. . . more than books

Chandler Centennial Whiskerino Contest

2012-01-30T09:00:00.003-07:00

Chandler's Centennial is coming up in May! Join the celebration in the city's Whiskerino Contest - a beard growing contest like those held at the city's 50th and 75th anniversary celebrations, and harkening back to the styles of A.J. Chandler's time.

To participate in the Whiskerino Contest:
1. Get a team of three men who live, work, or go to school in Chandler,
2. Get a sponsor or entity to represent (business, church, school, organization, agency or other entity),
3. Fill out a contest application and turn it in by the deadline of February 3,
4. Appear at City Hall on February 7 for a photo, cleanshaven,
5. Start growing! Teams will meet at Tumbleweed Park on May 19 for their final judging.

See the city's centennial contest website for more information. And visit www.chandler100th.com for a complete list of centennial activities, projects, history, and more!

Book Review: Silver Sparrow

2012-01-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

I heard about Silver Sparrow back in July when author Tayari Jones was at Changing Hands for an appearance. The premise intrigued me at the time, but there was a long waiting list for it and I decided to wait until a more opportune time to read this novel. Last month, it jumped out at me from our new books area and I remembered how much I wanted to read it and I am so glad I did.

Silver Sparrow is split in two halves. The first half is narrated by Dana Yarboro, a teen girl with a rebellious voice, a smart and pretty girl who wants to be a doctor. The second half is narrated by her sister, Chaurisse Witherspoon, an average student and mostly obedient daughter who is lonely and longs for a friend. Dana knows that Chaurisse is her sister, but Chaurisse doesn’t know that she and Dana share the same father - James Witherspoon, who’s committed bigamy by marrying both her mother and Dana’s mother.

Dana lives with complete knowledge of her father’s double life. She knows he has a “real” wife and daughter; she’s even seen them, since they live within blocks of each other and her mother has a penchant for surveilling the rival family. Chaurisse, however, doesn’t know anything about her sister and grows up believing that her family is typically normal. In their senior year of high school the girls suddenly become acquainted and it is only a matter of time before the truth is harshly revealed.

I will not waver in letting you know how wonderful this book is. It is definitely one of my favorites of last year. The characters practically sing their stories - Jones’s language is a kind of raw melody and her dialogue is soaring. I feel like I know both Dana and Chaurisse, as well as their mothers. Each woman’s feelings, desires and fears are distinctly conveyed. James’s character is not as fully explored because neither daughter really understands or connects with their father, but he’s not portrayed as a monster.

The two girls are so different, yet I was able to relate to both of them. Their struggles are heartbreaking and I admire the way Jones makes both sides of the story equally significant. She doesn’t sway the reader in either direction or force us to choose sides. I adored this novel. I experienced an intense emotional connection to the characters and to the story. It is my favorite kind of book - one that will leave a lasting impression. - Anbolyn (Sunset)

Closed January 16 - Browse for books to read

2012-01-16T09:00:00.004-07:00

All four Chandler Library branches will be closed Monday, January 16 for Civil Rights/MLK day. But that doesn't mean you can't start on your 2012 reading list. Browse for books to read online using our book lists and reading databases.

Visit chandlerlibrary.org and hover your mouse over the blue READ tab. You'll see a number of resources you can choose from. Our Book Lists offer suggestions in various subject areas with real-time links to the catalog so you can place holds. (Check back for new book lists - the selection is being continually updated.)

Novelist and Books & Authors are subscription databases built by librarians to help you find new books to read. The best way to use these databases is to search for a title or author you already like, then look for suggested similar authors and titles. Please note that these databases are not connected to our catalog, so you'll have to search separately to see if we own a particular book. (Library card and PIN numbers required for at-home access.)

All four libraries reopen with regular hours on Tuesday, January 17.

Chandler's Multicultural Festival: January 14

2012-01-09T09:00:00.002-07:00

Chandler’s 17th Annual Multicultural Festival highlights the cultural diversity of our community through music, dance, art, storytelling and more. Enjoy great food from around the world, arts & crafts that represent various cultures, and featured entertainers on two stages.

This free event takes place Saturday, January 14, 11am - 4pm in the courtyard in front of the Downtown Chandler library, 22 S. Delaware St. Free parking is available in the garages on Buffalo and Boston Streets.

For more information and a detailed entertainment schedule, visit this page.

Closed January 2 - Do health research

2012-01-02T09:00:00.005-07:00

All four Chandler libraries are closed January 2 for the New Year's holiday observation. But you can get to Chandler Library's databases even when the library is closed, and our health databases will help you get started on those New Year's resolutions!

Find our health databases at chandlerlibrary.org, under RESEARCH - Health and Nutrition. Try Health and Wellness Resource Center, which allows you to look up diseases or conditions, as well as searching for topics by keywords such as "quit smoking" or "healthy eating." You'll need your library card and 4-digit PIN number to log in from home.

All 4 branches, including Sunset, will reopen with regular hours on January 3.

Closed December 26 - Keep the kids entertained with ebooks!

2011-12-26T09:00:00.006-07:00

All four Chandler libraries are closed for the Christmas holiday observation. Holds pickup will not be available at the Sunset branch.

Looking for something to keep the kids busy during the holiday break? Try Tumblebooks - free multimedia ebooks! Kids from kindergarten to 4th grade will find picture books, story books, nonfiction books and more, in a fun format with animation and audio. You can enjoy them right on your computer - you don't need a Kindle or other ebook reader!

To access Tumblebooks, start at chandlerlibrary.org, hover your mouse over MY LIBRARY and choose Pages for: Kids. You'll see the Tumblebooks logo on the right side of the page, about halfway down. Click and enter your library card and PIN numbers for access from home.

Book Review: When She Woke

2011-12-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

I have a very fond association with The Scarlet Letter after having read it in college and enjoyed it and so I am open to any re-interpretations of the novel, though I have yet to read Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale.

When She Woke by Hillary Jordan is also a futuristic take on the Hawthorne novel, set sometime in America's future after a nuclear attack has devastated Los Angeles and very strict morality laws have been passed in reaction to a terrible STD outbreak that sterilizes thousands of women.

Hannah Payne lives in suburban Dallas and has been raised in a rather strict, religious household. She's always been a questioner, however, and doesn't hesitate in reading forbidden books or using her sewing skills to construct immodest dresses. As the book opens Hannah is in prison, convicted of murder by having an abortion and her skin is dyed bright red as a symbol of her crime. Melachroming has been legalized by the US government and minor criminals are dyed different colors according to their crime, sent out into society to survive the hatred, prejudice and violence against them. After Hannah serves her 30 days in prison she is released to a demented half-way house until she is presented with an opportunity to completely change her life.

Woven through the tale is her desire and passion for the man who got her pregnant, influential pastor Aidan Dale. Dale is not quite slimy, but very close to being a complete scum bag, and it is hard to see why Hannah would love him. At the other end of the slimy scale is Hannah's father. Several scenes with her loving, supportive dad had me in tears. I loved that Jordan did not make all of the religious characters ridiculous caricatures - Hannah's dad is definitely an example of someone who truly lives his religion. And speaking of religion - this is definitely meant to be an indictment of extremism, but Jordan clearly avoids condemning spirituality and Christianity outright, which made the book more legitimate to me because I don't like when authors trash religion unconditionally.

This is a really good book. It has complex characters, a suspenseful plot and presents a vision of a scary future that I hope never comes to pass, but that makes you think about how fear and uncertainty can lead to harsh governmental control. Now I'm thinking I need to read The Handmaid's Tale to experience Atwood's take on a similar theme. - Anbolyn (Sunset)

Book Review: Please Ignore Vera Dietz

2011-12-12T09:51:00.001-07:00

We're always hearing that young adult books are often writen for adults as well as youth. Probably many of you, like me, think, "Sure, but I already have an adult reading list built for eternity." It was not until the young adult fiction writer A.S. King came to speak at a staff training inservice that my eternal reading list was put aside. When I witnessed the honesty and depth of this author as she told her story of life, A.S. King became number one on my reading list!

In selecting Please Ignore Vera Dietz, I was influenced by a long list of book awards: the Edgar Award, the Michael C. Printz Award, and the Best Young Adult Book Award from the American Library Association. I figured this novel just had to be good. Well, it wasn't good - it was fantastic! Based on the interaction of a father trying to raise his teenage daughter, this young adult novel eteched a notch in my reading life that will not be forgotten. Vera, the teenage daughter, tells the story. A story about her mother walking away from marraige and motherhood. A story about losing one's best friend and regaining love for a father you were very close to hating for life! A story about understanding yourself to the point of becoming one with your inner spirit. For me, Please Ignore Vera Dietz was not only soul searching but charmingly funny, full of life, and a book you won't be able to ignore. - Henry (Downtown)

Holiday Books

2011-12-05T09:00:00.000-07:00

Get ready for the holidays! Check out these books and DVDs on holiday decorating, cooking, and more.

Holiday Decorating for Dummies

Decorating ideas for many winter holidays, as well as holidays year-round.

Christmas in Arizona
A collection of holiday recipes with local traditions and folklore.

Mario Batali: Holiday Food

Whether you're creating a full-blown Italian spread or simply adding a touch of Italy to your own family traditions, find recipes to make your holiday gatherings memorably delicious.

Holiday Cooking with Kids

Winter holiday recipes and more holidays, for kids ages 9 to 13.

World Holidays: A Watts Guide for Children
An illustrated guide to holidays and celebrations around the world.

Madeline's Christmas [DVD]
Two special holiday stories with Madeline and the girls.

Magic School Bus Holiday Special [DVD]
It's the last day of school before the winter holidays and the kids take a trip to Murph's recycling plant.

Tumbleweed Tree Lighting - December 3

2011-11-28T09:00:00.003-07:00

Get in the holiday spirit this weekend with Chandler's 55th Tumbleweed Tree Lighting Ceremony. This free event is held in Historic Downtown Chandler at A.J. Chandler Park on Saturday, December 3, starting at 4:30 pm. Vendors and entertainment will be available, then the Parade of Lights starts at 7 pm, culminating in the official lighting of the Tumbleweed Tree. For more information, see the City website.

This year the Tumbleweed Tree Lighting Ceremony has been designated an official Arizona Centennial event. The 100-year anniversary of Arizona's statehood will be celebrated on February 14, 2012, with various events statewide being designated as part of the centennial lead-up. For more about Arizona's centennial and history, upcoming events, the Centenarian project to recognize 100-year-old Arizonans, and more, visit www.az100years.org.

Book Review: The Call

2011-11-21T09:00:00.002-07:00

A rural veterinarian logs his days around the calls he receives:

CALL: The alpaca that spit in my eye is dead.
ACTION: Drove to farm. The owner wanted to know what had done it.... He died from fear, I said to the owner. Your alpaca died when the thunder clapped.
RESULT: The man looked around his barn. He spoke in a whisper.... He will go to alpaca heaven, the owner said, and I tried to picture what alpaca heaven would look like but all I pictured was the same barn I was standing in and the owner petting the dead alpaca's side.
THOUGHTS ON DRIVE HOME: If I could time-travel in only one direction, would I go forward or backward?

These observations form Yannick Murphy's unusual new novel, The Call. The veterinarian fleshes out the story of his life through this formula, adding observations about his town, his family, and the stresses he must cope with, including the hunting accident that leaves his son in a coma. The pages of his log become filled not only with simple medical records, but also with his wishes, fears, and the thoughts he consoles himself with, imagining what the house or the family rabbit might say to him, and wondering if the strange lights he sees in the sky belong to a spaceship. An unusual premise and format lead to a surprisingly touching conclusion. - Michelle (Sunset)

Staff Picks: Native American Authors

2011-11-14T09:00:00.003-07:00

Talking Leaves: Contemporary Native American Short Stories, edited by Craig Lesley
“Great appetizers by various Native American authors.” There are 30 or so authors who have been included, some Lucy liked better than others. There were various themes such as folklore and life on the reservation, and in some stories the landscape takes on the role of a character.

Ohitika Woman, by Mary Crow Dog
“Everyone should read this to see their life.” Betty felt that by reading this book you could gain a better understanding of how the native people have been treated. Follow the life of Mary Crow Dog and see what happened to the Native American people, their issues with diabetes and alcoholism, and how they have lost their culture and their language.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie
“There's a bitter-sweet flavor to this book - Sherman Alexie has a sense of self depreciating humor, the sort of humor I love.” This is a story of a boy who wants to go to the white school when he sees that his mother’s signature is in the history book he is using in class. It follows him through all the trials that ensue.

Code Talker, by Chester Nez
The autobiography of the last living Code Talker, who devised the actual World War II code. “It’s written as if you were sitting and talking to this man. Just a gentle voice all the way through this book. It’s a fascinating read that is very inspiring.” There were only 32 original Code Talkers.

