Book Review: The Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher

"Harry Dresden - Wizard. Lost Items Found. Paranormal Investigations. Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates. No Love Potions, Endless Purses, or Other Entertainment." So reads the newspaper ad for private investigator Harry Dresden, a wizard living in a Chicago slightly different from the one we know. Harry's adventures take him through a gritty, secretive underworld populated not only by mob bosses but by dark wizards, demons, werewolves - and a magical council that threatens to punish him or execute him for any mistake. And Harry makes a lot of mistakes. This fast-paced series is told through Harry's sharp, sarcastic voice as he tries to fight the bad guys, make enough money to pay his rent, and live something like a normal life. (Each novel is self-contained and you do not have to read them in the exact order.) - Michelle (Sunset)

Book 1: Storm Front
Book 2: Fool Moon
Book 3: Grave Peril
Book 4: Summer Knight
Book 5: Death Masks
Book 6: Blood Rites
Book 7: Dead Beat
Book 8: Proven Guilty
Book 9: White Night
Book 10: Small Favor
Book 11: Turn Coat

Book Review: Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls

Jeannette Walls takes readers on an adventurous journey into what life was like growing up in the rugged Southwest in her account, Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel. The true life being that of her Grandmother, Lily Casey Smith’s - rich stories of survival, wit, and endurance during the early 20th Century on her family’s ranch and finally her own spread in Arizona. Walls explores not only Lily’s childhood and adulthood, but also enlivens us with funny and fascinating stories of her mother. In the characters’ sharp dialogue and pithy chapters, the reader can actually feel what life on the frontier of young Arizona was like, and experience the growing pains of a state as well as a family. A quick read with many personal insights, Half Broke Horses will have you asking, “Did that REALLY happen?” - Kathy (Sunset)

OverDrive's Most Downloaded Books

Want to know what ebooks and audiobooks are most downloaded from OverDrive?

Click on the link below to see what is checking out the most.

http://search.overdrive.com/Most-Downloaded-Audiobooks-eBooks-Library.asp

OverDrive and the Library eBook Accessibility Program

OverDrive is working to provide alternate or updated eBook software with "read aloud" and text-to-speech services built-into every title. While these efforts are underway, OverDrive has developed a new program entitled Library eBook Accessibility Program or "LEAP".

LEAP is the result of a partnership between OverDrive and Bookshare.org, a non-profit agency that provides individuals with print disabilities timely access to print materials in digital formats. Please see: http://bookshare.org. Under the partnership between Bookshare.org and OverDrive, LEAP will provide accessible eBooks and extend the Bookshare.org service to print impaired U.S. public library patrons serviced by OverDrive. OverDrive is fully funding this program and offering LEAP to your qualifying patrons at no cost to the library and at no cost to your patrons.

Visit OverDrive at ALA Midwinter 2010

OverDrive will be exhibiting at ALA Midwinter in Boston January 15-18, 2010.

If you or any of your colleagues are planning to attend, we invite you to visit our booth (#2446) and attend our theater presentations, which will be held every hour on the hour during exhibit hours, beginning Friday evening at 6:00 PM. We'll share information on new services and features, promotional ideas, usage statistics, and more. There will be MP3 player giveaways at the end of each presentation.

Holiday Events in Chandler

The holiday season in Chandler kicked off with the Parade of Lights and the Tumbleweed Tree lighting last weekend, but there are still more festivities to come!

Wed., Dec. 9 - TRC Holiday Toy Ride

Donate a new, unwrapped toy to the Tumbleweed Recreation Center from 9-11 a.m., and receive a ride in a Chandler fire engine around Tumbleweed Park.

Dec. 10, 12, 19 - Santa's House
Bring your children to Santa’s House at Dr. A.J. Chandler Park and get a free picture taken with Santa!
Thur., Dec.10, 6-8 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 12, noon-5 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 19, noon-5 p.m.

Sat., Dec. 12 - Chandler Fashion Center Holiday Toy Ride
Donate a new, unwrapped toy from 3:30-7:30 p.m., enjoy entertainment, and receive a fire engine ride around Chandler Fashion Center. The collection point is near the valet parking area outside the food court on the south side of the mall.

Sat., Dec. 12 - Holiday Marketplace in Downtown
The DCCP will be holding a Holiday Marketplace along the downtown streets, with vendors selling gifts and downtown merchants offering specials. The Dickens Carolers will perform from 3 to 5 p.m. All activities are free of charge with the donation of a canned goods item. Visit www.downtownchandler.org/ or call 480-855-3539 for more information.

