New This Week
April 6, 2009
Column: At the Library
From: Cranbrook Public Library
By Mike Selby
No one seems to know if Jonathan Littell’s THE KINDLY ONES is a work of genius, or an exercise in brutality. After sweeping all the honors at the 2006 Frankfurt Bookfair, and winning two of the most prestigious literary awards France has to offer, the English translation was published earlier this month. The fictionalized recollections of an S.S. officer, THE KINDLY ONES is almost a thousand pages of descriptive suffering, and it will no doubt continue to divide readers on its merits.
Jacqueline Woodson’s FEATHERS is the heartwarming story of a ‘very different’ boy transferring to a new school. While exploring children’s perspectives on racism and disability, readers of all ages will be delighted in its message of hope and belonging.
Preschool Story Time this Wednesday at 11:00 am, 1:15 pm, & 6:30 pm, and Toddler Story this Friday at 10:30 am will be all about Eggs!
Do not miss this month’s display of Elmer Higgins’s photography and woodwork. Elmer’s hand-crafted grandfather clock is simply breathtaking!
The Friends of the Library continue their travelogue series with Gerry Warner presenting his trip to Cuba. This takes place on Tuesday, April 21st, 7pm, at the College of the Rockies.
Children’s author Richard Van Camp will be visiting the Library on Tuesday, April 28th, at 10 am. Please contact Deanne at 426-4063 for more information.
On Friday, April 24th, at 7 pm, the Library will be celebrating the works of Shakespeare. Everyone is invited to come and enjoy his works being read, discussed, and acted out. Please contact Mike at 426-4063 for more information.
A quick reminder that the Library will be closed over the Easter weekend, opening again on April 14th.
ADULT NEWLY AQUIRED SHELF:
The Most Scenic Drives in America (917.304)
Money Sex War Karma : Notes for a Buddhist Revolution â€" David R. Loy (294.342)
Printing by Hand â€" Lena Corwin (745.5)
The Apology Ritual â€" Christopher Bennett (364.601)
Do I Need to See the Doctor â€" Dr. Brian Murat (616.024)
101 Things Canadians Should Know About Canada (971)
Stalked by a Mountain Lion â€" Jo Deurbrouchk (599.7524)
Show Me! : A Dog-Showing Primer â€" Caroline Coile (636.708)
Weasel Tail â€" Michael Ross Interviewing Joe Crowshoe Sr. (971.234)
Justice as Healing : Indigenous Ways (364.971)
The Spontaneous Healing of Belief â€" Gregg Braden (299.93)
Wedding Papercrafts â€" Ann Brownfield & Jane Cassini (745.5941)
The Unicornis Manuscripts â€" Michael Green (398.2454)
The Man Whisperer â€" Rick Johnson (248.8435)
The Yankee Years â€"Joe Torree (bio)
Angels of Destruction â€" Keith Donohue (fic)
The Book of Love â€" Kathleen McGowan (fic)
Honolulu â€" Alan Brennert (fic)
The Kindly Ones â€" Jonathan Littell (fic)
Life Sentences â€" Laura Lippman (mys)
Wild Sorrow â€" Sandi Ault (mys)
Mixed Blood â€" Roger Smith (mys)
Oolong Dead â€" Laura Childs (mys)
Grave Goods â€" Arianna Franklin (mys)
Made to be Broken â€" Kelly Armstrong (pb)
Victory Conditions â€" