Shelf Life [adult]

Better than Fiction: True Travel Tales from Great Fiction Writers

@SPL: 88.8032 Bette

You will no doubt recognize some of the contributors to this book – Joyce Carol Oates, Frances Mayes, Charles Finch, Alexander McCall-Smith… the list is extensive. The novelists all have very distinctive voices in storytelling, so I was surprised when some of my favourite travel stories contained in this volume were by writers I had never read before – but fully intend to investigate now.  Keija Parssinen’s sweetly melancholic tale of feeling homesick for the place where she grew up resonates very strongly with me, even though she grew up in a desert, and I by the ocean. A rather more adventurous tale that takes place by the ocean is Steven Hall’s story about rescuing a shark, by hand - twice – and how the better-than-fiction act helped him resolve a personal crisis (because after a bare-handed shark rescue, everything else must seem easy by comparison, I would think.) Isabel Allende’s story about how an unsettling experience in India brought her back from the brink of grief-born despair is deeply moving, and author Pico Iyer’s objective look at the chaotic paradise that is Havana, Cuba, and all its paradoxes is yet very personal too. It is a story that grew into a book which I am now compelled to read, the short account having been so poignant. It is very helpful, therefore, that each story is preceded by a short bio of each author and a bibliography of books (fiction and nonfiction) that they have written.

In other words, in this book of short stories there will be something to suit anyone, and more likely than not, many of the stories will haunt their readers long afterwards and may surprise and inspire them to try new authors. Or perhaps this little tome of vast and varied experiences will inspire a change in travel habits, to be less a tourist and instead do as Bryce Courtenay suggests in Getting Travel Dirt under your Fingernails, “to feel the personal thrill… of standing on the top of the mountain or some similar experience… where all our senses are employed and are rewarded.”  Yes, please!

Find Better Than Fiction: True Travel Tales from Great Fiction Writers, and other books reviewed in this column, at spl.bibliocommons.com under the tag “shelf life reviewed”.

This review appears in The Stratford Gazette on January 31, 2013. Written by Robyn Godfrey, Librarian.

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Shelf Life [kids]

Ellie’s Long Walk: The True Story of Two Friends on the Appalachian Trail, by Pam Flowers, 32 pages.

@ SPL:  J PIC Flowe

The world-famous Appalachian Trail stretches for 2,174 miles from Baxter State Park in Maine to Amicalola Falls State Park, Georgia.  In some places it is quite treacherous, winding its way through challenging (but very beautiful), remote terrains such as marshes, rivers, valleys, steep cliffs and mountains.  

Adventurer Pam Flowers had always dreamed of hiking the entire Appalachian Trail – something that very few people have accomplished. Knowing that it would require months to complete, she wanted a companion. When she first met and adopted Ellie, an abandoned puppy, she thought that she might have found a friend for her journey.

Months of training followed. Ellie and Pam walked for hours each day. Then they began to carry packs on their backs as they hiked. Every day Pam added small weights, until they could walk for many miles carrying fully loaded packs without tiring … and every day, Pam became more certain that she and Ellie could complete the hike.

Finally, they were ready to begin.

Pam and Ellie worked their way southward from Maine, following the trail through forests, to the tops of mountains and along steep ridges. Sometimes the two were able to walk for more than twenty miles a day; on other days, they might only walk twelve miles or less if the trail was rough or the weather was bad.

They faced many challenges. There were severe thunderstorms and later, cold winter weather arrived. One day, a fierce blizzard struck as they made the treacherous hike along Wildcat Ridge. On another day they had a terrifying ordeal when river ice broke unexpectedly under Ellie’s feet … the little dog almost drowned.  But the two friends helped each other.  When Pam fell down an embankment, hurting (but not severely injuring) her back, it was Ellie’s enthusiasm which gave her the mental strength to continue. When deep snow hid the trail, it was the dog’s keen sense of smell that guided them.

After 199 days, their long journey ended in March when they arrived at the end of the trail - tired, cold and dirty – but triumphant! They had done it – together - and a crowd of people cheered and celebrated with them. 

Beautiful paintings by artist Bill Farnsworth complete this winning adventure story of friendship, teamwork, courage and perseverance that celebrates the bond of love and trust which can exist between a human and a dog.

