Please visit us at our new address:
click the link above to go directly to the new site
Friday, March 30, 2012
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Happy St Patrick's Day
Practice Random Acts of Green!
Buy a green book!
Give a green book!
Give a book on green issues!
Enjoy a green book on gardening, nature or flowers!
We're waiting for you in the Friends' Bookstore!
Buy a green book!
Give a green book!
Give a book on green issues!
Enjoy a green book on gardening, nature or flowers!
We're waiting for you in the Friends' Bookstore!
St Patrick's Day
Get Your Green On!
by Helen McIver
St Patrick (born c. 387 in Wales - d 17 March, 493) was a Romano-Briton, brought Christianity to Ireland, and is recognized as a patron saint of Ireland or the Apostle of Ireland. Brigid of Kildare and Colmcille are also formally patron saints.
St. Patrick's Day is the feast day of the man who brought Christianity to Ireland. It is celebrated both in and outside of Ireland, as both a solemn church holiday and especially outside of Ireland, as a celebration of Ireland itself. There will be parades and celebrations in cities all across the world, but the holiday has always been most popular in the United States, especially in cities with large Irish-American populations.In Chicago, they dye the Chicago River green every year. And in New York City, there's a huge parade that goes up Fifth Avenue from 44th Street to 86th Street, past St. Patrick's Cathedral.
Saint Patrick (Latin: Patricius; Primitive Irish: Qatrikias; Old Irish: Cothraige or Coithrige; Middle Irish: Pátraic; Irish: Pádraig;British: *Patrikios; Old Welsh: Patric; Middle Welsh: Padric; Welsh: Padrig; Old English: Patric; ) (St Paddy, if you must use a diminuitive, but never St Patty!)
Friday, March 16, 2012
National Book Awards
(From their Website:) History of the National Book Awards: On March 16, 1950, publishers, editors, writers, and critics gathered at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City to celebrate the first annual National Book Awards, an award given to writers by writers. The American Book Publisher’s Council, The Book Manufacturers’ Institute, and The American Booksellers’ Association jointly sponsored the Awards, bringing together the American literary community for the first time to honor the year’s best work in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. As the Boston Herald reported the following day, “literary history was indeed in the making.”
The National Book Awards (NBA) quickly established a reputation for recognizing literary excellence, awarding William Carlos Williams the first poetry prize for Paterson: Book III and Selected Poems. Within a mere decade the NBA would acknowledge the work of writers such as William Faulkner, Saul Bellow, Wallace Stevens, Rachel Carson, Ralph Ellison, W.H. Auden, Marianne Moore, and Bernard Malamud – authors who have helped shape the foundation of American literature.
From the mid-sixties through the seventies, the NBA expanded, adding new award categories for Science, Philosophy and Religion, History and Biography, Arts and Letters, Translation, Contemporary Thought, Autobiography, First Novel, Original Paperback, and Children’s Book.
In 1980, various publishers who sponsored the event sought to broaden further the audience for American literature by honoring an even wider range of American writers. As a result, the 30-year-old National Book Awards was discontinued and The American Book Awards (TABA) established. TABA gave a total of 28 prizes in 16 separate categories, recognizing a hardcover and paperback Winner in most categories. Winners and Finalists were chosen by a committee of publishers, booksellers and distributors, librarians, and authors and critics.
With its expanded scope, it soon became obvious that so many categories diffused the Awards’ impact. By 1984 the Board had reduced the number of awards categories to three and, in 1987, reestablished the National Book Awards with an emphasis that the Awards are given by writers to writers. Since 1996, independent panels of five writers have chosen the National Book Award Winners in four categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and Young People’s Literature.
Now, over a half-century since its inception, the National Book Awards continues to recognize the best of American literature, raising the cultural appreciation of great writing in the country while advancing the careers of both established and emerging writers like Richard Powers, Jonathan Franzen, and Lily Tuck.
The National Book Awards (NBA) quickly established a reputation for recognizing literary excellence, awarding William Carlos Williams the first poetry prize for Paterson: Book III and Selected Poems. Within a mere decade the NBA would acknowledge the work of writers such as William Faulkner, Saul Bellow, Wallace Stevens, Rachel Carson, Ralph Ellison, W.H. Auden, Marianne Moore, and Bernard Malamud – authors who have helped shape the foundation of American literature.
From the mid-sixties through the seventies, the NBA expanded, adding new award categories for Science, Philosophy and Religion, History and Biography, Arts and Letters, Translation, Contemporary Thought, Autobiography, First Novel, Original Paperback, and Children’s Book.
In 1980, various publishers who sponsored the event sought to broaden further the audience for American literature by honoring an even wider range of American writers. As a result, the 30-year-old National Book Awards was discontinued and The American Book Awards (TABA) established. TABA gave a total of 28 prizes in 16 separate categories, recognizing a hardcover and paperback Winner in most categories. Winners and Finalists were chosen by a committee of publishers, booksellers and distributors, librarians, and authors and critics.
With its expanded scope, it soon became obvious that so many categories diffused the Awards’ impact. By 1984 the Board had reduced the number of awards categories to three and, in 1987, reestablished the National Book Awards with an emphasis that the Awards are given by writers to writers. Since 1996, independent panels of five writers have chosen the National Book Award Winners in four categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and Young People’s Literature.
Now, over a half-century since its inception, the National Book Awards continues to recognize the best of American literature, raising the cultural appreciation of great writing in the country while advancing the careers of both established and emerging writers like Richard Powers, Jonathan Franzen, and Lily Tuck.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Today in History - March 12, 1901
 |
| Andrew Carnegie 1835-1919 |
by Catherine H. Armstrong
If you're a book lover and have spent very much time at all in libraries, then the name Andrew Carnegie isn't new to you. Many libraries across the nation still bear his name; my own library growing up in the small town of El Reno, Oklahoma, was named in his honor - The El Reno Carnegie Library.
A native of Scotland, Carnegie came from humble beginnings and was the son of a handloom weaver. Though he had very little formal education, his family believed strongly in the importance of books and learning; a belief that must have stayed with him throughout his entire life.
After moving to the United States at the age of 13, Carnegie worked a series of odd jobs including work in a factory, telegraph messenger and then later as a telegraph operator for the Pennsylvania Railroad. There he learned the railroad industry and general business principals and, within three short years, was promoted to Superintendent. Eventually, his experience in the railroad allowed him to broaden his interests and eventually became a self-made man and steel tycoon, making him one of the wealthiest businessmen in the 19th Century.
 |
| The Chatfield Public Library Built with funds from a Carnegie Grant of $6,000 |
A huge "thank you" to Mr. Carnegie for paving the way for the readers, writers and book lovers of today.
Sources:
" Andrew Carnegie." 2012. Biography.com 25 Feb 2012, 01:13, http://www.biography.com/people/andrew-carnegie-9238756
"Carnegie Libraries: The Future Made Bright." 2012. NPS.gov 25 Feb 2012, 01:19, http://www.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/50carnegie/50carnegie.htm
"Andrew Carnegie Offers New York $5.2 MIllion to Build Libraries." Timelines.com 25 Feb 2012, 01:31, http://timelines.com/1901/3/12/andrew-carnegie-offers-new-york-52-million-to-build-libraries
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Don't Forget - Our Blog is Moving!
Don't forget! The Friends of the Rochester Public Library blog will be moving Tomorrow, March 5th! Please take a moment to check out our new blog-hosting site at www.friends4rpl.com.
We'll continue to bring you the same great information and book reviews to which you've become accustomed, but there's just so much more! We'll offer easy to view tabs with information about upcoming events, Friends' Membership and other valuable information.
Take a look this weekend and then come back tomorrow to help us celebrate our new home!
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Friday, March 2, 2012
Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!
Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!
by Catherine. H. Armstrong
 |
| Theodore Seuss Geisel 1904-1991 |
Whoa! His last name was Geisel? Why do we call him Dr. Seuss, then? Believe it or not, Dr. Seuss used to tell people that he was saving his real name for when he finally penned the "Great American Novel" that every author aspires. Probably that wasn't true, but it sure made for a great story which was, after all, exactly what Dr. Seuss was all about.
Surprisingly, Dr. Seuss had no children of his own. When asked about this, he once responded in typical Dr. Seuss fashion - with a smile and a bit of humor saying, "You make 'em. I'll amuse 'em."
Seuss' first book was, quite surprisingly, not an easy sell to publishers. After being turned down by dozens of publishers, Seuss was on the verge of throwing it away when he - completely by chance - ran into a former classmate who had recently been appointed juvenile editor of Vanguard Press. This former classmate, Mike McClintock, invited Seuss up to his office and immediately offered a contract for the overwhelmingly rejected, And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street.
Dr. Seuss was often asked where he got ideas for his stories. Since the answer to this question was a mystery even to himself, Seuss would frequently answer this question with a completely invented-on-the-spot answer.
Said Seuss to one interviewer:
"This is the most asked question of any successful author. Most authors will not disclose their source for fear that other, less successful authors will chisel in on their territory. However, I am willing to take that chance. I get all my ideas in Switzerland, near the Forka Pass. There is a little town called Gletch, and two thousand feet up above Gletch there is a smaller hamlet called Uber Gletch. I go there on the fourth of August every summer to get my cuckoo clock repaired. While the cuckoo is in the hospital, I wander around and talk to the people in the streets. They are very strange people, and I get my ideas from them."
