Recent Books 7-9-10

The Grown-ups:
1. P.D. James 'Cover Her Face' 1962
2. Elizabeth George 'What Came Before He Shot Her' 2006
3. John Kennedy Toole 'Confederacy of Dunces' 1980

Review:
1. PD James: I'm beginning to read P.D. James most famous for 'Children of Men' but really a fantastic mystery writer with two series of books. Her first book Cover Her Face was published in 1962. It is very well written with descriptions that carry you beyond the words, a mystery with as many suspects as an Agatha Christie novel and most of all characters that are more than just cardboard cut outs. I've was drawn to her after reading Children of Men and I read a 2007 novel she wrote in the Inspector Dagliesh series which was one of those books I could not put down. My goal is to read her books in order and observe how her characters developed and how her writing style changed over the years.

2. Elizabeth George: This is another writer that I was turned on to based on my enjoyment of P.D. James. George is a newer author and her books tend to be harder to get in the library. This is again a series of mysteries that I will try to read in order.

3. John Kennedy O'Toole: I have read this book before and enjoy it when I reread it. Fantastic description of life in New Orleans among those who are not pretty, not connected and in general trying to make it through life. It is not a pretty book. The story can be depressing and emotionally cringing at times. It can also make you laugh out loud at the antics of the anti-hero. If you don't find just a little bit of yourself in the main character then you must be a perfect human being. Wyatt has currently checked it out to finish reading it.


The Library connection: I can get each of PD James and Elizabeth George's novels in order from the library through inter-library loan. LOVE IT. I may have to wait to get some of the newer mysteries but I can wait and put them on my list. We can look up books that we normally would have gone to Barnes and Noble or Borders to get, and RESERVE them through the library pick them up and enjoy. If we don't like it or don't make it through it we can renew on line or return it and make another choice. Think about the dollars saved!!!!

The Kiddo:
1. Peter Dodson 'An Alphabet of Dinosaurs'
2. Chief Seattle 'Brother Eagle, Sister Sky: A Message from Chief Seattle'
3. Anthony Aveni 'The First Americans: The Story of where they came from and who they became'
4. Lucille Penner 'Dinosaur Babies'
5. David Sheldon 'Barnum Brown: Dinosaur Hunter'
6. Gail Gibbons 'Dinosaurs'
7. David Lambert 'DK Guide to Dinosaurs'
8. Jon J Muth 'Stone Soup'


The Review: DK books on any subject are fantastic. The Dinosaur one is fantastic covering the birth, life, death, and discovery of dinosaurs. It covers the nature and source of the naming of dinosaurs as well as the process in which the bones, eggs, and poop became fossils. Dinosaur Babies is another fantastic read. It comes from the I can Read series geared toward 1st graders-short sentences, simple subject matter, and engaging storyline. The kiddo has started word recognition from this book. Brother Eagle, Sister Sky is just plain fantastic. Wonderful illustrations and information on the message of Chief Seattle. We've read this one a few times already.


The Library Connection: We walk into the library and the kiddo hunts for the librarian. He has subjects or topics in mind that he wants to get books on and knows exactly who to ask for books. In the past we have asked for Mummies, Seasons, Trains, Elephants, and Sharks. This week it was Dinosaurs and American Indians (NOT NATIVE AMERICANS according to my son). He clearly asked for the subjects and we were brought deep into the stacks. The best part of this is that my son learns that there are a variety of books in different places based on subject and numbers. The librarian takes him by the hand, explains that a particular number relates to the subject. She also points out when the subject can be found alphabetically. LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE. Finally, he remembers when we go back to the library the aisle in the stacks in which he can find certain books.