50 Books, 150 Pages or Less: Part 1 of 3

A good novel doesn’t have to be long novel. Here are some great, short reads for those of us with a shortage of time or attention. Look for parts two and three in the coming months.

	Ghosts by César Aira 139 pages A strange, ultimately touching story about a migrant family living atop an incomplete apartment building that is also inhabited by ghosts that only they can see. According to the New York Times, "Aira is one of the most provocative and idio­syncratic novelists working in Spanish today, and should not be missed." More about the book
	Travels in the Scriptorium by Paul Auster 145 pages Booklist called Auster's spare novel "an archly playful and shrewdly philosophical tribute to the transcendence of stories." A man who has lost his memory wakes up in a barren room only to confront a parade of people he may have hurt, though he does not know how. More about the book
	The Mezzanine: A Novel by Nicholson Baker 135 pages Reviewing this novel in 1989, the New York Times stated that "Its 135 pages probably contain more insight into life as we live it than anything currently on the best-seller lists." Despite having almost no plot or conflict, The Mezzanine is an insightful and very funny book about the trivial objects and events that populate daily life. More about the book
	The Actual by Saul Bellow 103 pages Library Journal called this late novel by the Nobel laureate "an achingly simple cry from the heart that reads like a parting love letter." After living most of his adult life overseas, Bellow's narrator returns to Chicago and becomes reacquainted with his first love. More about the book
	The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett 128 pages The Queen of England develops a passion for reading after chasing a runaway corgi into a bookmobile and feeling obligated to check out a book. USA Today called Bennett's book a "hilarious and pointed...lesson in the redemptive and subversive power of reading," saying that, "Most of all, The Uncommon Reader is a lot of fun to read." More about the book
	The Lemur by Benjamin Black 132 pages A journalist agrees to write to the biography of his father-in-law, a former CIA operative and the head of a telecommunication company. To help he hires a researcher who is quickly murdered, possibly for learning a little too much. Who killed him and why? Kirkus Reviews declared that "Black's prose is so mesmerizing--crisp precise, alive with telling details--that you'll enjoy every step." Benjamin Black is a pen name of Man Booker Prize-winner John Banville. More about the book
	By Night in Chile by Roberto Bolaño 130 pages Bolaño's fever dream of a novel is a deathbed confession by a priest and literary critic who passively supported the Pinochet regime. By Night in Chile, which the New York Times described as "densely learned" and "richly evocative," Was the first of Bolaño's critically acclaimed novels to appear in English. More about the book
	A Month in the Country by J.L. Carr 135 pages Physically and mentally scarred by his experience as a soldier in World War I and reeling from a divorce, Tom Birkin seeks solitude in the English countryside. The Atlantic Monthly called Carr's much-loved novel "a story of spiritual regeneration, even of resurrection," that possesses "not mere lyrical beauty but a rare generosity of vision and an ever alert sense of the absurd." More about the book
	The Final Solution: A Story of Detection by Michael Chabon 131 pages Retired and intent on beekeeping, a detective resembling Sherlock Holmes is persuaded to take the case of a stolen parrot. New York Magazine called Pulitzer Prize-winner Chabon's sly but resonant homage to the classic detective story "a profound pleasure." More about the book
	The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros 134 pages Cisneros' iconic first novel. In a series of short vignettes, teenage Esperanza describes growing up in Chicago amongst great poverty and her dreams of escaping. When this book was originally published in 1991, the New York Times stated that Cisneros "seduces with precise, spare prose, creat[ing] unforgettable characters we want to lift off the page... She is not only a gifted writer, but an absolutely essential one." More about the book
	The Body Artist : A Novel by Don DeLillo 124 pages Delillo's novel about a recently widowed "body artist" who discovers a small, strange man living in her rented house is a meditation on art, time, and perception. The New York Times praised the book's "exquisite beauty," describing it as an "intimate affair, quiet, spare and strange--but not so strange as to distract from the glories of the chiseled prose." More about the book
	Offshore by Penelope Fitzgerald 141 pages Follows the lives of an eccentric community living on barges in the Thames. Booker Prize judges called Fitzgerald's novel "flawless" when it was first published in 1979. For more on Fitzgerald, see our earlier post: Have You Read...Penelope Fitzgerald. More about the book
	Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons 126 pages Orphaned eleven year old Ellen Foster's moving and often funny account of finally finding a place to call home. Gibbons book was an early selection of Oprah's Book Club. More about the book
	Necklace and Calabash: A Chinese Detective Story by Robert van Gulik 143 pages A Dutch diplomat and expert on Chinese history and culture, van Gulik wrote a series of mysteries set in medieval China that featured the inimitable magistrate Judge Dee. These mysteries have had a devoted following, and garnered plenty of praise, ever since they appeared in the 1950s and 60s. The St. James Guide to Crime and Mystery Writers goes so far as to call them "certainly the finest ethnographic detective novels in English." Though it is one of the last books in the series, Necklace and Calabash is a great place to start. More about the book
	The Man in the Picture: A Ghost Story by Susan Hill 145 pages When it was published in the UK, The Independent called Hill's novel "A masterclass in the art of dread." An old-fashioned ghost story about the sinister secrets hiding in a mysterious painting. More about the book
	Grief by Andrew Holleran 150 pages "Grief," according to Salon.com, "is a strange, slim, beautiful book… like a single note struck on a perfect silver bell, it carries far." Holleran's eloquent, understated novel is narrated by an aging professor who moves to Washington, DC after the death of his mother. Grief won a Stonewall Book Award in 2007. More about the book
	The Name of the World by Denis Johnson 129 pages Johnson's spare, poetic story of a college professor's attempts to come to terms with the deaths of his wife and child. The Los Angeles Times said, of Johnson's novel, "How easy it is to forget, with all the trivia in print cluttering our lives, that words can be this supple a vehicle for transcendent healing." More about the book