Native American Heritage Month

November is Native American Heritage Month. In honor of this month, try a novel written by a Native American author:

Reservation Blues by Sherman Alexie

Q Road by Bonnie Jo Campbell

A Yellow Raft in Blue Water by Michael Dorris

The Plague of Doves by Louise Erdrich

Stone Heart by Diane Glancy

House Made of Dawn by N. Scott Momaday

Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko

The Heartsong of Charging Elk by James Welch

Book Review:Why Our Health Matters by Dr. Andrew Weil

Why Our Health Matters is a timely text written by renowned healthcare expert Dr. Andrew Weil, who examines the national debate on universal health coverage. The doctor takes a political, as well as humane, stance on the need for a re-vamped medical system that cares for the sick and injured without the high costs associated with hospital stays, high tech medical procedures or overpriced prescription drugs. Weil also explores in great depth how the United States can reduce medical costs and focus on preventative care with nutritional, Chinese, and herbal medicine available in abundance in many countries currently. The World Health Report from 2000 ranks the United States 37th out of 50 other countries for “most effective health systems,” yet Americans pay one of the highest dollar amounts for that care. Supported with a wealth of statistics from research studies, and other worldwide findings, Weil puts together a cohesive argument on why it is vital the United States adopt a different attitude and model for our current healthcare system. However, the United States needs to enact a policy to pay for it. - Kathy (Sunset)

Visit the Chandler Farmer's Market

If you are looking for a way to shop locally, consider stopping by the Chandler Farmer's Market. It is conveniently held every Thursday* from 3 PM to 7 PM at the A.J. Chandler Park in downtown Chandler. It's not huge (25 - 30 vendors) but the market offers a nice variety of edible offerings ranging from Arizona-grown fresh vegetables to olive oil dipping sauces and balsamic vinegars, fresh baked breads, apple butter and barbeque sauces. Many of the vendors offer tastings of their products so you can try before you buy. With the holidays fast approaching, you can also find unique gifts and save yourself hours of wandering the malls. Hand-made beaded jewelry, soaps and lotions, framed art and other craft items are just some of the items made by people right here in Chandler and the surrounding communities. Live, local entertainment adds a festive touch. The Chandler Farmer's Market is easily accessible (flat and paved) with convenient parking available. Also, be sure to bring cash since most vendors are not set up to take debit or credit cards. If you're not ready to head home quite yet, take advantage of the shops and restaurants located directly adjacent to A.J. Chandler Park. Here's an opportunity to enjoy the cool weather, sip a beverage or have a great meal and support your local community all at the same time. What's not to love?!
*Note: The Chandler Farmer's market will not be held November 26 (Thanksgiving Day).

- Linda (Downtown)

DVD Review: State of Play

State of Play, released on DVD recently is the successful summer thriller starring Russell Crowe, Helen Mirren and Rachel McAdams. The film follows investigative journalist, Cal McAffery as he unravels a political mystery involving his best friend, Congressman Stephen Collins, portrayed by Ben Affleck. While relevant in today’s fierce political climate, the plot has twists and turns to delight even the most seasoned movie-lover, and Jason Bateman treats the audience to some scene-stealing character acting. McAdams, (who we have seen in the The Notebook and Redeye) never disappoints in her role as an inexperienced online journalist determined to prove her worth to Crowe’s brazen character. An interesting side note of the movie centers on Cal’s employer, the struggling Washington Globe newspaper, and the fascinating commentary on how internet news agencies are killing the more traditional news gathering and print journalism of days gone by. State of Play is rated PG-13 for intense violence, language including sexual references, and brief drug content. -Kathy (Sunset)

In Honor of Veterans' Day

In Flanders Fields by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow Between the crosses row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Audiobook Review: The Way Home by George Pelecanos

The Way Home rings true as a family portrait, written by George Pelecanos and read by Dion Graham.

Some nice, hard-working middle-class parents don’t end up with the stereotypical kids who take the stereotypical road to adulthood. I didn’t, for instance. So I can identify with George Pelecanos’ latest. Although it’s set in the Washington, DC area, a Pelecanos trademark, the protag, Chris Flynn, son of the owner of a successful carpet installation company, is not African-American, a departure of sorts for this author, who has also written for THE WIRE on HBO.

