Better Single Than Sorry by Jen Schefft - The author was on both The Bachelor and The Bachelorette and twice turned down men she'd "won" on those shows. Sounds like an authority on the subject to ME, so I thought I'd read what advice she could offer someone who's perilously close to 30 and still single (do not read desperate) herself.

Most of the author's profferings were simple common sense, or maybe they were common sense to me after spending the last decade of my life meeting Mr. Wrong after Mr. Wrong. One perspective that she addressed and that I'd recently adopted of my own volition, was that the men you meet along the path to finding Mr. Right all have something to offer, and, thus, you shouldn't see them as failed relationships. I certainly agree with her. She also asserts that you shouldn't go out with a guy if you simply don't feel into it, even if you have people telling you, "Hey, if it's only a free meal, and a night out, it's worth the trouble!" I can buy my own meal, thankyouverymuch...and I'd rather spend my evening at home alone, reading, or meeting up with my friends, than discussing politics with a liberal (EGAD!) or, even worse, a Purdue fan!

All in all, a quick, fun read to clarify why I'm happy being single and why, ten years from now, on the cliff of turning 40, I'll still be happy as long as I haven't settled :)

The Greatest Man in Cedar Hole by Stephanie Doyon - Sue and I started a new book club with our students this month, and as a group they selected this book as our first book. It's actually funny how I even noticed this book. One of my students selected it on our last book-buying trip to Barnes and Noble, and, feeling pressed to find suitable books from which to choose, pulled this one off the shelf. Not the Marian the Librarian way to do it, but hey....it worked because this book was a wonderful, wonderful read!

I won't divulge much more at the moment as our book club is yet to discuss the book and I'd HATE to give anything away. Rest assured, though, that this book is well-written and witty, with characters which will both inspire you and make you laugh all in the same page!

Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide by Hal Higdon - Back to the running books! I PROMISE the next book I read won't have a THING to do with running. You can only read so much about one of the most elementary activities known to man, right?

Actually, there's a lot more to running than one might think, and this book was quite helpful in spelling out the preparation required to truly prepare one's body and mind for the rigor of a marathon. Before I became a "runner" I didn't know how much time and training actually goes into preparing to run 26.2 miles (and 325 yards!). After my first official race this weekend, I am not certain that I could ever achieve THAT distance, but if I do decide to shun my social life and start to train for a full marathon, at least now I'll know what I'm getting myself into!

101 Things NOT to Do Before You Die by Robert W. Harris - Based on the idea that there are too many books telling everyone what to do, this witty, subversive guide tells readers that for actualized, satisfying lives, they don't need to do more, and that fulfillment can be found in "selective inaction." Witty and insightful, most of these 101 items are actually really smart ideas. Over and over the author pleads with the reader, "Don't do it!" From running with the bulls in Pamplona (#5) to never buying fake wood furniture (#35), you'll gain insight into those endeavors in life that really AREN'T worth either your time or effort. Sensiblity always prevails, including #76, Don't use a paper clip to do a binder clip's job, and #88, Don't embrace the $1 coins (because we really shouldn't reward the government for doing pointless things with our hard-earned money).

If you're looking for a humorous, light, and quick read, this one will do your soul good, if only because it validates your own common sense!

Beyond Basketball: Coach K's Keywords for Success by Mike Krzyzewski - Anyone who has a clue about anything involving basketball today knows who Mike Krzyzewski is. For many years, Duke's teams have found themselves at the top of the college basketball ranks, and they owe much of that success to the wisdom, discipline, and dedication of their coach. Coach Krzyzewski knows that one sentence, beyond any other, can inspire in his players the determination to succeed: "I believe in you." In life--whether it be academics, athleticism, or anything else--knowing that someone believes in you can make the difference between losing and winning. Coach K. knows that, and so do his players.

BEYOND BASKETBALL is broken down into numerous short "chapters," focusing on the words that most directly affect success and at any endeavor. From Adaptablity to Work, the words in between will leave the read with wonderful examples, both from basketball and beyond, about what it takes to be a truly successful individual. Whether you're a follower of college basketball or not, BEYOND BASKETBALL is a fitting book that deals with working hard, playing hard, and dedicating yourself to whatever goals you set for yourself.

How Reading Changed My Life by Anna Quindlen - "Reading has always been my home, my sustenance, my great invincible companion...I did not read from a sense of superiority, or advancement, or even learning. I read because I loved it more than any other activity on earth."