Most Popular Books: June 2010

The twenty most checked-out books at the library during the month of June. Click on titles to view and reserve these books in the catalog. Click on More about the book for reviews and summaries.

1.		Wiggle by Doreen Cronin, art by Scott Menchin More about the book
2.		The Help by Kathryn Stockett More about the book
3.		Dead In The Family by Charlaine Harris More about the book
4.		Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling More about the book
5.		The Lost Symbol: A Novel by Dan Brown More about the book
6.		The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson More about the book
7.		The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan More about the book
8.		Bunny Cakes by Rosemary Wells More about the book
9.		If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Joffe Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond More about the book
10.		New Moon by Stephenie Meyer More about the book
11.		The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan More about the book
12.		Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich More about the book
13.		Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling More about the book
14.		U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton More about the book
15.		The 9th Judgment by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro More about the book
16.		If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond More about the book
17.		Captain Underpants and the Preposterous Plight of the Purple Potty People: The Eighth Epic Novel by Dav Pilkey More about the book
18.		The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan More about the book
19.		If You Give a Cat a Cupcake by Laura Numeroff More about the book
20.		Deliver Us from Evil by David Baldacci More about the book

Trashy History: A Less Guilty Pleasure

If it’s history, do you have to feel guilty about it? Here are ten all-true tales of scandal, corruption, infidelity, debauchery, and even some murder. Have any favorite examples of trashy history that aren't listed here? Let us know in the comments section.