A helpful map of the Appalachian Trail is included.

Pam Flowers is also the author of Douggie: The Playful Pup Who Became a Sled Dog Hero, a true story about dogsledding in Alaska.

** Recommended for ages 4 to 8 years.

This review appears in The Stratford Gazette on January 31, 2013. Written by Sally Hengeveld, Librarian.

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Family Literacy Day 2013

On Sunday February 27, Canada will celebrate Family Literacy Day. The goal of this special day is to bring awareness to the importance of reading and engaging in literacy based activities as a family. 
It doesn't take a lot to do this - when you think about it, there are easy things to do all around you! This year's theme is 15 Minutes of Fun. Here are some 15 minute long activities that you can try on Sunday, and every day!

1. Create your own comic strip about your family.
2. Invent two new endings to your favourite book.
3. Make up a new recipe together and post it online.
4. Tell knock-knock jokes together while doing the dishes.
5. Sing five songs really, really loud!
6. Invent a new game while playing at the park.
7. Read a story to your pet (or favourite toy).
8. Make a paper fortune teller with eight fortunes.
9. Write a silly poem and tell it to your family at dinner.
10. Log on to your favourite word game - can you beat your best score?
11. Create your family tree.
12. Play rhyming "I Spy" - "I spy something that rhymes with..."
13. Play a board game together.
14. Text your friend and tell them about your holiday.
15. Find 15 things that begin with the letter "S".             (source)

How will you enjoy your 15 minutes of fun? 

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Shelf Life [adult]

Stratford Public Library 2012 Staff Picks

What were our reading highlights of 2012?

Fiction

Accidents of Providence by Mary Roach

Albert of Adelaide by Howard L. Anderson

Finding Casey by Jo-Ann Mapson (sequel to Solomon’s Oak, 2011)

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

In One Person by John Irving

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

The Round House by Louise Erdrich

Telegraph Avenue by Michael Chabon

Various positions by Martha Schabas

Nonfiction

Three Plays by Noel Coward

Bonk by Mary Roach

Consent of theNetworked by Rebecca MacKinnon

The Impossible Museum: The Best Art You'll Never See by Celine Delaveaux

A Life Without Limits by Chrissie Wellington

Quiet by Susan Cain

Albums

Adventures in YourOwn Backyard by Patrick Watson

Babel by Mumford and Sons

The Lumineers by The Lumineers

This review appeared in the Stratford Gazette on January 24, 2013. 

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Shelf Life [kids]

Devil’s Pass, by Sigmund Brouwer, 237 pages.

@ SPL: J FIC Seven

“The animal responsible for the huge prints had been here very recently. “Don’t move” said George suddenly. Webb looked up the trail and saw it. The grizzly.”

Seventeen-year old Webb survives on the streets of Toronto by busking with his guitar and working as a dishwasher.  When he undertakes to solve a fifty-year-old mystery, as requested in his beloved grandfather’s will, he finds himself hiking on the isolated Canol Trail in the Canadian far north wilderness with a native guide, two German tourists and his guitar. There’s danger at every turn: grizzlies, wolves, the cold and deep, fast-flowing rivers. However, it doesn’t take long for Webb to discover that the greatest danger isn’t a grizzly or a wolf … it’s a man.

Readers will sympathize with Webb - an imperfect but likeable protagonist – in this suspenseful, fast-paced survival story full of danger, adventure, intrigue and the unexpected. The conclusion is fitting and believable.

Devil’s Pass is one title in a new series entitled Seven the Series. Written by seven different well-known Canadian authors, such as Shane Peacock, John Wilson and Eric Walters, the books are well-written and can be read in any order. (The stories – each featuring one of the seven grandsons of David McLean - happen simultaneously and separately from one another, but all seven are linked.)  The Seven the Series adventures are already proving to be quite popular with older elementary and younger high school readers, especially boys.

** Recommended for ages 10 to 14 years.

The Sports Pages, edited by Jon Scieszka, 245 pages.

@ SPL: YA FICScies

Children’s author and former teacher Jon Scieszka (who wrote “The Time Warp Trio” books, among others) has long been dedicated to getting boys interested in reading and becoming life-long readers. The creator of the popular web-based “Guys Read”  literacy program for boys (seewww.guysread.com/ ), Scieszka has now written a new series of books, also entitled “Guys Read”.

The Sports Pages is the third and most recent volume of the series. A total of ten short stories (eight fiction plus two short memoirs by NHL player/captain Dustin Brown and CBS sport anchor James Brown) have been written exclusively for The Sports Pages, each by a different author.  There are stories of both victories and defeats. A couple of the tales involve bullying. A variety of sports – hockey, basketball, baseball, football, mixed martial arts and track – are represented in the stories, which are appealing, often light-hearted and even humorous.

One story, “The Trophy” by author Gordon Korman, recounts the valiant efforts of a team of high-school students to win a coveted basketball trophy, the Interboro Cup, only to have it “kidnapped”.  (Readers will chuckle at the place in which the trophy is finally located.)

Another selection, “Max Swings for the Fence” by Anne Ursu, features a boy who tries to become accepted in a new school by claiming that his father is a famous baseball player.  (The result, predictably, is a “whopper” of a strikeout.)

The Sports Pages will interest boys who participate in sports as well as those who are spectators.  Previous titles in the “Guys Read” series are Funny Business and Thriller, also located at the Stratford Public Library.  

** Recommended for ages 9 to 14 years.

This review appears in The Stratford Gazette on January 24, 2013. Written by Sally Hengeveld, Librarian.

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Penny Dilemmas

With all the hoopla about the penny being phased-out I know what you're all wondering:
What will replace the popular phrases, "penny for your thoughts", "a penny saved is a penny earned", "lucky penny"? The aim of this post is to help you answer these and other important penny-related questions.

Firstly, try substituting penny for nickel, dime or quarter: "nickel for your thoughts", "a dime saved is a dime earned", "lucky quarter". Just say what feels right.

Secondly, and on a more seriousness note:

Beginning Monday February 4, the Canada Revenue Agency would like to see 
businesses discontinue using pennies and instead begin to round cash transactions. 

Only cash payments will need to be rounded, either up or down, to the nearest five cent increment. Transactions by credit, debit, or cheque will not be effected.
This is the rounding guideline being adopted by the Government of Canada:

Pennies will remain legal tender in Canada and will retain their value indefinitely. 

If you want to rid yourself of the pesky penny you can roll them to deposit at the bank or bring them to the library where we are hosting a penny drive located at the main floor reference desk. 

Have questions about the penny? The library is, as usual, a good place to find answers. Come in for a visit, send us an email, give us a call or comment on this post and we'll be happy to help.

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Shelf Life [adult]

I Want to Kill the Dog, by Richard M. Cohen

636.7 Coh

North Americans love their pets. I mean, they LOVE their pets. No question. You just have to look at the number of boutique pet stores, the blinged-out collars, the puppy-paw-protectors that owners buy into – it’s a billion-dollar industry.

But it must be said that not everyone loves animals, or gets why an otherwise sane-looking person would get down on all fours to give their pet a snuzzle while cooing “who’s a good widdle puppy? Who’s my pwetty-bitty pookums?” Not that there is nothing wrong with that. But maybe there is something wrong with that, particularly if the pet-owner with whom you cohabit cannot see a pet’s flaws for its fur.

This is the case with author Richard M. Cohen, husband to TV personality Meredith Vieira. Meredith’s dog Jasper hates Richard, and the feeling is mutual. “I Want to Kill the Dog” is Richard’s printed outburst against all that is wrong with the pet-pedestal culture: the anthropomorphizing that leads to gourmet dog food, pet-pampering spas, pet-psychologists and pet-pharmaceuticals. Let us remember that the prices we pay for the above could probably go a long way to stocking several food-banks or medical clinics in Africa for a solid year.

Cohen’s unapologetic arguments are those of the counter-pet-culture, but he illustrates his points with tales of the many pets that have come and gone through the Cohen-Vieira household, and it must be said that they seem to have particularly bad judgment in choosing pets, from the accident-prone Willie to the hand-chomping, unladylike Samantha. But again, it may be a nurture-nature thing – do the canines have conniving tendencies before adoption, or does having a doting ‘parent’ who is willing to excuse any behavior create a doggie monster?

