Shelf Life [adult]

Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries starring Essie Davis

@SPL DVD Drama Miss

If you missed this series on TVO you now have the chance to pick it up at Stratford Public Library. Based on the mystery novels by Kerry Greenwood, Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries stars Essie Davis as Phryne (pronounced FRY-nee) Fisher, a 1920's "bright young thing" party-girl - on the surface. The writers of the television show have given Phryne a rather tragic back story which is lightly touched upon in the pilot "Cocaine Blues" and becomes the focus of the series during the last few episodes of the first season. Set in Melbourne, Australia (like the novels), the series is both glamorous - Phryne is the epitome of flapper fashion - but the series has a slight 'wild west' vibe; for instance one episode has Phryne riding the Ballarat train through the Australian outback, another has her going undercover at a frontier circus - not something one can imagine Miss Marple ever considering. Indeed, although these mysteries do not have the most complicated plots, they are not quite cozies, as from time to time they can be surprising in their goriness (the episode with live mummification comes to mind).  Plus, Phryne Fisher is no lace-knitting wallflower - she carries a pistol, is not above using her feminine wiles to get information, and has a healthy sex-drive for a gal of the 1920's - something that shocks her very naive but adorably sweet maid-companion, Dot. The rest of the supporting cast is equally watchable - Dot (Ashleigh Cummings) manages to crack the shell of her strict-Catholic upbringing, the cute-as-a-button Hugh (Hugo Johnstone-Burt) starts to come into his own as a Constable, and the distinguished, unflappable DI Jack Robinson (Nathan Page) may even start to enjoy Phryne's prying by season's end.  The word that immediately comes to mind to describe Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries is "charming", and highly addictive. Season two is only on air now in Australia, so it will be awhile before North American audiences get a chance to glimpse it so my advice is to check out this DVD series but try not to gulp it back by watching it all the way through - savour it through the winter - if you can!  Find Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and other titles reviewed in this column at http://spl.bibliocommons.com

This review appears in The Stratford Gazette on October 24, 2013. Written by Robyn Godfrey, Librarian.

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Shelf Life [kids]

Scaredy Squirrel Prepares for Halloween: A Safety Guide for Scaredies, by Melanie Watt, 64 pages.

@ SPL: JP Watt

     

Scaredy Squirrel, the neurotic rodent of Canadian picture book fame, returns in this “nutty” safety guide for Halloween.

     

The spookiest day of the year is fast approaching and Scaredy, who always fears danger and unpredictability, is preparing for the ghoulish festivities. As usual, there’s much to consider and think through. (Can a squirrel ever be too prepared?)

      

How should he carve a pumpkin safely so that it looks friendly, not frightening? How can his home in the nut tree be decorated for Halloween so that it looks inviting, not scary? What Halloween costume can Scaredy choose that’s safe to wear - and not too spooky? Should he wear a mask or use makeup on his face?

    

What is the safest trick-or-treating route for Scaredy, and what will he do if he meets Frankenstein, a mummy, a spider, or a giant chicken en route? 

    

If he is given some hard candy (always delicious but it could break a tooth), should he eat it?  

    

With so much to consider, it’s almost overwhelming for poor Scaredy. (But of course, he can always resort to his favourite ploy, playing dead!)

    

Readers will enjoy the absolutely wacky humour that accompanies Scaredy’s tips for safe and happy Halloween trick-or-treating.

** Recommended for ages 4 to 8 years.

Chasing the White Witch, by Marina Cohen, 157 pages.

@ SPL: J FIC Cohen

    

Twelve-year-old Claire Murphy is certain that things couldn’t be much worse in her life. At home her older brother, Jordan, is always teasing her. At school, she’s perpetually teased by a group of girls. Claire and her parents seem to disagree on everything these days … and she’s just discovered a huge red pimple on her face.

    

When a mysterious little book somehow lands at her feet in the grocery store, Claire glances at the contents and thinks that the answer to all her problems has arrived. The book’s title is Remedies, Rituals, and Incantations.

     

With the disapproval of her best friend, Paula-Jean, Claire puts avenging spells on Jordan, on the leader of the girls’ group at school, and on her pimple.

    

When her face clears overnight, Claire is elated. When Jordan wakes up feeling unwell, Claire becomes uncomfortable … and when Hollis (the leader of the girls’ group) suddenly becomes quite sick, Claire is overcome with remorse.