Celebrate the birth of one of world's most beloved writers with a loved one this week. Read to your children. Offer to read in a classroom. Or even just take a moment to regress back to your own child with a copy of Green Eggs and Ham.
For more information on Dr. Seuss, together with video and interactive games for children, visit www.seussville.com.
Sources:
Nel, Phillip. Biography of Dr. Seuss. 2012. Seussville.com 29 Feb 2012, 18:23, http://www.seussville.com/#/author
March 5th - Rochester Reads Event - Civil War Women
Join Us On Monday
March 5th
7:00 PM
Rochester Public Library Auditorium
Guest Presenter:
Vicki Wendel
Thursday, March 1, 2012
March 2nd Begins "Read Across America Week"
Read Across America Week!
by Helen McIver
In honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday on March 2nd, the National Education Association (NEA) has set aside this week to honor the birthday of one of the world's most beloved children's author.
The National Education Association's Read Across America began in 1998 and is an annual reading motivation and awareness program celebrated every March 2nd to encourage reading and literacy. They hope to create lifelong successful readers.
This year's theme is green in 2012 as NEA partners with The Lorax movie to bring the magic of books and film to the community.
There are so many wonderful Dr. Seuss books which inspire and encourage reading, and there is nothing like reading with a child. Joy can be found not only by sharing the story, but also by sharing their reactions and discussing their thoughts.
Don’t forget to read to your adult loved ones as well. That special poem, silly rhyme, moving passage, joke that you can’t wait to share, or just the book you are reading now.
March 4th - Rochester Reads Event - Civil War Weapons
Join us this Sunday!
March 4th
3:00 - 4:00 PM
Olmsted County History Center
1195 West Circle Drive SW
Rochester, MN
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Book Review - Thirty Rooms to Hide In
Book Review
Thirty Rooms to Hide In
Luke Longstreet Sullivan
"'The Shining... but funnier.'That's about the best way I can describe Thirty Rooms To Hide In. It's the story of growing up with my five brothers in a big house in Minnesota. Yet even with winters raging outside and our father raging within, our mother's protection allowed us to have a wildly fun, thoroughly dysfunc-tional time growing up in the 1950s and ‘60s."
~ Luke Longstreet Sullivan
I rarely enjoy memoirs, so it was with no little amount of reservation that I began reading Thirty Rooms to Hide In at the suggestion of one of my Facebook Friends, who mentioned that it was her book club's current selection and that she just "couldn't put it down." Probably I would've let the suggestion go at simply that - a suggestion - but then she mentioned that it was not just a memoir; but the memoir of a child who'd grown up in Rochester and who's father was a Mayo Clinic orthopedic surgeon. And then I realized: the family had lived in one of those gorgeous homes that so many of the Mayo doctors lived in! Wow! What would it be like to live in one of those homes? What would it be like to grow up in one of those homes? With that, I was sold. I had to read this book just to satisfy my voyeuristic nature, if nothing else.
To my surprise, this book was very well-done and much like the author had tagged it - "The Shining...but funnier." But, unlike my expectations, it wasn't "funnier" in a comedic way; but "funnier" in the way that sometimes you simply have to laugh to survive, kind of way.
Thirty Rooms to Hide In is a memoir by the 5th son of a well-respected 1950s Mayo Clinic surgeon (Dr. Roger Sullivan) who, while brilliant, suffered from severe alcoholism and mental instability. The onset of his disease was subtle but, once engaged, grabbed ahold of the young doctor and changed the lives of his wife and children forever.
In a time when alcoholism and chemical dependency were not fully understood, and domestic abuse was "between a husband and his wife," there was no safety net to catch the family as the bottom fell out from beneath their feet at their father and husband's loss of sanity.
Thirty Rooms to Hide In is a gripping memoir that takes the reader back to the 1950s and '60s when the rules of society were more repressed, the Cold War was a daily threat, and "sex, drugs and rock 'n roll" were just beginning to hit the landscape...but not so much in the small and conservative town of Rochester, Minnesota.
Throughout the book, the author vacillates between the rebellious antics of he and his five brothers as they struggled to understand and cope with their father's behavior, and on their mother - Myra Longstreet Sullivan - who deserves a great deal of credit for the love she brought to their home in spite of the fear and oppression that was their daily lives. As a reader, I found her to be an inspiration to all mothers on how to not only survive, but to persevere against the most insurmountable odds.