	The Bolter by Frances Osborne Idina Sackville was the daughter of one of England’s oldest and richest families. She was also notorious for her affairs and extravagant, scandalous parties. Osborne’s biography follows the seemingly endless scandal and excess of Sackville’s life over two continents, five husbands (one of them murdered), and innumerable lovers. More about the book
	A Bright and Guilty Place: Murder, Corruption, and L.A.'s Scandalous Coming of Age by Richard Rayner A history of depression-era Los Angeles in which, as the Los Angeles Times put it, “characters, crimes, scandals and legends spill from the pages in bewildering and fascinating profusion.” Rayner delves deeply into the scandal and corruption that defined the era and inspired the genre of noir fiction. More about the book
	Bright Young People: The Lost Generation of London's Jazz Age by D.J. Taylor For the young and rich of London, the 1920s were one long party. Taylor explores the decade long debauchery of these proto Paris Hilton’s from many different perspectives, detailing the drunken excess and outrageously improper behavior that made them famous simply for being famous. More about the book
	Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire by Amanda Foreman A vivid portrait of one of the most famous and influential, not to mention fashionable, women of her time. Georgiana's public success hid a troubled private life: a costly addiction to gambling, affairs with some of the leading politicians of the day, and a history of excessive drinking and drug taking, all while living in an uneasy menage-a-trois with her husband and best friend. Foreman's book was turned into the movie The Duchess. More about the book
	Indian Summer: The Secret History of the End of an Empire by Alex von Tunzelmann A behind-the-scenes retelling of the transfer of power from Britain to India and Pakistan that foregrounds the foibles and follies of the primary players--particularly the affair between Edwina Mountbatten and Jawaharlal Nehru. The Los Angeles Times called it an “irreverent and irresistible” book that presents “history as a box of bonbons, a collection of delectable little nuggets of folly and scandal.” More about the book
	King of Heists: The Sensational Bank Robbery of 1878 that Shocked America by J. North Conway The tale of George Leonidas Leslie: society architect, ladies man, and master bank robber. His 1878 robbery of the Manhattan Savings Institution is considered the greatest bank robbery in American history, but he never spent a day in jail. In the end, it was not his crimes that caused his downfall, but his amorous advances. More about the book
	The Lady in Red: An Eighteenth-Century Tale of Sex, Scandal, and Divorce by Hallie Rubenhold In 1782, Sir Richard Worsley brought a criminal conversion case against his wife’s lover, suing him for damages to his “property”. What followed turned into one of the first celebrity divorce cases: a parade of scandalous assertions about the infidelities and perversions of both parties that shocked an English public who, never-the-less, could not read enough about it. More about the book
	Pauline Bonaparte: Venus of Empire by Flora Fraser Napoleon’s fiercely loyal sister Pauline was considered by many to be the most beautiful woman in Europe. She was also notorious for her many affairs, her flamboyant behavior, and her opulent dress. Fraser, an accomplished biographer, lamented after the book’s publication, "I don’t suppose I’ll ever write about anyone so infinitely entertaining again." More about the book
	Sin in the Second City: Madams, Ministers, Playboys, and the Battle for America's Soul by Karen Abbott The New York Times called Abbott’s book about Chicago’s turn of the century red light district a “lush love letter to the underworld’ that reads more like literary fiction than a work of history. Blurbing the book, Sara Gruen put it a little more succinctly: “Sex, opulence, murder—what’s not to love?” More about the book
	The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: A Shocking Murder and the Undoing of a Great Victorian Detective by Kate Summerscale As the New York Times put it, “fact and fiction do not so much blur as bleed into each other” in Summerscale’s book, the story of a brutal 1860 murder at an English Country house that scandalized the public, nearly ruined the career of the investigator in charge, and inspired the genre of detective fiction. This book might read like a Victorian murder mystery, but every bit of it is true. More about the book

Upcoming Author Visit: Julie Kramer

Silencing Sam by Julie Kramer

In Silencing Sam, the third installment in the Riley Spartz series, mystery writer Julie Kramer continues to write about what she knows—television news reporting. The former head of the investigative unit at WCCO-TV in Minneapolis has created a character in Riley whose reporting job keeps getting her involved in murder investigations. This time around, the investigation takes on new urgency, since Riley herself is a suspect in the murder of smarmy gossip columnist Sam Pierce, with whom she has had a very public spat. On top of that, the station has hired a new reporter who is determined to scoop Riley on the story and the case.