Book review: The Butcher and the Vegetarian

2011-11-07T09:00:00.001-07:00

Can meat eaters and vegetarians ever understand each other? That's what Tara Austen Weaver is forced to find out for herself when she, a lifelong vegetarian, is given doctor's orders to eat meat in order to address chronic health issues. The Butcher and the Vegetarian is Weaver's memoir of her meat-eating experiment, from her first perplexing visit to the local butcher shop, to a savory cooking session with a barbeque chef, to an exploration of small-scale meat producers, including a visit on "slaughter day." In an engaging and honest voice, she describes both her detailed objections to meat production and the luscious experience of eating well-prepared beef and pork, struggling to balance her desires to live ethically and to savor life through food. It's a well-rounded approach that has something to appeal to readers from both camps, and might even help them gain some understanding of one another. - Michelle (Sunset)

Spooky Stories

2011-10-31T09:00:00.003-07:00

Happy Halloween! Celebrate with some spooky stories.

Adult Fiction
Mister B. Gone, by Clive Barker
A medieval devil speaks directly to the reader, his tone murderous one moment, seductive the next, in a memoir allegedly penned in the year 1438.

Harbor, by John Ajvide Lindqvist
A man's six-year-old daughter vanishes. From the author of the international bestseller Let the Right One In.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
The classic Regency romance - now with zombie mayhem!

Children's Fiction
This Book is Haunted
This book's "not too scary" ghost host tells five spooky stories.

Scary Stories for Halloween Nights
A collection of scary short stories dealing with spooky spaces, dangerous demons, and banshee bodies, suitable for Halloween reading.

Never Kick a Ghost and Other Silly Chillers
A collection of spooky stories and games based on folklore, for beginning readers.

Sunset Library Construction Update

2011-10-24T09:00:00.030-07:00

Construction and renovation at the Chandler Sunset Library is in progress. Following are the current closures and timeline (watch for future updates as the schedule is subject to change).

Remember that you can always access our downloadable books and online research databases from home using your library card and PIN numbers. You can also access your account to view due dates, renew items, and pay fines online. Our three other branches will also be open regular hours with full service.

Current closures and changes (12/17/11 - 1/2/12):

The library will be closed to the public December 17 - January 2.

Returns can be placed in the outside bookdrop, open 24 hours.

Holds can be picked up at the back door on the northwest corner, Monday through Friday 10am - 6pm, and Saturday 10am - 2pm (except 12/26 and 1/2). No other services will be available, including retrieving books from the shelves, so please wait until you receive your holds available call/email before coming to the library.

(If you are able to travel to another branch to pick up your holds, you may find it more convenient to choose one when placing your holds.)

No Culture Passes, computer use, browsing books or other materials, reference assistance, new cards, or paying fines will be available at Sunset during the closure. Visit one of our other branches for full service.

January 3: Library reopens. Most areas will be completed, although some books may need to be moved to their final locations. The meeting room will remain closed and there will be no storytimes in January. Construction crews will remain through January to complete any remaining tasks.

Please pardon our dust - we hope to bring you a beautiful new building!

Book Review: we is got him

2011-10-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

In a city disrupted by economic turmoil and racial conflict, a young boy is kidnapped from his front yard and held for ransom. Reports of sightings and false leads flood the police station, most of them prompted by people anxious to claim the reward offered for information about the crime. The newspapers criticize the authorities for not protecting the citizens and accuse the boy's father, who did not immediately pay the ransom, of negligence or even having a hand in the kidnapping. Meanwhile the kidnappers grow more impatient as the father and the police delay in meeting their demands, and threaten to take the child's life.

we is got him is a vivid reconstruction of a true, ripped-from-the-headlines crime, but not from today's headlines. The abduction of Charley Ross took place in 1874, America's first recorded case of ransom kidnapping. Author Carrie Hagen tells a suspenseful tale of the race to save the kidnapped child, but she also brings Restoration-era Philadelphia to life, creating a setting both strange and familiar, much more modern and recognizable than we might expect. - Michelle (Sunset)

Closed October 10 - Do research online!

2011-10-10T09:00:00.006-07:00

All four branches of the Chandler Public Library are closed on Monday, October 10 for a staff inservice/training session. What if you have research to do?

Go to our homepage (chandlerlibrary.org) and hover your mouse over the purple RESEARCH tab to display a number of research subject areas, then click to choose one. Librarians have selected quality websites that we use to help provide information to our users - a great place to start your search.

We've also highlighted, in a green box at the top of each subject page, our subscription databases. These are information sources that the library pays a subscription to - copyrighted information that's not available for free on the internet. It's the best place to look for quality information when a simple Google search just won't do, and it's completely free to you as a library cardholder. (You will need to enter your library card and PIN numbers to access the databases.)

All four libraries will be open regular hours on Tuesday, October 11.

New Arrivals

2011-10-03T09:00:00.001-07:00

Here are some of the new books that arrived this past week at the Chandler libraries:

Adult fiction

Sorry by Zoran Drvenkar
Four friends start a business saying sorry for people who can't, but what happens when their next client wants absolution for the murder he committed?

King's Gold by Michael Jecks
A historical mystery set at the time of King Edward II, held prisoner in 1326.

Adult nonfiction

Learning to Breathe by Priscilla Warner
A memoir of one woman's quest to conquer anxiety and panic attacks through meditation and other therapies.

Baked Explorations by Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito
New twists on classic desserts such as Sweet & Salty Brownie, Chocolate Whoopie Pies, and No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies.

Juvenile fiction

Pearl Verses the World by Heather Potter
Pearl writes poems to help understand her life, school, and family.

Guys Read 2: Thriller
A compilation of short stories, adventures and thrillers perfect for reluctant boy readers.

Picture books

George Flies South by Simon James
Winter is coming and George's mother says they must fly south, but George doesn't want to leave his nest.

Mario & Baby Gia by Mario Lopez
Mario wants to play with the older kids but Nana needs him to watch his little cousin Gia.

Library eBooks now available for Kindle!

2011-09-26T09:00:00.012-07:00

You might have already heard the news that Kindle books are now available to library users. Amazon has partnered with Overdrive, the supplier of Chandler Library's ebooks, to offer most of the Overdrive library selections in Kindle format.

Watch this video to see how easy it is to check out and download library ebooks to the Kindle.

(Please be aware that the demonstration is done on a different library's website, so there are some cosmetic differences. Their "Add to Cart" is "Add to Bookbag" on our site, for example, and we require a PIN with the library card number to log in.)

To get started, go to our Digital Library page. For more information, visit the Help/FAQ page on the Digital Library site or on Amazon.com.

Staff Picks

2011-09-19T09:00:00.008-07:00

Looking for a book that's new - or new to you? Enjoy these favorites recommended by our Downtown library staff!

Rocket Boys by Homer Hickam
Betty read this book and said it is one of the best books she's read in several years; in fact, she has put a hold on the sequel. The movie October Sky is based on this man's life. It's the story of Homer and several of friends, going to high school in the 50s in a poor mining town and building rockets by trial and error for their science fair project. They had no books on how to do this and no money. In the age before internet, how they got the townspeople to help them was heartwarming - a Cinderella story where they went all the way to the National competition and won it all. Three of the four friends went on to be engineers and Homer went on to work for NASA. Betty started the book Saturday morning and finished it Sunday morning, she said it is that good!

Battlefield Angels by Scott McGaugh
Linda found this book very well written. She couldn't say she loved it due to it being somewhat graphic, but she said it gave her a profound appreciation for the people who served as battlefield medics. Corpsmen started in the Revolutionary War, blood typing was discovered in WWI, and antibiotics came about during WWII, among other medical technology advancements. Each chapter is dedicated to a specific war. You don't need a medical background to read this book, just an interest in history.

Leonardo's Legacy by Stefan Klein
Chris would have rated this higher; however, there were copious footnotes and there were cases where the footnote had information too good to ignore. The book begins with Da Vinci's death and the some 10,000 notes left to his personal assistant. The author talks about many of his ideas and the people he worked for, how he was a contradiction in what he believed and what he proposed to build for his employers. The author also talks about the Mona Lisa in great detail, analyzing why it is so unforgettable. Did you know that when people are asked to name a famous piece of art, 85% name the Mona Lisa? This book is for anyone who is curious to know more about Da Vinci. Chris was absolutely fascinated.

Audiobook Review: Back of Beyond

2011-09-12T09:00:00.004-07:00

Welcome to Hell-o-Stone. Back of Beyond, a thriller by C.J. Box, read by Holter Graham and reviewed by Star Lawrence. (Available as book, audiobook, or large type.)

First, I look for a character to follow or empathize with, then try to figure out what trouble he or she is in.

This book starts out with an ex-alkie, nicotine-jonesing cop named Cody Hoyt banging around the backwoods in Montana, plowing into an elk, and then getting to a rain-soaked, burned up cabin containing the crisped remains of his AA sponsor. Naturally, Hoyt sits in his car and slurps some booze he stole from a witness, which irks his partner Larry no end.

Hmmm, this is my protag? (He also helps himself to phones and equipment from the property room as if it were Walmart in there.)

With some alcohol-infused detection, he develops the notion that his teenage son and his wife’s intended second husband are on a pack trip into Yellowstone with the killer. Whoa—quite a leap there.

We cut to two teenage girls who are on the trip with their dear old Dad. One is a cheerleader type and the other is a commonsense, observant youngster, who soon notes that Dad might just have known a single woman named Rachel, who is also on the trip. Hey, they didn’t just meet, she deduces. Very good, Gracie!

Back to the crime, remember that? There is a school of red herrings coursing through the park. Everyone did it! There, I solved it.

But no…pretty soon, the unhappy campers start falling—their remains immediately set upon by ravening wolves or grizzlies. The wildlife is wild in this!

I can’t say much more without spoilers. Let’s just say screenwriters are only allowed one coincidence per script and this book exceeded that quota.

I did like some of the writing quite a bit—phrases like “sudsy stars” appearing. I have been to Yellowstone and the stars are so visible they look like foam. I am leery of woods, personally, and descriptions of wolves as 175-lb dogs with red bloody teeth hunched over a corpse tended to stick with me. The reader Holter Graham also had a pleasant tenor voice and didn’t ham it up.

Some scenes went on too long (hint, the peeping Tom scene at the latrine). And would Cody really frisk every corpse he found for cigs? Well, on that one—yes. He is quite the protag. I bet he also kept the satellite phone he “found” in the evidence room.

Star Lawrence owns two websites—one, HEALTHSass (http://healthsass.blogspot.com/), contains interesting health tidbits and the other, Do the Hopey Copey (http://hopeycopey.blogspot.com/) is for those seeking to stay afloat in this economy. She also offers tipsheets on concussion and on recovery from eye surgery at a nominal fee-- http://healthsasspresents.blogspot.com,/

Closed Labor Day - Read a free ebook!

2011-09-05T09:00:00.008-07:00

All four branches of the Chandler Public Library will be closed Monday, September 5 for Labor Day. What can you do while the library's closed? How about downloading a free ebook from Project Gutenberg?

Hundreds of classic titles are available through our Digital Library, convenient to download to your computer or transfer to an e-reader device. Project Gutenberg titles do not count toward your Digital Library checkout limit and there is no due date. To get started, go to chandlerlibrary.org, hover your mouse over the blue READ tab and choose Downloadable Books. Make sure you have downloaded and installed Adobe Digital Editions, then use the green Downloadable Books button to access the ebook collection.

1. Scroll to the bottom of the Digital Library homepage and look for the Additional eBooks Always Available graphic on the left. Click to view the Project Gutenberg collection.

2. When you find the book you want, click Download. You will not have to login or enter a library card number.

3. When prompted to Open or Save, choose Save. (This is different from a normal Digital Library download, where you choose Open.) Make sure to save the ebook somewhere you can easily find it.

4. Open Adobe Digital Editions on your computer. Click the LIBRARY pull-down menu and choose Add Item to Library. Browse for your ebook in the location where you saved it, then click Open. Your ebook will be added to your Adobe Digital Editions library, where you can easily view it or transfer it to an e-reader.

For more information about using Adobe EPUB books, including installing Adobe Digital Editions and transferring to various e-readers, see the Digital Library Help page.