You can decide while reading this memoir-manifesto, which is by turns indignant, poignant and more often than not, laugh-out-loud funny. Still, it made me stop and think the last time I considered purchasing that $20 chew toy for my own wee-cuddle-wuddums – who truth be told is just as happy with an empty toilet-paper roll -who owns whom here, anyway?

This review appears in The Stratford Gazette on January 17, 2013. Written by Robyn Godfrey, Librarian.

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Shelf Life [kids]

Small Saul, by Ashley Spires, 30 pages.

@SPL: JP Spire

Meet “Small Saul”. Distinctly diminutive in stature, he is denied entry to Navel College. Saul decides to enter Pirate College instead, for he has always dreamed of going to sea.

After graduating, Saul ends up on the Rusty Squid, where it becomes evident that he isn’t at all like the other pirates. He isn’t good at looting, fighting, or looking tough (in fact, he wears a bunny tattoo)… but he can certainly cook, sing and keep things clean and tidy. Saul decides to use his true talents. He makes delicious cakes and cookies for the pirates, sings sea shanties to them, cleans and even redecorates their cabins, and provides them with breath fresheners.

Alas, Saul’s efforts are unappreciated, and one day he is tossed overboard. Poor Saul! Climbing onto a floating log, he waits for rescue.

Meanwhile, the pirates are back to eating bland gruel and moldy bread. Their cabins begin to smell of stinky feet and no one is singing sea shanties. Before long, the pirates are longing for Saul’s cooking, songs and housekeeping skills. They turn back and rescue Saul, realizing that he “…had made their ship a home… just like treasure, Saul was rare!”

There can never be too many pirate stories for preschoolers, and with the many details to be found in the artwork on every page, Ashley Spires’ absurd, hilarious picture book will be in demand more than once!

** Recommended for ages 4 to 7 years.

Muncle Trogg, by Janet Foxley, 209 pages.

@ SPL:J FIC Foxle

The smallest of the Trogg family of giants, Muncle Trogg is only the size of a human – known to the giants as a “smalling”. As such, he is often teased, sometimes bullied and occasionally even tossed around like a football by the other giants.

The giants live inside Mount Grumble and seldom venture outside, for despite their size they fear the smallings, who are much smarter and have defeated the dimwitted giants in past skirmishes and battles.  

When Muncle, who is curious and clever, sneaks into the nearest smalling community to learn about the mysterious creatures he supposedly resembles, he makes some interesting discoveries about them. He meets a smalling girl, Emily, and he even rides on the back of a flying dragon – something that no other giant can do.

No sooner does Muncle return to Mount Grumble than he is again mistreated by the giants. Through a series of misadventures, he is even confined to Princess Puglug’s room and treated like one of her pets – a very undignified fate for anyone!  

However, when a serious crisis arises in the kingdom, it is Muncle who is able to think of a solution, save the day, and become the “wise man” of Mount Grumble.

Children will enjoy this entertaining tale with its positive message that size really doesn’t matter, conveyed with some exaggerated, almost farcical elements. They will identify with Muncle, a likeable, engaging character with a big heart, whose story will soon be continued in a sequel.  

** Recommended for ages 8 to 10 years.

This review appears in The Stratford Gazette on January 17, 2013. Written by Sally Hengeveld, Librarian.

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Shelf Life [adult]

Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

@SPL: FIC Mitch

David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas, released in 2004, fits the definition of a sleeper hit. Ridiculously well reviewed, its unconventional composition threw many early readers. It took time for word of mouth to spread from those tenacious readers who made it far enough into the book to make sense of Mitchell’s ambitious project. Eventually, even Hollywood caught on, so those of you who’re interested in the premise but frustrated by the execution can go take it all in on the silver screen right now. You could. But I really think you should read the book first, and not just because I’m a librarian.

Cloud Atlasis composed of six separate stories fit together like matroishka dolls. It begins with the epistolary narrative of a man at sea in the South Pacific in the 1860s, witnessing the last gasps of the slave trade and the messy, colonial birth of global capitalism and industrialism. The flowery writing perfectly suits a 19^th-century adventure tale full of pirates, sailing, exploring and riches. However, just as the action begins to really pick up, the narrative ends mid-sentence.

