Book Review: The Family Fang

Posted by Alana T.

The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson

This delightfully snarky story is told from the point of view of a twenty-something sister and brother, who have miraculously managed to survive an astounding childhood in which they were used as unwilling artistic props in their famous parents' performance art.  The two did not escape unscathed, however; each has long-standing emotional scars from tragi-comic episodes of their youth.

The book begins with the younger brother, Buster (a.k.a. Child B) returning home to recover from a facial injury due to a potato gun misfire. He calls his sister Annie (a.k.a. Child A), a famous B moviestar, and begs her to come home to mitigate the obsessive weirdness of Caleb and Camile, their mom and dad.  Upon Annie's arrival, the parents insist the entire family visit the mall to have a "performance".  Things don't go as planned at the food court (the public perhaps having become too jaded for the Fang brand of art) pushing Caleb to decide it's time to unfurl a last great artwork.  As true chaos ensues, for Annie and Buster anyway, the plot becomes more complex and hilarious with each page.

The book has been compared to The Royal Tenenbaums, the only family that approaches the comical dysfunction of the Fangs; the difference here being that Buster and Annie are actually pretty normal, just trying to survive the abnormality of their childhood and parents.

If you like dark comedy, amusingly dysfunctional families, or stories about the never ending struggle for good art, this is the book for you.

Narrators make or break Audio Books

Charles Louis Bombled, Le Gramophone, 1902

Posted by Cary H.

A recent disappointing experience prompted this post.  Lately I've gotten hooked on audio books as an enjoyable way to pass the time in my half hour commute to and from work each day, and also as a way to facilitate my love of reading when lately I'm too tired and busy to read books before bed.

Since I tend to read British mysteries, my first experiences were great because the narrators invariably had British accents which I love and listened to fairly uncritically.  But recently, after having a very popular writer recommended to me -- a mystery series that takes place in the Western U.S. -- I learned very quickly that a poor narrator can completely ruin the book experience no matter how well written.

My point is, if you're new to audio books, don't give up on them if the narrator falls flat -- try another narrator or author!  When well done, the narrator's voice pulls you deeply into the world of the book and it's a great experience.  My bad experience came from a highly acclaimed narrator with a list of awards and credits to his name, yet still his voice was flat, had little emotional range, and when he read the part of the few children's characters in the book he sounded whinier than the worst tired four-year-old.

Enough said.  Audio books are a fantastic way to read, just remember that the narrator is an important as the story -- keep trying until you find one you love.

Book suggestions for the dog days of summer

Posted by Staff

The dog days of summer have been long believed to be the hottest of the season, caused by the close proximity of the star Sirius (the dog star) to the sun.  In addition, today is National Dog Day - and what better way to celebrate than with some dogs in literature!  So, prepare a chilled beverage, gather your own canine buddies close by and read something you'll all enjoy. 

Classics to read again:
Old Yeller by Fred Gipson   A classic tearjerker of a story about a boy and his dog.

Sounder by William Armstrong  The story of a loyal hound, his poor sharecropper family, prejudice and courage. 

101 Dalmations by Dodie Smith  Not the Disney version, but the original novel - an enjoyable, funny adventure.

White Fang  and Call of the Wild by Jack London  These books have just about everything, brave dogs, adventure, the Yukon and a variety of trials and tribulations.


Contemporary Fiction
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski   A modern retelling of Hamlet, told from the point of view of a boy (Edgar) and his beloved dog (Almondine). 

Cujo by Stephen King   A thriller of a novel about everyday people whose lives spiral into discord.  Poor Cujo, he really is a good dog.  If you've only seen the movie, you need to read the book.

The Plague Dogs by Richard Adams Two dogs escape an animal research center and have to fend for themselves.

Timbuktu by Paul Auster A unique story of homelessness told through the words of dog.

Graphic Novels- not just for teens

Posted by Dani G.

The last post on graphic novels focused on staff favorites.  The following titles are marketed mainly to teens and young adults, but are great reads for any age.

Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol.  Anya is a sarcastic and moody teenager swimming against the mainstream of students at the private school she attends.  After falling down an old well she finds herself with a new friend - one that has been dead for more than a century.

One Hundred Demons by Lynda Barry.  No one can quite portray the dreams, insecurities and quirkiness of growing up like Linda Barry.  part autobiographical, One Hundred Demons will have you laughing and feeling a deep sense of truth of thoughts long forgotten. 

Blankets by Craig Thompson.  Raised in a very religious environment, Craig meets his first love at a church camp.  This girl couldn't be more different from anything he has ever known.  Beautifully written and illustrated, this is an artistic tribute to falling in love for the first time.

Epileptic by David B.  As David's family journeys through the world of alternative medicine in France in the 1970's, they find themselves in bizarre situation.  It becomes a fight against time as his brother's seizures become worse and David invents ways of escaping.