Book Review: 2030

2011-08-29T09:00:00.002-07:00

Film director and funnyman Albert Brooks takes a fictional look at the condition our country will be in 19 years into the future in the novel 2030. Brooks draws from the headlines of today and predicts some very startling outcomes if the United States’ current path remains unchanged. Written with numerous characters introduced throughout the novel, Brooks weaves the country’s desperate economic state through a myriad of personal stories concerning the nation’s aging population, extreme healthcare costs, and a massive earthquake that levels Los Angeles in the first few chapters. The premise is very interesting and held my attention, but the payoff in the end didn’t quite hit the mark. 2030 reads more like a mediocre B-movie than an enthralling futuristic novel. However, the story will make all ages stop and think about what is happening right now in our country, and the possible future we could face. - Kathy (Downtown)

New Virtual Library Books

2011-08-22T09:00:00.002-07:00

Can't come into the library to do research? Do you need book and encyclopedia resources, or Google doesn't have the quality you're looking for? You can access reference and research books for free through the library's website, and we just added four new encyclopedias to our Virtual Library:

Human Diseases and Conditions - Detailed medical information written for ordinary people, including personal stories and full-color illustrations.

Experiment Central - Nearly 300 science experiments for students, with step-by-step instructions and scientific background information.

UXL Encyclopedia of Biomes - A perfect substitute for your child's school report when the books on rainforests and deserts are checked out.

Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life - Look up countries, regions, and cultural groups around the world, and learn about history, politics, customs, religion, education, human rights issues, teen life, and more.

You'll need your library card and PIN numbers to access these ebooks from home. Look for the eTable of Contents and eBook Index at the top of the page to search inside the ebook. Each of these four ebooks is copied directly from a print encyclopedia, and students can get citations for their Works Cited pages using the Citation Tools link on the right.

These encyclopedias are also listed in the library catalog, where you can search by title. Or, find them on their relevant research topic pages - visit chandlerlibrary.org, hover your mouse over the purple RESEARCH tab, and choose a topic. Our Virtual Library ebooks are listed along with our databases in a highlighted box at the top of each page, giving you at-home access to thousands of encyclopedias, magazines, newspapers, and more! Ask library staff for more information.

Book Review: This Won't Hurt a Bit

2011-08-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

Michelle Au describes her first years in medical school as "like a chain gang of 150 convicts locked together at the ankles for four years. Every single class, every exam... we attended together." Her introduction to clinical practice is a Psychiatry rotation, where, on her first day, a patient asks if she thinks he's crazy. "What can you really say to a patient who asks you that? Especially after hearing him tell you the story he has... about strangers on the street plotting to kill him, because they can see the power that he wields and are jealous of his third eye? I mean, really, what am I supposed to say?"

This Won't Hurt a Bit (And Other White Lies): My Education in Medicine & Motherhood is Au's memoir of her years in medical school and residency, a time of long hours, little money, overwhelming stress - and that's before she discovers she's pregnant with her first child. Au writes honestly about the ordeal of medical training, the self-doubt that afflicts young doctors, and the difficulties of balancing family and career, a problem for any working mother that is intensified when the career is as all-consuming as medicine. But she also describes the doctors, teachers, and especially the patients who have contributed to her learning and her life. Au's funny, irreverant tone makes even the most disturbing and heart-rending anecdotes readable, and lends a sense of humanity to an often idolized and misunderstood profession. - Michelle (Sunset)

Chandler Parade of Lights: Entry forms accepted now

2011-08-08T09:00:00.004-07:00

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas - at least it is for those early birds who want to enter the Chandler Parade of Lights. Start planning your float, automotive entry, dance or walking group now. Entry forms are available on this page, and copies of the form are available at the Chandler Libraries (while supplies last).

The 2011 Chandler Parade of Lights will take place Saturday, December 3.

Digital Library gets a new look!

2011-08-01T09:00:00.008-07:00

Our Digital Library is getting a new look! You can still download ebooks, audio, and more, now with a cleaner, easier to use interface. Look for the boxes on the right for Help pages, Getting Started guides, and the free software required to use the Digital Library. Make sure to download and install the appropriate software on your computer or mobile device before you check out and download your ebooks.

Then you can search or browse for books. Use the search box at the top of the page (see the circle above) to search by title or author. View featured ebooks and audiobooks using the cover pictures in the middle of the page. Or use the expanding menu options under Browse Collections, on the left, to browse by format and/or subject.

Use your library card and PIN numbers to check out books. All ebooks and audio check out for 2 weeks. You can have 10 items checked out at a time. Adobe EPUB and PDF books can be returned early, but audiobooks cannot. See the Help pages for complete information, or ask library staff.

Summer Reading Program - the last week!

2011-07-25T09:00:00.004-07:00

Don't forget! This is the last week to finish reading and enter the grand prize drawing for the adult Summer Reading Program. It's also the last week for kids and teens to read and pick up their prizes and for teens to enter their grand prize drawing.

Here are some last-minute reading ideas, from other Summer Readers at the Chandler Library:

Aunt Dimity and the Next of Kin by Nancy Atherton

Cinderella Ate My Daughter by Peggy Orenstein

Love You More by Lisa Gardner

Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman by Elizabeth Buchan

Superfreakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner

Turning Angel by Greg Iles

While I Was Gone by Sue Miller

The Summer Reading Program ends Saturday, July 30

Staff Picks

2011-07-18T09:00:00.005-07:00

Looking for something new to read? Check out these favorites recommended by Chandler Library staff:

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (also on audio CD, large print and ebook)
The extraordinary life story of a World War II bombardier who survived a difficult childhood, the crash of his bomber, and a Japanese POW camp.

Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri (also in large print and audio ebook)
A collection of short stories from an acclaimed Indian author, with characters torn between their native traditions and the new world.

A Short Guide to a Happy Life by Anna Quindlan
The bestselling novelist and columnist reflects on what it takes to live deeply every day.

The Big Short by Michael Lewis (also on audio CD)
An insightful and frequently humorous examination of the housing bubble and the 2008 stock market crash.

I Am What I Ate …and I’m Frightened by Bill Cosby (also in large type)
The incomparable Doctor of Comedy is right on target as he reflects back on his own sixty-five years of dining at the banquet of life. “Funny throughout…loved it!”

Summer Reading Program - week 7

2011-07-11T09:00:00.007-07:00

Looking for more reading suggestions? Enjoy more titles being read during our adult Summer Reading Program:

The American West by Dee Brown

The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah

Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage by Elizabeth Gilbert

Friendship Bread by Darien Gee

The Goodbye Quilt by Susan Wiggs

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Craft Rubin

The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly

The Road to Wealth by Suze Orman

My Soul to Keep by Rachel Vincent

Summer Sisters by Judy Blume

The Tigers Wife by Téa Obreht

Tick Tock by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

There's still time to enter and win prizes in all of our Summer Reading Programs - for adults, kids, and teens. Stop in at any of our 4 Chandler Library locations, or see this page for more information. The Summer Reading Program ends July 30.

Fourth of July

2011-07-04T09:00:00.004-07:00

All four Chandler Libraries are closed Monday, July 4. We will re-open for regular hours on Tuesday, July 5. (Remember that the Basha and Hamilton branches are on summer hours, opening at 9:00 am on weekdays.)

Chandler's official Fourth of July celebration is Monday evening, 4:00 - 10:30 pm at Tumbleweed Park. Enjoy live music, a free kids carnival, and more before the 9:30 fireworks display. The event is free; parking is $5. See this page for more information.

Even though the library's closed, you can check your account online, renew materials, download ebooks, and more! Visit chandlerlibrary.org and

Enter your library card and PIN numbers in the "User ID" fields at the top of the page to access your account and renew materials

Hover your mouse over the blue READ tab to get to the Downloadable Books link

Hover your mouse over the purple RESEARCH tab to access resources in various subjects, including our databases - free to you with your library card

(Please note: The library's phone and email contact desks will not be operated on the holiday.)

Book Club Favorites

2011-06-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

What are book clubs reading at the Chandler Library? Here are some recent favorites:

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford (also available in large type, audio CD, or ebook)
A tale of growing up in the World War II era of Japanese internment camps.

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese (also available as an audio CD)
An enthralling family saga of Africa and America, doctors and patients, exile and home.

The Shipping News by Annie Proulx (also available as an audio CD and a film adaptation)
A widower moves his family to a remote fishing village inhabited by memorable characters and buffeted by nature.

The Fallen by T. Jefferson Parker (also available as an audio CD or ebook)
A fall from a window leaves a homicide detective with synesthesia - a confusion of sensations that makes him a kind of lie detector.

Learn more about Chandler Library's book clubs! View the Events Calendar at chandlerlibrary.org by scrolling down to the green EVENTS box. Then click the tab to choose your branch, then click the VIEW FULL CALENDAR link. All the events at your branch will display, and you can use the options on the left to limit by type (such as Book Discussion) or age, or choose another branch.

Book Review: Time Traveller's Handbook

2011-06-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

Did you know the first friction matches were invented in 1827 - before that, matches had to be lit from another flame? Did you know that a 19th-century voyage by sailing ship across the Atlantic could take as little as 20 days if eastbound, but westbound and in bad weather it could take as long as six weeks?

Time Traveller's Handbook: A Guide to the Past is a guide to genealogical research, intended to help genealogists make sense of records they might find: diaries, financial statements, and documents of all kinds. But it's presented as a guide to life in Canada, America, and Britain of the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, and it's full of fascinating tidbits about social ranks, postage, travel, and more, even matches. This makes it a great book for not only genealogists, but also historical fiction readers, Jane Austen fans, writers, and anyone else interested in history. - Michelle (Sunset)

Summer Reading Program - week 3

2011-06-13T09:00:00.002-07:00

Chandler Library's Summer Reading Program is in its third week. Here's what some library members have been reading for the adult program:

Bossypants by Tina Fey
Deception by Amanda Quick
8 Weeks to Optimum Health by Andrew Weil
Give Yourself a Raise by Travis Young
I'll Walk Alone by Mary Higgins Clark
Vanished by Karen Robards

There's plenty of time to read and enter the grand prize drawing for an ebook reader. Don't forget there are also reading programs for kids and teens. Visit this page for more information, and drop in to any Chandler library to sign up and get reading! The Summer Reading Program ends July 30.

Book Review: Caleb's Crossing

2011-06-06T09:00:00.000-07:00

Bethia Mayfield is born to a hard life in Colonial Massachusetts, tending her home and caring for her siblings when her mother dies, forbidden by her minister father to be educated with her brother Makepeace despite her quick mind and ear for languages. So for a few years in her childhood she takes refuge at the distant seashore, and one day she meets a young Native man whom she calls Caleb. Keeping the secret from both their families, the two become friends, until Bethia is too old for such leisure time. Then a smallpox outbreak destroys Caleb's people and he comes to Bethia's father for shelter and education, ultimately following Makepeace to Cambridge and to Harvard. Bethia accompanies them, anxious to maintain the connection with her old friend, but has he crossed to a world where she cannot reach him? And in crossing, has he left his heritage too far behind him?

Geraldine Brooks gives us a lush historical novel in Caleb's Crossing, but she was inspired by a tiny nugget of history: the true but sparsely documented story of Caleb, the first Native American graduate of Harvard. Other historical novels similarly inspired by fragments of history include Tracy Chevalier's Girl with a Pearl Earring, which imagines the creation of Vermeer's famous painting, and Emma Donoghue's Slammerkin, which fleshes out the story behind a servant girl's murder of her employer in 1763. - Michelle (Sunset)

Summer Reading Programs!

2011-05-30T09:00:00.003-07:00

Summer Reading at the Chandler Public Library begins May 31. Kids, teens, and grown-ups can read to win fun prizes!

READ, PLAY, WIN! is the kids' Summer Reading Program. Pick up a gameboard at any Chandler Library, starting May 31. Fill it out as you read and earn prizes along the way. All kids who sign up will receive a voucher for a free Arizona Diamondbacks ticket. For ages 0 - 18.***

Don't forget to check the library's events calendar for special programs happening all summer: magicians, ventriloquists, and more! Go to chandlerlibrary.org and scroll down to the green EVENTS box. The 2 upcoming events will display, by branch, and you can click VIEW FULL CALENDAR to see all the events month by month.

YOU FEED YOUR MIND AND WE FEED YOUR BODY! is the teen Summer Reading Program. Add up your hours of reading to be entered into weekly drawings. Teens who read at least 16 hours will be entered into the grand prize drawing and invited to a Chipotle wrap party. For ages 12-18.***

LAUNCH INTO SUMMER READING! is the adult Summer Reading Program. Read for a chance to win an ebook reader.

For more information about all of the Summer Reading Programs, visit this webpage. Summer Reading runs from May 31 to July 30.

***Teens can do both the kids' and teen program, but not at the same time. Please finish one before starting on the other.