The story opens on Chris in juvie—having tested and broken his parents’ hearts several times with stupid adolescent decisions. Now he’s inside the system and they are outside, confused, angry, and hurt. Chris drops his verbs, adopts some street intonations and casually informs his dad at one point that he “knows how to jail.” His Dad corrects him each time. Personally, I hate the expression “where it’s at” and correct it every time!

As their paths diverge, parents and son, they also braid back together when Chris gets out. The young man even goes to work with Dad’s company and his Dad hires some of Chris’s pals from juvie. But don’t bring out the pleasing pastels for the family portrait just yet.

One day, after installing a carpet in an empty house, Chris and a friend from jail, Ben, discover a compartment under the floor with $50,000 in it. Uh-oh.

Chris remembers some movies (“A Simple Plan” comes to mind, but was not mentioned) in which keeping found money like this comes to no good. He talks Ben into putting it back.

But fate has spun the Big Wheel. Click, click, where will it stop?

I leave it to you to read or better yet, listen to his story, one of Pelecanos’ most involving, at least for me.

Dion Graham reads it and does not overdo the street gab. His voice is quite hypnotic in fact, and like someone who speaks in low tones, draws you in and makes you listen carefully.

You are not going to want to miss a word.

Star Lawrence reviews more audiobooks on http://chandlerazoo.blogspot.com. She can be reached at jkellaw@aol.com.

Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving is just around the corner! Are you looking for new recipes or ways to spice up old favorites? Try one of the items below for ideas:

Betty Crocker Complete Thanksgiving Cookbook by Betty Crocker

Thanksgiving 101: Celebrate America's Favorite Holiday with America's Thanksgiving Expert by Rick Rodgers

The Thanksgiving Cookbook by Holly Garrison

Tried and True Thanksgiving and Christmas: Top 200 Recipes by Allrecipes.com

DVD Review: 17 Again

17 Again, released on DVD this summer, will take you back to the good old days of high school, but how good were they really? That is the dilemma Mike O’Donnell, portrayed by former Friends star, Matthew Perry, faces in this comedy about a thirty-something “loser” who goes back to his glory days of “being big man on campus.” Teen heart-throb, Zac Efron, displays his capable acting abilities, as Mike at age seventeen, who must deal with his feelings for his soon-to-be ex-wife, (Leslie Mann) and must come to grips with his own childrens' teen angst and problems, while attending classes with them. Character actor,Thomas Lennon, steals the show as Mike’s nerdy best friend all “grown up” and pursuing the school’s single principal. The movie leaves you with a thankful feeling that you can enjoy adult life, but the same “what if” questions might also nag you about your choices during those pivotal high school years. -Kathy (Sunset)

Scary Movies

Give yourself nightmares with one of the following horror films:
Fog

Urban Legend

The Craft

The Sixth Sense

Candyman

1408

A Nightmare on Elm Street

The Amityville Horror

Dracula

Halloween

The Shining

Carrie

Rosemary's Baby

The Blair Witch Project

Poltergeist

Psycho

The Others

The Witching Hour

Ghosts not your thing? Get in the mood for Halloween by reading about witches!

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe

The Witch's Trinity by Erika Mailman

The Book of Spirits by James Reese

The Limits of Enchantment by Graham Joyce

The Book of Shadows by James Reese

The Black Cat by Robert Poe

The Witches of Eastwick by John Updike

Witches and Warlocks: Tales of Black Magic, Old and New

2010 OneBookAZ

Arizona readers have spoken! The 2010 OneBookAZ title is The Trunk Murderess: Winnie Ruth Judd by Jana Bommersbach. During the month of September readers across Arizona voted to read this title in April 2010, when we'll celebrate our 9th year of reading the same book together as a state.

Audiobook Review: Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey

Sandman Slim is a Hell of a guy, written by Richard Kadrey, read by Macleod Andrews, and reviewed by Star Lawrence

Okay, here is the setup: A negative thinker named James Butler Stark is a naturally gifted magician in an LA group called the Sub Rosa. He ticks them off with his smart-alecky approach to magic and gets dragged into Hell, known as “Downtown,” for 11 years. Of course, being forced to fight supernatural beings in an arena in Hell for over a decade, he builds up some resentment and steals the key to everything, including Earth, and comes back for revenge.