    

There are no instructions on reversing the spells so Claire sets off on a madcap search for the book’s author, known only as the “White Witch”. Her search takes her on a long, wild chase through the streets of Toronto, with some very surprising results – and some lessons for Claire (and Hollis) about accountability, appreciation and acceptance.

    

The author of this well-crafted story, Marina Cohen, has also written Ghost Ride and Mind Gap.

** Recommended for ages 9 to 12 years.  

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

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Big News for Print and Digital Magazines

If you've been into the library lately you may have noticed a few changes... but did you notice the magazines?

There is no longer a reference collection of magazines. All back issues including previously designated reference magazines can now be checked out for 1 week with the option to renew up to 3 times. Current issues do not circulate but can be read and enjoyed in the library.

Digital magazines through Zinio are better than ever. Stratford Public Library patrons now have access to back issues from our collection of 80 titles. Back issues begin in June 2013 when the library initially started this special digital service. Here's what the page will look like if you wish to view back issues of a particular Zinio title:

We hope you and your family take advantage of all these resources and the staff here are happy to help you get set up with digital content or explain the magazine policies. To sponsor a magazine contact the Friends fo the Stratford Public Library. Thank-you to those who already sponsor titles, we appreciate your continued support.

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Shelf Life [adult]

Love, Dishonor, Marry, Die; Cherish, Perish by David Rakoff

@SPL: FIC Rakof

Alternate forms of fiction seem to be having a moment. A while ago, I reviewed Neil Gaiman’s luminous adult fairytale The Ocean at the End of the Lane in this space. Now I’ve got another fictional oddity for you: a novel written in verse. Please meet the late David Rakoff’s magnum opus, Love, Dishonor, Marry, Die; Cherish Perish.

No, don’t run away. I know what you’re thinking because I thought it too. Verse is so restrictive – how can you tell a good story while worried about internal rhyme schemes and meter? How incredibly pretentious is this going to be? Who does Rakoff think he is, 2D Shakespeare?

Relax. Rakoff – who passed away in August 2012, weeks after completing Love, Dishonor and days after recording its audiobook – had nothing if not a finely tuned sense of humour about himself, and a beautiful sense of the rhythm and music of language. At the end, those were nearly all he had, and he distills both qualities into Love, Dishonor.

The novel follows an ensemble cast through lives that could be called difficult. One young girl rides the rails across the country to escape a horrific stepfather; another young man escapes small-town bigotry and finds freedom in San Francisco’s gay counterculture in the 1970s and 80s. All the characters’ stories are connected by acts of grace that seem insignificant, but that echo profoundly.

Rakoff’s verse is by turns bawdy, funny, heartbreaking and redeeming. His stanzas contemplating mortality are particularly wrenching, all the more so for their sing-song style and light touch. You can feel Rakoff reckoning with his terminal illness through his characters. Rarely is literature so visceral (for a real shiver down your spine, download or borrow the audiobook and hear Rakoff utter the words himself). Ultimately, and to my surprise, I swallowed up Love, Dishonor in one sitting over just a few hours. It wound up being tied for my favourite book this year. Love, Dishonor is highly recommended to any fans of literary fiction, and especially those who want a little something different in their reading pile.

This review appears in The Stratford Gazette on October 17, 2013. Written by Shauna Costache, Librarian.

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Shelf Life [kids]

The Secret Life of Money: A Kid’s Guide to Ca$h by Kira Vermond, 151 pages.
@ SPL: J 332.0240083 Ver        

We can all imagine librarians with secret lives (can’t we?), but what kind of a secret life could money possibly have?  

Kira Vermond addresses some mysterious and little-known/understood aspects to money – in other words, its “secret” life. How do banks and credit companies use consumers’ money to make more money (ie profit)?  How do retailers use research findings to increase customer spending in their stores (one way: using relaxing music to slow buyers down and thus spend more time shopping), and how does taxation work? 

In other words, cash can be complicated, even for adults. 

It isn’t easy for most people to explain some of the jargon and financial concepts that surround money, either (eg.“disposable income” or “bull market”). The Secret Life of Money provides comprehensive, easy-to-understand explanations. Diagrams, humour and occasionally a comic format, are included. 

The Secret Life of Money also explores the logistics of spending and saving, the impact of money and consumerism on people’s lives, and ways in which we can gain more control over our money.

Intended for tweens and teens, adults will likely learn something from this book too.