Persepolis 2 by Marjane Satrapi.  A sequel to Persepolis (also highly recommended), Marjane leaves the turmoil in Iran to pursue and education.  through a series of events and pridefulness, she will find herself homeless and lost.

Koko Be Good by Jen Wang .  Jan is preparing to follow his girlfriend's dreams by moving to Peru.  Then he meets Koko.  Through her own quest of personal discovery he sees himself.

Book Review: Look Me In the Eye: My Life With Asperger's

Posted by Carol W. EPL patron and guest blogger

Look Me In the Eye by John Elder Robinson is a fascinating memoir by a man who was diagnosed well into adulthood with Asperger syndrome, a form of autism.  Through the lens of this diagnosis, Robinson recalls and analyzes his turbulent and fascinating life.  From his childhood with an alcoholic father and mentally ill mother, to his time designing special effects guitars for KISS, to the creation of his long-running specialty automotive business, Robinson has successfully navigated the challenges of life, despite the unique way his brain operates.  His memoir provides excellent insight into the thinking process of highly articulate individual on the autistic spectrum.  This book is a valuable read for anyone interested in understanding more about the high-functioning manifestations of autism.

As a side note, Robinson's only brother is Augusten Burroughs, author of Running With Scissors: A Memoir.  As a much younger sibling, Burroughs was left behind in the increasingly bizarre family situation after Robinson left home at 16.  His memoir focuses on these years living alone with his parents.  Fans of Burroughs' book will appreciate the additional insights into his character and childhood contained in Look Me In The Eye.

Our new Poet Laureate

Philip Levine. Photo © Geoffrey Berliner

Posted by Staff.

Last week the Librarian of Congress, James H. Billington, announced the appointment of Philip Levine as our 18th National Poet Laureate.  Mr. Levine has been described as one of our nation's greatest narrative poets and has won numerous literary awards including the Pulitzer Prize and The National Book Award.  For more information about Mr. Levine and his works visit the Library of Congress' website.  If you visit The Writer's Almanac, you can listen to Garrison Keillor read a selection of poems. 

A Sleepless Night
   by Philip Levine


April, and the last of the plum blossoms
scatters on the black grass
before dawn.  The sycamore, the lime,
the struck pine inhale
the first pale hints of sky.
                          An iron day,
I think, yet it will come
dazzling, the light
rise from the belly of leaves and pour
burning from the cups
of poppies.
                           The mockingbird squawks
from his perch, fidgets,
and settles back.  The snail, awake
for good, tremble from his shell
and sets sail for China.  My hand dances
in the memory of a million vanished stars.


A man has every place to lay his head.

Request more of  Philip Levine's works here. 

The Life of a Library Book: Circulation, Part 1

Posted by Alana T.

Circulation of library books is the part of their lives with which library patrons are most familiar.  You come into the library, browse the shelves, find something that appeals to you, and check it out at the circulation desk.  Or perhaps, you've ordered an item, it's arrived here at the EPL, and you've checked it out.  You take your prize home, enjoy it for a while, perhaps renew for a few more weeks, and then return it.  The cycle begins again with another patron.

Of course, there are parts of the story that patrons don't see and perhaps don't even know about.  The details of circulating books are many, and when you take into account how many of our library items are "out there" in the community, the state, and even through the country, it is mind boggling  to consider the journeys books take during their lives.

At any point in time, about 25% of our collection circulating.  For an example of the EPL's circulation statistics, consider the following data for June:
Total # of items held by the library     115,316
# book check outs                             15,981
# audiobooks check outs                      1197
# DVDs check outs                              4186
Total # item check outs                      23,106
     (we have other types of items circulating besides the ones listed above)

We rely on our software system to keep track of requests, due dates, loan rules, and myriad other circulation details throughout the entire consortium of IL Heartland libraries.  Each library has, and sometimes specific books have, different rules that govern where and how items circulate.

If you've requested an item through our online catalog, and it's coming from another library, your item will take a multi-day journey.  The next Life of a Library Book post will describe the typical journey of a book from it's home library to you. 

International Year of Forests

Posted by Alana T. and Dani G.

The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2011 The International Year of Forests.  Almost half the world's original forests have been destroyed, most during the past three decades.  There is a wealth of diversity and beauty still unknown to most people.  Close to home, we think of Illinois as being part of a big prairie, but large portions of the state were historically covered by forests.  Remnants of these areas have been set aside as National and State Parks.  And did you know - there are some wonderful hardwood forest remnants in Pere Marquette State Park (north of Alton) that look like something out of a Harry Potter movie?  It's true. 

For more information about forests in IL, visit the following links:
Illinois State Musuem link describing historical, ecological, and other aspects of Illinois forests; Pere Marquette State Park;   Shawnee National Forest;  Trail of Tears State Forest;  Sand Prairie State Forest.

