeks at the cabin or hours out on the lake fishing?  Are you lucky enough to be taking a trip somewhere new or exotic? Perhaps you consider camping in a tent to be the height of luxury and fun or maybe you've decided on a "stay-cation" this year due to the summer sports schedules and activities.  Wherever you go, whatever you do, don't forget about your library.
Summer library reading programs and activities are not just for kids. While the library is a wonderful place for children to access books and entertainment, your library has not forgotten that adults need those things too.  The adult summer library reading program is designed to challenge readers to venture outside of their reading comfort zone.
For example, adult readers will be asked to read at least one science fiction novel this summer, such as Stephen King's 11/22/63 which combines alternate history, time travel, mystery and suspense.  This novel is also over 800 pages long which may make it overwhelming to the average reader.  Several book lists will be available to help guide the reader to a book they may enjoy.
Many readers love series; whether they are about a detective with unique crime solving abilities, a family or group of friends who each have an interesting love story, or a place full of entertaining home town characters who get into scrapes or pull together to help one another.  Dune by Frank Herbert is the beginning of an epic series full of conflict and adventure. This popular space opera has been continued by the author's son, Brian Herbert along with Kevin J. Anderson.  A reader could spend the entire summer traveling and enjoying the "Duniverse".

With the popularity of The Hunger Games and Divergent, titles about dystopian societies have become some of the most sought after science fiction books.  Books about oppressive, totalitarian, inhumane societies are nothing new.  The Iron Heel by Jack London chronicles the rise of a small, tyrannical group who has taken over the United States.  The book chronicles the rise of these societies throughout the world and the resistance to them. George Orwell's 1984 and Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 are examples of similar titles. If you haven't had the pleasure of reading one of these classics, this summer's program will provide the motivation you need.
Many modern authors enjoy blending a wide variety of elements into their books.  For example, steampunk combines steam-powered fantastic machinery with a setting in the 19th century. One might argue that a book such as this is really an alternative history or a fantasy. However, the science is based on real science even if the machines never existed. These elements allow the author to create unique settings and characters.  These books like Heart of Iron by Ekaterina Sedia, are often filled with fantastic adventure, romance, and mystery.  If you are a reader of romance and have decided to accept the libraries' summer reading challenge, steampunk will probably be your best bet.
No matter what type of reading you enjoy, there are science fiction titles that you will enjoy.  The trick is to find those books so that you can join us on our journey through the "Literary Elements".  Not to mention, we have prizes. What would a summer reading program be without prizes and incentives?  An assignment.

That's a Keeper!

There are people who write and then there are people who know how to write. Reading can be a wonderful individual experience when one is enjoying the work of an accomplished author.  Whether the purpose of reading is for entertainment or knowledge, it's truly a bonus when both are delivered.  

My mother is a voracious reader.  The kind of reader that will pick up almost any book (except romance novels) and give it a chance.  When she comes to visit, I try to have several books of fiction and non-fiction for her to choose from.  Occasionally, one of my selections will be a home run with her.  When that happens, all bets are off and most activities are cancelled because pulling her out of a good book is like trying to separate a starving person from their food source.

During Mom's latest visit, I insisted that she read Things That Matter by Charles Krauthammer even though I knew she wouldn't have time to finish it.  I explained to her that though the main body of book is a compilation of the author's newspaper articles, there is much more to it than that.  It's not merely the subject matter that draws the reader in; it's the wording, the turn of phrase, and the personal stories that immerse the reader.

That's what happened to Mom.  Her reaction to the suggestion was the half-hearted comment "I think I've seen this guy on TV" but I prevailed.  (She also wasn't too excited about the other choices I presented to her.)  Less than ten minutes later, I heard her laughing.  Walking past her in my kitchen, it was instantly apparent to me that she was now lost to me until I dragged her out of the house for lunch.

On the way to lunch I asked her what she thought about the book.  Her response, "I'm going to have to buy that book when I get home.  That guy can write."  A ringing endorsement from a discerning lifetime reader who owns a Kindle.  Now that we've reached the age when downloading a book is more convenient than owning a book, it's reassuring to know that there remains those people who know what's important. When a book fills the dual need of entertainment and information, it's worth keeping on your actual bookshelf.