Patron Book Review: The Tipping Point

Posted by EPL patron and guest blogger Irv S.

This book, by Malcolm Gladwell  provides some interesting insights but must be read with a healthy skepticism. Gladwell is imaginative and creative. His research is not up to the level of his writing.  He sets out to explore some areas with which the reader may be familiar, e.g., teenage smoking, and others less so, e.g., suicide in  Micronesia. He uses the case studies to make an argument concerning "social epidemics," which are unexpected turns of events, or "tipping points," that are generated by forces which Gladwell analyzes and discusses in some detail.

The three principal forces are (a) messengers, (b) stickiness, and (c) context.  Messengers are special people who exert significant influence on others by reason of knowledge, connections, or social skills, but nearly always with charisma (my word not his.)  A message which has "stickiness" has an impact, is memorable. An example is the Nike "whoosh" logo (if that is the correct word, but you know what I mean) or, for those of us who remember, "Winston tastes good like a cigaret should."

Context is the environment in which the epidemic develops. This is the area which occupies over one half of the book and is perhaps the weakest. He credits New York's remarkable drop in crime during the "90's to the removal of graffiti from the subway walls. I accept that cleanliness can provide a salutary influence but doubt that the freshly painted walls were the principal cause of the crime rate reduction. Mayor Giulani and the NYPD should at least share the credit.

Gladwell gets off to a bad start in chapter one when he refers to a character who frequented the pool halls of E. St. Louis, MISSOURI (sic). Such a mistake can unfortunately undermine an author's credibility.  The reader justifiably wonders if the balance of the work was researched more carefully. Nevertheless I enjoyed the read and gained some insights which I hope will be valid and helpful.  

Patron Book Review: Conflict and Crisis

Posted by guest blogger and Edwardsville Patron Irv S.

Conflict and Crisis: The Presidency of Harry s. Truman, 1945-1948 by L.A.Times Washington correspondent Robert J. Donovan is well researched, well written, and well documented. 430 pages (plus extensive endnotes of 18 pages and a comprehensive index) is a lot of writing/reading to cover three and one half years. The period was critical, the decisions crucial, the characters fascinating.

I grew up admiring Pres. Truman during a period when his approval and popularity fell to very low levels. I'm not sure that one who is not a "Trumanphile" will find it as satisfying as I did. Donovan gives a "warts and all" description of a politician who assumed the office of president vastly unprepared but who grew into an effective leader,commander-in-chief, and statesman. James MacGregor Byrnes, a fine biographer himself describes the book as "...a masterly account...pungent, plain-spoken, unvarnished...a fair-minded...account of a remarkable presidency." Mr. Burnes was right on!

This is your brain on books...

Not actual scans of brains reading, but still cool! NIH images.

Posted by Alana T.

One of the fastest growing branches of neuroscience relates to what our brain is doing when we read.  We may think we know what's going on in there, but it has been notoriously difficult to obtain data to support or refute hypotheses.

A recent study elucidates the process of silent reading.  As kids, as we learn to read, we speak the words out loud.  Later, we read in our heads (although, some people continue to either move their lips or whisper very quietly), imagining a voice speaking the words.  What is going on inside our heads and what is the order of events?  Scientists worked with a small group of people who happened to have electrodes implanted in specific parts of their brains for other medical purposes.  The people both read and listened to recordings; at the same time, they were getting MRIs.  The results?  In short, when you read, your auditory cortex (the part of your brain that interprets sound) is active; specifically, the part that is responsible for processing language.  The evidence suggests that, as we read, we are 'creating' a voice inside our heads, then we 'listen to' that voice.  It's as if we have our own personal audiobook narrator.

Other studies suggest that when we read,  parts of our brains become engaged with concepts relating to  plot, setting and character.  Scientists have investigated brain activity using procedures similar to those described above.  When volunteers read about scents, actions or views, the parts of their brains responsible for smell, motor control and visual comprehension become active.  When reading about characters and their interactions, the areas in the brain that deal with social and emotional comprehension became engaged.  Some research indicates that reading novels helps us in real life; "individuals who frequently read fiction seem to be better able to understand other people, empathize with them and see the world from their perspective."  So reading Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter isn't just entertainment, it helps us deal with real life social situations - who knew?

Keep your brain healthy and read as many books as you can.  Come visit at the library and we'll help you find something to flex your mental muscles.  See you soon!

Reading the Non-Classics - Some Guides to Help

Posted by Alana T.

There is something enticing about lists of The Best Whatevers.  If it's a best list for books, you can be sure it will interest readers.  In a previous post, I started a series about classic recommendations; here, I'm providing a list for some non-classic genres.

1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up edited by Julia Eccleshare.  How long has it been since you're read a children's book?  If you have kids, maybe just last night.  Otherwise, it may have been anywhere from years to decades.  If it's been a while, you're missing out on some great books.  Not only are they quick reads, they are funny, beautiful and easy to understand.  There is something for everyone in this large collection.  Highly recommended.

100 Must Reads for Men by Stephen Andrews and Duncan Bowls.  In the words of the authors, "We have sought to recommend 100 excellent books that we believe the majority of contemporary men will probably enjoy and relate to".  They have purposefully excluded classics (everyone knows about those) and science fiction (covered in another books).  What's left?  A lot of really good reads - for men and women to enjoy.

100 Must Read Historical Novels by Nick Rennison.  The author has selected books that, to him, clearly define a period of history.  He has also used what he calls the 60 year rule: authors must have written a novel at least that many years after the historical events described.  The books include some classics and best sellers, but there are a lot of under-appreciated titles as well.

101 Best Graphic Novels by Stephen Weiner.  This is a short book published in 2001.  As such, there is a lot of great stuff missing because of the upswing in popularity of the genre in the past ten years.  If you are interested in researching the history of graphic novels, or want to read 'the classics', this book is a useful guide.




1000 Comic Books You Must Read by Tony Isabella.  If you were the type of kid who was devoted to comics, or just want to catch up now, this is a great resource.  The author has been in the comics industry for  many years and has chosen titles from Captain America to Caspar the Ghost, nicely arranged by decade.

Patron Book Reviews: Mysteries

Harry Lipkin-Private Eye by Barry Fantoui

I loved Harry Lipkin!  He’s 87 years old, not too bright but is a cross between Jack Benny and George Burns.  I vote yes for more Harry stories.  An editor really needs to check the text – lots of typos.

The Lost Years by Mary Higgins Clark

What happened in the professor’s study? Now there’s a murder and the only suspect is an old woman who is afflicted by dementia. To make matters worse, an important document that the professor was translating is missing! People whom the professor knew start to disappear, what could be the cause? Where will it end? Will the document be found or is it once again lost? A very intriguing read that will keep the pages turning to find the answers to all its mysteries.

Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich

Stephanie Plum, a bounty hunter from Trenton, New Jersey, is on the case again. Follow the hilarity as Stephanie and her sidekick Lulu try to pick up the scofflaws that cross their path. Not only do they follow the criminals, Stephanie’s personal life becomes more stressful than ever before. The twists and turns that occur are quite fantastic and keep the reader guessing to the very end! Very enjoyable way to spend a few hours!

Reading the Classics - Some Guides to Help, Part 1

Posted by Alana T.

One thing may library patrons (and staff!) have in common is a wish to have read more classic literature.  Where to start?  Which titles to read? In this series, I'll highlight some of the books that may be able to help.

Book Smart: Your Essential Reading List for Becoming a Literary Genius in 365 Days by Jane Mallison.  If you are interested in dropping a few lines from really good books in your next conversation, this could be the book for you.  The author provides monthly 'homework' with a themed reading list for each month.  If you are pressed for time, you could just scrape by and read the two page description of each book.  There are a lot of modern titles here, and you will surely recognize more than a few that have been made into movies.

The Joy of Reading: A Passionate Guide to 189 of the World's Best Authors and Their Works by Charles Van Doren.  In the introduction, quoting Ralph Waldo Emerson's injunction: "Read no book that is not a hundred years old," the author agrees (weakly) that a century is needed for good books to emerge from the throng of titles available.  Yes, there is a lot of good reading currently available, but there is still a lot to be learned from that of the past.  Selected authors are arranged by the historical period in which each wrote, providing some social and political context.  This book is a good introduction to the history of literature (and philosophy... and science) that shaped the Western world.

Stay tuned for more guidebooks to literature.

Magazines On the Go - Zinio!

We have added a new option for e-content available for download - now we have magazines!  Zinio is a service by Recorded Books (a major company in the audiobook industry).  The library subscribes to 100  e-magazines, many of which we do not hold as print versions.

The service is simple to use.  If you are using Zinio from home, click on the link on our webpage, you will have to log on using your Edwardsville barcode and PIN.  On your first visit, you will have to set up an account using an email address and password.  Your account keeps track of which magazines you have checked out (5 maximum) at any particular time. If you don't finish reading something, you can go back to that issue later by logging in again.  Once you are done with an issue, you can delete it from your reading list.  If you download the Zinio reader to your electronic device (phone, e-reader or pc), you can download magazines and read them when not online.

At this point, we don't have access to back issues, but we hope to provide that service in the future.  As always, if you have any questions, give us call.