If you want to visit one of our forests, we have field guides at the library for trees, wildflowers, poisonous plants, insects, butterflies, caterpillars, reptiles, birds and mammals.

If you're visiting a local forest with the kids, try some of these books (also great for adults needing to brush up on the basics):
Forest Floor by Elaine Pascoe
Food Chains in a Forest Habitat by Isaac Nadeau
A Log's Life by Wendy Pfeffer
Forest Explorer: A Life-size Field Guide by Nic Bishop 
Forest Life by Barbara Taylor

Summer Reading Program - A Huge Success!

Posted by Anne W.

The annual Library Summer Reading Program has come to an end, and one thing is for sure – Edwardsville has some super readers!  I am very proud of all the kids who participated in the reading clubs, because while our summer reading clubs are a fun way to earn great prizes, recent research has shown that they also combat summer learning loss and improve student test scores and reading levels.

We had a record-breaking summer, in which babies, kids, and teens registered a total of 2,191 times for the reading club.   Each age group was required to read a certain amount of time or number of books.  Babies were read 20 books, little kids were read 25 books, older kids read 8 hours, and teens read 13 hours.  Everyone had the option of re-registering for the program and completing additional reading logs for a better chance of winning a grand prize.  In the end, there were three lucky winners who won a Kindle, a new bicycle, or a Smart Trike.  Many other winners won gift certificates to local restaurants or stores, and board games.

Library programs have ended for the summer, but we are hard at work planning exciting fall programs for all ages, including a Justin Bieber VIP party, our second annual Kids Art Show, Lego Clubs and Story Times.  The fall calendar will be available at the beginning of  September, so be sure to check your mailboxes and our website for information on all of the fall library fun!  Enjoy the rest of your summer and good luck in your next school year!

Characters Who Live On: Sherlock Holmes

Lesser Ury, Reader with a Magnifying Glass, 1895.

Posted by Staff

Few characters have made as strong and lasting impression on the general public as has the character of Sherlock Holmes. Intricate plots, interesting characters, and the constant threat of a criminal element lurking behind the scenes captured the imaginations of generations of readers.  When Doyle killed Holmes in one of the novels, the public outcry was huge.  When Doyle died, many mourned the death of Holmes as much as the author.  Since then, many authors have based their characters on Holmes (and Watson) or utilized the settings or characters as jumping off points for their own works.

This past January, it was announced that the Conan Doyle estate had commissioned Anthony Horwitz, author of the young adult Alex Rider novels and TV's Foyle's War series,  to write a new, authorized Sherlock Holmes novel.  In April, the title, The House of Silk, was released by the publisher.  Read more about the eagerly awaited book (due out in November, request it here) in this article by The Guardian. 

If you are interested in some modern interpretations of Sherlock Holmes try one of the following books or DVD's :

Sherlock, Season One (DVD, 2010) A BBC production from 2010 that will satisfy any Holmes fan.  This 21^st century take on a legend works surprisingly well – even traditionalists are impressed.  Set in current day London with all the technological trappings at Holmes’ disposal, and his war-vet sidekick Watson, we are drawn in by the fast pace and the absorbing plots.  Well done!

Murder Rooms: the dark beginnings of Sherlock Holmes  (DVD, 2006)  In real life, when Arthur Conan Doyle was a young man, he formed a relationship with a noted forensic scientist Dr. Jospeh Bell.  Under his tutelage, Doyle’s real life experiences in late 19^th century Edinburgh fueled his imagination and later his pen.  Find out how Sherlock Holmes was born in this well done, fictionalized mystery series. 

Death Cloud (Young Sherlock) by Andrew Lane  It is the summer of 1868, and Sherlock Holmes is fourteen. On break from boarding school, he is staying with eccentric strangers—his uncle and aunt—in their vast house in Hampshire. When two local people die from symptoms that resemble the plague, Holmes begins to investigate what really killed them, helped by his new tutor, an American named Amyus Crowe. So begins Sherlock’s true education in detection, as he discovers the dastardly crimes of a brilliantly sinister villain of exquisitely malign intent (Amazon review).

The Sherlockian by  Graham Moore  The plot of this novel flips back and forth between our century and the last, following Arthur Conan Doyle and his desire to kill off Holmes, and a modern Holmes devotee attempting to solve a murder.  Will Doyle finally kill off his famous character?  What do the Baker Street Irregulars (a modern group of Sherlock fans and historians) do when a real-life murder creates havoc at their annual conference?  What would Holmes do?  As we follow along between the two stories, the plot thickens.

Celebrate National Book Love Day at the Library!

