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