Thirty Rooms to Hide In is a fantastic, though sometimes painful, read; and one I would recommend especially to Rochester readers as it tells the story of "one of our own."
This book is available at the Rochester Public Library and through SELCO interlibrary loan. For more information about this book, visit the author's website dedicated to this book at www.thirtyroomstohidein.com. There you can find more information about the author's life, video footage from their youth, letters and diary entries from that era, audio sound bytes of the two oldest brothers' band, photographs from the author's youth and the grown men he and his brothers have become today.
~ Catherine H. Armstrong
Thirty Rooms to Hide In is a memoir by the 5th son of a well-respected 1950s Mayo Clinic surgeon (Dr. Roger Sullivan) who, while brilliant, suffered from severe alcoholism and mental instability. The onset of his disease was subtle but, once engaged, grabbed ahold of the young doctor and changed the lives of his wife and children forever.
In a time when alcoholism and chemical dependency were not fully understood, and domestic abuse was "between a husband and his wife," there was no safety net to catch the family as the bottom fell out from beneath their feet at their father and husband's loss of sanity.
Thirty Rooms to Hide In is a gripping memoir that takes the reader back to the 1950s and '60s when the rules of society were more repressed, the Cold War was a daily threat, and "sex, drugs and rock 'n roll" were just beginning to hit the landscape...but not so much in the small and conservative town of Rochester, Minnesota.
Throughout the book, the author vacillates between the rebellious antics of he and his five brothers as they struggled to understand and cope with their father's behavior, and on their mother - Myra Longstreet Sullivan - who deserves a great deal of credit for the love she brought to their home in spite of the fear and oppression that was their daily lives. As a reader, I found her to be an inspiration to all mothers on how to not only survive, but to persevere against the most insurmountable odds.
Thirty Rooms to Hide In is a fantastic, though sometimes painful, read; and one I would recommend especially to Rochester readers as it tells the story of "one of our own."
This book is available at the Rochester Public Library and through SELCO interlibrary loan. For more information about this book, visit the author's website dedicated to this book at www.thirtyroomstohidein.com. There you can find more information about the author's life, video footage from their youth, letters and diary entries from that era, audio sound bytes of the two oldest brothers' band, photographs from the author's youth and the grown men he and his brothers have become today.
~ Catherine H. Armstrong
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
March 8th - A Special Whisky Tasting Event
Help Support the Rochester Public Library
Thursday, March 8th
6-9pm
Plummer House
Tickets are $30 - Registration Required
Register online now at
or call 328-2341.
See you there!
We're Moving!
We are excited to announce that we're moving!! On Monday, March 5th, this blog will move to our new home at http://www.friends4rpl.wordpress.com. Please take a moment to check out our new location between now and then and let us know what you think. While there, enter your e-mail address to subscribe so that you never miss another update from Friends of the Rochester Public Library.
If you have any questions or concerns about this move, please don't hesitate to let us know by commenting on this blog or sending us an e-mail at friends4RPLMN@gmail.com.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Whisky Tasting
“May you live as long as you want and never want as long as you live”
A special tasting and seminar of Laphroaig as a fund raiser for the Rochester Public Library will be taking place on Thursday, March 8, 2012 from 6:00 – 9:00 pm at the Plummer House (1091 Plummer Lane SW, Rochester, MN)
Born
in Tallahassee, Florida this true Florida native now calls the Midwest
her home. Well-known in the Minnesota/Wisconsin market Stacey has
represented many of the leading Scotch brands in the spirits industry.
Today however, her true passion for the Islay region has paved the way
to her present position as a Laphroaig Brand Ambassador and Official
Minnesota Protector of the Peat.For more than 10 years Stacey has lead hundreds of presentations for consumers and now focuses her area of expertise in Scotch whisky tastings for bartenders, social organizations and novice scotch enthusiasts alike. Both informative and entertaining, her presentations have made her an in-demand speaker and spokesperson.
Stacey’s love of Laphroaig will not be mistaken as she walks you thru the fascinating and seductive world of Scotch whisky.
Slainte!
Friday, February 24, 2012
David McCullough - Nonfiction
If you are fan of American History, you probably know David McCullough from his books, his PBS specials, his commentary, and narration (notable documentaries include The Civil War and Seabiscuit). McCullough is also a presidential biographer, the winner of two National Book Awards, two Pulitzer Prizes, and one of the best-selling historians. He learned about presidential politics early and in raised voices: "My father was totally against FDR. My mother thought FDR could do no wrong. They were both quite hard of hearing ... the decibel level at our dining room was high."
McCullough wanted to be a painter. However, at Yale he decided to major in English influenced by John O'Hara, John Hersey, Brendan Gill and Thornton Wilder. Wilder inspired McCullough to become a writer. Wilder told him how he chose a subject: he would find something he wanted to know more about, learn what was written about it, and if there wasn't much or it wasn't good, he would write it himself. The success of McCullough’s first book The Johnstown Flood (1968), enabled him to write full time. He then wrote a book The Path Between the Seas (1977), on the Panama Canal, which President Jimmy Carter used as a key reference book in negotiating the Panama Canal treaties. McCullough wrote three biographies about U.S. presidents. The first, about Teddy Roosevelt" called Mornings on Horseback (1981) won the National Book Award. The second, on Harry Truman, took him 10 years to research and write. Truman (1993) won the Pulitzer Prize.
The third (also Pulitzer winning) presidential biography concerns founding father John Adams. There were no interviews or photographs to help him with his research, but McCullough read all of Adams' diaries and the letters (over a thousand) between John and Abigail. McCullough wanted to try to get inside the head of John Adams, not just to read what Adams wrote, but also to read what Adams read for pleasure in the 18th century. He read the English classics of Swift, Defoe, Samuel Johnson, Smollett, and Pope. These books allowed him to "marinate" his head in John Adams' thoughts and vocabulary. He said: "You can make the argument that there's no such thing as the past. Nobody lived in the past. They lived in the present. It is their present, not our present, and they don't know how it's going to come out. They weren't just like we are because they lived in that very different time. You can't understand them if you don't understand how they perceived reality."
Recently McCullough published a book on Paris, the City of Light, one of my favorite places: The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris. Yet again McCullough has artfully written about many Americans who went in search of themselves, noting "Not all pioneers went west." This wonderful book is a series of vignettes, placed in broad categories during an incredibly productive, mesmorizing, exciting era (1830s-1900s). Many of the people you will recognize from Mark Twain to Samuel Morse, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Hawthorne and Emerson. New faces and names were vividly brought to life (Elihu Washburne, Charles Sumner, Henry Bowditch and Thomas Gold Appleton). This history incorporates the cultural dynamics and innovative era which was crucial to and had a profound effect on the development of the American nation. Paris was the place to be for Americans from every state (24+) and from many other countries, in nearly every profession (artists, doctors, writers, politicians, architects, scientists, etc). It was four times the size of NYC and the cultural center of Europe. Our nation owes France much for their timely support during our Revolution, subsequent recognition and trade (the Louisiana Purchase also made our westward expansion possible) and their cultural exchanges. McCullough brilliantly captures the essence of 1800s Paris, from the simple joys of living in the city to the cultural delights to the cultural changes and improvements. We can’t physically travel back in time, but his books are a banquet experience. The Greater Journey is well researched, well paced (riveting even!) and always interesting.
One of the joys of reviewing a book is that I get to revisit, re-reading the pages, the quotes, the emotions which so often lead me on to further books, works, people or adventures. I can’t believe I have never been to Saint-Gaudens Memorial Garden National Park in NH. I will rectify that this summer. I have already made a separate trip to see the Farragut Monument in Madison Sq Park, NYC. The extensive Bibliography has given me wonderful treasures for further exploration.
It seems we will always have Paris. Read on and make it your own.
Opening Line: "They spoke of it then as a dream of a lifetime, and for many, for all the difficulties and setbacks encountered, it was to be one of the best times ever."
Closing Line: "What the new century might hold for them and their generation, there was no telling. For now it was enough just to be in Paris."
Great Quotes:"It is a queer feeling to find oneself a foreigner." Nathaniel Willis
"Good Americans when they die go to Paris" Thomas Gold Appleton (quoted by Oliver Wendell Holmes)
"We had no money…but we wanted for nothing." Isadora Duncan
~ Helen McIver
HWM2012
McCullough wanted to be a painter. However, at Yale he decided to major in English influenced by John O'Hara, John Hersey, Brendan Gill and Thornton Wilder. Wilder inspired McCullough to become a writer. Wilder told him how he chose a subject: he would find something he wanted to know more about, learn what was written about it, and if there wasn't much or it wasn't good, he would write it himself. The success of McCullough’s first book The Johnstown Flood (1968), enabled him to write full time. He then wrote a book The Path Between the Seas (1977), on the Panama Canal, which President Jimmy Carter used as a key reference book in negotiating the Panama Canal treaties. McCullough wrote three biographies about U.S. presidents. The first, about Teddy Roosevelt" called Mornings on Horseback (1981) won the National Book Award. The second, on Harry Truman, took him 10 years to research and write. Truman (1993) won the Pulitzer Prize.