Book Review: Bossypants

2011-05-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

Tina Fey is laugh-out-loud funny from the first page to the last in her new autobiography, Bossypants. (Also available as CD audiobook and downloadable audio ebook.) Despite Fey’s timeline of events jumping around a bit in her book, the reader gets to know what makes this funny lady tick - hard work and brains. The reader also gets her take on the quirky high school and college years along with a hilarious scene from her “dream honeymoon cruise.” I was fortunate enough to listen to Fey read her own book, and therefore her funny voices and the intonation she placed on certain areas were spot-on and punctuated her humor perfectly. Fey gives the reader just enough insight into her life without being intrusive to her family or coworkers. Bossypants would make a wonderful light read for your summer list. -Kathy (Downtown)

New Arrivals

2011-05-16T09:00:00.009-07:00

New this week at the Chandler Library:

Adult fiction

Those in Peril by Wilbur Smith

The bestselling adventure novelist delivers a tale of piracy and kidnapping off the coast of Somalia.

Adult nonfiction

This Life Is In Your Hands by Melissa Coleman

In this memoir, the author describes her parents' quest for an idyllic life in the remote Maine wilderness and how that life is shaken by tragedy.

Juvenile fiction

The Last Martin by Jonathan Friesen

Martin is looking at headstones in the family cemetery and discovers an odd secret - there's always someone named Martin in his family, but only one can live at a time. Can he save himself from the family curse before his baby nephew Martin is born?

Juvenile nonfiction

The Pueblo and The Cheyenne

This new series about Native American groups teaches kids facts about their history and traditions.

Picture book

Baby Badger's Wonderful Night by Karen Saunders

Baby Badger is afraid of the dark. Can his papa convince him the night is wonderful?

New website!

2011-05-10T12:36:00.011-07:00

Our new website launches this week. The new site has a more modern look and easier access to important information and featured material.

Featured information and photos will scroll in the middle part of the screen (such as the dates for our half-price booksale).

Contact information, locations and hours can be found in the white tab in the upper right, with closures and other important announcements right below it. Search our catalog by typing your search terms in the orange bar.

Most other links have been grouped in the brightly colored tabs: Read, Research, and My Library. Hover your mouse over one of these tabs to see further options. The image above shows what's under the My Library tab: links for access to your library account, study room reservations, adult education information, and more.

Scroll down the page to see other featured items: library events, book recommendations, our Twitter feed, and more.

Book Review: Malled

2011-05-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

Caitlin Kelly was a successful journalist who never thought much about the people she interacted with daily: retail workers who sold her everything from food to clothing. Then the newspaper jobs started drying up and she was faced with the need for supplemental income, and she found herself on the other side of the cash register.

Malled: My Unintentional Career in Retail is a memoir of the two-plus years Kelly spent working at a large outdoor clothing store in a New York shopping mall. She turns her journalist's attention to both the difficult working conditions and the satisfaction many retail workers find despite those conditions, the dysfunctional culture of large corporations and the contrasting example of small family businesses, the wealthy customers at her high-end store and the coworkers who often live in a state of endless debt and near-poverty. The book is full of things you might expect - stories about difficult customers and unreasonable demands from faceless corporate officers - and things you might not, such as her anecdotes that reveal what it's like to work in journalism. Malled is informative, maddening, and enlightening, and might change the way you look at that next person behind the register. -Michelle (Sunset)

Book Review: Jersey Tomatoes Are the Best

2011-05-02T09:00:00.000-07:00

Henry loves tennis, but she's not crazy about her real name (Henriette) and she really doesn't like being from New Jersey. Her best friend, ballet student Eva, tells her she has to learn how to stand up to the jokes, that if she can survive Jersey, she can survive anything, and to just keep telling herself, "Jersey tomatoes are the best." But while Eva seems confident and strong, her real life is spiralling out of control.

Jersey Tomatoes Are the Best is a teen novel that alternates between Henry and Eva, each telling their stories as they navigate their complicated lives, their sometimes difficult parents, and the competitive worlds of tennis and ballet. Like many teen "issues" books, this one takes on weighty topics including anorexia and the pressue to have sex, but the engaging voices of the narrators keep the book always entertaining and never preachy. The author's gift of description is also a plus, and her depictions of the characters' beloved sports made this reviewer - who has never successfully hit a tennis ball in her life - feel as if she was part of the game. - Michelle (Sunset)

DVD Review: Unstoppable

2011-04-25T09:00:00.000-07:00

Unstoppable is a suspenseful thriller that transforms a freight train into a thunderous villain, with Denzel Washington and Chris Pine as unique supporting characters along for the ride. From the first minutes, our “bad guy” train is moving and is not going to stop for anything. As the uncontrollable behemoth barrels down rural Pennsylvania track, we learn the engineers’ back stories, while the train creates havoc for the station house and corporate executives responsible for this mammoth monster’s destruction. Director Tony Scott includes a comprehensive documentary on the making of the film that is not to be missed. Using real, life-size trains for all stunts and action sequences is what makes Unstoppable not only believable but fun to watch. This film is rated PG-13 for intense scenes and language. - Kathy (Downtown)

New Arrivals: Insight Guides

2011-04-18T09:00:00.005-07:00

Whether you're planning a vacation or you're just an armchair traveler, you'll love Insight Guides. Much more than just a list of destinations, Insight Guides include background information about a country's culture and history, a fascinating addition for the educated traveler, besides being useful for students doing country reports. Insight guides are also beautifully illustrated with full-color photos on nearly every page. Interspersed throughout each guide are recommended hotels, restaurants, and other attractions.

New Insight Guides that arrived this week include China, Cuba, and Norway. Or you can search our catalog for Insight Guides for a complete list.

Audiobook Review: Caribou Island

2011-04-11T09:00:00.003-07:00

The last frontier of relationships? A review of Caribou Island, by David Vann, read by Bronson Pinchot, and reviewed by Star Lawrence (also available as a book) In the interest of TMI, let me reveal that I spent a decade of my life with a man who was a “dreamer” with limited follow-though. I also tended to martyr out from time to time and still do. Maybe this is why I can’t get David Vann’s Caribou Island out of my mind, but I tend to think it’s more because this is good storytelling—if you define that as making the reader always wonder what comes next, what will happen, then what. But by good storytelling, I don’t mean it's easy to take. In loosely wandering between the stories of a couple who had settled into the icy wilds of Alaska decades before and now are picking at the remains of their relationship, along with their two grown children and two tourists—Caribou Island is a study in endurance, missed connections, stunted emotional growth, and escapism. A friend once chided me for recommending a book in which animals suffered, so fair warning—the people do most of the suffering in this one, but there is mention of a starved dog and many, many salmon have a bad time of it. Did I “enjoy” this book? I can’t get it out of my mind. Is that the same? One more thing. I can’t read novels anymore, so I listened to Bronson Pinchot read this. He does a perfect job—perfect! You might want to take a flyer on audio with this one. Star Lawrence owns two blogs— http://healthsass.blogspot.com/ and a recession site called http://dothehopeycopey.blogspot.com/. She is a long-time reporter.

Food Books Roundup

2011-04-04T09:00:00.005-07:00

New this week at the Chandler Library are several food-related books:

How Italian Food Conquered the World

How did Italian food go from a workday cuisine commom only among immigrants to a worldwide phenomenon that has put a pizza place in almost every country and an ethnic cookbook in every would-be gourmet's kitchen? This dense and thoroughly researched history of Italian food provides an answer. From the tiny eateries opened by new Americans to celebrity restaurants and famous wineries, the spread of Italian food in America and other countries is covered in detail. Recipes are featured throughout the book for readers who want to re-create the meals described. It even includes a history of food in various Italian regions from Roman times to the 19th century, which may be useful to students doing country reports.

Allergic Girl: Adventures in Living Well with Food Allergies

Sloane Miller has spent her life dealing with numerous food allergies, and she brings her experience to a book that's part memoir and part medical guide. How are allergies diagnosed and treated? How do you deal with the stress of choosing meals and the fear of eating something bad? How do you get your family and friends to understand what you can and can't eat? How do you handle those office parties and holiday dinners? Each of these questions is answered with personal recommendations and a useful checklist at the end of each chapter.

The Essential Diabetes Cookbook

There are many diabetes cookbooks, but few so gorgeously illustrated with such indulgent-looking, gourmet-style food. Flavors from around the world come together to make healthy recipes including Curried Pickled Eggs, New Potatoes with Marckerel, Spice and Rice, and Citrus and Honey Cheesecake. While some of the ingredient lists can be long, most of the preparation instructions are suprisingly simple.

Book Review: Growing Up Laughing

2011-03-28T09:00:00.000-07:00

The back cover is almost more entertaining than the front of Marlo Thomas’ autobiography, Growing Up Laughing (also available as a downloadable ebook). Thomas interviews other contemporary comics and weaves their stories and philosophy into her own life story. We get to look inside the minds of Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien, Jon Stewart, and others. Thomas allows the reader to understand what makes these famous funnymen (and women) hit the road and do “stand up” for 160 shows a year, whether constantly yearning for parental approval and laughter, or just needing the admiration of an audience night after night.

Growing up as the daughter of 1940s/50s entertainment icon Danny Thomas, Marlo is driven to continue the family business on her own terms. She delves into her personal involvement with the feminist movement in the 70s, and shares with readers her continued work with her father’s charity, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Readers will enjoy a litany of jokes and personal memories from Marlo and many other great comics we currently enjoy. - Kathy (Downtown)

New Arrivals

2011-03-21T09:00:00.002-07:00

Spring can be a time for getting out, starting new projects, and focusing on sports and fitness, and new books that arrived this week at the Chandler Library will encourage you in these activities.

Crafts and Gardening
The Complete Photo Guide to Jewelry Making
175 Fresh Card Ideas
Tomorrow's Garden

Fitness and Sports
You Are Your Own Gym
Essential Golf Skills
Shoot Like the Pros [Basketball]
The Anatomy of Martial Arts

Book Review: A Secret Gift

2011-03-14T09:00:00.002-07:00

A Secret Gift by Ted Gup is a unique blend of narrative history coupled with various personal stories relating to the Great Depression of the 1930s. This time period shaped a generation and has a strong correlation to the current “Great Recession.” The reader is taken back more than seventy years to Ohio, when successful retailer Sam Stone places an ad in the local Canton newspaper soliciting families in need. Sam uses the pseudonym B. Virdot and asks individuals to write him with their stories of hardship. Over 150 families receive a small amount from “Mr. Virdot” to help make Christmas bright during this difficult time. Not until Sam’s grandson, writer Ted Gup, uncovers this hidden mystery and reveals the many hardships these families endured do we understand Sam’s motive and purpose. A Secret Gift truly makes you appreciate what we have today and how desperate people were during this life-changing era. [Also in audiobook.] -Kathy (Downtown)

Ostrich Festival

2011-03-07T09:00:00.003-07:00

Where else can you hear live music, enjoy carnival rides and games, and see ostrich races? Only at Chandler's Ostrich Festival, March 11-13, 2011 at Tumbleweed Park. This year will also feature a sea lion show and medieval jousting, in addition to entertainment from various dance groups and music acts including Eddie Money. The Ostrich Festival Parade will officially kick off the event on Saturday morning at 10am, starting at Ray Rd and proceeding south on Arizona Ave.

Celebrating Chandler's heritage and the city's history of ostrich farming, the Ostrich Festival was established in 1989. For ticket and location information, entertainment schedules, and more, visit http://www.ostrichfestival.com/

Book Review: The Dust of 100 Dogs

2011-02-28T09:00:00.002-07:00

Somewhere in the 17-century Caribbean, just as she is about to escape with her true love, feared pirate Emer Morrisey is murdered and mysteriously cursed with the “dust of one hundred dogs.” Three hundred years later, teenager Saffron Adams agonizes over disappointing her overbearing parents with the news that she does not intend to go to college; after all, it would be unreasonable to expect them to understand her desire to seek out buried treasure (much less her desire to torture every typical teenager she encounters). The reader soon learns that Emer is destined to live the lives of one hundred dogs before returning to this world in human form, as Saffron. The Dust of 100 Dogs, by A.S. King, follows the lives of cynical Saffron and (initially) naive Emer in alternating chapters interspersed with anecdotes about what can be learned from living as a dog. The result is a highly original and entertaining YA novel that should appeal to fans of fantasy, historical fiction and more typical young adult “problem” fiction.

In January, 2011, A.S. King was awarded a Printz honor for her most recent novel, Please Ignore Vera Dietz. - Nick (Downtown)

Book Review: Left Neglected

2011-02-21T09:00:00.002-07:00

Lisa Genova's novel Left Neglected (also on CD book) tells the story of Sarah Nickerson, a working mother and type-A personality with a maddeningly busy life. She's determined to succeed at her job as a business executive, working 80-hour weeks and competing with coworkers who are mostly divorced men, while doing everything she can to get her three children to school and daycare in the morning and get home in time to tuck them into bed. One morning, trying to get a head start on work by making business calls while driving, she takes her eyes from the road for and instant and has to swerve to avoid a traffic backup, rolling her car at 70 miles per hour.

