Dig Into Reading at the EPL

Posted by Staff

Are you ready to read?  Dig into reading at the Library this summer. Our reading programs will begin June 3rd and we have something for everyone in the family.  Adults can read books and obtain tickets for drawings for a Kindle Paperwhite or $100 worth of gift cards.  Teens can read for prizes and take part in special events.  Readers from birth through 5th grade will participate with reading programs, prize drawings, story hours, a reading club, and more!  All programs end on July 26th.  For details about each program, call the library (692-7556) or see our newsletter.

You CAN Handle the Truth: New Non-Fiction Picks For June

Posted by the Information Services Department (Gwen B., Amanda E., Lisa E., & Pam O.)

Every month, the cataloging department gets to see new books before everyone else.  Listed below, along with their Dewey Decimal classification, are our top picks of the non-fiction books that looked most interesting, ultra-informative, or just plain fun.

100-199 Philosophy and Psychology

158.1  HAG  How To Be Interesting In 10 Simple Steps by Jessica Hagy.











500-599  Natural Sciences and Mathematics

571 TOO  Weird Life: The Search for Life That Is Very, Very Different From Our Own by David Toomey










600-699  Technology

631. 584 STE Storey's Guide to Growing Organic Vegetables and Herbs For Market by Keith Stewart.


641.815  FOR  Flour Water Salt Yeast: The Fundamentals of Artisan Bread & Pizza by Ken Forkish





700 - 799 The Arts

743.4  HAL  Anatomy Lessons From The Great Masters by Robert Hale and Terence Coyle

791.43  Star Wars: The Ultimate Action Figure Collection by Stephen J. Sansweet

Patron Book Review: Limitations by Scott Turow

Posted by EPL patron and guest blogger, Irv S.

Limitations by Scott Turow is certainly not his best work. His allusions and metaphors are sometimes heavy-handed and of questionable value to the story. His legal analysis is not of the quality that he acquired at Harvard Law and, in fact, would probably not merit a passing grade in basic criminal law.

Some, but not all, of the characters are complex and interesting. The book is a very quick read. Except for a significant flashback, it is a straightforward linear novel.

I had just completed Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility and found Limitations to be a very pleasant change of pace.  Each has plenty of angst but Turow also supplies suspense and action. However, after I had finished Turow's novel I felt let down and disappointed. I know that he is capable of better. I had the feeling that he had started out with a strong story line but ran out of time and settled for something unsatisfactory. Perhaps that is the fate of one who tries to maintain an active law practice while writing novels on the side. I'm confident that he treated his law clients better than he did his readers.

The characters demonstrate a remarkable lack of empathy for other people and teach us the tragic consequences of such behavior.  I will happily give Scott Turow another chance. He is a very talented story teller and a bright lawyer. I look forward to his next work.

Reading the Classics - Some Guides to Help - Part 3

Posted by Alana T.

In a previous post, I started a list of books to help the general reader find a path through classic literature.  The list continued with a second post and now we finish up with the three books described below.  Let us know if any of the titles were useful or prompted you to try out a classic.

1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die, edited by Peter Boxall.  If you feel your time is limited and there are only so many books to fit into that time, this may be the guide for you.  One hundred writers, critics, academics and journalists compiled the list of novels (yes, only novels) and there is something for everyone here. Each selection is concisely described with brief details about the author.  The main focus is on 20th century works and run the gamut from well known to obscure.

100 Most Influential Books Ever Written by Martin Seymour-Smith.  This is a compilation of works that influenced Western thought; some are literary, but not too many.  Each title has a few pages about the author, historical/political context and a description of the book.  Not all the selection are taken from the past, there are quite a few modern writers.  If you feel you missed out in the college humanities classes, this book will fill the gap.

The Rough Guide to Shakespeare by Andrew Dickson.  This fantastic books has just about everything you might want to know about Shakespeare's plays.  Not only is there a good description of each play, the author discusses its stage history and major productions, movie and audio adaptations, and useful sources for  critical essays or histories.  An excellent book for someone doing a report, but also a great resource for someone who wants to learn all the basics about Shakespeare in one concise book.

Bites From the Bookworms: Cookbooks Inspired by TV Shows Part 1

Posted by Alana T.

Television shows touch many aspects popular culture.  From fashion to food, what our favorite characters are doing on the small screen often influence our real lives.  It's no surprise then, that some of the most popular TV shows have inspired cookbooks.  There are quite a few out there and I've selected some of the best known for a review on the blog.  We'll start by looking at some cookbooks based on shows from the past.

