Don't miss our Booklists!

Scroll down on the right hand side of this page and you should see some of the "Booklists" created by the staff and library practicum students at Middleton Public Library (MPL). These unique listings give ideas for good books to read (all owned by MPL) on a variety of topics. Recently added lists are "Book to Movie Mysteries" and "Discover France." Do you have an idea for a list? Is there a topic that really interests you? Would you like to find more books on this topic? Let us know - we are open to suggestions for further book lists! --Jenny

Even bestsellers can be too good not to mention!

Lots of people have discovered this novel about Mississippi in 1963 already, but if you haven't put it on your hold list yet, I encourage you to do so: The Help. Told from the alternating perspectives of a young white woman and two older black housekeepers ("maids"), the historical perspective, the great characterizations, and the "what will happen next?" plot make this an unforgettable read. --Liz

Crime & Mystery at the Library...

Beginning on Wednesday, November 11, at 3:00 pm, the library is starting a new book discussion group for lovers of mystery and crime novels. Our first selection is an early PD James, "An Unsuitable Job for a Woman." Ever wonder how Cordelia Gray got her start in the detective business? This book describes her first case. Like other James' novels, this one has unexpected moments of humor as well as plenty of unsavory characters.

All readers are welcome to attend; for more information call 827-7403 or email: mid@scls.lib.wi.us & here's the link to see other upcoming titles: http://www.midlibrary.org/library/mystery.pdf --Liz

Jenny recommends an oldie but a goodie . . .

"All Over but the Shoutin'" is a 1997 memoir about growing up in Alabama written by New York Times Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Rick Bragg. Sometime, if you are feeling like your life is tough, you should read this book to help put your life into perspective. Bragg's father was an abusive drunkard but, thankfully, absent for much of his childhood, leaving his mother to raise Bragg and his 2 brothers in abject poverty. This book is both an inspirational rags to riches story (well, metaphorically anyway) and a testament to a son's love and appreciation for his mother.

Jenny suggests a good mystery . . .

The Last Dickens by Mathew Pearl

I am not normally a big fan of mysteries, but after reading the review of this new book by Mathew Pearl, I couldn't resist giving it a go. After all, the story revolves around the life, and death, of author Charles Dickens - how irresistible! Set in both 1870's Boston and London, with an occaisionaly bop over to colonial India, the protagonists, a Boston publisher and his lady bookkeeper sidekick, attempt to unravel the mystery behind Dickens' latest book, only half-finished before the authors untimely death. Did Dickens leave any clues as to the ending of the book? Where did Dickens get his inspiration for the story and why were so many shady characters willing to do whatever was necessary (including killing the bookkeeper's brother) in order to stop the story from being published? Like all great mysteries, clues are casually laid down throughout the story in order to be picked up and put together at the end. I listened to this entire book in my car and, now that I am done, am no longer looking forward to my commute to/from work. Luckily, Pearl has written a few other mystery novels set in the same time period: "The Dante Club" and "The Poe Shadow" - I have holds placed on both. :)

Making the Good Life Last

Local author Michael Schuler has written, in my opinion, a very compelling and inspiring book about truly sustainable living. More than simply buying locally and in season (although those are certainly important!), he also delves more deeply into the whole concept of living well & lightly upon the earth. He discusses "sustaining" relationships with romantic partners, family members, friends, and neighbors. He talks about sustaining a sense of community and giving back. Very few books make me pause and think as often as this one did.

I am delighted that Michael is coming to the Middleton Public Library on Tuesday, October 6, to do a reading. If you are interested in attending or have more questions about his presentation email mid@scls.lib.wi.us or call 827-7403. Here is a link to the book in LINKcat: Making the Good Life Last

--Liz

Fall Book Discussions for Adults Kick Off Book

Our book discussion theme this fall is The World Around Us & Beyond Us. We have chosen three books which we hope will give us a sense of other parts of the world and, in the case of our first title, an insight into a part of history we may have forgotten or (in my case!) never really knew. I remember hearing about the horrible starvation in Biafra when I was in middle school, but I never learned why it happened or what the aftermath was. So this gripping novel by Adichie was extremely educational for me. But beyond the historical element of the book, this novel is also a compelling story of family (two sisters who are torn apart by love and history), passion, and selfless kindness. As with so many great novels, Half of a Yellow Sun reminds us that our "families" often extend way beyond the people we're related to.

Please join us on Thursday, September 10, at 10:00 am in the the Kenneth J. Mack Reading Room to share your thoughts on this book with others. For more information call 827-7403 or email mid@scls.lib.wi.us --Liz (check out Adichie's website for more info on the book):

http://www.halfofayellowsun.com/

And Jason suggests...

The Last of the Name by Charles McGlinchey: When Charles McGlinchey passed away in 1954, a family name and an important link to the past died with him. Fortunately, a local school master realized the treasure that would be lost if McGlinchey’s memories were not recorded for posterity. Master Kavanagh took it upon himself to interview McGlinchey during his final years and write out by hand whatever McGlinchey was willing to tell about his life and times.

In the mid 1980s, the manuscripts from these conversations between McGlinchey and Kavanagh surfaced. These were organized and edited. This book is the result. Seamus Heaney described this oral history as being “full of emotional truth and the beauty of immediate, trusting speech, overbrimming with folklore of great imaginative richness.” While this is true, hopefully its readers will connect with it on a more personal level for it serves a powerful reminder. At birth we inherit a link to people and places. The depth of our knowledge and appreciation for that link will greatly determine how well we understand ourselves, our family, and the human experience. Don’t squander your inheritance.

Jessica recommends...

Sima's Undergarments for Women by Ilana Stanger-Ross: Set in a close-knit, vibrant Orthodox Jewish community in New Yourk City, Sima, a lingerie salesperson meets and befriends a yong Iraeli woman named Timna. Sima begins to live vicariously through Timna while working through struggles from her own youth. It's not a book I would nbormally have chosen, but it was a thoroughly enjoyable and engaging read.

Liz strongly suggests...

In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan. It's the first title in UW-Madison's new annual campus/community read and it's a great choice. Pollan presents a strong case that American's eat the worst diet in the world--and in large part that's because "big business" encourages our bad habits in order to turn a profit. This is a book that's created some controversy! But there's no question that obesity, diabetes, and heart disease are on the increase in the USA. Pollan really makes you think about your eating & food buying decisions. The library will be offering two book discussions on this title: Thursday, August 13, 10am & Thursday, August 27, 7pm. Join us!

Sarah Recommends...

Zombies Calling by Faith Erin Hicks

click here to place a hold on this great GN!

Are you ready for a zombie invasion?
Joss is. A college student studying for exams, Joss is more interested in watching her favorite zombie flicks than memorizing mind-numbing facts and figures. But when zombies invade campus, suddenly all of the time she’s spent watching zombie movies matters a lot more than any time spent over books in the library.
Joss knows she can save herself and protect her friends by following the rules of zombie movies, but things take a turn for the worse when they break the number one rule: Do not leave the mall! Armed only with a spork and newly obtained, totally rockin’ combat skills (another rule of zombie movies), will Joss prevail against the ravenous hordes? At least she’s not scared. Zombies wanting to eat your brains vs. student loan debt? Well, student loans are definitely more frightening!
Hicks’ black and white inked artwork is drawn in a busy, expressive style that moves the story along quickly while providing enough detail to really get a handle on the characters. This is a fun, quick read. You’ll enjoy plenty of action with a little political and social commentary thrown in, as well as some jabs at zombie movie conventions.
Also check out Hicks’ website [link to http://www.faitherinhicks.com/zombies/ ] for the original Zombies Calling comic and more of her fantastic work.

Post your book recommendation for an ASRP prize slip!

The Middleton Public Library Adult Summer Reading Program has added an additional way to enter a prize slip for our $100 Book Sense gift certificate (there will be lots of other smaller--but really good!-- prizes, too, for people when we do the drawing on Friday, July 31!).

If you enter a blog entry here on a good book that you recommend & include your full name, you can stop by the Reference Desk and fill out an extra prize entry slip.

For more information about the Adult Summer Reading Program, stop by the library's Reference Desk, email mid@scls.lib.wi.us , or call 827-7403.

Ever heard of Esperanto the "universal language?"

In the Land of Invented Languages: Esperanto Rock Stars, Klingon Poets, Loglan Lovers, and the Mad Dreamers Who Tried to Build a Perfect Language by Arika Okrent

“Requests for information on Esperanto will be answered with a form letter prepared by the Library Director. There is no Esperanto library in Middleton.” -- Middleton Public Library Reference Services Policy

The first Esperanto grammar, published in 1887, introduced what was meant to be a universal language to help bridge international differences. In the just over five years I have worked here, I’ve only had to field one inquiry about Middleton’s no-longer-in-existence Esperanto library, but it stuck in my memory and it’s one of the reasons I picked up Okrent’s In the Land of Invented Languages. (The other reason was for the coverage of Klingon. Hey, you have to admit that when a language invented for a fictional race becomes a language in which non-fictional wedding ceremonies are performed, it’s an interesting phenomenon, right?) This fascinating book is not just about how Esperanto, Klingon, and other deliberately designed languages were developed and received by the world, but also about what they can teach us about the illogical, difficult, naturally evolving languages the vast majority of us speak.

If you’re still not convinced this book is worth reading, consider this excerpt from Chapter 26: “One of the most popular presentations was by Don Boozer, a librarian at the Cleveland Public Library. His language, Dritok, was born when he began to wonder if it was possible to make a language out of chipmunk noises.” --Sarah

The library was lucky enough to get a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities for a program called "Picturing America." Click here to explore the site. NEH sent the library 50 beautiful print reproductions of classic American art, including paintings, architecture, sculpture, and fabric creations.

Currently we have Audubon's painting of a flamingo on display and a collection of some of our books about birds nearby for check-out. Every few months I'll put a new picture on display & titles that speak either to the theme of the piece or that discuss the artist's life and works. Next to the reproduction is a Reference book which discusses each piece in detail; right now it's opened to an explanation of Audubon's beautiful ornithological study. The "Picturing America" display is next to the elevator inside the library's main level. --Liz

Joni Mitchell

If, like me, you were slightly obsessed with Joni Mitchell & her music back in the '60s and '70s, two new books will take you back to that special musical time. Will You Take Me as I Am by Michelle Mercer focuses particularly on Joni's breakthrough album, Blue. Mercer interviews some of the young people who hung out with Joni and the real "Carey" in Crete; she discovers the background for the hauntingly beautiful song "River;" and reveals some of biographical sources for my personal favorite, "The Last Time I Saw Richard." Mercer also looks at Joni's other albums from that time & I really enjoyed her analysis and background on my favorite Mitchell album, Hejira (does everyone know that the cover of that album was taken Madison's own Picnic Point??).

Sheila Weller's Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon--and the Journey of a Generation is also a fascinating book. Weller talks about the importance not only of these women's music, but the influence and inspiration they provided to women at that time. I recommend both these titles to music lovers & historians of that period. --Liz

Join us on Wednesday, June 10, 7:00 p.m. to learn about the best and most unusual places to eat in Wisconsin. Mary Bergin, author of Sidetracked in Wisconsin and Hungry for Wisconsin will take us on a visual culinary journey to good food in all parts of the state. This program is the kick-off for the Adult Summer Reading Program. For more information about the Adult Summer Reading program check out this link or call 827-7403 or email mid@scls.lib.wi.us.

You need a good book to read; so what can you do? You have several options at Middleton Public Library: you can chat with any of our service desk staff most of whom are enthusiastic readers and can pass on some great ideas; you can explore readers advisory databases like Novelist from our website (again, check with one of the service desk staff about accessing these); and a third option is checking out a book that advises readers. An example is Make Mine a Mystery: a Reader’s Guide to Mystery and Detective Fiction by Gary Warren Niebuhr (Non Fiction, Lower Level; 010 NIE). This source lists a variety of titles and websites for award winning books in the mystery field and breaks down mystery fiction into sub genres (examples: amateur, public, and private detectives) and specific types of detectives (examples: police detectives, crime specialist detectives, lawyer detectives) It lists mystery authors; a description of the detective; titles by the author with a description of the book; setting and location of the story; and type of mystery. Our non fiction checks out for four weeks which would give you, the reader, plenty of time to page through and find some reading suggestions. Enjoy! --Elizabeth

Happy Earth Day! (from Jenny & the library staff)

Farewell my Subaru by Doug Fine

Unless you are better than the average person at tuning out the all-pervasive media, or you live in a cave, you probably have heard something about the “Green Movement.” In fact, I would not be surprised to find “Green” at the top of the 2009 Buzzword list. I would say we are in the heavy education phase of this movement - lots of media out there giving us tips and practical advice on how to reduce our “carbon footprint” (another buzzword for the amount of carbon an individual contributes to the environment – mainly through the burning of fossil fuels). Many of us are becoming more aware of how our life choices effect the environment and how we can tread more softly.