When Sarah wakes up she discovers that the left side of her world has vanished. The right side of her brain was damaged in the accident, leaving her afflicted with a puzzling disorder known as Left Neglect - she is unaware of the left side of her body, her left visual field is missing, and when told to turn her head to the left, she can't understand what it means. She must begin the agonizing process of rehabilitation, struggling to regain what she lost, anxious to return to work and family and terrified that she will never get her life back.

Genova uses her background in neuroscience to bring her novel to life, examining this fascinating and frustrating disorder and imagining how it might affect a person. She draws us into Sarah's world, overwhelming us with the stress of her schedule and baffling us with her injury, and following Sarah's journey as she gradually heals herself and her life. -Michelle (Sunset)

Book Review: You Had Me At Woof

2011-02-14T09:00:00.002-07:00

You Had Me At Woof: How Dogs Taught Me the Secrets of Happiness begins as a seemingly sweet book about a rescued Boston terrier who saves author Julie Klam from her self-centered lifestyle in New York City. As the book progresses, the reader learns about the dedication and volunteer hours needed to save just one pet from heartless and irresponsible owners that populate every community. I had to stop reading due to some graphic details about animal treatment, and being a dog lover, Boston Terriers in particular, this book touched a nerve for me. Klam is a solid writer, but I found some details didn’t flow with the rest of the “feel-good” storyline I had anticipated. The cover alone should capture the curiosity of a few readers, encouraging them to learn more about the unconditional love pets provide and the time it takes to truly care for an animal. - Kathy (Downtown)

Book Review: Cake Boss

2011-02-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

Cake Boss will not disappoint loyal fans of the popular bakery show, now shooting its third season on The Learning Channel. Buddy Valastro writes an honest account of how he earned the right to call himself the chief baker and business manager for his family’s 100-year-old Hoboken establishment known as Carlo’s Bake Shop. Full of personal accounts about his four older sisters, his mother, and his father - who taught this master baker literally everything he knows about business, salesmanship, and genuine customer service - add a touch of family drama without being too invasive. The reader feels a special bond with the Valastro family, who worked hard to establish an artisan family business in the early 20th-century, and in turn carries on a lost art and tradition of from-scratch baking. Read Cake Boss for laughs and a few tears, in addition to the many mouth-watering recipes included in the back of the book. Cream puff anyone? -Kathy (Downtown)

Books on the Big Screen

2011-01-31T09:00:00.002-07:00

Going to the movies? Several new and "coming soon" movies are based on books. Beat the crowds and place your holds now!

The Rite (scheduled release date: January 28)

Anthony Hopkins stars as an American priest studying at an exorcism school in Italy.

Based on The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcist, by Matt Baglio

The Eagle (scheduled release date: February 25)

The saga of a young Roman soldier in ancient Britain.

Based on The Eagle of the Ninth, by Rosemary Sutcliff

Jane Eyre (scheduled release date: March 11)

A new adaptation of the classic novel about a plain servant and her mysterious employer.

Based on Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte (hint: look for books with call numbers of F BRONTE or YA BRONTE)

The Lincoln Lawyer (scheduled release date: March 18)

Matthew McConnaughey stars as a lawyer who conducts business from the back of his Lincoln town car.

Based on The Lincoln Lawyer, by Michael Connelly (also in Large Print)

Miral (scheduled release date: March 25)

An orphaned Palestinian girl grows up in the wake of war.

Based on Miral, by Rula Jebreal

Book Review: Portobello

2011-01-24T09:00:00.002-07:00

A troubled man with a heart condition drops an envelope full of cash in the busy shopping district of Portobello Road. A deeply obsessive art dealer finds it and posts flyers in an attempt to find the owner of the money. A shiftless young man from a family of ex-cons sees the flyer and tries to claim the cash. These minor, random events bring three people and those around them into a web of sinister interactions in Ruth Rendell's new mystery Portobello (also available in large print.) Not a typical whodunnit, Rendell's novel instead focuses on the people who are affected by the simple act of dropping something in the street and the network of actions that happen as a consequence, a fascinating collection of character studies and a slice-of-life picture of a London neighborhood.

Female British mystery writers have made a name for themselves in recent years, with novels often driven by strongly-drawn, intriguing characters. Other suggestions include Minette Walters, whose recent title The Chameleon's Shadow (reviewed here) focuses on a wounded Iraq war veteran who might or might not have committed a series of murders, and Mo Hayder, whose gritty novel Pig Island follows an investigative reporter into a secluded religious compound riddled with secrets. -Michelle (Sunset)

Book Review: Little Dorrit

2011-01-17T09:00:00.001-07:00

As we attempt to survive "The Great Recession," who would have believed that Charles Dickens in his classic Little Dorrit created a story that could have been taken from a recent copy of The Wall Street Journal? Originally published in a monthly serial from December 1855 to June 1857, Dickens' story tells of the great financial wizard Mr. Merdle, a man who is literally the foundation of the British investment empire. A shaker of the world's economic system and the guru of economics, Mr. Merdle's demise can be taken right from the pages of the Bernie Madoff scandal. The resulting economic calamity and the taking down of such honorable and loving persons as Arthur Clennan, the savior of Little Dorrit and her father, forecast the lack of financial rectitude in our contemporary times. There is even the landlord Mr. Pancks, a believer in "trickle down economics" who thinks that what's best for the wealthy is best for him, even if it's unethical. Maybe even Dickens' debtor prison will become a reality of our times. Read Litte Dorrit and you'll be amazed at its timely relevance. -Henry (Downtown)

Book Review: Waiter Rant

2011-01-10T09:00:00.000-07:00

Waiter Rant: Thanks for the Tip - Confessions of a Cynical Waiter is a great read to fully understand the underworld of foodservice. The entertaining and witty musings of “anonymous” writer Steve Dublanica are a quick, fascinating journey into the upper crust New York restaurant biz, and the actors, students, and other temporary servers who make it tick. Throughout the story the reader is left in the dark about the identity of the author, a downsized corporate executive, who falls into a “temporary” waiter’s job to make ends meet. What we learn along the way is not only the disgusting and depraved hijinks that go on behind those kitchen doors, but also what draws people to this seemingly back-breaking and thankless job. The book also highlights the major influence that blogging has in our society today. Dublanica’s book is an offshoot of the anonymous blog he started years ago to vent his frustrations about restaurant management, staff and customers. Since being “outed,” Dublanica has a new blog site, waiterrant.net. Can’t wait to read the next installment of Steve’s rants, and pick up a few “tips” too! (Also available in audiobook.) - Kathy (Downtown)

Book Review: Fueling the Teen Machine

2011-01-03T09:00:00.003-07:00

Fueling the Teen Machine: What it takes to make choices for yourself every day is a comprehensive book that looks at what teens eat currently and what smarter choices they should make in the future to enjoy long, healthy lives. The authors, two registered dietitians, examine food choices specific to teenage palates, and give meal planning ideas for eating out, grocery shopping, and when following special diets such as weight control, sports nutrition or vegetarianism. Loaded with appendixes, menu ideas and recipes, the book takes the guesswork out of healthy eating and sound nutritution. While focusing on teens, the book is written for adults. Coaches, mothers, and teachers will find scientifically-based content with many resources on nutritional data, governmental agencies, and organizations dealing specifically with food-related issues. Fueling the Teen Machine would make a great reference guide for parents, athletes, or any teen needing to make smarter, healthier choices in today’s fast-food world. -Kathy (Downtown)

Best Books of the Year

2010-12-27T09:00:00.003-07:00

What were the most notable books of 2010? Here are some chosen by the New York Times Book Review, Publishers Weekly, and Amazon.com:

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MARK TWAIN, Vol. I, by Mark Twain. The great American humorist is his own best character in this first volume of his unexpurgated autobiography that doubles as a razor-sharp portrait of the human comedy.

THE BIG SHORT, by Michael Lewis. Lewis has written the briskest and brightest analysis of the crash of 2008. Other books might provide a more exhaustive account of what went wrong, but Lewis's character-driven narrative reveals the how and why with peerless clarity and panache. When will they ever learn?

THE EMPEROR OF ALL MALADIES: A Biography of Cancer, by Siddhartha Mukherjee. Mukherjee’s powerful and ambitious history of cancer and its treatment is an epic story he seems compelled to tell, like a young priest writing a biography of Satan.

FREEDOM, by Jonathan Franzen. Like Franzen’s previous novel, “The Corrections,” this is a masterly portrait of a nuclear family in turmoil, with an intricately ordered narrative and a majestic sweep that seems to gather up every fresh datum of our shared millennial life.

THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET’S NEST, by Stieg Larsson. In the third installment of the pulse-racing trilogy featuring Mikael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander, the pair are threatened by an adversary from deep within the very government that should be protecting them.

THE HELP, by Kathryn Stockett. An uplifting debut novel set during the cascent civil rights movement in Jackson, Mississippi, where black women were trusted to raise white children but not to polish the household silver.

THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS, by Rebecca Skloot. Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor Southern tobacco farmer, yet her cells - taken without her knowledge - became one of the most important tools in medicine: vital for developing the polio vaccine, uncovering secrets of cancer and viruses, and leading to in vitro fertilization, cloning, and gene mapping.

THE IMPERFECTIONISTS, by Tom Rachman. This intricate novel is built around the personal stories of staff members at an improbable English-language newspaper in Rome, and of the family who founded it in the 1950s.

MATTERHORN: A Novel of the Vietnam War, by Karl Marlantes. In this tale, 30 years in the creation, bloody folly envelops a Marine company’s construction, abandonment and retaking of a remote hilltop outpost.

MR. PEANUT, by Adam Ross. In this daring first novel, a computer game designer suspected of murdering his obese wife is investigated by two marriage-savvy detectives, one of whom is Dr. Sam Sheppard.

A RELIABLE WIFE, by Robert Goolrick. Rural Wisconsin, 1909. In the bitter cold, a successful businessman stands alone on a train platform waiting for the woman who answered his newspaper advertisement for "a reliable wife."

ROOM, by Emma Donoghue. Donoghue’s remarkable novel is narrated by a 5-year-old boy, whose entire world is the 11-by-11-foot room in which his mother is being held against her will.

SHADOW TAG, by Louise Erdrich. Erdrich’s portrait of a marriage on its way to dissolution appears to be seeded with deliberate allusions to her own relationship with the writer Michael Dorris.

Holiday Closures

2010-12-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

Don't forget, all four branches of the Chandler Public Library will be closed on:

Friday, December 24 (City observation of Christmas )
Saturday, December 25 (Christmas)
Friday, December 31 (City observation of New Years)
Saturday, January 1 (New Years)

Regular hours will be in effect all other days this holiday season.

Need information from the library while we're closed? Don't worry - we still offer:

Account access - look up your due dates, check if you have any fines or holds, and renew your materials online. Enter your library card number as your user ID and your 4-digit PIN. (Please note, you cannot renew items if others have placed holds on them or if they are already overdue.)

Information databases - search articles from newspapers, magazines, and reference sources, on all sorts of topics such as health, auto repair, and Consumer Reports ratings. All you need is your library card and PIN numbers, and you can log in from home!

Downloadable books - want to try out that new MP3 player or ebook reader you got for the holidays? Log in to the Greater Phoenix Digital Library and download ebooks or e-audio books. It's free and there are no late fees! (Please note, not all books are available in all formats, and some devices, including the Amazon Kindle, are not compatible.)

Still have a question? You can send it to us through our Ask A Question page, but remember we won't be able to answer it until the next working day after the closure.

Enjoy your holidays!

DVD Review: Mother Ghost

2010-12-13T09:00:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't it be nice to work out issues with your parents this holiday season, even those who have passed on? You wouldn't have all those bad feelings and you could really get into absolute joy. Don't shake your head, it's really possible. All you have to do is watch the movie Mother Ghost.