Another – seemingly unrelated – narrative begins. It follows the couch-surfing adventures of a brilliant composer named Robert Frobisher through 1930s Europe. Full of witty, Wildean dialogue, this narrative is more than entertaining enough to carry the reader through to Frobisher’s discovery of a book sharing the title of Cloud Atlas’s interrupted opening narrative in the South Pacific.

Having just gotten readers comfortable, Mitchell again shifts focus; this time, we land in a 1970s-era spy thriller that references Frobisher. Why? No explanation’s given, and the narrative breaks again. Now we follow the head of a vanity publishing house through a comedy of errors leaving him imprisoned in a nursing home in our current time. Then we jump to the testimony of a human clone genetically optimized for food service, testifying her experience living in a hyper-commercialized dystopian version of future-Korea to a corporate archivist. Then we land in post-apocalyptic Hawai’i, where an elder tells his life story in orature. This narrative is the deepest in the layered intertextuality of Cloud Atlas – after hearing Zachary Bailey’s life story we move in reverse order back through the other half of the nesting narratives begun earlier in the novel.

Technically composed of six well-crafted novellas interlaced in unexpected ways, the weighty consequence of each narrative relies on all the others to be fully realized. Cloud Atlas could alternatively have been titled Frankfurt School’s Instrumental Reason: The Novel, but those with no background in Continental philosophy will still find much to love here, if they take the time. Cloud Atlas is highly recommended to fans of Margaret Atwood, Ursula K Le Guin or any literary science fiction. It is also recommended to any readers of literary fiction who don’t mind some serious experimentation, and who love beautifully crafted language.

This review appears in The Stratford Gazette on January 10, 2013. Written by Shauna Thomas, Librarian.

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Shelf Life [kids]

Delia’s Dull Day: An Incredibly Boring Story, by Andy Myer, 30 pages. 

@ SPL: JP Myer

What experiences and possibilities might each of us see if we were truly paying attention?

Delia complains that her days are dull because nothing ever happens. She fails to look up or around her, thus missing a profusion of amazing things happening during her day.

As she eats breakfast, two huge elephants march by her table … but Delia doesn’t notice them because she doesn’t look up from her cereal.

As she walks to school, looking at a smartphone, a line of large, colourful hot air balloons sails by in the sky … but Delia doesn’t notice them.

Neither does she notice the myriad of beautiful butterflies flying out of her tuba in music class, the gorilla behind her in the cafeteria line, the fierce pirate sitting behind her, the huge submarine that rises to the surface as she leaves the pool at swim class, the little green aliens around her as she is “busy” watching television at home, or any of the other awesome things which appear around her.

The lesson of this story is, of course, that life isn’t at all boring if you pay attention to all the exciting things and adventures that are in the world around us - even if they don’t include aliens, elephants and submarines. A tiny butterfly in itself is truly marvelous and wonderful.

Children will quickly perceive that it’s the artwork in this imaginative book which actually tells the story – as Delia moans that nothing ever happens, the entertaining illustrations tell us otherwise.  

Parents who have heard the refrain “I’m bored!” will appreciate this witty story as much as young readers and listeners.

** Recommended for ages 4 to 8 years.

The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes, by Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein, 30 pages.

@ SPL: JP Pett

Beatrice Bottomwell never made mistakes.

She never forgot to make her bed, feed her pet hamster, do her homework or make her lunch (always using exactly the same amount of peanut butter and jelly).  She never forgot to use her manners. Her socks always matched, and she never fell off her bicycle.

Not only was Beatrice mistake-free, but she had also won the local talent show three years in a row with her perfect juggling.

In fact, Beatrice was known for her record of perfection. She was called “the Girl Who Never Made Mistakes”.

One day, something unusual happened to Beatrice. She nearly dropped an egg during cooking class. For the rest of the day, Beatrice worried about her almost-mistake. She didn’t want to join her friends while they had fun skating on the frozen pond – in case she fell. She was too worried to join her friends in anything. Later, she couldn’t eat her dinner.