Kira Vermond, from Guelph, writes columns about money and other topics for The Globe and Mail, Parents Canada, Today’s Parent, Chatelaine and other magazines.

** Recommended for age 10 years and up.

 

 

A History of Just About Everything, by Elizabeth MacLeod and Frieda Wishinsky, 124 pages.

@ SPL: J 909 MacLe

From the discovery of fire to the founding of Rome, from the time of the Mayas to William Shakespeare’s plays, from the invention of the steam engine to the invention of the light bulb, and from man’s first step on the moon to the “Arab Spring”, A History of Just About Everything provides children with an intriguing walk through world history.

The bookhighlights 180 of the most significant events, discoveries and inventions in history and shows children how much the past (even events which happened hundreds of years ago) affects our present and future.

History is about events and discoveries; however, history is also about how people interpret these events. There can be more than one interpretation of an event – several, in fact. Sometimes, as the authors explain, the finding of new artifacts and documentation changes an earlier interpretation.

Arranged in chronological order, this book, written by two Canadian children’s authors, will pique children’s interest. An index, a world history timeline and colour illustrations are included. 

** Recommended for ages 8 to 12 years.

 

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

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Shelf Life [kids]

Too Much Glue by Jason Lefebvre, 32 pages.

@ SPL: JP Lefeb

    

What young child hasn’t imagined, even for a few seconds, using an entire container of glue on an art creation?  In this laugh-aloud tale, Matty, who loves working with glue, does exactly this on his art class project.

    

Despite his teacher’s repeated warnings, Matty pours all of the glue from the classroom containers onto his art.  Mixed with lots of sequins and googly eyes, the sticky lake looks quite impressive … but it’s not impressive enough for Matty.  Unable to resist, he belly flops onto the table and rolls around, letting the glue and everything else cover him. 

    

When he tries to get up from the table, Matty discovers, of course, that he’s stuck in the gloopy mess.  All he can do is lift his head from the table, wave his hands and wiggle his feet.  Worse, there’s only half an hour until school ends for the day. 

    

While his teacher hyperventilates into a paper bag, some of his classmates try to lasso Matty from the mess. They try to pry him loose, using a toy tow truck.  They attempt to blot up the glue. Nothing works. Matty is still stuck. 

    

Summoned from his office, the principal doesn’t know what to do.  He puts a sticky note on Matty and leaves the room.

    

Even the school nurse can’t come up with a solution.

    

In the end, it’s Matty himself who comes up with a plan - one which results in a true “work of art”!

    

Young listeners will be “glued” to this hilarious, outrageous story, reminiscent of the tales written by children’s author Robert Munsch.  It would be enjoyed as a read-aloud in an elementary school class.

** Recommended for ages 5 to 7 years.

The Pencil by Allan Ahlberg, 46 pages.

@ SPL:  JP Ahlbe

    

Once upon a time, a lonely little pencil lay alone for a long time on a piece of paper, doing nothing.

    

Then, one day, it moved a little… and then a little more. Soon it began to draw. 

    

First it sketched a boy. It drew a dog for the boy, and a cat, too. 

    

When the dog and cat refused to eat black and white food, the pencil drew a paintbrush to add colour. After that, the pencil and the paintbrush created a bright, beautiful world of colour in which the boy and his pets could live and play - a town with people, animals, houses, roads and parks.

    

However, the people in that world weren’t happy. They complained about how they were drawn – “My ears are too big!” “This hat looks silly!” and so on.  The pencil created an eraser to remove their complaints, and all was well again … for a time. 

    

Suddenly, the eraser began to do its job all too well.  It began to rub out houses, flowers and trees. The pencil needed to draw a plan, quickly! What would it do now?

    

Reminiscent of Harold and the Purple Crayon, the clever ending and the plot of Allan Ahlberg’s new picture book about imagination and creativity will keep children guessing what will happen next.  

** Recommended for ages 3 to 6 years. 

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

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It's Like A Whole New Library!

We rearranged! During our strategic planning process our community told us that they would like the library to be easier to move around in and enjoy. You spoke, we listened: we have rearranged our main floor collections to make wider aisles and an easier browsing experience. 

This is just the first step in making SPL a more comfortable place; stay tuned for further developments! If you’re having trouble finding anything, please ask. As always, we would love to hear from you - what do you think of the changes we made?

Before...

During...

After...