Keith's life is falling apart because he has not accepted the death of his mother and has major issues with both her and his living father. His wife has threatened divorce and things that were buried with his mother keep reappearing. In absolute desperation he phones in to a faltering radio psychiatrist, Dr. Norris, who has been told he will lose his job if his ratings don't vastly improve. With Dr. Norris giving Keith a caring heart by phone, he begins a type of therapy that just might work for anyone. Besides bringing tears to your eyes, the movie will make you ask yourself if you have any unfinished business with your own parents. Mother Ghost has a unique storyline and excellent acting by Mark Thompson and Kevin Pollak. It is a psychological comedy that will grip your heart and maybe improve your holiday season. -Henry (Downtown)

DVD Review: Everybody's Fine

2010-12-06T09:00:00.000-07:00

Marketed in theaters as a holiday comedy, Everybody’s Fine is a DVD release with Robert DeNiro and Drew Barrymore, Sam Rockwell, and Kate Beckinsale as his adult children. The story plays out as a sad drama centered on a recent widower, DeNiro, who now must try and reconnect to his far-flung grown children and learn about them as adults. The film is a tear jerker, and the audience feels sorry for the father and the kids whom he never knew while they were growing up. Everybody’s Fine is a typical drama if you know what to expect: great performances from DeNiro and especially from Rockwell. Everybody’s Fine is rated PG-13 for a brief violent scene, sexuality, drug references, and language. - Kathy (Downtown)

Chandler's Parade of Lights and Tumbleweed Tree Lighting

2010-11-29T09:00:00.003-07:00

Kick off the holiday season with a Chandler Tradition. The 2010 Parade of Lights and Tumbleweed Tree Lighting ceremony will be held on Satuday, December 4 in the A.J. Chandler Park / San Marcos Resort area in Downtown Chandler.

Entertainment and kids' visits with Santa start at 4:30. The Parade of Lights begins at 7:00, with the tree lighting ceremony to follow at 8:00. Chandler's unique Tumbleweed Tree dates back to 1957, when Chandler residents began gathering tumbleweeds to fashion into a holiday tree.

Visit the City of Chandler website for more information about the event.

Book Review: Packing for Mars

2010-11-22T09:00:00.001-07:00

Japan chooses theirs by making them fold paper cranes. America's first included multiple monkeys named Albert. Others have been subjected to miserable food, two weeks without a change of clothes, and bizzare toilet procedures. They're astronauts, and they've got an eye to go to Mars next. Mary Roach examines everything that goes into planning this trip, and any space voyage, in her book Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void. From the early days of the space program to the International Space Station (which has much better bathroom facilities), Roach details the challenges of making everything we take for granted on Earth work in an environment with no gravity, no up or down, no atmosphere and no resources except those the astronauts bring with them. Who knew it would be so hard to eat, to keep clean, to fight motion sickness, and to get along with other people while trapped in a metal box with no way out?

Roach turns her curious and irreverent eye on all aspects of space travel, creating a fascinating, sometimes gross, and always laugh-out-loud documentary peppered with tangents about all sorts of interesting things. Her trademark voice is also on display in other books that explore unexpected topics, including Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers. - Michelle (Sunset)

Audiobook review: Sworn to Silence

2010-11-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

Formerly Amish sheriff talks tough in Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo, read by Kathleen McInerney. (Also in regular and large print.)

Do you like mildly “chicklit” books starring former Amish people who wield the F-Bomb? Good news - this is a series now. Sheriff Kate Burkholder left the sect but still knows the players in this neck of Ohio and is determined to catch a killer of young women, both Amish and “English” (non-Amish).

Burkholder eventually hooks up with a state-level cop with his own demons. Oh - did I mention that she thinks the killer may be a man who assaulted her and whom her Amish family “dispatched” to the next world - maybe (she had never really been sure he was dead)? I didn’t mention it? Well, it’s true.

There is some hooking up (the mildly chicklit part) but nothing too icky. Two damaged souls bumping in the night.

We are not talking “Witness” here with dreamy sponge baths and barn raisings. More like "where shall we stash the stiff?" Kathleen McInerney does a fair job of reading without getting all girlish and inserting charming little pauses. I hate it when that happens.

Star Lawrence owns a recession site called Do the Hopey Copey (http://hopeycopey.blogspot.com/) and can be reached at jkellaw@aol.com.

Books on the big screen

2010-11-08T09:00:00.001-07:00

...or small screen. Here's the latest news about forthcoming book-to-movie and televion adapations.

Charlaine Harris’s Harper Connelly books are being considered by CBS for adaptation to a TV series, following the succes of HBO's True Blood, based on her Sookie Stackhouse novels. The 4th Harper Connelly novel, Grave Secret, came out last year.

Shooting on Life of Pi, based on Yan Martel's award-winning novel, will being in January. Director Ang Lee has chosen newcomer Suraj Sharma to play the lead role, in an audition that included over 3,000 other teenagers. (Also available in large type and audio.)

Filming on The Hobbit is scheduled to begin in February, following an agreement reached between director Peter Jackson and the New Zealand actors guild. The movie will be realeased in two parts. (Find the library's many editions of The Hobbit, including commentary and graphic novel adaptations, here. Hint: the original novel is listed as F TOLKIEN or YA TOLKIEN.)

The Help was the top movie story in People magazine. Based on Kathryn Stockett's debut novel, the film is directed by Tate Taylor and scheduled to come out in August 2011. (Find the book, large type, or audio.)

Chandler Library and Friends of the Library online

2010-11-01T09:00:00.001-07:00

Are you a fan of Facebook? Thrilled about Twitter? You can find the Chandler Library and the Friends of the Library on Facebook and Twitter!

Visit the library's Facebook page to learn about events happening at the library, see what others are saying about the library, and more:
http://www.facebook.com/chandlerpubliclibrary

Follow the library on Twitter to get quick updates about library happenings:
http://twitter.com/ChandlerLibAZ

Are you a Friend of the library? "Friend" the Friends on Facebook, and see when the next Friends booksale is, find out what special programs the Friends are sponsoring, and learn about the Friends gift shop/cafe:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-the-Chandler-Public-Library/113175892072089

Get updates about what the Friends of the Library are doing, and other fun bookish stuff:
http://twitter.com/fotcpl

New Arrivals

2010-10-25T09:00:00.000-07:00

Here are some of this week's new arrivals at the Chandler Library. Click a title to view the book's record, where you can check availability and place a hold with your library card and PIN numbers.

Adult fiction

The Lost and Forgotten Languages of Shanghai, by Ruiyan Xu

A Shanghai businessman's world is shattered when an accident takes away his ability to speak Chinese.

Adult nonfiction

Cook This, Not That, by David Zinczenko and Matt Goulding

How to turn your favorite restaurant treats into healthier dishes that are easy to make at home.

Junior fiction

Girl's Best Friend: A Maggie Brooklyn Mystery, by Leslie Margolis

Dogs are disappearing all over town, and only a 7th-grade sleuth can solve the mystery.

Junior nonfiction

Who Wants Pizza? The Kids' Guide to the History, Science & Culture of Food by Jan Thornhill

How do our bodies use food? What do people in other countries eat? And what's good - or bad - about pizza?

Picture books

Two Dumb Ducks, by Maxwell Eaton

Steve likes cans. Carl likes socks. Why do the other birds call them two dumb ducks?

DVD Review: The Bounty Hunter

2010-10-18T09:00:00.002-07:00

Jennifer Aniston’s new movie The Bounty Hunter has just been released on DVD. The action-packed comedy/drama follows the same formula as many of her other films: bad-boy ex-cop (hunky Gerard Butler) is chasing down independent ex-wife (Aniston) and in the process solves a mystery nobody else in the greater Philadelphia area is aware of. The plot is far-fetched and predictable, despite some gun-toting chase scenes and a few minor twists. Checking out The Bounty Hunter will be worthwhile as long as you don’t expect too much but light, mindless entertainment. The film is rated PG-13 for language, violence and some suggestive situations. - Kathy (Downtown)

Book Review: American Rebel

2010-10-11T09:00:00.001-07:00

American Rebel: The Life of Clint Eastwood is a thoroughly researched biography of the film legend, and methodically covers the actor/director’s life from childhood to the present day. Biographer Marc Eliot utilizes extensive interviews and memiors from other actors, directors and family to draw a detailed portrait of the man and movie legend. From his television days on Rawhide in the early 1960’s to his extremely popular “spaghetti westerns,” Eastwood has climbed the ladder of success with hard work and business savvy to become an Academy Award winning director and producer. Despite his turbulent personal life and stoic demeanor, Eastwood is known in Hollywood circles as being an effective “actor’s director.” The reader will learn the motivation and strong character behind this private man after reading Eliot’s well-resourced text. [Also in large type and ebook.] - Kathy (Downtown)

Chandler Parade of Lights

2010-10-04T09:00:00.002-07:00

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Or it will, on December 4 during the Parade of Lights. You can be part of the parade by putting together your own float, band, vehicle or walking entry.

To enter the parade, fill out an entry form (online or print and mail) and submit it by November 10. All entrants must attend a pre-parade meeting on November 22. For more information, visit the City of Chandler website.

Book Review: The Happiness Project

2010-09-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

Gretchen Rubin’s yearlong journey, The Happiness Project, is a straightforward read, developed from her blog of the same name. Laced with scientific research, philosophy, and personal analysis, Rubin's book takes us through her own personal “Aha” moments about how to make life more fun, happy and hopefully stress free. Month by month we follow the author through her resolutions such as eating better, which she refers to as “no fake food,” or no nagging comments, which was very tough for her argumentative personality. Overall, readers will gain at least one nugget of useful information that can help better their happiness quotient. Rubin offers straightforward suggestions, along with other readers’ tips, to share specifics of what has been successful in that elusive journey toward true happiness. Check out the Happiness Project website, if you’d like a sneak peek at the author’s happiness toolkit.

New Arrivals

2010-09-20T09:00:00.002-07:00

New books and audiobooks that arrived this week at the Chandler Library:

Adult fiction
Warlord, by Ted Bell
The new adventure featuring British spy Alex Hawke.

Pretty Little Things, by Jilliane Hoffman
When a 13-year old girl goes missing, an investigator finds himself in a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse with an online predator.

Adult nonfiction
The English Is Coming, by Leslie Dunton-Downer
Fascinating stories of English words and how they're used around the world.

Badasses, by Peter Richmond
A down-and-dirty history of the Oakland Raiders in the 1970s.

Teen fiction
Crusade, by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie
Six young vampire hunters try to stop the Cursed Ones from taking over the world.

Dear America: The Fences Between Us, by Kirby Larson
(also on audio)
Piper Davis awaits news from her brother, a solider on the battleship Arizona stationed in Pearl Harbor.

Junior fiction
Reckless, by Cornelia Funke
A magical mirror transports a boy into another world in this new adventure by the author of Inkheart.

Goosebumps Horrorland: The Wizard of Ooze, by R.L. Stine
Why is Marco being followed by a man dressed as his favorite comic book villain?

Picture books and Readers
Max & Ruby's Bedtime Book, by Rosemary Wells
"Just one more story!" Max and Ruby beg their grandmother.

Martha Speaks: Haunted House, by Susan Meddaugh
Martha the talking dog has to deliver flowers to a very scary house.

New feature - Reserve study rooms online!

2010-09-13T09:00:00.012-07:00

Do you need to use a study room? You can now reserve study rooms online, in advance and from home, without calling the library and waiting on hold. All you need is your library card and PIN numbers. You can make one reservation per day per library card, up to a week in advance.

Start at chandlerlibrary.org and look for the Study Room Reservations link:

Choose the branch where you want to make your reservation. Downtown, Sunset, and Basha have study rooms.

Choose your date and room number. The grid will show you what times are available. Use the checkboxes to select your desired time. You can have one block of up to two hours per day. Then click the Continue button at the bottom of the page.

Enter your library card and PIN numbers. (Forgot your PIN? Call 480-782-2800.) Click Login, then your name and email address will appear. An email address is required - enter one here if one does not come up.

Enter the number of people using the room (max. 4 for most rooms, max. 6 for Downtown rooms 137 and 138). Verify that all the information is correct, then click Verify Request.

You'll get a confirmation email showing your room number and date, along with a cancellation link. You might want to print this out so you remember which room you're in. (Please don't use a different room - it will alter our schedule for the rest of the day!)

There's a cancellation link in case you need to cancel your room - just click it to go to the cancellation page. Please cancel as soon as you know you can't make it to open the room up to others.

When you come in for your reservation, you can go right to your room - no need to check in at the desk! (Let us know if someone else is in your room by mistake.)

Fall book preview

2010-09-06T09:00:00.000-07:00

Bestsellers, new fiction, nonfiction and more are due out this fall. Click to learn more about these highly anticipated titles, and place a hold to reserve your spot on the waiting list.