The third (also Pulitzer winning) presidential biography concerns founding father John Adams. There were no interviews or photographs to help him with his research, but McCullough read all of Adams' diaries and the letters (over a thousand) between John and Abigail. McCullough wanted to try to get inside the head of John Adams, not just to read what Adams wrote, but also to read what Adams read for pleasure in the 18th century. He read the English classics of Swift, Defoe, Samuel Johnson, Smollett, and Pope. These books allowed him to "marinate" his head in John Adams' thoughts and vocabulary. He said: "You can make the argument that there's no such thing as the past. Nobody lived in the past. They lived in the present. It is their present, not our present, and they don't know how it's going to come out. They weren't just like we are because they lived in that very different time. You can't understand them if you don't understand how they perceived reality."
Recently McCullough published a book on Paris, the City of Light, one of my favorite places: The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris. Yet again McCullough has artfully written about many Americans who went in search of themselves, noting "Not all pioneers went west." This wonderful book is a series of vignettes, placed in broad categories during an incredibly productive, mesmorizing, exciting era (1830s-1900s). Many of the people you will recognize from Mark Twain to Samuel Morse, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Hawthorne and Emerson. New faces and names were vividly brought to life (Elihu Washburne, Charles Sumner, Henry Bowditch and Thomas Gold Appleton). This history incorporates the cultural dynamics and innovative era which was crucial to and had a profound effect on the development of the American nation. Paris was the place to be for Americans from every state (24+) and from many other countries, in nearly every profession (artists, doctors, writers, politicians, architects, scientists, etc). It was four times the size of NYC and the cultural center of Europe. Our nation owes France much for their timely support during our Revolution, subsequent recognition and trade (the Louisiana Purchase also made our westward expansion possible) and their cultural exchanges. McCullough brilliantly captures the essence of 1800s Paris, from the simple joys of living in the city to the cultural delights to the cultural changes and improvements. We can’t physically travel back in time, but his books are a banquet experience. The Greater Journey is well researched, well paced (riveting even!) and always interesting.
One of the joys of reviewing a book is that I get to revisit, re-reading the pages, the quotes, the emotions which so often lead me on to further books, works, people or adventures. I can’t believe I have never been to Saint-Gaudens Memorial Garden National Park in NH. I will rectify that this summer. I have already made a separate trip to see the Farragut Monument in Madison Sq Park, NYC. The extensive Bibliography has given me wonderful treasures for further exploration.
It seems we will always have Paris. Read on and make it your own.
Opening Line: "They spoke of it then as a dream of a lifetime, and for many, for all the difficulties and setbacks encountered, it was to be one of the best times ever."
Closing Line: "What the new century might hold for them and their generation, there was no telling. For now it was enough just to be in Paris."
Great Quotes:"It is a queer feeling to find oneself a foreigner." Nathaniel Willis
"Good Americans when they die go to Paris" Thomas Gold Appleton (quoted by Oliver Wendell Holmes)
"We had no money…but we wanted for nothing." Isadora Duncan
~ Helen McIver
HWM2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Winter 2011 Newsletter is Now Available!
Have you seen the most recent edition of the Friends of the Library newsletter? If not, what'cha waiting for? There's tons of great information in there! Just follow the links below to see the newsletter you want to read. Take a look today!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
An Invitation! - Book Talk with Friends
 |
| Featured author, Ken Allsen will discuss his book on March 8th |
Join us March 8th
Book Talk
with Friends
1:00 pm
Plummer House
1091 Plummer Lane SW
Rochster, MN 55902
Friends of Rochester Public Library invites you to join us for an afternoon of conversation, coffee and cake at Plummer House. Popular local author and historian Ken Allsen will talk about his books and will feature his most recent work, Old Frontenac Minnesota.
In addition, the Friends' Bookstore will have a selection of books for sale by Minnesota
Mystery writers and books of regional interest.
Cost is $10.00 and reservations can be made online by following this link or by calling (507) 328-2341.
Mark your calendars and confirm your attendance today! Remember: Thursday, March 8th at 1:00 PM at Rochester's Plummer House. Don't miss it!
Monday, February 20, 2012
Presidents' Day! "How to" download eBooks
by Catherine H. Armstrong
It's Presidents' Day and libraries across the nation - including the Rochester Public Library and those in the surrounding communities - are closed to celebrate! But just because you can't physically walk into the library doesn't mean you need to be denied the opportunity to check out that book you've been dying to read! If you have an e-reader or computer, you can still go to Rochester or SELCO's digital libraries and get that book you've been wanting and download it in just seconds. It's really quite easy! All you need is an active library card and either a computer or an e-reader.