On Monday, June 28, at 7 pm in the Library Auditorium, Kramer will present a reading and signing of her new book. The event is free and open to the public, and is co-sponsored by The Raven Book Store, which will make books available for purchase.

Julie Kramer is a freelance network news producer. Her debut thriller, Stalking Susan, won the Minnesota Book Award and the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award for Best First Mystery, and was a finalist for the Mary Higgins Clark Award and the Anthony Award. She lives with her family in White Bear Lake, Minnesota.

Kansas Native Plant Appreciation

Governor Mark Parkinson has proclaimed June 2010 as Kansas Native Plant Appreciation Month! The Governor's proclamation urges all citizens to join in the observance by enjoying, appreciating, and celebrating our floral diversity and taking advantage of the opportunities to learn more about native plants, their habitats, and how to protect them.

Discover recommended newer and older classic nonfiction books about native plants in Kansas and the larger region. In addition to the titles listed below, more resources on identification of and gardening with native plants and wildflowers, uses of native plants and prairie ecology may be found by searching in the library catalog.

Kansas Native Plant Society is celebrating Kansas Native Plant Appreciation Month with many different free events. Everyone is welcome to enjoy these opportunities to discover our state's natural heritage. You may also want to view this website for resources on native plant identification, wildflower gardening, natural areas to visit, book recommendations, and more.

The following 32 books represent some aspect of native plants in our area. Note: When our catalog doesn’t offer additional information, an Internet link may be included where you may access more information about a book. Click on the titles to view and reserve these books in the catalog.