In the book Farewell, My Subaru, author Doug Fine does more than make minor adjustments to reduce his carbon footprint. Instead, he embarks on a year-long experiment to turn his newly purchased New Mexico ranch into a green, sustainable farm. This conversion does not happen all at once, but in phases. First, he buys two lovable baby goats on Craigslist which, when they grow up, will be milk producers and major contributors to his protein food source. Second, he trades in his reliable old Subaru (hence the title of the book) for a “Ridiculously Oversized American Truck” that runs on used fryer oil that he collects from neighboring restaurants. Third, he installs solar panels which enables him to live “off the grid,” or completely independent from the local power company.

All this sounds fine and dandy, in theory, but Fine learns the hard way that nothing is as easy as it sounds on the Internet. Told with wit and self-deprecating humor (similar to Bill Bryson), Farewell, My Subaru is easy to read and entertaining, with the added bonus of being educational. Interspersed in his narration are surprising facts about alternative energy, organic and locally grown food, and climate change; and even recipes. Both a hilarious romp and an inspiration to push one’s “living green” envelope, I highly recommend this book. --Jenny

Jason suggests...

If you love to travel, you know that guidebooks are a dime a dozen. Occasionally, you come across that one unique travel guide that clearly points you in the direction of the best of the best for your destination. If you are a fan of craft brewed beer, that book is The Wisconsin Beer Guide : a Travel Companion by Kevin Revolinski. The “Rick Steves” of Wisconsin brew tourism, Kevin mixes in a bit of trivia and humor, a lot of history, and all the specifics you’ll need to locate, tour, and (most importantly) sample each brewery and brewpub in the great state of Wisconsin

Jenny recommends...

Place a hold!

Are you of fan of historical fiction? Contemporary fiction? How about mystery novels? Perhaps romance?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, People of the Book is the book for you! Written by Australian journalist Geraldine Brooks (whose debut novel Year of Wonders won the Pulitzer Prize), the story revolves around a real book – small, rare, and very old - known as the Sarajevo Haggadah. This beautifully illuminated Jewish manuscript, created in Spain during the middle Ages, but last surfacing in Yugoslavia after the 1992 siege, is remarkable for having survived centuries of travel.

Brooks spins her story in two directions. In the present, Hannah, a rare book expert, is called to Sarajevo to meticulously take apart and examine the book under tight U.N. security. What she discovers (a white hair, an insect wing, a drop of salt, and a wine stain) becomes the turn-key for sojourns into the past. Moving backward through time, Brooks transports us to various points in the book’s history where we learn crucial details about its journey and origin. Each of these flashbacks is an engrossing story in itself – filled with memorable characters and vivid historical events. The ending is action-packed, but I won’t give anything away here. Just know that, even today, the Sarajevo Haggadah may not be safe! --Jenny

Middleton's Go Green Collection

Above is a picture of our Go Green Collection on the library's main level; check out the wide variety of titles on display: The Sustainable Home by Kathy Strongman; The Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold; and Farewell, My Subaru by Doug Fine. Lots of good DVDs on the subject too. Click here to see a list of all titles.

Special Go Green Program May 5!

April 22 is Earth Day and the Middleton Public Library, along with the City of Middleton, is committed to "Going Green."

We are excited that author Sonya Newenhouse, founder and president of Dane County's Community Car, will be here on Tuesday, May 5, 7pm, to discuss her very helpful book EnAct. EnAct is a small book full of easy ways to leave a smaller, better footprint on the planet. For more information email http://mid@scls.lib.wi.us/, or call 827-7403.
Posted by middleton.reads at Tuesday, March 31, 2009 0 comments

Enact by Sonya Newenhouse

Click here to place a hold

Titles We're Suggesting These Days...

Lately I seem to be drawn to books about animals (which is a first in my reading life!)

Two books which I've been recommending lately are Wesley the Owl, a tender non-fiction account of one woman's relationship with an owl she raised and lived with for 17 years, and Dog On It : a Chet & Bernie Mystery, a hilarious & very well written novel told from Chet, the dog's, delightful point of view.

I suspect this new detective series about Bernie, who is a shrewder P.I. then he appears, and his adoring dog, will be a big hit with readers.

Totally coincidently, we also have a "Pet" display on the upper level of the library, with more great memoirs and animal care books, including titles by Anna Quindlen, Patricia McConnell, Bruce Fogle, and Jon Katz.

Link: Dog On It

Link: Wesley the Owl

The staff is always happy to help you find a good read! Just ask if you'd like a recommendation...and don't forget to check out the "Readers Choice" table on the library's upper level too! --Liz

The Pet Display on the upper level includes all kinds of good animal books!