To begin, you will want to determine which format you need. The most popular e-readers are the Nook, the Kindle and the iPad. If you're using a Nook, then the format you need is the "Adobe EPUB eBook." If you're using a Kindle, then you'll need the "Kindle Book" format. If, however, you're using an iPad, you have the options of downloading the free apps for both Nook and Kindle, as well as a variety of other options, so you should select whichever format you prefer or for which you have the corresponding app. For me, I prefer the Kindle app and almost always download the "Kindle Book" option for the simple reason that I don't need to have my iPad handy to download the book, nor is there any other software required other than the Kindle app on my iPad. From my computer, I can simply use the option to "Get Book" after I've checked out the title, and it automatically takes me to my Amazon account and gives me the prompts to send it to my iPad from whatever computer I'm on. Easy peasy!
If you still don't know which format you require, don't despair! The Overdrive program is the liaison of sorts between your digital device or computer and the library's e-book collection. To determine which format you require for your device, follow this link and look for the option to "Get Started With..." There you will see a list of devices necessary to view or listen to the library's e-books. Included in this list is the Kindle and Nook, but also the Sony Reader and other e-book readers, as well as information on Mac computers and PCs running Windows. And that's really just the beginning. Just go to the page and select the device you prefer to use to read your book.
Once you've selected the format you require, you may or may not need to download additional software to your device. If you do, however, require further software, the Overdrive Media Console and Adobe Digital Editions are the two most commonly required software downloads. To download either of these software programs, you can follow this link. Still feeling a bit unsure of what you need and how to get the appropriate software? Don't worry, Overdrive offers a wonderful step-by-step tutorial to help you. Just follow this link for a guided tour.
Once you've selected your format and have any necessary software downloaded to your device, you're ready to go! It's time to browse the library's e-book selection. You can access the Rochester Public Library's online digital catalogue by following this link. If you don't find something that grabs your interest there, you can also check out SELCO's digital catalogue by following this link.
For most "readable" versions (versus audio versions) of books, you'll want to look for those books that are offered as "Adobe EPUB eBook" or "Kindle Book." These are easily labelled just below the book title. If the book is currently available to be checked out, you can "Add to Cart" and you will be taken through the prompts to either continue browsing or immediately check the title out. If the title is currently in use, you can choose the option to "Place Request" and you will be prompted to submit your e-mail address to be notified with the book is available.
Once the book has been checked out, you can either download it to your device immediately from the check-out confirmation page; or you can wait to download it at a later time. If you choose to wait until later, simply go back to the library's digital catalogue, choose the tab for "My eAccount," followed by the tab for "My eShelf" and type in your library card number and PIN to be taken to the page that shows all of the ebooks you've recently checked out.
Books from the library's e-book selection are typically checked out for 14 or 21 days. While the default is set at 14 days, you can use the prompt to change the check-out period to 21 days. And the best part is that you don't have to worry about returning it and paying overdue fees if you forget. Once your loan period has expired, the book just "disappears" from your collection. If you haven't finished the book, then go back in to the library's digital collect and check it out again. It's that easy!
If you have any questions, leave a comment below and I'll try to answer it for you. Enjoy your Presidents' Day and Happy Reading!
Friday, February 17, 2012
Author Spotlight and Book Review - Kristin Cashore
Kristin Cashore
by Helen McIver
Graceling and Fire are two young adult fantasy series by Kristin Cashore, both of which I read one weekend. Graceling won several awards and was shortlisted for so many others that it was on my list to read for some time (2008). I even had the hard cover. Somehow it disappeared under the pile. But then a 99 cent Kindle deal rectified my error; although I still waited until I had read 12 other newly downloaded books. I was absolutely hooked from the second paragraph (why did I wait so long?!). I was utterly grateful the library had the second (Fire, which is actually a prequel of sorts) as an ebook which I instantly downloaded for my planeride home. I impatiently await the third installment, Bitterblue due 1 May 2012. Could I please have an advance review copy someone?!!
Katsa, the main character of Graceling, has the power to kill with her bare hands, and has been a trained assassin since the age of 8. She has, however, spent grueling years learning to control her ‘grace’, and while under command to her king, also begins to develop a moral sense of right and wrong, forming a secret council to create justice.
Check out the trailer of this book on YouTube
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Book Review - Winter Garden
Kristin Hannah
I love a book that not only makes me want to turn the pages, but inspires me to want to know more about a true event in history. Winter Garden is exactly that type of book.
Written by Kristin Hannah, Winter Garden is the story of two young women who have grown up as strangers to their own mother. An immigrant from Russia following WWII, Anya Whitson has deliberately removed herself from the day-to-day joys of motherhood and has entirely deferred the position of nurturer to her husband.