Hell's Corner, by David Baldacci
The lastest adventure featuring Oliver Stone and the Camel Club. (Publication date: Nov 9)
also in Audio, Large Type

Wicked Appetite, by Janet Evanovich
The mystery writer launches a new series with an offbeat couple battling the Seven Deadly Sins. (Publication date: Sep 14)
also in Audio

The Confession, by John Grisham
A guilty man has four days to save an innocent man on death row in this new legal thriller. (Publication date: Oct 26)
also in Audio, Large Type

Safe Haven, by Nicholas Sparks
Secrets surround a mysterious young woman who appears in a small North Carolina town. (Publication date: Sep 14)
also in Audio, Large Type

Decision Points, by George W. Bush
A memoir by America’s 43rd president. (Publication date: Nov 9)
also in Large Type

Barefoot Contessa: How Easy is That? by Ina Garten
New recipes for delicious food that can be prepared with a minimum of fuss. (Publication date: Oct 26)

My Discoveries - make your own booklists

2010-08-30T09:00:00.000-07:00

Too many things you'd like to read? You can now make your own lists of books you'd like to read, books you read and liked, or books you'd like to tag with descriptive phrases, using the My Discoveries feature in our new library catalog.

Anytime you search for a book - or anything else - in our new catalog, you'll have a chance to log in to My Discoveries.When you pull up the full record (click on the title), you'll see the "Save or Tag" option on the right.Click here, and you'll be prompted to log in to My Discoveries. The first time you click, you'll be prompted to register. (Make sure to save your username and password, as it's not stored with the rest of your checkout information so library staff cannot look it up for you.)

When you log in, the screen will refresh and show a new field where you can add the title to a list and tag it. Scroll down to look for the field under the tags, just above the copy availability.

Choose "Add to list" and you'll have an opportunity to create a list or add the title to an existing list. Then type in a tag or description and click Save. You can view your lists anytime by clicking My Discoveries in the upper right and logging in.

Please note: books you put on your My Discoveries list will not automatically be added to your holds list. To place a hold, click Place Hold and enter your library card and PIN numbers.

Book Review: The Glass Rainbow

2010-08-23T09:00:00.003-07:00

THE GLASS RAINBOW, Dave Robicheaux and Clete Purcell together forever? Written by James Lee Burke, read by Will Patton, reviewed by Star Lawrence

This is the 18th Robicheaux/Purcell caper—is it the last? I will get to that in a moment.

Dave, as the legions of fans know, is a mercurial cop-family man guy, who was tossed off the New Orleans PD and landed in the New Iberia, Louisiana, Sheriff’s Department. Clete is his bigger-than-life brawler of a pal, late of the NO cops, never at the Sheriff’s Department, and now sort of a freewheeling PI and world-class drinker.

These two are low-life Velcro. They find every reptilian, old-money, new-money, pimp and scoundrel rattling around Louisiana, In The Glass Rainbow, they are entangled with a creepy old oil man and his dilettante son, Kermit. Added to the mix are some young women tossed into landfills like trash and one of those celebrity criminals. You know, the kind celebrities lionize.

About then, Dave starts spotting the phantom steam paddlewheeler on his beloved Bayou Teche outside his house. And the guys in the black SUVs start to show up.

Amidst the trademark Burke nature lore, the bruised skies, the tink of raindrops, the great grand-daughter of New Orleans famed voodoo queen glances at Dave and remarks that he is “disappearin’, thinning out.”

Now, I don’t want to spoil this, but let’s say the ending is ambiguous. Dave boards the paddlewheeler, sees his long-dead parents, medics from Vietnam…Clete tries to pull him back down the gangplank.

Is this the end for our guys?

Star Lawrence owns two websites—one, HEALTHSass (http://healthsass.blogspot.com/), contains interesting health tidbits and the other, Do the Hopey Copey (http://hopeycopey.blogspot.com/) is for those seeking to stay alive in this economy.

Books in the News

2010-08-16T09:00:00.001-07:00

The Cookbook Collector by Allegra Goodman was reviewed by Maureen Corrigan on NPR’s Fresh Air. This story about social manners in Silicon Valley during the dot-com era, featuring two sisters with opposite personalities, has been described as "updated Austen [that] hits the spot."

Room by Emma Donoghue has been nominated for the UK’s Man Booker Prize, and will be published in the U.S. in September. The Guardian calls it, "Perhaps the most controversial novel [on the nomination list], inspired by the case of Josef Fritzl who kept his daughter prisoner for 24 years," and The Economist says, "…it is already being talked about as the next The Lovely Bones."

The Power, the follow-up to Rhonda Byrne’s bestseller The Secret, is due out on August 17. The New York Times noted that the publisher has planned an initial print run of 2 million copies, and describes The Power as "a handbook to the greatest power in the universe - the power to have everything you want."

Book Review: The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake

2010-08-09T09:00:00.001-07:00

Aimee Bender's novel The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake is a coming of age tale with a twist. Nine-year-old Rose, whose mother has made her favorite lemon cake for her birthday, bites into the cake and discovers that she can taste in food the emotions of the people who made it. She spends the next several years learning to avoid anger- or distress-laden foods, identifying the emotionless factories that make junk food, and making excuses not to eat her mother's cooking. While she struggles to navigate the feelings in food, she must also learn to navigate the dynamics of her troubled family: her depressed mother, her distant and workaholic father, and a brother so remote and strange that he actually seems to be disappearing.

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake handles its unusual theme with a gentle touch, taking the impossibility as a given in Rose's life and examining how she comes to terms with it and what it says about her and her family. It joins the ranks of well-respected novels with fantastic or science-fictional themes, such as Cormac McCarthy's post-apocalyptic fable The Road, Kit Reed's view of the not-so-distant future in Thinner Than Thou, and Margaret Atwood's classic futuristic novel The Handmaid's Tale. - Michelle (Sunset)

Book review: The Why of Work

2010-08-02T09:00:00.003-07:00

The Why of Work, by husband and wife authors Dave and Wendy Ulrich, is not only a how-to manual on managing employees, but also a great tool to use every day when dealing with people. Resources and strategies are fully discussed, charted, and diagrammed for easy understanding. Dealing with conflict, managing change, and handling difficult people are just a few topics the authors explore. We live in a world of change, and this way of life is not slowing down. Therefore, managers and successful leaders must deal with issues head-on, to empower and engage their staff for a successful future. As detailed in the latter chapters, bringing a sense of delight with humor, fun, and productive activities also makes for a more meaningful work experience. Check out The Why of Work for better insight and a different perspective on what motivates people. - Kathy (Sunset)

Summer Reading Program - the last week!

2010-07-26T09:00:00.003-07:00

You have until Saturday, July 31 to finish reading and turn in your entry forms for the Adult Summer Reading Program! Our drawing for the grand prize gift certificate will take place on or about August 2.

Some last-minute reading ideas from recent Summer Reading entry forms:

Blueberry Muffin Murder, by Joanne Fluke
Do One Green Thing: Save the Earth Through Simple, Everyday Choices, by Mindy Pennybacker
Falcon Seven, by James Houston
The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town, by John Grisham
Island Beneath the Sea, by Isabelle Allende
Ransom My Heart, by Meg Cabot
True Colors, by Kristin Hannah

And don't forget about Summer Reading Programs for kids and teens. Now through July 31.

Volunteering at the library

2010-07-19T09:00:00.005-07:00

Looking for something to do when summer's over? If you've been interested in volunteering at the library, our volunteer orientations are starting up again. Library volunteers assist with tutoring adult learners, checking in books, the Friends of the Library in the Gift Shop and with used books, delivering books to homebound residents and much more.

Visit this page for more information about our volunteer program (scroll down to Volunteering) as well as to download a volunteer application. The application includes more information about the different volunteer opportunities at each branch. Prospective volunteers will fill out an application, then attend a volunteer orientation.

Our first volunteer orientation for the fall will take place on Wednesday, August 11 at 10:00 am. See the event listing for registration information, and make sure to fill out your volunteer application form in advance. (View our calendar for additional monthly orientation dates.)

Teen volunteer opportunities will also re-open in the fall. Visit this page and scroll down to Teen Volunteer Application for more information about how to apply.

Teens needing community service hours for school may or may not be able to fulfill these short-term assignments at the library, depending on our schedule availability. If you need community service hours for school, please send in your application early for a better chance at getting onto the schedule.

Please note: Unfortunately, we do not have positions available for court-ordered community service. For information about court-ordered volunteer opportunities, visit this page and scroll down to Court-Ordered Community Service.

Book Review: Hollywood Station

2010-07-12T09:00:00.002-07:00

Hollywood Station by Joseph Wambaugh immediately entertains the reader with an L.A. Police car patrol prowl on the Hollywood strip. Here, police rookies (right out of the academy) have to deal with addicts, crazies, and gangbangers. With non-stop action, you witness high-speed auto chases, a jewelry store robbery that leads to the Russian Mafia, a murder-suicide near Hollywood's famous "Grauman's Chinese Theatre", a police horse patrol on the "Sidewalk of the Stars" that goes terribly wrong, and a racial profiling investigation. This novel shines above the rest in character development, dark humor, social satire, current Los Angeles politics, and action you won't forget!

Joseph Wambaugh in Hollywood Station is at his absolute best. From U.S.C. dropout surfing cops, meth freaks, and homeless street performers - you witness some of the best character development I've ever read. The author provides a fascinating look at not only Hollywood/ Los Angeles culture but also its ever volatile social and political climate. I guarantee this thriller will provide non-stop entertainment, with characters and settings you won't forget, and may even provide relief from Arizona's heat! - Henry (Downtown)

Summer Reading Program - halfway through

2010-07-05T09:00:00.003-07:00

Here are more of our readers' favorites for the Adult Summer Reading Program:

Caught, by Harlan Coben
Desert Wives, Desert Shadows, and Desert Cut, by Betty Webb
In Defense of Food, by Michael Pollan
Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer
Knockout, by Catherine Coulter
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, by Donald Miller
Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison, by Piper Kerman
The Overton Window, by Glenn Beck
Xenogeneis series, by Octavia E. Butler

Want to read for a chance to win prizes? Just pick up entry forms at any Chandler Public Library, fill one out for each book you read (or audiobook you listen to) and drop them in the entry box. Each week we'll have a drawing for a $20 gift card, with a $50 grand prize drawing at the end of the program. The more books you read, the more chances you'll have to win! Now through July 31.
And don't forget about Summer Reading Programs for kids and teens. Now through July 31.

Book Review: This Time Together

2010-06-28T09:00:00.004-07:00

This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection is the latest memoir from iconic comedienne Carol Burnett, relating over fifty years of her personal life, hit TV show, and famous friendships. Burnett uses a light tone to highlight her start on The Garry Moore Show, and utilizes short, succinct chapters to convey memories: from her first meeting with Cary Grant and Lucille Ball to how her show’s famous ensemble was formed. As she touches on sad moments, never lingering long, the reader will get a sense of the hard work and drive this entertainer harnessed to produce and perform a hit variety show for eleven seasons. Even after surviving a divorce and the untimely death of her daughter, Burnett makes the reader come away with good feelings and happiness, the same feelings she still shares with audiences today. - Kathy (Sunset)

Summer Reading Program - more of your favorites

2010-06-21T09:00:00.001-07:00

Here are more favorites from Adult Summer Reading Program participants:

Beatrice and Virgil, by Yann Martel
Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict, by Laurie Viera Rigler
The Man Who Loved Books Too Much, by Allison Hoover Bartlett
The Nanny Diaries, by Emma McLaughlin
House Rules, Nineteen Minutes, and The Tenth Circle, by Jodi Picoult
Brava Valentine, by Adriana Trigiani
Whisper to the Blood, by Dana Stabenow

Want to read for a chance to win prizes? Just pick up entry forms at any Chandler Public Library, fill one out for each book you read (or audiobook you listen to) and drop them in the entry box. Each week we'll have a drawing for a $20 gift card, with a $50 grand prize drawing at the end of the program. The more books you read, the more chances you'll have to win!

And don't forget about Summer Reading Programs for kids and teens. June 1 - July 31.

Books in the News

2010-06-14T09:00:00.000-07:00

What's being talked about in newspapers and on television?

Tom Rachman’s best selling debut novel The Imperfectionists was reviewed in the New York Times. Brad Pitt’s production company has bought the film rights to this story of a struggling newspaper in Rome.

A story on CBS Sunday Morning featuring Delivering Happiness, by the CEO of online shoe retailer Zappos, sent the business book to #1 on Amazon.

Unsurprisingly, The Facebook Effect has been widely advertised on Facebook and other social media, pushing up its Amazon ranking well before its publication date of June 15.

There was a vampire showdown in the pages of USA Today and the New York Times, as reviewers covered Blood Oath, The Passage, and The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner.

Summer Reading Program - your favorites

2010-06-07T09:00:00.002-07:00

Here are some of the books people have been reading for the Adult Summer Reading Program:

Living Dead in Dallas and Dead Until Dark, by Charlaine Harris
The Glassblower of Murano, by Marina Fiorato
The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini
One for the Money and Two for the Dough, by Janet Evanovich
The Present: The Gift That Makes You Happy and Successful at Work and in Life, by Spencer Johnson

Want to read for a chance to win prizes? Just pick up entry forms at any Chandler Public Library, fill one out for each book you read (or audiobook you listen to) and drop them in the entry box. Each week we'll have a drawing for a $20 gift card, with a $50 grand prize drawing at the end of the program. The more books you read, the more chances you'll have to win!