In this much too short book by one of today's more recognizable authors, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Anna Quindlen writes nostalgically about her life-long obsession with books. From a childhood spent with Nancy Drew and Heidi--when reading could often be more pleasurable than anything else--to her recommended reading lists, including a list of which 10 books she would save from a fire, Quindlen eloquently defends the practice of compulsive reading, whether of the great classics or the popular literature of the day. Throughout the book she makes clear that her profession as a writer, as well as her liberal inclinations, came directly from her love of books. Her stirring appreciation is a persuasive document that should warm the hearts of readers everywhere, and re-assures the reader that reading simply for the sake of reading itself is indeed a worthy endeavor.

During this time of year, reading is something that I get little time to do. Over the past few weeks I've been a reading bum, reading only magazines and 10 or 15 pages of books without committing to them. I did read a book about women's running, but I doubt anyone besides me (and Sue) cares to hear about it so I won't write a review here. I am determined to read a few of the new YA titles my students selected on our Barnes and Noble trip before Christmas. The more appealing ones are checked out (as they should be!), so I might just have to stick to my mindless magazines for a while longer!

For One More Day by Mitch Albom - By the author of The Five People You Meet in Heaven and Tuesdays With Morrie I kept seeing this book being promoted at Starbucks (where, I must admit, I spend much more time than anyone should...Venti Skim Chai, No Foam, Please!). I decided to finally pick up a copy and see what all the buzz is about for myself. What transpired was a wonderful, soul-touching story of a mother's love and a son's acceptance...after just one more day.

Chick Benetto lived his life trying to please his absent father, often at the expense of his ever-present mother. Chick chased his father's dream of a career in baseball, shunning his mother's dream of a college education. After a series of downfalls, including losing his job, his wife, and his daughter, Chick attempts suicide and instead is given a chance most of us would do anything to have...he is given a chance to make things right and turn his life around by spending one more day with his mother who died eight years prior. Albom writes simply and directly with phrases that often zing right to the heart. The lessons Chick learns are ones we all need to heed. Several sections are entitled "Times I Didn't Stand Up for My Mother," and "Times My Mother Stood Up For Me." For One More Day is truly a love letter to mothers. Whether you've lost your mother or you're lucky enough to still have yours in your life, this book will strike a cord in your heart and make you think...possibly even more than you'd like.

I HAVE to include the following review since it was written by the author of my most favorite book ever...

"If you had the chance, just one chance, to go back and fix what you did wrong in life, would you take it? And if you did, would you be big enough to stand it? Mitch Albom, in this new book, once again demonstrates why he is one of my favorite writers: a fearless explorer of the wishful and magical, he is also a devout believer in the power of love. For One More Day will make you smile. It will make you wistful. It will make you blink back tears of nostalgia. But most of all, it will make you believe in the eternal power of a mother's love." --James McBride, author of The Color of Water

Marathoning for Mortals: A Regular Person's Guide to the Joy of Running or Walking the Half-Marathon or Marathon by John "The Penguin Bingham and Jenny Hadfield - Considering that I've completely lost all my marbles and have signed up to run in the Indy Half-Marathon in May, I figured I'd better do what I do best...read a book to prepare! Although I'm not a "runner", I want to be, and this was the perfect book for people like me, or, in the words of the authors, running mortals.

The authors offered tons of practical (read here doable!) strategies for preparing for and finishing either a half-marathon or a full-marathon. They covered the entire spectrum of things you may encounter from the decision to start training to crossing the finish line. The best quote from the entire book, the one that has inspired me the most, is: "The miracle is not that you finished, but that you had the courage to start." I need to write THAT on my running shoes!

Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson - Two of my best friends told me I had to read this book...that it was one of the best either of them had read. I had my reservations as I try to steer clear of the popular authors when it comes to my own reading pleasure. However, I took the advice. I mean, if you can't trust your best friends, who the heck can you trust? And, of course, they did not lead me astray. This was a quick and compelling read that not only had a wonderfully crafted plot, but also created a place in my heart for the characters: Suzanne, Nicholas, Matt, and Katie. This is their story...

Katie Wilkinson is an attractive, successful editor for a well-known publishing house in New York City. As the book begins, Katie is beside herself with grief. Matt Harrison, the man of her dreams, the man she is totally in love with, has just dumped her, as in dumpster dumped, without warning or excuse. This is disasterous for Katie, but the biggest question she ponders is, of course, why. She knew he had been married, but he had sworn to her that he wasn't married any more. Had he lied about that? What had happened? Then, the day after their breakup, she receives a package from Matt in the mail. Inside is a diary --- Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas. Who is Suzanne? Who is Nicholas? She soon finds the answer to those questions and much, much more. Although the tome is at times painful to read, she is compelled to continue reading so she can find out the entire story. For a while she is jealous of Suzanne. However, as the diary unfolds before her eyes, she comes to care deeply for Suzanne and Nicholas. What Katie ultimately discovers at the diary's end will not only change her perspective of Matt, but will open her heart to life and all it has to offer.