Aunt Bee's Mayberry Cookbook by Ken Beck.  This cookbook reminds me very much of the collections of recipes printed by local social organizations and church groups.  Lots of comfort food!  This is an older cookbook, and focuses on the basic recipes of everyday home cooking.  Overall, a great introduction to tasty cooking everyone in the family will love.

Mary Ann's Gilligan's Island Cookbook by Dawn Wells.  If you watched this show after school as I did, you may have wondered how Mary Ann was able to whip up all that food.  Where did she cook it?  Where did she get the flour for all those coconut pies?  And she was always so cheerful.   Hmmmm.  In any case, this cookbook, written by Ms. Wells who played Mary Ann, compiles an impressive array of family, cast member and staff recipes.  There are themed menus, cast stories and an entire chapter dedicated to coconut creme pies (all very different from one another).

The Little House Cookbook: Frontier Foods from Laura Ingalls Wilder's Classic Stories by Barbara Walker.  Our copy of this book is found in the Youth Library, but don't be fooled and think it's a kid's book or simple in any way.  The text describes the different foods eaten by people in towns and prairie settlements during the 1870s and 80s.  The book goes detail about the reality of food preparation, and its availability and importance in people's lives.  Not only a great cookbook, but a fascinating history of our country's early food culture.  Recommended reading for everyone.

You CAN handle the truth: New non-fiction picks for May

Posted by the Information Services Department (Gwen B., Amanda E., Lisa E., & Pam O.)

Every month, the cataloging department gets to see new books before everyone else.  Listed below, along with their Dewey Decimal classification, are our top picks of the non-fiction books that looked most interesting, ultra-informative, or just plain fun.

0-999 General Works
001.73 SMO  Practical Classics: 50 Reasons to Reread 50 Books You Haven't Touched Since High School by Kevin Smokler. "The author guides you through books commonly assigned in high school English classes and describes why you would enjoy re-reading them again." -Amazon

600-699  Technology
640.73 AND  Jane Austen's Guide to Thrift by Kathleen Anderson and Susan Jones.  A must-read for those who love everything Austen.  The authors highlight usable wisdom and good advice from a variety of books.

641.5 CUN  Eat St.: Recipes From the Tastiest, Messiest and Most Irresistible Food Trucks by James Cunningham.  No food trucks cruising through your neighborhood?  You don't have to miss the latest food trend because this book provides the best food-truck recipes from around the country.

646.77 AND  Red Flags of Love Fraud: 10 Signs You're Dating a Sociopath by Donna Andersen.  Although you might think this book is humorous, the author is very serious.  She discusses how to avoid bad relationships of all kinds and how social predators target and exploit other people.

900-999  Geography, History & Biography
B ANGELOU  Mom & Me & Mom by Maya Angelou.  The author describes the complex, and sometimes difficult, relationship with her mother.

Six Degrees of Recomendation: May

Posted by Staff

The staff is flexing their filmography muscles to find new ways to explore our fabulous DVD collection and make recommendations.  The rules of our game were simple: ONE - only DVDs from Edwardsville; TWO - each selection must be based on something, anything from the previous DVD; and THREE - only 48 hours per choice (get that list moving!).  The results are explained below.  Links between selections are highlighted in purple.

(1)  Alana T.: Dae Jang Geum Season 1 (2003). A South Korean mini-series based on the true story of the first woman to become both the head of the royal kitchens and the King's personal physician.  The food is amazing!  (2) Zach H.: Oldboy (2003), also South Korean, this movie follows Daesu, a man who is kidnapped and imprisoned for 15 years.  After his is released, he goes in search of his abductors. (3) Amanda E. Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003).  Also released in 2003 and like Oldboy has a scene in which a man's tongue receives major damage.  (4)  Sara S.: Get Low (2009).  Robert Duvall as an eccentric hermit who stages his own funeral.  The movie is driven by the life story of Felix that has flash back and revelations of love, death and violence. (5)  Gwen B.: Seven Days in Utopia (2011).  The move stars Robert Duvall and Lucas Black who are in Get Low.  Black plays a young golfer trying to find himself and runs into Duvall, the eccentric rancher. (6) Karen K.: The Ring (2002).  Naomi Watts has seven days, but they are far from Utopian.  After watching a strange video, she receives a phone message stating "seven days."  She must solve a mystery to prevent dying at the end of those seven days. (7) Jacob V.: From the director of the The Ring, we bring you... Mousehunt (1997).  Directing his first feature length film, Gregor Verginski relays a delightful tale about two goofy men who inherit an antique house with a rodent 'problem'.  They'll soon find out that it may be more difficult to get rid of this stubborn mouse than they had bargained for!  (8)  Keegan G.: The Widow's Might (2009) is the first feature length film by the teenaged director John Moore.  this family friendly movie is about standing up for the right thing.  (9) Deanne H.: The Trip to Bountiful (1986).  Widow Carrie Watts (Geraldine Page) is stuck in a small apartment with her wimpy son and shrewish daughter-in-law.  This is the story of her escape to Bountiful, her girlhood home.  Page won an Academy Award for her role.

