Deep Thinking

 The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains
                              by Nicholas  Carr, W.W. Norton, 2010 (Adult Nonfiction)

I once asked one of my librarian colleagues, Dan Nagel, what the kids in his school were reading. "Oh, I don't know that they're reading," he replied. "They're just scanning and skimming to pass the AR tests."  That really came home to me as I read Nicholas Carr's part history, part philosophy, part neuroscience nonfiction book. Carr presents a compelling body of evidence that reading printed books promotes deep and creative thought. As teachers and librarians, we all buy that reading builds vocabulary and grows young minds. But, Carr goes on to show how in constantly putting together bits of information from the Internet's many sources, we are taking our brains in new directions.  The book jacket even surmises, "We are becoming ever more adept at scanning and skimming, but what we are losing is our capacity for concentration, contemplation, and reflection." Someone in an adult book group recently told me that she's having trouble concentrating and "getting lost in a good book" these days, but she has no trouble reading computer related research at work. I don't have answers, but take at careful look at what Nicholas Carr thinks. It might well change your mind on the topic!

Feeling Blue? Try a picture book!

Just the book pair for a winter's day, these two will chase the blues away! Pull out your blue flosses and start stitching, your blue yarn and start knitting, or, as in these picture books, your blue paints and get going!

   Blue Chicken by Deborah Freedman, Viking, 2011 
Painting the barn is a big job and Chicken wants to help. When a jar of blue paint is spilled, the whole world is upset. Never fear, all is righted with some imagination and ingenuity!

 The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse by Eric Carle, Philomel, 2011 
Master illustrator Eric Carle gives appreciation to one of his own early artistic heroes and shows young readers that colors, like opinions, can be changed.

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

  Lost by Jacqueline Davies  (Fiction)  2010

Essie is one of the young women working in a Lower Manhattan factory in the early 1900's. She dearly loves her family, especially her little sister, Zelda. When Harriet arrives at work, Essie immediately spots the girl's manners and upper-crust ways. What's Harriet's secret? And, does Essie have a secret of her own?  The interactions provide readers with historical fiction, suspense, and mystery all rolled into one book.

 Flesh and Blood So Cheap: The Triangle Fire and Its Legacy

                                 by Albert Marrin    (Nonfiction)   2011

On March 25, 1911, a major fire changed the lives of many young immigrant workers forever. Its aftermath also helped change the laws about workplace safety. Until September 11, 2001, it remained one of the most lethal workplace fires in history. Marrin brings together the stories of workers, owners, the public, and the news media of the day in a riveting analysis of this tragedy. His research and attention to detail is unparalled.

The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman

  The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman  2009   (Adult Fiction) 

This reads like a collection of short stories, each about a character involved in an English language newspaper room in Rome. The writing is superb and readers are instantly drawn into the human foibles. It's funny, poignant, and realistic rolled up together. Just keep reading to see what happens and why this was named one of best novels of the year by a whole list of periodicals and papers.

Hitler-era Germany pairing

    In The Garden of Beasts:  Love, Terror, and an American
                                Family in Hitler's Berlin  by Erik Larson  2011 (Adult nonfiction)

      Ashes by Kathryn Lasky   2010  (Grades 6-9 fiction)

Although these two books are meant for different audiences, adult history buffs will appreciate the intricacies of the writing in this pairing. Larson's nonfiction book focuses on 1933 Berlin when Hitler is just coming to power. The narrative describes new U.S. Ambassador William E Dodd and his family as they attempt to learn more about their new assignment. In Lasky's fictional tale, thirteen-year-old Gaby and her family live in 1932 Germany. Her sister is interested in a young Nazi soldier and the family maid wonders if what Hitler says really makes sense. Gaby's a huge reader and what happens to books in the tense times will affect everyone. Same times, different points of view, fascinating reads!

 

 

Missing Princess Di?

 Untold Story: A Novel by Monica Ali (Adult Fiction)


Lydia lives in Kensington, Kansas and volunteers at an animal shelter, but her former life is all too familiar. From the photo on the cover, readers know the real princess on whom this tale is based. Unfortunately, the fictional story just makes us wish for the real thing.

Before Versailles: A Novel of Louis XIV by Karleen Koen

Need an escape from the heat this summer? Curl up and try this tale of Louis and his court. In fact, start with this book and then enjoy a romp through all of the titles by this Houston author. The period details and fascinating characters will make you feel like you've been transported back in time.