And don't forget about Summer Reading Programs for kids and teens. June 1 - July 31.

New Arrivals

2010-05-31T09:00:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the new DVDs and CD books received this week at the Chandler Libraries:

DVD

Extraordinary Measures

A father seeking a miracle cure joins forces with a reclusive medical researcher.

Invictus

Clint Eastwood's biopic about South Africa's post-apartheid rugby team.

Young Adult DVD

Ten9Eight

In America, a kid drops out of high school every 9 seconds. Imagine if they didn't.

Mobile Suit Gundam Wing

Collection 1 of an anime classic.

CD Book

Storm Prey, by John Sandford

The new volume featuring investigator Lucas Davenport.

61 Hours, by Lee Child

Jack Reacher is back in this showdown thriller.

Young Adult CD Book

Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins

Book 2 of The Hunger Games.

Look for the pink tape on our new-release DVDs and CD books, just like on our new books! Your library branch might have a display for these new releases, or you can scan the shelves for the pink tape to identify new arrivals.

Movie Review: The Lovely Bones

2010-05-24T09:00:00.002-07:00

The Lovely Bones is a new DVD release, which brings to the screen Alice Sebold’s heart-wrenching novel of the same name. While the film does not follow the book precisely, director Peter Jackson (from Lord of the Rings fame) does keep the same tone and mystical quality that Sebold’s original novel possessed. The audience sees the main character, Susie Salmon, in a happy family setting growing up, and then flash-forwards to Susie at age 14. She then reveals to the audience that she has been murdered by someone she knows, and so begins The Lovely Bones. Jackson’s film version has a fairly reasonable plotline, with Oscar-nominated bad guy Stanley Tucci giving the creepiest performance of his life. The middle 90 minutes of movie seems to drag on, while Susie (or her spirit) is caught in limbo between Heaven and remaining on Earth to help her grieving family and seek revenge for her death. Susan Sarandon does an excellent job as the eccentric Grandmother who helps the devastated parents, but the comic relief Sarandon provides seems out of place in this mostly serious film. The Lovely Bones is rated PG-13 for some violent content, mature themes, and language. - Kathy (Sunset)

Search the catalog for the DVD movie
Search the catalog for the book / large print book / audio book
Place a hold using your library card and PIN numbers (more info)

Book Review: Staying True

2010-05-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

Staying True is a poignant memoir of not only the former North Carolina Governor’s wife, but also of her ex-husband, Mark Sanford, and his exhilarating climb up the political ladder followed by his masterful fall. In short, concise chapters colored with spiritual overtones, the reader learns of the couple’s introduction to one another nineteen years ago, yet is shown foreboding signs of the events to unfold in the future. Ms. Sanford never bad-mouths her husband, relating his horrific mistakes with honesty and integrity. Always strong and remaining “true” for her four teenage sons, Sanford seems to finally understand how to be honest within her own self, as well. A quick read, Staying True is an excellent example of how someone can find a worthwhile certainty in an otherwise truly appalling life experience. - Kathy (Sunset)

Book Review: How We Decide

2010-05-10T09:00:00.003-07:00

What do airline pilots who discover a disastrous mechanical problem midflight, NFL quarterbacks who have a split second to make a game-saving throw, and backgammon-playing computers have in common? They all must make decisions, quickly and accurately, often without much time to analyze their choices.

How We Decide is a fascinating look at how they do it, and how the human mind makes all sorts of decisions. From everyday choices about what to eat, to major investment decisions, to crisis situations where the wrong choice can mean lost lives, author Jonah Lehrer examines how the brain makes up its mind about what to do. How do people make rational choices, and what if they don't have enough time to weigh all the evidence? Is there such a thing as thinking too much about a decision? What is the role of emotions, and can they hinder or even help the decision-making process? Lehrer examines a great deal of current pyschological research, giving his book some heft and authority, but he never becomes dull or overwhelming. This engrossing book sheds light on one of our biggest mysteries: how our own minds work. - Michelle (Sunset)

Get ready for summer with beach reads

2010-05-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

From Entertainment Weekly's summer roundup comes 18 Books We Can't Wait to Read This Summer. Request some of these highlights (click on the links, then "Place Hold" with your library card and PIN numbers) and get ready for summer!

This Body of Death, by Elizabeth George
Another thickly plotted mystery featuring Scotland Yard inspector Thomas Lynley.

Half Life, by Roopa Farooki
An Indian doctor is haunted by past loves.

Girl in Translation, by Jean Kwok
A girl and her mother, immigrants from China, succeed despite incredible odds.

The Last Stand, by Nathaniel Philbrick
The battle of Little Bighorn told by a noted historical novelist.

Slow Love: How I Lost My Job, Put On My Pajamas and Found Happiness, by Dominique Browning
How a magazine editor coped with sudden unemployment.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, by Stieg Larsson
The conclusion to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Girl Who Played with Fire.

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, by Stephenie Meyer
A novella set in the world of Twilight.

Book Review: Game Change

2010-04-26T09:00:00.000-07:00

Game Change is a detailed account of the 2008 Presidential election and the bitter fight between the Obama and Clinton campaigns. Densely written, with first-hand remarks from staffers and other insiders, the book recalls every power play, misstep, and success each side maintained throughout the battle to win the Democratic nomination. Authors John Heilemann and Mark Halperin also touch on the McCain campaign and the further drama that resulted when Sarah Palin was selected as McCain's running mate in late August. The Palin moments are entertaining, and also prove that human beings run these political machines, and everyone is capable of making mistakes. History buffs and fans of our current President will enjoy the insider’s view in Game Change, and will be anxious to see what happens when election year rolls around again. - Kathy (Sunset)

New Arrivals

2010-04-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the new materials received this week at the Chandler libraries:

Adult fiction
Shameless, by Karen Robards
The Frightened Man, by Kenneth Cameron

Adult nonfiction
10-10-10: A Fast and Powerful Way to Get Unstuck in Love, at Work, and at Home, by Suzy Welch
Russia Against Napoleon: The True Story of the Campaigns of "War and Peace," by Dominic Lieven

Young adult (teen) fiction
The Cinderella Society, by Kay Cassidy
Sweet 15, by Emily Adler & Alex Echevarria

Juvenile (junior) fiction
How to Survive Middle School, by Donna Gephart
Love, Puppies and Corner Kicks, by R.W. Krech

Youth nonfiction
Opposing Viewpoints: China
The Hive Detectives: Chronicle of a Honey Bee Catastrophe, by Loree Griffin Burns

Picture books
Polly's Pink Pajamas, by Vivian French
Say Hello, by Rachel Isadora

Find more new books, CDs, and DVDs. Go to chandlerlibrary.org and click "Search the Catalog" in the upper left corner. Our new catalog search page features links to new, recently added, and on-order titles right in front. Place a hold on new and forthcoming items using your library card and PIN numbers.

Last day to register to vote! April 19

2010-04-12T09:00:00.000-07:00

Want to vote in the upcoming Special Election on May 18? The deadline for registering to vote is Monday, April 19 at midnight. You can download voter registration information and forms at the Maricopa County Elections office, or register online at ServiceArizona.com. Or, check your local library - some branches have forms you can pick up and mail in.

Learn more about the ballot measures and how they affect you:
Proposition 100: Arizona state temporary sales tax increase
Proposition 300: Chandler One-Time Override of the State-Imposed Expenditure Limitation

Find your polling place:
Polling Place Finder

Movie Review: Shutter Island

2010-04-05T09:00:00.000-07:00

Shutter Island, the new thriller based on the novel by Dennis Lehane, is exactly what the moviegoer would expect: another fast-paced, suspenseful Martin Scorsese thriller. As the story opens, two federal marshalls are headed out by ferry to isolated Shutter Island, a mental institution for the criminally insane, in search of a missing patient. Lead investigator Teddy Daniels, played by Leo DiCaprio, has a few secrets of his own that complicate the investigation. Ben Kingsley, who portrays the medical director of the facility, gives another outstanding and sympathetic performance to offset DiCaprio’s over-the-top portrayal of the tormented Daniels. Mark Ruffalo and Michelle Williams round out the cast with smaller but pivotal roles that will have you wondering as you leave the theater, “What just happened?” Shutter Island is rated R for language, gruesome violence, and adult themes. - Kathy (Sunset)

Book Review: Thunder Bay

2010-03-29T09:00:00.001-07:00

Thunder Bay, a new outing for Corcoran O’Connor and the dark North Woods, audio book by William Kent Krueger, read by Buck Schirmer.

I first read about deliberate, thoughtful sheriff Corcoran O’Connor in Mercy Falls, and I see from Amazon that he has been treading those pineneedle-covered forest trails, running into the occasional degenerate murderer, for several books. The last one I read is Thunder Bay.

Thunder Bay is actually in Canada, but the story begins in Minnesota. O’Connor has resigned as sheriff of Tamarack County. His friend, an almost 100-year-old Ojibwe medicine man named Henry, is hospitalized and asks O’Connor to find his son, who would then be 73. Son? What son? O’Connor had known the old man all his life, no mention of a son.

He reluctantly agrees and at least googles the mother’s name, one of two clues the old man had. The other clue is a gold watch with a beautiful Latin woman’s picture in it. Of course, through the wonder of Inspector Google, he finds the connection right away. The son, a zillionaire industrialist, is a recluse a la Howard Hughes on an island near Thunder Bay.

O’Connor journeys to the place, bringing the watch. By then, he has learned the old man’s story, which we readers learn to the tune of half the book. I won’t go into it—but I cried and I am not usually a sappy mess.

The son is a wackypack, with long white hair and a closetful of clean bathrobes and surgical masks. Or is he?

I will leave it to you.

There is a second story line I won’t go into and all I can say is that the book nimbly dodges Nancy Drew World a few times, for which I was thankful.

Buck Schirmer? The reader? Wonderful bass voice. My gosh, you could take a bath in his voice. I asked my daughter why I never meet anyone with a voice like that. She said it was because I never went anywhere.

Oh.

Star Lawrence owns a health website called HEALTH’Sass at http://healthsass.blogspot.com/ and a recession site at http://hopeycopey.blogspot.com/. She can be reached at jkellaw@aol.com.

Book Review: Here's the Deal: Don't Touch Me

2010-03-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

Comedian Howie Mandel's Here's the Deal: Don't Touch Me is a hilarious and revealing autobiography, which details his childhood, his rise as a standup comic, and most importantly his struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Mandel tells of the horrific childhood vacation to Miami Beach that most likely reinforced his compulsive behaviors. (If you have a weak stomach, just know that you’ve been warned!) He lets us into his germaphobe mentality and the antics he's mastered to deal with the regular world. His knuckle-bumping, surgical masks, and faking injuries in order to keep germs at a distance are a sad way of life, but also very funny in Mandel's conversational style of writing. The most surprising story isn't Mandel’s OCD, but rather that he wasn't the first choice of producers for Deal or No Deal and didn't even want to do the pilot, although this game show is what has made the comic a household name! - Kathy (Sunset)

Book Review: An Irish Country Doctor

2010-03-17T09:00:00.001-07:00

If you would like to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with something more than corned beef and cabbage, why not try An Irish Country Doctor, a novel by Patrick Taylor? Dr. Barry Laverty is fresh from medical school in Belfast when he takes a position as an assistant to Dr. Fingal Flahertie O’Reilly in the rural village of Ballybuckleboo. Dr. O’Reilly has his own unconventional ways of dealing with his patients; his motto is to “never let the patient get the upper hand.” Life is changing rapidly in the 1960’s, even in Northern Ireland, and Dr. O’Reilly’s methods often conflict with young Barry’s “modern” medical knowledge. An eccentric but endearing cast of characters blend together to teach Barry lessons not only about medicine and healing but life and death as well.

The author is a doctor who had a practice in rural Northern Ireland before becoming a specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology. He also wrote a medical humor column in addition to numerous scientific and medical literature. This well written novel has great character development and wonderful descriptive elements. Taylor’s attention to detail includes a bit of Irish slang which is explained in a glossary. Also in the back of the book are authentic Irish recipes provided by Mrs. Kinkaid, the housekeeper. By the time you’re done with the book, you’ll be craving that corned beef and cabbage and wanting to hop on the next plane to Ireland.

Following An Irish Country Doctor (2007), Patrick Taylor has continued the series with An Irish Country Village (2008), An Irish Country Christmas (2009) and An Irish Country Girl which was released in January. An Irish Country Courtship will be released at Christmas. -Linda (Downtown)