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Shelf Life [adult]

We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo

@ SPL FIC Bulaw

Brilliantly crafted by NoViolet Bulawayo, We Need New Names, stands out as one of my personal favourite reads of 2013. Darling, a young girl living in Paradise, Zimbabwe, narrates the book. She is strikingly honest, lovable and complex and accompanied by a cast of companions including Bastard, Godknows and Chipo. This all sounds lovely, what I have failed to specify is that Paradise is actually a shanty town and Darling and her friends are faced with harsh realities on an ongoing basis including the fact that 11-year-old Chipo is pregnant. Bulawayo touches on deep topics including AIDS, religion, politics, hunger and immigration in a way that is refreshing and, surprisingly, at times quite funny.    

The first half of the book takes place in Paradise where America is glorified, especially by the young people who share a grass-is-always-greener mentality. In the second half of the book, Darling goes to America. The cross-cultural divide is evident as Darling transitions from Paradise to America and gives cause to a critique on the culture we live in. As Darling observes: “When the microwave says nting, fat boy TK takes out a pizza and eats it. When the microwave says nting, he takes out the chicken wings. And then it’s the burritos and hot dogs. Eat, eat, eat. All that food TK eats in one day, me and Mother and Mother of Bones would eat in maybe two or three days back home (156-157). Not only does this physical move mark a change geographically but as a coming-of-age turn of events, whereby Darling’s immigration is reflected in her view of the world and how she perceives herself.

This is your next great read if you are looking for solid, character-driven writing. Nominated for the Man Booker Prize (2013), and well-reviewed in major journals, Bulawayo is a new author with a big future. By the end of the novel I had the lingering aftertaste of ripe mangoes and the fulfillment of a book worth remembering.

This review appears in The Stratford Gazette on October 3, 2013. Written by Laura Paprocki, Librarian.

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Shelf Life [kids]

Never Say Die by Will Hobbs, 212 pages.

@ SPL: J FIC Hobbs   

      

The remote Firth River has always been home to Nick Thrasher.  At fifteen years of age, he knows the land well and is already an experienced Inuit hunter. When the caribou he has just caught is suddenly snatched by a huge, monstrous beast, Nick knows in a glance that the strange creature – half grizzly, half polar bear (soon to be known as the “grolar bear”) - is more dangerous than any other Arctic animal. He knows that he’s lucky to have escaped with his life.

    

Soon after the incident, Nick is invited on a rafting trip down the Firth River by his older half-brother, Ryan.  Now an international wildlife photographer, Ryan’s assignment is to photograph the migrating caribou herds in the Firth River watershed and discover the effects of climate change on these animals and others in this part of the Arctic.

    

Their trip of discovery soon becomes a trip of survival as the raft capsizes and they become submerged in the frigid water under a ceiling of ice.  Both escape, but narrowly.  Lacking provisions and warm clothing, they are left only with the clothes on their backs and a knife as protection against unpredictable weather, storms, wolves, grizzlies and the terrifying grolar bear that is now stalking them.

    

The non-stop action in this well-written adventure/survival story will keep readers turning the pages. The effects of climate change on the Arctic and on the Inuit culture are very much a part of the story, in a non-preachy way.  Readers can find a number of other adventures by Will Hobbs in the Stratford Public Library, such as Take Me to the River and Go Big or Go Home.

** Recommended for ages 9 to 12 years.

Menace from the Deep by Michael Spradlin, 225 pages.

@ SPL: J FIC Sprad

    

Michael Spradlin’s newest book features another species of otherworldly creature – this time, a terrifying, genetically-altered breed of alligator living deep in the almost-impenetrable Florida Everglades forest.

      

Twelve-year-old Emmet Doyle accompanies his father, a noted scientist, who has been summoned to Florida to investigate a mysterious corpse discovered in Everglades National Park.  The dead creature bears many resemblances to an alligator, but it’s much, much bigger and has been engineered in various ways to become a “super predator”.

    

Very soon, it becomes apparent that there are more of the monsters still living in the park and that they will attack humans without provocation. Who has created the predators, and why?

    

Non-stop danger and adventure ensue as Emmet, his new-found friend Calvin and Dr. Doyle race to find the answers to their questions before someone is killed by the creatures in this fast-paced story, the first in a new series, Killer Species.  

    

Kids who enjoy adventure and science will very likely devour this book.

** Recommended for ages 9 to 12 years.

This review appeared in The Stratford Gazette on October 3, 2013. Written by Sally Hengeveld, Librarian.

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