Closed December 26 - Keep the kids entertained with ebooks!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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!

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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!

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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