tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19383648944088071562024-03-13T11:19:54.278-05:00Lawrence Public Library SpotlightLibrary updates and recommended materials from the Lawrence, Kansas Public Library. Staff favorites, best sellers, award winners, book lists,and more.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger195125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938364894408807156.post-4056744020412146202012-05-04T15:23:00.001-05:002012-05-04T15:23:42.186-05:00Poems From the Post
In
April we celebrated National Poetry Month with a poem mailbox! Here
are some of our favorites that you typed on the library typewriter and
then dropped in the mail:
Night wind through spring leaves
Like a thousand tiny hands
Praised our existence.
***
Un poema no es m’as que una historia inconclusa...
***
“Catamoglomerate”
I once met a catamoglomerate
I asked it if it would like to Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938364894408807156.post-58224702922882397492012-04-26T14:00:00.000-05:002012-04-26T14:09:33.768-05:00Record of Covers
Even a cursory glance through the
pages of For the love of vinyl : the album art of Hipgnosis, by studio co-founder Aubrey Powell, is sure to
bring instant recognition for fans of 1970’s British rock. Together with Powell’s
partner Storm Thorgerson, Hipgnosis designed seminal album covers for Pink Floyd , Led Zeppelin,
Peter Gabriel and others, and
this lavish oversize book recreates 60 of Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938364894408807156.post-30873073144228100502012-04-20T10:07:00.000-05:002012-04-20T10:12:30.017-05:00Mark Your Calendar: Library Program, Doomsday
On Thursday April 26, visiting professor Dr. Quetzil Castañeda will visit the library to show clips from his award-winning documentary film, Incidents of Travel in Chichen Itzá, and speak about the Maya 2012 calendar, including the 5,125 yr. long cycle and the end of a "world age." I'm excited to hear his scholarly take on this end-of-the-world theory, and it's put me in a Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938364894408807156.post-31231739063498328052012-04-17T16:20:00.000-05:002012-04-17T16:20:28.664-05:00Crazy GoodLast week while I was in line for coffee, I got asked if I was a psychopath.
This wasn’t because I look psychopathic (I hope), but because I was carrying a copy of Jon Ronson’s newest book, The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry, under my arm. It’s my favorite book of the moment, and the one I’m going to badger everyone I know to read.
I’ve been a huge fan of Jon Ronson’s Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938364894408807156.post-38100110929421805452012-03-29T20:06:00.001-05:002012-03-29T20:13:37.472-05:00The Age of Miracles or Mayhem?The sun exploding, a meteorite crashing into the Earth's surface, a blast from a Death Star ray--these are relatively quick apocalyptic scenarios that would mean the end of human civilization as we know it. But what if it happened slowly--like the gradual slowing of the Earth's rotation? That's exactly what Karen Thompson Walker's upcoming debut novel, The Age of Miracles, imagines. In the year Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938364894408807156.post-2676454893845329072012-03-22T14:06:00.002-05:002012-03-22T17:33:49.357-05:00Stamberg's ShortlistLast week, the crantastic wonderful NPR broadcaster Susan Stamberg was in town to headline an event for the Library Foundation. When asked about her favorite storytellers, she responded that Studs Terkel, Joan Didion, John McPhee and Philip Roth are all on her shortlist. The authors she noted are all hugely acclaimed and brilliant, of course, but something else they share is Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938364894408807156.post-57192789636569452502012-03-12T14:05:00.000-05:002012-03-12T14:05:47.628-05:00The 1st TrimesterIf you read my last post, you’ve started preparing for all the upcoming changes in your life and home. But as your pregnancy progresses, you’re probably curious about the changes in your body. Why do I feel so sick? Will my baby be a boy or a girl? Should I be eating certain foods? If I listen to Mozart, will my baby be smarter? Do chocolate lovers have sweeterUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938364894408807156.post-44768136485831631522012-03-02T11:28:00.000-06:002012-03-02T11:28:43.346-06:00Puppies, a Coke and Thirteen Reasons WhyNot many books can make you realize how interconnected people are as viscerally as Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. Clay Jensen, the narrator, returns home to discover a package on his front porch- he is excited about his find… but not for long. The package was sent to him by the now-deceased Hannah Baker, his ex-coworker and first love. Inside the cardboard box he finds seven cassette Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938364894408807156.post-57840026525332339192012-02-29T10:39:00.002-06:002012-02-29T13:10:37.336-06:00Six Month Old Leftovers(In case you haven't already read it...)