Patron Book Reviews: People of the Book

Posted by an annonymous EPL patron

People of the book by Geraldine Brooks is based on a true story about an extraordinary Jewish book, the Sarajevo Haggadah. It begins with Australian rare-book expert Hanna Heath, PhD, who is given the job to investigate the antiquity of this stunning book as well as to preserve it. On the special-made pages of this 500 year old book are brilliantly colored, hand-painted illustrations to go with the history told within the manuscript. The book as a whole provides many clues of which Dr. Heath studies and scrutinizes. Some of those clues include a stain, salt, an insect wing and a white hair. The story builds by going back in time to Sarajevo in 1940, Vienna in 1894, Venice in 1609, Barcelona in 1492, and Seville in 1480. This shows the reader how each clue is useful in developing its’ history. I found the subplots to be beneficial in the progression of the story holding my attention causing me to want more of their stories as well.

People of the Book was published in 2008. I listened to the story via mp3. The reader was an Australian woman by the name of Edwina Wren. Her many character voices theatrically portrayed distinct personalities to provide an accurate and individualized picture in my mind of each character. The writing of the story is intricate, well thought out, and fascinating. I would very much recommend it if you are interested in suspense, mystery, conspiracy, romance, and historical fiction.

Patron Book Reviews: General Fiction

Posted by annonymous EPL patrons

What in God’s Name by Simon Rich.  Try as I did, I couldn’t get over the manner in which God, heaven and angels were portrayed in this book. I tried to pretend God was a CEO of heaven, a business, but no, there was just too much disrespect. The idea was original but it was never funny. I’m sorry I read this! 

The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett.  Cute fable about what would happen if Queen Elizabeth got hooked on books. Well-written, and very funny. A page-turner ‘til the very last page. It’s a quick read; even quicker because it’s a novella.

A Single Thread by Marie Bostwick.  This is the first book in the Cobbled Court Novels. Evelyn Dixon, a middle-aged woman, must start her life over after her husband suddenly divorces her. She has lives in Texas for 20 years, but decides to get in her car and head to the northwest for a new start. Her dream has been to own a quilt shop. Reading of all her trials in opening the shop and friends she meets in her new town of New Bern, Connecticut is very interesting. Once you read this one, you’ll want to read the other books in the series: A Thread of Truth, A Thread So Thin, and Threading the Needle.

No Scarlet Fever at The Little House on the Prairie

Posted by Alana T.

The news organizations have recently been publicizing the new diagnosis for Mary Ingalls' blindness.  Mary, Laura, Carrie and Grace were the sisters made famous in the Little House on the Prairie series written by Laura.  In the books, we learn that Mary went blind at 14 due to scarlet fever.

A medical school student, Sarah Allexan, and a Professor of Pediatrics, Beth Tarini, both at the University of Michigan took an interest in the story and took another look at historical data.  They analyzed accounts of Mary's illness, newspaper articles from the area, school registries, and epidemiological data on blindness and infectious disease in the late 19th century.  The researchers came to the conclusion that meningoencephalitis, and infection of the membranes around the brain, could explain the suite of Mary's symptoms and cause her blindness.  In fact, there is some evidence that Laura knew that Mary had a spinal infection (the illness was described in By the Shores of Silver Lake), but later changed the story in other books to scarlet fever.  Why would she change the story?  We'll never know, but scarlet fever was a well known disease with a bad reputation and it shows up in other stories from and about that era (i.e. The Velveteen Rabbit,  Frankenstein, Little Women).

The research is described in the journal Pediatrics (requires a subscription to view the article) and summarized in newspapers.

Love the Library? We Do Too.

Posted by EPL Patrons

Recently, we asked our patrons to write short notes about why they loved the library. Following are the responses we received.  Thanks to our patrons for their comments and opinions.

Aimee S.: The library is a great place to let your mind wander and grow.  There are constantly new books that encourage my family to come week after week.

Marcine L.: We are a family of readers but we are not rich.  Buying books is rare for us.  Ben Franklin started the first lending library so that rich and poor could benefit from the written word.  Now we can add movies, cds etc, plus computers to the list of learning and enjoyable helps.  Thank you, Mr. Franklin!

Connor K.: Because of hard times, I had to drop my magazine subscriptions.  I come here now to check out my favorites and have found some new things to interest me.

Chairo S.: It is important to share the experience of discovering new books, the responsibility of checking them out, and practicing our manners at the library.

Brooke T.: I come here everyday.  I like to look at books and use the computers.

Mike H.:  What a great place!  Just about everything I need is here when I need it.  If I have questions or need to find a particular book, I can get the answers I need.  Thanks!

Sara L.:  This is a great place for my kids.  They are so excited to come and check out new books every week.

Mary M.: I have been an avid reader since I was little.  There is no way I could afford to buy all the books I want to read.  It's fantastic to have a great library in town.