Posted by Staff

August 8th is National Book Love Day.  Of course, here at the library we love books.  Following is a list of books we really love:

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, anything by Tamora Pierce, The Hobbit by James Herriot, Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny, Demon Haunted World by Carl Sagan, The Merlin Trilogy (The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills & The Last Enchantment) by Mary Stewart, Grapes of Wrath & East of Eden by John Steinbeck, The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck, The City of Ember Series by Jeanne DuPrau, The Truth About Forever by Sarach Dessen, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher, Island of Ghosts by Gillian Bradshaw, The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova, The Help by Kathryn Stockett, any British mystery by Agatha Christie, P.D. James, or Ruth Rendell, Hardcore Zen by Brad Warner, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith, Chasing Redbird by Sharon Creech, The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins, the Hercule Poirot mysteries by Agatha Christie, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle, Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors by Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan, Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Penmann, A Woman of Substance by Barbara Taylor Bradford, Anne Frank Remembered by Miep Gies, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Dicey's Song by Cynthia Voight, Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry, Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut, The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien, For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemmingway, the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, A Wrinkle in Time by Madelene L'Engle, the Princess Diary series by Meg Cabot, the Mediator series by Meg Cabot, The Outsiders by S.E Hinton, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, Persepolis 1 & 2 by Marjane Satrapi, The Book Thief by Mark Zusak, Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier, The Wolves of Andover by Katherine Kent, One Hundred Demons by Lynda Barry, Knitting Without Tears by Elizabeth Zimmerman, Handmade Home by Amanda Blake Soule, Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls, Ishamael by Daniel Quinn, Earth Abides by George R. Stuart, Go Go Girls of the Apocalypse by Victor Gischler, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, We by Yevgeny Zamyatin, and The World According to Garp by John Irving

August Staff Picks

Berte Morisot, Reading, 1973

Posted by Staff

August is the traditional month for vacations; this month we've picked beach reads as our theme.  We've tried to veer away from the usual bestsellers and find something a little different for you.

Amanda E.: Bridget Jones' Diary by Helen Fielding and anything by Jane Green.  romance type books about modern women who get themselves into scrapes; a.k.a. "chick-lit".

Evan E.: The Harry Potter series by J.K.  Rowling: The most amazing book series ever!!! (For all ages.)

Judy T.: The novels by Fannie Flagg are great books for the beach.  They are filled with humor and warmth and casts of delightful characters.  Try Welcome to the World, Baby Girl, Standing in the Rainbow and Can't Wait to Get to Heaven.

Lisa E.: Just about anything by Carl Hiaasen could be a good beach read.  Hiaasen writes a combination of satire, humor, and crime fiction.  His young adult fiction often makes an environmental statement. The author is a Florida native and his homeland is often the setting in his books.

Joyce D.: Sushi for Beginners by Marilyn Keyes.  Set in Dublin - romance, new job, old boyfriend, new boyfriend, lots of girl talk.

Dani G.: Blackbird House by Alice Hoffman. Twelve interconnected stories that all take place in the same Cape Cod farmhouse over the course of generations.

K.C.: Day Out of Days by Sam Shepard.  Best read in small doses, the narration is a compilation of small Western disillusionments.

New Sci-Fi and Fantasy reads

Posted by Staff

Recently, Booklist published a list of their favorite recent sci-fi and fantasy novels.  These are diverse genres, and there is something in the list to interest just about any reader.  Descriptions below are transcribed form Booklist's reviews.

All the Lives He Led by Fredereick Pohl.  It's 2079 and Pompeii has become a theme park.  Pohl is a master of everything that goes into a cracking good novel, and for this one, he has clearly boned up on vulcanolgy to boot.

The Best of Larry Niven edited by Jonathan Straham.  Niven excels at creating possible futures that are the outcome of current ideas stretched to the extreme.

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness.  Diana Bishop is the last of the Bishops, a powerful family of witches, but she has refused her magic ever since her parents died.

Dragon Haven by Robin Hobb.  The second volume of the Rain Wilds Chronicles shows Hobb again working at the highest level of contemporary fantasy.

Hellhole by Brian Herbert and Keven Anderson.  This is a militaristic sf story of galactic proportions that also offers characters easy for the reader to believe in.

Midsummer Night by Freda Warrington.  Set after the end of the Great War, this novel should please classic and urban fantasy fans, romance readers, and anyone looking for a good fey story.

Pale Demon by Kim Harrison.  The ninth Rachel Morgan novel finds our tough and feisty witch on a mission to get her shunning rescinded.

Thirteen Years Later by Jasper Kent.  Kent has magically blended history, folklore, and storytelling to produce a superb account of the Dekabrist revolt in 1825 Russia.

What the Night Knows by Dean Koontz.  This novel is deliberate, highly supernatural, somber throughout, and motivated by religious dread - one of Koontz's weightiest performances.