With me so far?

Oh—and this is funny!

Stark lops off heads, makes the heads watch infomercials in a dark closet, and says when you have nothing left and are starting over on Earth, you really only care whether you own socks or not.

As he rages around looking for his old buddies, he runs afoul of Homeland Security, which is of course hooked up with angels (on the side of, get it?) and starts Stark raving about “angel hoo-doo”—he is not a fan.

None of his buds from Hell are here (only the boss Lucifer can get out), but there are angels…and some other in-between unsavories called “kissi.” Turns out these unworthies are the real bad guys—and the hellions are really just sports-minded scum. Who cares—they can’t get out anyhow.

So now Stark is after the kissi—the ones who really dragged him Downtown and killed his one-true-love Alice.

You can grab your weapon of choice and hear the rest. As Stark puts it—“This is a booty call to a massacre.” The narrator, Macleod Andrews, reads Stark as an ironic sort of hell cat, and I have to say, this audiobook is full-on groovy.

Star Lawrence owns a recession blog called Do the Hopey Copey, at http://hopeycopey.blogspot.com. She can be reached at jkellaw@aol.com.

Haunting Sagas

Get in the mood for Halloween by reading one of the following ghostly tales!

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters

The Seance by John Harwood

The Man in the Picture by Susan Hill

The Night Country by Stewart O'Nan

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

The Ghost Orchid by Carol Goodman

For more ghost tales, attend Ghost Hunting: So How Does That Work? at our Hamilton Branch on October 28 at 6:00. The Arizona Paranormal Research Society T.Az.P.R.S. will be demonstrating and explaining the tools they use during ghost hunting investigations as well as sharing Evps and photos from some of their best cases. Registration required.Ages 14 and up

Call 480-782-2828 or click here to register.

Audiobook Review: The Watchman by Robert Crais

Laconic bodyguarding is a specialty in The Watchman by Robert Crais, read by James Daniels, and reviewed by Star Lawrence

Does the concept of an ex-Marine, ex-cop dashing around LA trying to keep a hot heiress safe from South American hit men grab you? What if that Marine/ex-cop was your beloved Joe Pike of Elvis Cole/Joe Pike fame? Are you in?

Instead of his growly guest appearances in private detective Elvis Cole books, Pike takes this one over, bodyguarding the brash young Larkin Connor Barkley, who has happened into some weird action when blasting her Aston-Martin through empty LA streets at 4 am.

No matter what safe house Pike puts her in—or even finds for her himself—the scuzzies show up an hour later to blast Larkin into giblets. Someone is selling her out. Time is short to find out who the heck these people are and why they want her dead. All the people involved in the early dawn accident are already dead, except for Larkin.

Assisted by his wisecracking buddy Elvis Cole, Pike tries to second-guess everyone who knows him or Larkin—to no avail. In the front door of a safe house—and the bad guys are sneaking in the back door and are in need of some decimating.

James Daniels is the perfect reader for this, doing Pike in a slow, flat, reluctant voice—darn, I hate to use my vocal cords, how many times have I told you that? Elvis Cole comes off as the motor mouth, funny younger brother type. Larkin is no Paris Hilton, either—she is by turns scared, irritated, and a little enamored of her capable protector.

Apparently, when she is not on the run, her usual male companions don’t clean their guns every night, buy her vegan meals, or understand when she sneaks out to dance on a bar amidst shouting Armenians.

By the way—the title, The Watchman, makes no sense. Where do they get these titles sometimes?

Star Lawence is a long-time writer and owns a recession site called Do the Hopey Copey, at http://hopeycopey.blogspot.com. She can be reached at jkellaw@aol.com.

Book Review: In the President's Secret Service by Ronald Kessler

In the President’s Secret Service, a new book about protecting our Commander in Chief, by Ronald Kessler, is a quick read full of interesting tidbits about past presidents’ quirks, preferences, and personality traits. Kessler also does a nice job explaining the history of the President’s security force and goes into great detail about past assassins’ attempts and breaches of security that the public never knew existed for our first family.
However, the book would flow much better if chapters were more chronological in nature and didn’t jump from the Kennedy administration to more dry, historical facts from the turn of the century. The reader will enjoy learning about Reagan’s dependency on his wife’s advice and the uncivilized antics of the Johnson years. Many embarrassing and very private scenarios are revealed about the Presidents and their families, but I’m not sure the public needed to know that Jimmy Carter treated the staff “disrespectfully” and lied about drinking alcohol in the White House. The public needs to understand that our leaders are human and have flaws like all of us. Enjoy In the President’s Secret Service for the rich history about the protective detail and the challenges it faces everyday on the job. -Kathy (Sunset)

Man Booker Prize Announced

The most presitigious literary prize in Britain was awarded today to Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. Read more about the prize and the other nominees at the prize web page.