Meet the Staff: Jill S.

Posted by Jill S.

How long have you worked at the library?  I started 3/18/13.

How many items do you have checked out now?  4

How many items are on your hold list? None - there are no holds!  But I have a long Goodreads to-read list.  (This post was prepared during our transition to Polaris when we could not place holds.)

What is your favorite book format?  Book.

If you use multiple formats, what percentage do you use each?  60% book, 40% Kindle.

What is your favorite aspect of working at the library?  I love seeing the pre-publication books.  I had no idea that these existed.  I love being surrounded by so many books and people who love books.

What is your guilty reading (or listening) pleasure?  People magazine - but I would never buy one; Twilight books (don't tell anyone).

What books do you feel guilty for not having read?  I recently read East of Eden for the first time and wouldn't believe I had been deprived of that experience for so long.  So I feel guilty I haven't read all those classic gems.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what single genre of books would you want with you?  History books - I love Tudor history, War of the Roses, Napoleon, etc.

What was your favorite children's book when you were a child? What is your favorite children's book now? I loved the Narnia and Frances books (bedtime for Francis, etc.).  Now I love the Harry Potter series.  I've read all of them out loud to my son.

Before you worked here, what was your worst library transgression?  None!  Ever!  The library is Holy ground!  Okay, well maybe an overdue fine or two when I couldn't extend a hold and had to finish...

Short Patron Book Reviews: General Fiction

The Last Chinese Chef by Pam Neuenschwander

This is a wonderful story of a recently widowed American food writer who must travel to China when she learns of a paternity claim against her late husband’s estate. Her editor gives her the opportunity tp write an article about a Chinese chef while she is there. The author uses her story to bring to life the amazing culture and cuisine of the Chinese people. It is a factual learning experience encased in an endearing fiction novel.

An Amish Christmas by Cynthia Keller

This is a story that is true for many families with the downsizing of businesses. The Hobart family had it all—beautiful home, private school for the three children to attend, the latest of electronics, fancy cars and the latest in clothes. Then the husband loses his job and brings financial ruin to the family. They lose everything. But what they can fit in their old Mustang as they head up north from Charlotte, North Carolina to live with Mrs. Hobart’s parents. Going through Pennsylvania, they have an accident which leaves the Mustang in need of repairs. An Amish family takes them in until their car is fixed. Will the family survive living a completely different life with the Amish? Will the children quit blaming their parents for this uprooting of their easy lives and leaving behind all of their friends? It’s amazing what they all find out while living with the Amish family. It’s a story we can all learn from!

Celebrate Poetry Month With Jeffrey S.

Posted by Jeffrey S., guest blogger, EPL patron, SIUE professor and poet.

The EPL, partnering with faculty from the SIUE's Department of English, Language and Literature, hosted a poetry reading on April 26th to celebrate Shakespeare's birthday (April 21st).  Jeffrey S. read one of his own sonnets, created as part of a larger work in honor of Martin Luther King.  Play the animation for a description of a crown of sonnets and Jeffrey reading his poem.

A Crown For King
IV.

It’s non-violence or non-existence.

This is no dream, but a vision

Of the real, a mode of resistance

born of purest recognition:

what is human in the end

as in the beginning.  King’s eye

is our eye when the light bends

toward our hearts, when my

Soul and your soul know the sweet

 truth of each other’s being, King’s

ear the ear with which we greet

the promise of struggle and joy.  Sing

The song yourselves, he says and demands,

The promise now is in our hands.

To contact Jeffrey, visit his website.
To see images of the poetry reading, visit our Flickr photostream.