Rebel Angels by Libba Bray - The sequel to A Great and Terrible Beauty, I'd have to say that this book left me quite disappointed. A Great and Terrible Beauty was such a good book, mixing a historical setting with relevant elements of fantasy. However, in Rebel Angels Bray takes the fantasy too far and totally loses the reader. The reader is confused as to place and time as Gemma, Felicity, and Ann jump back and forth from Spence, to London, to The Realms, without any real flow to the story. I will say that the most interesting part of the book was the girls' struggle against fitting into the mold of most Victorian era girls. They struggle to find their own way and not forsake themselves for the expectations of others. That, probably, was the most redeeming quality of this book. However, for the first time on my book blog, I'd have to say...don't read it. Stop after A Great and Terrible Beauty and let the characters simmer in your mind and leave their imprint on your soul. No further story necessary...

Another YA Title....that every adult should read!

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne - This powerful work of historical fiction about the Holocaust stands out in part because of the unusual perspective: It's told through the eyes of the 9-year-old son of the Commandant at Auschwitz, a boy who has no clue as to what is going on around him. This perspective allows readers to feel a strong sense of foreboding, long before they know the extent of the terror surrounding Bruno's world. Readers will be struck by the contrast between Bruno's normalcy and naivety, and the extreme horrors of the time.

Most readers who know any of the history of WWII, especially of the Holocaust, will catch on to the nightmare of Bruno's plight fairly early on. They'll figure out that the "Fury" refers to the Fuhrer, and what having Hitler to dinner would mean about Bruno's father. They'll also know that the high fence, desolate grounds, smokestacks, and dirty, unhealthy people in striped pajamas that Bruno sees from his window mean that his new room overlooks a concentration camp. Of course, even clued-in readers may not realize that "Out-With" is Bruno's mispronunciation of Auschwitz...until his sister Gretel points it out quite clearly toward the end.

Readers will quickly relate to the 9 year old, who is uprooted from his home and moved somewhere "nasty and cold" where he has no friends. He is lonely, his sister bugs him, and adults treat him as if he's not there. He wants to study art and read fantasy books rather than history and geography. He wants to get outside and explore. Eventutually Bruno befriends a boy on the other side of the fence and meets him for talks every day. He laments that he can't visit his side. It is quite clear that Bruno has no idea of the implications or even the circumstances of just what is going on around him.

Younger readers may not get all of the historical significance of this story, and teens may wonder how anyone could be so clueless about what's going on around them as Bruno appears to be. Even so, readers of any age will be moved by the young boy's story, and the unlikely friendship he forms with a boy he meets at Out-With. Even more so, readers will be stricken by the way the friendship comes to an end and will be left with much to ponder at the conclusion of Bruno's story.

*** I would recommend this book to any student in a heartbeat and feel that it is a "must-read" for adults as well. I was amazed at the language and the perspective the author uses throghout to bring Bruno and Shmuel to life. Although the book is written from a nine-year old's perspective, the impact this book will have on its reader is more than just child's play!

Acceleration by Graham McNamee - This book is the winner of the Edgar Allen Poe Award for Best Young Adult Mystery writing, as well as an Eliot Rosewater Nominee. Rather good billing for any book!

Acceleration is defined as the escalation of increasingly destructive aberrant behavior, or, more pointedly, the stuff of which serial killers are made. Seventeen-year-old Duncan comes faces to face with this "new" term while wasting away his summer by working in the lost and found of the Toronto subway system. That is when he finds it...the diary...made up of the plots and plans of a truly demented man. The Roach, as Duncan dubbs him, plans to "accelerate" his killing ways... graduating from eviscerating animals and setting fires to tracking human prey. When the police refuse to take it seriously, Duncan enlists the aid of his best friends Vinny and Wayne to help him find The Roach on his own...with deadly results.

All in all, a rather good read from the teenage perspective. The plot is rather compelling and all-too real at points. The characters are very real and most teens will be able to relate well to their witty, often crass, language and attitudes about life. My only issue with this book is that it could have been much more developed. The climax comes out of nowhere, really, and the conclusion comes much too soon. McNamee could have done a lot more with this book, but I'll agree that what he did do was done quite well.

Finally, back to the books!


A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray - After hanging out at Sue's Java House a few weeks ago and talking with several of her avid readers, I decided I really needed to read this book! Plus, Sue was reading it, too, and I never want to miss a chance to actually get to talk about a book with someone else who's also read it :) Anyway, it certainly was deserving of it's position on the NYT Bestseller list. Not only was it well-written with a well-developed plot, but the book kept me in suspense...which almost never happens with a YA title. There were a few things I figured out before the end, but the ones I didn't were the ones that sent me reeling! I seldom read a a sequel or a companion book, but I've already started Rebel Angels, this book's companion title. I may even read the third book as I just found out it's going to be a trilogy!

Now, about the book....



Gemma Doyle lives with her mother and father in India. On her sixteenth birthday she sees her mother's murder in a vision. Shortly after her mother's mysterious death, Gemma is sent to a finishing school in London. While there, she meets several other girls, all of whom fit the popular/unpopular stereotypes of most schools. However, after a while, Gemma finds out that all of them have problems of their own. As was the custom of the Victorian era, most of the girls deal with their own internal pain by not showing it to anyone. Each girl's torment surfaces in it s own way, from Ann's inclination to cut herself to Felicity's cruelty to the weaker girls...especially Ann. The visions revisit Gemma and lead her to a diary that creates a bond between her, Felicity, Pippa, and Ann. The diary tells the story of Sarah Rees-Toome and Mary Dowd, two girls who went to Spence and perished in the mysterious fire of 1871. Both girls practiced magic, a fact which interests Gemma because she experiences visions that she's unable to control, even though a mysterious boy named Kartik tells her that her visions are dangerous and she must stop them. Soon, Gemma and the others learn all about the magic that Sarah and Mary possessed and try to harness it for themselves, despite grave warnings from Gemma's deceased mother. What happens when the girls take the magic from the realms and bring it back to Spence is more than they could have ever imagined.

More NYCPL Pictures

This was a neat quote inscribed in the ornate woodwork. There were lots of unique features throughout the library, including the painting on the right. It was on the ceiling of the second floor gallery. I couldn't imagine working in such a beautiful place!

The stonework was breath-taking as well. There were lots of arches and columns carved throughout the library with beautiful chandeliers. Although I've never been to Europe (hopefully next year!), the library reminded me of the pictures I've seen of cathederals there.

Over fall break, my good friend Sue (a librarian, too!) and I went to New York to visit my best friend Jessa who lives in Manhattan. We did all the usual NYC stuff....Chinatown, Times Square, WTC, shopping, etc. However, we also went to the Mecca for all librarians...yes, we went to the New York City Public Library on Fifth Avenue. We were in awe of the atmosphere, the architecture, and....the quiet (we had forgotten what this is!). Anyhow, I'm sharing some of the pictures of that trip. Enjoy!



The librarian version of "flashing" in the subway station! We wore these shirts and braved the rain in hopes of getting on The Today Show. You'd be surprised how many New Yorkers stopped to talk to us or made a passing comment about reading as we were out and about that day. The response was totally awesome, and we didn't feel like nerdy librarians at all!








We ARE the Library Guardians...at least at our own schools!





(more pics to come soon!)

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield - By far the best book I've read since Secret Life of Bees, this book was exquisitely written and thought-provoking at the same time. I do not know that I have ever been so enthralled with an author's crafting of sentences and phrases in any other book I've read. Its effect goes beyond enthralling and approaches a sort of mesmerizing of the reader. Honestly, this book could have had no plot and I still would have continued on to the end simply for the pure beauty of the language. However, that is not the case, and, if it were up to me this book would be a classic! Now, for the story....

Margaret Lea, the story's protagonist, is an educated, single woman, still living with her parents in London...a spinster if you will. As a novice biographer, she is dumbfounded when one day she receives a letter from Vida Winter, an extremely popular English author. Ms. Winter has given many reporters different accounts of her life story, however not one of them has ever been true. She is, after all , the consummate storyteller. She has never been willing to divulge her true life story, not even her name. However, now she wishes to tell Margaret the true story of her life as she is quite ill and doesn't want to die with her secrets she's worked so hard to protect.

Although Margaret has always preferred to read authors posthumously, she decides to read Ms. Winter's work to see what she's about. Margaret comes to one book entitled Thirteen Tales of Change and Desperation which she reads with great intrigue. But when Margaret reaches the end of the book, she finds that it contains only twelve tales...leaving her to wonder: what happened to the thirteenth tale?

Margaret is so intriuged by the book that she decides to accept the invitation and travels to Ms. Winter's home to hear her story. Having reservations as to the veracity of the story she's about to hear, she asks three questions she first verifies with credible sources. Feeling assured that Ms. Winter is, this time, ready to tell the truth, Margaret takes on the task of becoming her biographer. However, Ms. Winter insists that she gets to tell her tale her own way...starting with the beginning, continuing to the middle, and ending with the end. No questions asked and no skipping ahead. Once the ground rules are set, Miss Winter begins the tale of a pair of twins, Emmeline and Adeline Angelfield, growing up in a family of complete madness.