This Week's New Releases

New Releases This Week:

Fiction

Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby

The Perfect Christmas by Debbie Macomber

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

Generosity by Richard Powers

Rough Country by John Sandford

Non-Fiction

Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom

The Clinton Tapes: Wrestling History with the President by Taylor Branch

Anne Frank: The Book, the Life, the Afterlife by Francine Prose

OneBookAZ Voting Ends Soon

There are two days remaining to vote for the next OneBookAZ selection. This yearly event brings readers across Arizona together as we read the same book and discuss it in libraries, schools, community centers, and churches. This is a unique opportunity to learn about Arizona history and culture. This year's nominated books are:

Suitcase Sefton and the American Dream by Jay Feldman

The Trunk Murderess: Winnie Ruth Judd by Jana Bommersbach

Kartchner Caverns: How Two Cavers Discovered and Saved One of the Wonders of the Natural World by Neil Miller

Zero at the Bone: Rewriting Life after a Snakebite by Erec Toso

Arab/American: Landscape, Culture, and Cuisine in Two Great Deserts by Gary Paul Nabhan

The Road to Mount Lemmon: A Father, A Family, and the Making of Summerhaven by Mary Ellen Barnes

Visit http://www.onebookaz.org/ to vote through September 30!

Book Review: What Makes You Tick? How Successful People Do It--and What You Can Learn from Them by Michael J. Berland and Douglas E.Schoen

Berland and Schoen have gathered short interviews from successful people involving a wide range of professions, such as business, entertainment, and government, to produce an insightful look into what makes someone a standout in their chosen field. The authors’ divide these natural achievers into four categories: Natural-Born Leaders, Independence Seekers, Visionaries and Do-Gooders, with each category detailing various passions and paths of achievement for the individuals. The epilogue consists of a personal “test” to determine what your own style and passion is, and how to capitalize on those strengths. Besides the juicy tidbits about famous celebrities, (for example, NBC Nightly News anchor, Brian Williams never went to journalism school.) What Makes you Tick will get the reader to think about what is truly important in their lives, and how to attain those goals despite obstacles or challenges they might face.

-Kathy (Sunset)

Oprah's New Pick

Today Oprah announced her next book club selection. Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan, a Nigerian Jesuit priest, is a book of short stories about the African experience. You can find a reading guide on Oprah's website.

DVD Review: Knowing

With the recent DVD release of the science fiction-thriller Knowing, the audience will get to see Nicolas Cage in yet another action packed film full of spectacular visual effects. Cage plays physics professor, John Koestler, who happens to stumble upon a page of random numbers, which was buried at his son, Caleb’s, school. John determines these numbers aren’t random, but rather hold a significant meaning for the future. Despite a great build up and mysterious side plot involving Caleb’s frightening dreams and some creepy visitors, the plot doesn’t hold up. If you enjoy Cage’s work, and have the time to spare, check out Knowing for its action packed scenes, but don’t expect too much. The film is rated PG-13 for intense violence and horrific crash scenes.
-Kathy (Sunset)

Audiobook Review: Rain Gods by James Lee Burke

Elegiac atmospherics interrupted by grotesque cruelty mark Rain Gods by
James Lee Burke, read by Will Patton, and reviewed by Star Lawrence.

Hackberry Holland is an old man, sheriff in a small South Texas town, but a former politician and womanizer. He lives on a little ranch with two frisky horses, overhung with sky, weather, and nature of every description. And you will get the descriptions, as any James Lee Burke fan knows. No tinted sunrise or bruised thunderhead leaping with lightning goes unnoticed.

But trouble has come to town and in the form of “Preacher” Jack Collins, a mercurial killer on a mission, and his mission at one point has involved machine-gunning nine Thai women brought to town for the purposes of prostitution. Hackberry dredges them up from their shallow rest behind an abandoned church and takes it personally.