Worse was to come. That evening at the yearly talent show, Beatrice made a mistake – a big mistake - one which caused her water balloon to explode during her juggling act.

As she stood with water dripping down her face, Beatrice didn’t know to react – and neither did the surprised audience. For a few seconds no one moved. Then Beatrice started to giggle. The audience started to giggle. The giggles turned to roars of laughter, and soon everyone was laughing so hard that they could hardly stop.

That night, Beatrice slept better than ever. The next day, she wasn’t afraid to go skating with her friends. She didn’t worry when she made a small mess while making her lunch, and she even wore mismatching socks.

Best of all, Beatrice had fun!

Perfectionists and non-perfectionists, young and older, will enjoy this clever tale which tells us that we can laugh, enjoy life and sometimes, make mistakes.

** Recommended for ages 4 to 9 years.

This review appears in The Stratford Gazette on January 10, 2013. Written by Sally Hengeveld, Librarian.

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Hello, 2013, How do you do?

Resolutions are funny things, most of us are sick of hearing the word by January 4 but talking about our goals for the year ahead is said to make them more attainable and increase our chances of success.

Firstly, I want you to think about your 2013 goal... now, I want you to add this to it:
In 2013, I will discover my public library. 
OR In 2013, I will rediscover my public library.
You see, every year you try to improve yourself and so does the library.
We are constantly evolving to serve you better.

You might be wondering, what does my personal New Year's resolution have to do with libraries?

My answer: The SPL can help make your goals for 2013 become realities. Of course, you need to know how to use library services, take advantage of professional staff and participate in an assortment of engaging programs to make this possible.

Let's try a few examples.

Find this HERE

Resolution:
Spend more time with the kids.
- Check our Events page for free, family-friendly programs
- Visit the Programs for Kids and Families page
- Pick one or two times each week to visit the library as a family
- Browse our collection for PG and G rated DVDs for a movie night (popcorn not included)
- Browse our books for recreation ideas fit for the whole family

Resolution:
Learn how to use my computer.
- New Computer Training classes will begin shortly. A list of the classes offered can be found here.
- Come into the library and speak to our friendly staff, we may be able to do a quick how-to.
- Browse our collection for help guides such as this extensive list for operating Windows 7.
- Take advantage of the public access computers in the library.

Resolution:
Connect with my friends online.

Pinterest

- Included in our Computer Training classes are social media guides. Stay tuned for upcoming dates and times. A list of the classes offered can be found here.
- Come into the library and speak to our friendly staff, we may be able to do a quick how-to.
- Browse our collection for help guides for everyone from the professional to the beginner level.
- Take advantage of the public access computers in the library including internet access.

Resolution:
Run a 5Km race.
- I had a similar goal for 2012 and I must say, the library was hugely helpful. I was able to create a workout plan from various guides, read stories about athletes to keep me motivated, find healthy recipe books and learn about human anatomy. Check these out. That being said, no running in the library.

Resolution:
Improve eating habits.
- We have recipe books for vegetarians, vegans, meatarians (the ones who eat a lot of meat), gluten-free, dairy-free, raw, picky kids, picky adults, low-fat diets... the list goes on.

Did I forget, allergy-friendly?

And yes, all of those link to specific food lists because I love recipe books and I think someone should hire me a personal chef so I can try even half of the recipes I drool over. Yum!

Resolution:
Improve grades.
- Use our databases!
- Use our collections!
- Use our super-skilled staff!
Call, email, visit. We CAN and we WANT TO help you succeed in school... seriously.

Resolution:
Quit smoking.
- We have help books for that too.
- We are a no smoking facility so if you hang out here you're doing well!

Resolution:
Find a job that I love.
- Look at our Career Databases, particularly Career Cruising where you can take a test to find jobs suited to your skills and preferences.
- Research schools and scholarships
- Browse our collection to learn more about different fields.

Off the top of my head I can find ways for us to help with many other common resolutions such as...
- Get the house organized
- Plan a budget
- Be more assertive
- Build something
- Learn a new hobby
- Learn a new language
- Plan a trip
- Get married
- Be happy (er)

I hope I've convinced you to make the SPL a big part of your 2013. Now, share this with others!

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