When their father suddenly dies, Meredith and Nina Whitson are left to care for the mother they've never really known. Their only real connection to her has been through a fairy tale she created and occasionally told her daughters when they were small children, and never in its entirety. As their father takes his final breaths, he demands a promise from his wife and daughters: his wife is to tell the fairy tale to his daughters one last time to its full completion, and they are to listen to the entire story. Thus unfolds a story so heartbreaking and shocking that it shakes the very foundation of everything Meredith and Nina thought they knew about their family and, most especially, their mother.
Winter Garden is a riveting story about the love between parent and child, and the strength of the human spirit. The "fairy tale" Anya tells her daughters focuses on her life before she met their father and moved away from her homeland. She tells the tale of her life in Leningrad, Russia, and of the 900-Day siege of the city by German troops during WWII that left more than 600,000 civilians dead, as they literally starved and froze to death when their provisions and outside communications had been entirely cut off by Nazi soldiers.
With much research, Hannah has recreated the events of Leningrad to provide an accurate historical perspective to a work of fiction. As a result, Winter Garden should appeal not only to those who enjoy a good page-turner, but also to those who have a keen interest in historical fiction.
This book is available at the library in traditional format and on audio compact disc, as well as through the library's digital catalogue in a downloadable audio version. For more information about this book or the author's other wonderful works, visit her website at www.kristinhannah.com.
~ Catherine H. Armstrong
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Author Spotlight - Charlaine Harris
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| Charlaine Harris |
Author Review - Charlaine Harris
by Catherine H. Armstrong
Just yesterday someone asked me to name my favorite book. Well, I was stumped! I really don't have a favorite book. I’m not even sure I could name my top ten favorite books, though there are a few titles that I know would be right near the top; like To Kill a Mockingbird, for instance.
No, for the most part, I don't have a favorite book. I do, however, have a lot of favorite authors. Right now, one of my favorite authors is Charlaine Harris. It seems that everything she writes pulls me in and makes me want more. No, she's not succeeded in writing "The Great American Novel," but she tends to have a way of telling a story that makes the reader want to know more about the characters and simply just want...more.
Harris is most recently known for her Southern Vampire Mysteries, also known as the Sookie Stackhouse Series, about a telepathic young waitress in Louisiana. This series works under the premise that the Japanese have developed a blood substitute that has allowed vampires to "come out of the coffin" and live alongside humans without being a threat to the human population. Yes, it stretches the imagination and readers do need the ability to suspend reality for a little while, but somehow Harris makes these books work. In fact, they work so well that HBO has developed a very successful television program, True Blood, which uses the foundation of Harris' books to create the television program's storyline.
Another fun series by Harris is the Harper Connelly series of books about a young woman and her step-brother who travel the country helping people understand how and why their loved ones have died, and even where the bodies can be located. Similar to the telepathic Sookie Stackhouse, the main character - Harper Connelly - has an unusual gift in that she's able to sense the location of dead people, and can even tell you how they’ve died.
For those who are less able to suspend reality and prefer something a bit more believable, Harris also has a couple of more "normal" series under the mystery genre: The Aurora Teagarden Mysteries, and The Lily Bard Shakespeare Mysteries. Both of these series are more mainstream and enjoyable for those who prefer something a little less...bizarre. Aurora Teagarden is a librarian who has a knack for discovering dead bodies and solving crimes. She’s smart and witty, and an all-around enjoyable main character. She's the kind of character you can enjoy and then pass along to your mother or grandmother and know that either of them will enjoy it, too.
The Lily Bard Shakespeare series is also a more realistic series of mysteries about a young woman in the small town of Shakespeare, Arkansas. Lilly has had a difficult past and has moved to Shakespeare to become a different person with a new life. Like Aurora Teagarden, Lily Bard has a knack for finding dead bodies and solving crimes. As much as she tries to escape the violence of her past, it seems to be that it's her past that makes her best equipped to solve the crimes of the present.
As with most books in a series, it's always best to start at the beginning. While Harris does a good job of bringing new readers into the fold, there's just nothing like getting to know a character from the first pages of the first book and seeing how that character evolves with each new book release. With that in mind, readers should consider starting each series with the first books in each as listed below.
Southern Vampire Mysteries: Dead Until Dark (Book 1)
Harper Connelly Series: Grave Sight (Book 1)
Aurora Teagarden Series: Real Murders (Book 1)
Lily Bard's Shakespeare Series: Shakespeare's Landlord (Book 1)
For more information about Charlaine Harris or her many enjoyable novels, visit the author’s website at www.charlaineharris.com.
What do you like to read? Do you have a favorite author and, if so, who and why? Leave a comment below and help me (and other readers) discover our next favorite authors.
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