The theme is “unlikely heroes,” which as the book unwinds, include a young Iraq vet, his singer girlfriend, a pudgy strip club owner, his wife, and of course, Holland himself. The irony is that even “Preacher” Collins does not behave as a depraved killer should.

Will Patton is the perfect reader for Burke books, with his sleepy, Southern voice and reassuring tone even in the midst of the most depraved scenes.

No country for old men? This is the perfect country for old men who have learned a thing or two and grown some principles. Young men, too.

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

Book Review: Godforsaken Sea: Racing the World's Most Dangerous Waters by Derek Lundy

In November 1996, sixteen boats set out from the French coast on the most dangerous race in the world. The Vendée Globe is a single-handed circumnavigation, sailors alone circling the globe around Antarctica, without stopping or going into port for assistance. Fourteen men and two women entered the race, testing not only their sailing skills but their fortitude as they battled dangerous weather, equipment failure, damaged and capsized boats, and the exhaustion of sailing alone for four months. Five boats would be damaged so badly they could not finish the race. Four would capsize, leaving their sailors to be rescued from icy waters in areas so distant aircraft can’t reach them. One sailor would be lost at sea, disappearing without a trace. Only six would finish the race.
Derek Lundy, himself an amateur sailor, tells the story of the race with a sense of excitement as he relates the death-defying events, and an eye for technical details that never become overwhelming. Even more, he writes with a sense of awe, evoking the personalities of the sailors who undergo this grueling race and attempting to explain what makes them test their limits, seek such danger, and find the strength to overcome incredible adversities.

-Michelle (Sunset)

This Week's New Releases

Today is the release date for the following new novels:

Spartan Gold by Clive Cussler

Homer and Langley by E.L. Doctorow

Dark Slayer by Christine Feehan

A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore

Spire by Richard North Patterson

Popular Movies at the Chandler Public Library

The following items are currently the most requested movies at the Chandler Public Library.

Bedtime Stories

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

He's Just Not That Into You

Knowing

The Reader

Seven Pounds

      True Blood: The Complete First Season

      Valkyrie

Book Review: Push by Sapphire

A poignant somewhat disturbing novel that tears at your heart for the main character Claireece “Precious” Jones. Written in journal format from the perspective of Precious in her own language and style, Precious displays her innermost feelings. Precious has been sexually and physically abused by her father and mother most of her life. She has failed to make any friends, hiding behind her anger and weight issues. The story takes place in Harlem in 1987. Precious is 16 and pregnant with her second baby. Her first baby was born when she was 12, and both babies were fathered by her father. Ridiculed for years by her classmates for being overweight and an outcast, Precious has kept a terrible secret – she never learned how to read and write. She is forced to quit high school due to her pregnancy, but is given an opportunity to attend an alternative school, and enrolls in an Adult Literacy Program called Each One/Teach One. Ms. Rain, her teacher, breaks down Precious’s barriers, and is the first person in Precious’s life to care about her well being, inspiring Precious to take charge and plan for her future. Making progress in school, Precious is now living in a halfway house away from her mother and father, and taking care of her baby boy, but life takes an unexpected turn. Precious discovers her father has died and her health may be at risk. Push takes Precious through a journey that leads from darkness and pain to courage, self-determination, and love. Coming soon as a major motion picture in November 2009, titled Precious.

- Saren (Hamilton)

Popular Books at the Chandler Public Library

The following items are currently the most requested books at the

Chandler Public Library.

Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner

Black Hills by Nora Roberts

Culture of Corruption: Obama and His Team of Tax Cheats, Crooks, and Cronies by Michelle Malkin

Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich

First Family by David Baldacci

First Things First: The Rules of Being a Warner by Kurt Warner

Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult

Julie and Julia by Julie Powell

The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

Swimsuit by James Patterson

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella

Women's Lives & Relationships

There is a specific type of novel that focuses on women, their relationships, their struggles and their triumphs. Sometimes called domestic fiction, it became a popular genre in the 1850's and several women's novels of this time period became best-sellers, much to the dismay of some male authors. Nathaniel Hawthorne said, "America is now wholly given over to a damned mob of scribbling women, and I should have no chance of success while the public taste is occupied with their trash - and should be ashamed of myself if I did succeed". Despite this attitude,the genre continues to appeal to women who like to read about women like them. Below is a list of authors who represent this genre:

Elizabeth Berg

Maeve Binchy

Barbara Taylor Bradford

Barbara Delinsky

Kristin Hannah

Marian Keyes

Sophie Kinsella

Jodi Picoult

Anita Shreve

Danielle Steel

Jennifer Weiner

Facebook and Twitter: Social Networking

Facebook and Twitter: Social Networking

Sunset Library

Monday, August 24, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Facebook has exploded across the internet as a social networking space that can benefit not only teens and Gen Xers but also Boomers. Twitter is a quick way to dialogue with anyone from friends and coworkers to family across the country. In this workshop, learn the basics of both of these systems, how to use them, why you would want to use them, and how to connect with people who share your interests. Free wireless is available, so bring your laptop if you have one!