And from there you must read for yourself. This is a modern day ghost story wrapped up in a fairy tale, and served with a big dose of reality that you'll be able to relate to. Whether you're a serious reader or a novice looking for a book to help you escape, this is the one!

Reading Update: Life is busy so I'm trudging along 5 minutes here, 5 minutes there. I'm skipping lunches and trying to get lost in the book I'm currently reading...The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. This book is, hands down, the best piece of writing I have read since The Secret Life of Bees. It's the type of book that you get lost in, one in which the story that's being woven and the combination of words with which it's being done soothes the soul in the most satisfying way. Although I'm upset at the lack of reading time I have right now, I am almost appreciative of it, too, because it's making this wonderful book last and forcing me to appreciate it piece by piece!


New books I want to read....if only I had the time!

• A Tale of Two Sisters by Anna Maxted
• A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon
• The History of Love by Nicole Krauss
• The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
• The Kindness of Strangersby Katrina Kittle
• The Overachievers: The Secret Life of Driven Kids by Alexandra Robbins

Holy War Inc.: Inside the Secret World of Osama Bin Laden by Peter L. Bergen - I became really interested in learning more about the Islamic fundamentalist movement, its origins and its modern-day implications, after reading The Kite Runner (set it Afghanistan...I'll write about it later). There were so many books published in the wake of 9/11 that tried to make sense of the tension between America and the Islamic world that it was hard to choose one to read. However, Bergen, who spent 10 years reporting on the Islamic world as a producer for CNN, has written a wonderful book examining Bin Laden's network from the top down.

This book takes a critical look at al-Qaeda, which Bergen compares to a multinational corporation with Osama bin Laden as its CEO. He also does an outstanding job of explaining the radical Islamist movements and their tangled histories. The book includes extensive reporting of previous al-Qaeda plots, from the bombing of the U.S.S. Cole to bin Laden's possible role in the first World Trade Center bombing in 1993 and the U.S. Embassy bombings in 1998. Bergen discusses the September 11 attacks at length, but what makes this a superior book in my view is the history it provides of al-Qaeda, a story most people haven't read in newspapers or magazines. Although it may be impossible to ever fully understand bin Laden, Bergen does a wonderful job of portraying him and his deep-seated beliefs in his cause. I gleaned much from this book, most importantly an understanding of why bin Laden has been successful and how difficult it will be to ever fully dismantle his well-organized and dedicated network of followers.

Quote for the Day: I think of life as a good book. The further you get into it, the more it begins to make sense.— Harold S. Kushner

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold - This book is Alice Sebold's debut novel, a remarkable story about love and family and letting go. Susie Salmon is 14 when she is raped and murdered by a neighbor, a serial killer of women who moves from town to town after each of his crimes. Susie's death sends her family into total chaos as they each try to deal with the tragedy in their own way. Susie narrates the story from a never-before-seen verison of heaven, watching her friends, family, and the murderer move on with their lives, while trying to subtlely break through and communicate the identity of the killer to members of her family. Alice Sebold does a wonderful job relating the interactions of a family and a community, and I was rather surprised at the strength of her writing in a story about such loss. I highly recommend this book to both my students and friends alike. Also, students who really connect with this story also seem to love Lucky which is the real-life account of the abuse Sebold suffered as a child.

Twilightby Stephanie Meyer - Although I tried to avoid reading this book as long as I could, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I really enjoyed it in the end. I haven't been able to keep it on the shelves this year, so I decided I needed to find out just what made this book so popular with my students. Did I ever!

In Twilight readers discover a pair of lovers who are just as star-crossed as Romeo and Juliet. On Bella's first day at a new school in Forks, Oregon, Bella falls head over heals in love with beautiful Edward Cullen. But, Edward seems to detest Bella from the start. However, Bella comes to realize that Edward has a secret and that instead of hate, he is madly in love with her as well. When Edward saves Bella from being run-over by an out-of-control van, she realizes that there is more to the story than Edward wants to tell. With a little help from an old friend, Bella start to suspect that Edward's secret is much larger than she ever thought. Eventually she presses Edward and he admits her worst fears...Edward and his entire family are vampires. To Edward's surprise, Bella does not run away, and instead embraces his terrible secret as her own. As the book unfolds we see the intensity of true love complicated by the fact that at any moment Edward could turn on Bella. Every moment they are together is an exercise of resistance for Edward, and in the end he must not only protect her from himself, but from another vampire who feels the same.