	Wildflowers and Weeds of Kansas by Janet E. Bare This thorough resource aids identification for many different plants found in the state.
	Native Trees, Shrubs, & Vines: A Guide To Using, Growing, And Propagating North American Woody Plants by William Cullina Cullina's book is like an encyclopedia. He presents strong opinions about each plant, which makes this resource helpful for selecting the best plants for landscaping. More about the book
	The New England Wild Flower Society Guide To Growing And Propagating Wildflowers Of The United States by William Cullina The author has much experience landscaping with native plants. He offers recommendations for the most attractive garden plants. More about the book
	Weed Seeds of the Great Plains: A Handbook for Identification by Linda W. Davis Seeds of native and introduced plants are illustrated and described. More about the book
	Roadside Wildflowers of the Southern Great Plains by Craig Carl Freeman & Eileen K. Schofield This informative field guide describes common wildflowers found in Kansas or near the border in neighboring states. Many of the highlighted plants include line drawings of unique identifying features and notes of historical medicinal or food uses, and related species. More about the book
	Flora of the Great Plains by Great Plains Flora Association The most complete botanical guide to native and naturalized plants in the Great Plains, including Kansas. It contains technical keys and descriptions and lacks illustrations.
	Walking the Prairie by Doug Guess Watercolor paintings of wildflowers are paired with poetry.
	Wildflowers and Grasses of Kansas: A Field Guide by Michael John Haddock Helpful comments are included with each plant description. The author created a website, with many forbs, grasses, sedges, rushes, and woody plants found growing in Kansas: www.kswildflower.org. More about the book
	Field Guide to the North American Prairie by Stephen R. Jones and Ruth Carol Cushman Use this guide to learn about different types of prairie habitats and the flora and fauna of North American prairies. A directory offers recommended places to visit. More about the book
	Edible Wild Plants of the Prairie: An Ethnobotanical Guide by Kelly Kindscher Kindscher shares his own experiences preparing and eating wild foods coupled with historical uses. Beautiful line drawings and range maps are provided for each plant. More about the book
	Medicinal Wild Plants of the Prairie: An Ethnobotanical Guide by Kelly Kindscher Historical uses of wild plants as medicine are recounted with range maps and beautiful line drawings for each plant. More about the book
	A Field Guide to Eastern Forests, North America by John Kricher Bring this guide along next time you visit a forest and identify some of the plants and wildlife. More about the book
	A Practical Guide to Prairie Reconstruction by Carl Kurtz Learn how to select seeds, prepare the soil, manage prairies and more. More about the book
	Ozark Wildflowers: A Field Guide by Don Kurz This guide will aid anyone who wants to identify wildflowers while visiting the southeast corner of Kansas; this is part of the Ozark physiographic region. More about the book
	Tallgrass Prairie Wildflowers: A Field Guide to the Wildflowers, Grasses, and Woody Vines of the Tallgrass Prairie by Douglas M. Ladd This book is a helpful identification tool with excellent photography. This second edition includes notes about prairie restoration techniques and an updated directory of tallgrass prairies to visit. More about the book
	Grassland: The History, Biology, Politics, and Promise of the American Prairie by Richard Manning Manning's dramatic prose describes the troubled history that brought about the loss of one of our most symbolic landscapes and recent attempts at restoration. More about the book
	Where the Buffalo Roam by Anne Matthews Frank and Deborah Popper's proposal to return the arid western Great Plains to bison and a wildlife refuge is explained in this book. More about the book
	The National Grasslands: A Guide to America's Undiscovered Treasures by Francis Moul Among the fascinating history and politics described here is much information about Cimarron National Grassland in southwest Kansas. More about the book
	Common to This Country: Botanical Discoveries of Lewis and Clark by Susan H. Munger Specific plants are featured and beautifully illustrated with wonderful details of when Lewis and Clark were first introduced to each plant. More about the book
	Kansas Grasses by Clenton E. Owensby Detailed line drawings are included with each featured grass. The author created a website for Kansas grasses: http://spuds.agron.ksu.edu/Grassint.htm.
	Kansas Prairie Wildflowers by Clenton E. Owensby This small book is a classic reference with color photos. The author created a website for flowers found in the Flint Hills: http://spuds.agron.ksu.edu/wildflw.htm.
	Sunflowers: The Secret History; The Unauthorized Biography of the World's Most Beloved Weed by Joe Pappalardo This enjoyable read delves deeply into world cultural history as reflected in sunflowers. More about the book
	Pasture & Range Plants by Robert A. Nicholson This beautifully illustrated guide provides helpful information on forage use for livestock. More about the book
	Konza Prairie: A Tallgrass Natural History by O. J. Reichman Explore the ecology of one of the largest remaining tallgrass prairie habitats in the country. More about the book
	Dyes from American Native Plants: A Practical Guide by Lynne Richards & Ronald J. Tyrl Learn dyeing techniques using the plethora of natural colors obtainable from native plants. More about the book
	The Secrets of Wildflowers: A Delightful Feast of Little-Known Facts, Folklore, and History by Jack Sanders Delve into the fascinating history and legends behind many different wildflowers, including their uses and the origins of their names. More about the book
	Prairie: A Natural History by Candace Savage Savage provides a perspective of the natural heritage we have lost. Prairie once covered more of North America than any other type of ecosystem. Breathtaking photos and dramatic text describe what remains and offer an outlook for the future. More about the book
	Poisonous Plants of the Central United States by H.A. (Homer A.) Stephens Stephens provides plant descriptions and symptoms of poisoning, accompanied by clear black and white photos. More about the book
	Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines in Kansas by H. A. (Homer A.) Stephens This classic field guide includes range maps and photos of bark, leaves, and fruits. More about the book
	Gardening With Prairie Plants: How To Create Beautiful Native Landscapes by Sally Wasowski Native plant gardening inspiration from a very experienced prairie gardener. More about the book
	Wild Seasons: Gathering and Cooking Wild Plants of the Great Plains by Kay Young Use this book as a field guide and recipe book for the best tasting wild edibles. More about the book
	Land of Grass and Sky: A Naturalist's Prairie Journey by Mary Taylor Young Young shares personal essays evoking the spirit of various elements of the prairie. More about the book

Like the books listed here? Our post honoring the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day contains many related titles.