More info/Register online, or call 480-782-2842.

In the meantime, check out one of these items at your library to learn more:

All a Twitter: A Personal and Professional Guide to Social Networking by Tee Morris

Facebook for Dummies by Carolyn Abram

Facebook Me!: A Guide to Having Fun with Your Friends and Promoting Your Projects on Facebook by Dave Awl

Twitter: Tips, Tricks and Tweets by Paul McFedries

The Twitter Book by Tim O'Reilly and Sarah Milstein

Staff Picks

Meredith at Basha suggests Wormwood by Susan Wittig Albert
Fleeing to a Shaker village in rural Kentucky for rest and relaxation, China quickly discovers that the tourist attraction is not as picturesque as it looks when a shocking death takes place, forcing her to delve into old secrets to find the murderer.



Anbolyn at Downtown suggests A Pearl in the Storm by Tori Murden McClure
A Pearl in the Storm is the story of the first woman to row across the Atlantic alone. Though she faced terrible hardship and multiple setbacks, McClure was finally able to accomplish her goal. Her remarkable story will inspire, uplift and entertain you.

Audiobook Review: Relentless by Dean Koontz

Relentless is just that, by Dean Koontz, read by Dan John Miller, and reviewed by Star Lawrence

Dean Koontz is not a poor man’s Stephen King. He is his own kind of sweet, kind of overwritten, and kind of totally spellbinding self. Some people can get into that like a hot bath, others can’t stand it. I am a bather..

Relentless is one of his best yarns to date, in my humble opinion. Yet, it is festooned with characteristic Koontz touches, which include a protag who is so grounded and loving he makes your eyelids slowly descend, only to snap open on such lines as, “We did not know then that by day’s end, one of us would be shot dead.”

Cubby is a novelist, a loving husband, the jokey father of a seriously smart kid (referred to by a bad guy as a “weird little Einstein”), and oh, yes, Cubby has a big secret in his past, the kind of horror you would never associate with anyone you would ever meet. You never would. Koontz would, though.

Don’t laugh, but a famous book critic wants to wipe out Cubby, his wife, their weird little Einstein, and their little dog Lassie, too!

This may sound funny, but I assure you it’s suspenseful and warped as hell.

Of course, I won’t tell you what happens, but it involves a deus ex machina shaped like a crystal salt shaker. But you knew that, didn’t you?

Anyhow, even hard-core thriller lovers will get into this one. John Dan Miller has a pleasing tenor, rendering even the most banal inter-familial banter interesting and believable.

You’re just never ready for the odd line that jumps in. “I don’t think you’re ready for this, Dad, it’s not a salt shaker anymore.”

Computer Classes at the Downtown Library

Do you need to enhance or refresh your computer skills? Are you looking for an easy and fast class that doesn't cost anything? Register for one of the following classes at the Downtown Library!



Word - August 12 at 10:30am
Create and edit documents and format text using word processing software.
***Proficiency with the mouse and keyboard is required.



Excel - August 19 at 7:00pm
Learn how to enter and manipulate numerical data using a spreadsheet.
***Proficiency with the mouse and keyboard is required.

Power Point - August 26 at 10:30am
Learn how to incorporate text and graphics into a slide presentation.
***Proficiency with the mouse and keyboard is required.

Twitter for Beginners - August 26 at 7:00pm
Have you heard of Twitter? Everyone is using it these days;don’t get left behind! This class will provide an introduction to Twitter, assistance on how to get started, and tips to make your Twitter experience rewarding and productive.

Please register here or call 480-782-2803 for more information.

Book Review: Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict by Laura Viera Rigler

If you read and enjoyed Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler you will be sure put her latest offering, Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict, on your list of books to read this summer.