Here’s the deceptively intriguing premise of Tom Perrotta’s 2011 hit, The Leftovers: A Rapture-like event has left a gaping hole in the world’s population – maybe an eighth of all people have suddenly vanished (my guesstimate – I don’t think any numbers are offered). There’s no pattern or demographic trend to be gleaned from those that have Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938364894408807156.post-77523276795928200712012-02-21T08:56:00.000-06:002012-02-21T08:56:28.242-06:00A Bun in the OvenI’m pregnant! So, like any good librarian (or pregnant woman), the first thing I did was look for books to lead me through this new experience. Of course the Library has lots of the standards, the books every woman refers too: What to Expect When You’re Expecting, The Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy, etc. But I’ve already got the basics covered and was looking for something new Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938364894408807156.post-25263111013004444122012-02-16T18:22:00.000-06:002012-02-16T18:22:46.960-06:00If you like The Hunger Games...If you're a fan of Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games, you might enjoy some of these dystopian reads as well:
The City of Ember
by Jeanne DuPrau
The city of Ember was built as a last refuge for the human race. Two hundred years later, the great lamps that light the city are beginning to flicker. When Lina finds part of an ancient message, she's sure it holds a secret that will save the city. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938364894408807156.post-33562913904274696192012-02-07T11:11:00.001-06:002012-02-07T11:13:55.629-06:00Don't let the cover fool you: this isn't a book about football.When Joe Drape left his Kansas City home to work his way up as a sports journalist for The Dallas Morning News, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and then The New York Times, he probably didn't imagine he'd one day return to the Midwest and fall in love with a 1.2 square mile rural farming community just shy of 1700 people. At it's heart, Our Boys is a love story.
When Drape arrived inUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938364894408807156.post-43790036871069472432012-02-06T12:21:00.000-06:002012-02-06T12:21:10.980-06:00Patron ReviewMaggie’s Story: Teachings of a Cherokee Healer
by Pamela Dawes Tambornino
Maggie’s Story: Teachings of a Cherokee Healer offers a delightful
collection of tales from Tambornino’s early years. Based primarily on
the author’s personal interactions with her Cherokee grandmother, these
teachings inform and entertain the reader with humor and subtle
sophistication.
Tambornino’s use of Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938364894408807156.post-10439261226842542362012-02-02T14:31:00.000-06:002012-02-03T08:57:50.798-06:00Pretty City: Things to Look at While Stuck in Traffic
The question "what is art" can be quite simple or complex. When we think about art in cities, things get even murkier. Who is art for? Is it statues of long-gone military heroes? How does art enhance the public realm? Author and urbanologist Max Grinnell will talk about the role of public art in American cities, via illustrative materials from his travels at the Lawrence Public Library (Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938364894408807156.post-64417643532375911782012-01-24T12:12:00.001-06:002012-01-24T15:51:11.662-06:00What Book Would You Read 10 Times?Over on our Facebook page, we asked "If you had to read one book ten times, what would you pick?" We got so many great responses that we decided to share them here! Click on the titles to view them in our catalog and place a request if you like!
I think I have actually read Beauty by Robin McKinley that many times over the years, starting when I was ten. -Mari
The help. Best book ever! -Rene
IUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938364894408807156.post-62837505794320239532012-01-13T13:44:00.004-06:002012-01-13T14:36:16.399-06:00Meat and Greet: Sustainable Ranching in KansasOn January 26th, you can celebrate Kansas Day at Lawrence Public Library by meeting Kansas ranchers practicing the art of sustainable animal husbandry! Free tasting portions of beef, elk, turkey and buffalo will be provided by Local Burger. In the meantime, beef up on your reading by checking out these recommendations by Hilary Brown of Local Burger:
All Flesh is Grass: The Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938364894408807156.post-7033923510000306272012-01-11T08:45:00.000-06:002012-01-11T08:45:21.807-06:00Literary LovelinessIn the past year I’ve read books that are smart, strange, sad, funny. Yet Mary O’Connell’s teen novel The Sharp Time takes the cake for “loveliest.”
