March 2013

  • Science Fiction Fridays: Swashbuckling fantasies for all kinds of voyages

    Quintessence by David Walton A disgraced doctor and a cold-blooded con man in alternate history 16th-centruy England seek out Horizon, a fabled land across the ocean that holds great riches and even greater dangers. A delightfully unconventional little book that takes its time laying out its players and adding layers to a nuanced fantasy world.… Continue reading

  • Crime: Papal Intrigue!

    I confess: I miss the papal conclave. I miss the pomp and the costumes, but most of all I miss the accents. My favorite part of pope season is how all these men in vestments or Armani suits suddenly appear on the news giving color commentary in these just terrific Roman accents, kind of like Father Guido Sarducci used to… Continue reading

  • Historical romances

    When you think of historical romance, chances are you envision women in off-the-shoulder poufy dresses posing with bare chested swains, and in many cases this is the norm. The romance genre is, however, much deeper than you may think. Though Regencies (poufy, swains) are the most prevalent type of historical romance, this in no way… Continue reading

  • Three for Free: I heart Harry Nilsson

    Pop star crushes – we’ve all had them at some point. For the past several years I’ve been majorly crushed out on Harry Nilsson, the L.A.-based singer-songwriter best known for his hits “Everybody’s Talkin’” (1969), “Coconut” (1971) and “Without You” (1972). I just can’t get enough of his angelic voice and sweeping instrumental arrangements. It’s… Continue reading

  • Happy Birthday Akira Kurosawa!

    While Akira Kurosawa’s status as the greatest director of all time is debatable, we’re all agreed that Seven Samurai is the best movie ever made, right? Good, I’m glad we got that all squared away. Akira Kurosawa was born 103 years ago today. A few short months later, in August of 1910, the University Branch… Continue reading

  • Science Fiction Fridays: How to build a good fantasy

    Part of the fun of reading fantasy is just sitting back and marveling at the world-building. Reading how an author unfurls the details of a strange and unknown world is a hallmark of fantasy that other genres approach, but few embrace with such gusto. Lately in my reading I’ve noticed some authors taking the idea… Continue reading

  • Novels tough as nails

    These are some of my favorite novels because they feature brave, foolish and lucky characters that know how to persevere in the face of adversity. Rain, wind and cold are facts of life for them. They lead a gritty life with adversity around every corner. Not surprisingly, the writing in these novels is often as… Continue reading

  • Science Fiction Fridays: A sleight of hand

    The perfect weekend read for anyone who enjoys short stories with wonder, magic, heart and hidden depths that appear seemingly out of nowhere.  Magic for Beginners by Kelly Link Other quirky, oddball and otherwise strange magic realism books you may enjoy Continue reading

  • Too much excitement for the library!?

    Generally in the public library setting we don’t really go in for thrills, chills and spills. A warm, well-lit space with people quietly reading, kids doing homework (or goofing around), strangers and friends discussing books: that’s about our speed. Except on the first and third Monday of each month at the Central Library, when we turn… Continue reading

  • Was the movie as good as the painting?

    We’re all familiar with movies based on books—and how they often don’t measure up to the written word. But what about movies based on paintings? A film that takes us inside a single painting, dramatizing its imagery as the primary action or narrative, is certainly not a new idea. This newspaper article from 1921 describes… Continue reading

  • Make Stuff and Be Happy

    Ok, so there are a lot of us out there who are creative and could use a couple of extra bucks in our pockets, am I right? It struck me as time for a brief how-to to help bridge that gap between the makers and the market. Here are some outlets to investigate, and some… Continue reading

  • Science Fiction Fridays: Fantasy to tickle your brain

    Fantasy isn’t just about epic quests or magical kingdoms or ancient races of mythic creatures. It’s also about using fantastical elements to illustrate larger themes of the human experience or as a metaphor for real world issues or philosophies. So while there are plenty of epic fantasies that do tickle the brain, they often overshadow… Continue reading

  • Thrillers for every taste, part 2.

    In last week’s post featuring ninety diverse suspense writers, I made the point that there are many different kinds of thrillers out there. Here are eighty more of today’s best and most thrilling writers grouped for various tastes, and still we’ve only scratched the surface: Sophie Hannah writes contemporary British crime stories suffused with taut psychological suspense and a haunting mood. Also try:… Continue reading

  • Haiku Hullabaloo: Enter the Library’s Poetry Contest

    Isn’t it interesting that you can find books about haiku on the shelves of our library, but not one book of haikus about libraries? Let’s show the world what we’re made of! In celebration of National Poetry Month  (April), National Library Week (April 14-20) and National Haiku Day (April 17), we’re having an all-ages haiku… Continue reading

  • Three For Free: Dance, Dance, Dance!

    Sometimes, you just need to dance – get up off of your chair, onto your feet, and shake it. These three songs, which you can download for free from Freegal,* should entice you to do just that. “Freeway of Love” by Aretha Franklin from Who’s Zoomin’ Who? You may know Aretha Franklin as the Queen… Continue reading

  • Science Fiction Fridays: Three picks for the dystopia hungry reader

    Flash Point by Nancy Kress With the United States in a permanent recession, Amy is forced to participate in a reality television show where she is never sure if the dangerous threats are real or manufactured. Fast-paced and smart science fiction that manages to be gritty and frighteningly believable in its portrayal of the future. Continue reading