Jane Mansfield had long lamented the confinement and restrictions of her life as a gentleman’s daughter in nineteenth-century England. Practically every facet of her life was controlled by someone other than herself. The clothes she wore, the people and places she visited (properly escorted, of course), the food she ate and her own behavior was under scrutiny lest Jane be deemed “improper” which usually translated into “unmarriageable.” Imagine her surprise and utter confusion to awaken one morning as Courtney Stone, living in a small apartment in suburban Los Angeles in the twenty-first century. Almost everything has changed – even the face in her mirror – except for the love of Jane Austen’s books that Jane and Courtney share.

Of course, the premise is far fetched but the adventures of Jane as Courtney are humorous and well done. Imagine a Rip Van Winkle storyline but instead of a twenty year gap make it an almost 200 year chasm. Jane is obviously befuddled by life in 2009. Most intriguing is the glass box where small figures are performing scenes from her favorite book, Pride and Prejudice. Other machines produce music, wash clothes and heat or cool food. Lighting is achieved without candles; the air in a building is cool and comfortable as opposed to the heat outdoors. Clothing provides a constant source of anxiety for Jane; a lady would never be seen with her arms and ankles exposed, let alone wear trousers or a bathing suit. In between the confusion of modern life is Jane’s love life dilemma. She has confusing memories of her friend Wes and her ex-fiancé Frank, both of whom have purportedly betrayed her. Nineteenth-century staid morality meets twenty-first century sexual freedom; what’s a girl to do?

Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict parallels Rigler’s first novel, Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict in which the protagonist finds herself transported to Jane Austen’s world. Both are excellent examples of “chick-lit” novels that are well written and entertaining without being offensive or crude. Rude Awakenings is clever fun and the perfect summer read for all of you Jane Austen addicts. You know who you are… -Linda (Downtown)

Food Memoirs

On August 7 the film version of Julie and Julia will be released starring Amy Adams and Meryl Streep. Based on the book that's based on the blog written by Julie Powell, this charming story explains how a bored government worker undertook a project to cook every recipe from Julia Child's classic cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, within 1 year. If this sort of writing appeals to you, try one of the following food memoirs:

It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time: My Adventures in Life and Food by Moira Hodgson

The Fortune Cookie Chronicles: Adventures in the World of Chinese Food by Jennifer 8 Lee

The Tenth Muse by Judith Jones

Plenty: One Man, One Woman and a Raucous Year of Eating Locally by Alisa Smith

Heat: An Amateur's Adventure as Kitchen Slave, Line Cook, Pasta Maker and Apprentice to a Dante-Quoting Butcher in Tuscany by Bill Buford

Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain

My Life in France by Julia Child

Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl

Young Adult Books Adults Will Like

It's no secret that young adult novels appeal to many adult readers. The popularity of titles such as Twilight and the Harry Potter series attest to this fact. Are you reluctant to try young adult novels or just haven't found one that appeals to you? Try one of the titles below for a whole new reading experience:

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Audiobook Review:The Echelon Vendetta by David Stone

The Echelon Vendetta by David Stone, read by Firdous Bamji, gives the term “spook” a new spin.

Micah Dalton is a “cleaner,” one of those useful CIA guys who drops into a situation and tidies up the mess. Messes are usually caused by trigger or knife-happy enemies, though, not ticked-off shamans. And usually, the cleaner liases with living people, you know, walking-around, everyone-can-see-them, living people.

So in pretty short order, we realize this title may sound like Jason Bourne will be hopping into a fast car or swinging on a rope, but this is a spy book with a difference. Supposedly “David Stone,” the author, knows his way around the alphabet agencies. But he also seems to know his hallucinogens and other interesting things.

Micah starts out in Europe, investigating his best friend in the agency’s murder, suicide, whatever—the man has clawed his own face off. Don’t you hate it when someone talks you into that?

Then he sees a pattern among some other deaths and starts hacking around in the mountains of the far West, trying to fit the puzzle pieces, while more gruesome deaths occur.

All the while, his friend from Venice, Porter, pops in every so often to lend advice, even though his face is clawed off.

When I last heard Firdous Bamji, he had an Indian accent. Now he is handily voicing a number of American dialects. He is quite the talker.

Will there be more Micah Dalton stories? When last seen, he had dropped off the grid at the end of this book. But you know grids—people, living or the opposite, can pop back on them. Apparently, there are three of these already.

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