First, there’s the heroine’s name: Sandinista Jones. Next, you’ve got the frothy sweet vintage couture she wears to her job at The Pale Circus. And did I mention her teenage crush on the boy with a tiny crucifix tattooed to the pad Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938364894408807156.post-43125164172539827752012-01-06T15:30:00.002-06:002012-01-06T17:21:17.870-06:00Donald Ray Pollock: Brother Grim
donaldraypollock.com
When reading author bios, it seems like it is always Ivy League-this, prestigious fellowship-that. They invariably live in Manhattan (or Brooklyn if under 35) and are married to someone similarly upmarket. That these achievements are touted on dust jackets is to be expected, of course, but the homogeneity of the blurbs can feel a little stale. So I’m always Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938364894408807156.post-46080749562347202122011-12-29T12:20:00.000-06:002011-12-29T12:20:03.185-06:00Patron's Pick Slays<!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938364894408807156.post-11484815215639762352011-12-27T09:34:00.000-06:002011-12-27T09:34:08.087-06:00Party CrashersEncyclopedia of Biological Invasions, edited by Daniel Simberloff and Marcel Rejmánek
This could be a very helpful resource for anyone interested in flora or fauna biodiversity. This encyclopedia will be a great starting point for both researchers and inquisitive novices. There are entries focusing on Bryophytes and Lichens, climate change, competition (animal and plant), Darwin, databases, Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938364894408807156.post-14847563394649154882011-12-22T10:36:00.003-06:002011-12-22T11:05:21.863-06:00Shocking Product PlacementThe last time I blogged about “lightning rods,” we were talking counterrevolutionary icons in Marie Antoinette’s France. This is not that kind of lightning rod.
Helen DeWitt’s newest book has gotten juicy reviews, and with good reason. Because this is a family-friendly blog, I’ll describe the plot as delicately as I can: a salesman tries selling Encyclopedia Britannica and Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938364894408807156.post-68854193514199601452011-12-20T22:08:00.001-06:002011-12-20T22:16:18.803-06:00Gurl TalkHere’s a fun fact: Katy Perry’s fans refer to themselves as “Katy Kats.” I gleaned this info off an SUV I’ve noticed parked around my neighborhood. This vehicle has been painted sky blue and cotton candy pink and is bedecked with a giant rendering of Ms. Perry’s head. It’s really something else. Hats off to the crew over at Maaco.
As further evidence that Katy Perry is the pop starlet Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938364894408807156.post-70672315836512369572011-12-19T14:17:00.000-06:002011-12-19T14:17:39.277-06:00A Few More of Our Favorite Things Name and department:
Rachel, Adult Programming Librarian
Staff Pick:
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender
What’s an alternative title you would give the book?
The Metaphysics of Family
Summarize the book in one sentence:
Bizarre magical elements take a mundane little story about teenage girl angst into the realm of the inexplicable, the confusing and the sublime.
I would Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938364894408807156.post-15549934996879184892011-12-15T12:39:00.001-06:002011-12-15T20:40:45.479-06:00The Kind You Don't Take Home To MotherAlmost exactly two years ago, I gave my mom and four siblings each a copy of War and Peace for Christmas. The premise was to do a long-distance book group, at a nice and easy clip of 1200 pages in one year. That's only 100 pages a month! But I've since concluded that book group etiquette asks a commitment of at most 300 pages from each person at a time, preferably less. Although most of my Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1938364894408807156.post-55800690913328567272011-12-12T11:36:00.000-06:002011-12-12T11:36:27.442-06:00A Few of Our Favorite Things: More Staff Picks Name and department:
Matt, Security Coordinator
Staff Pick:
Horse soldiers: The Extraordinary Story of a Band of U.S. Soldiers Who Rode to Victory in Afghanistan by Doug Stanton
What’s an alternative title you would give the book?
Real American Heroes
Summarize the book in one sentence:
Chronicles the beginning of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan—the first cavalry invasion since the Civil Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0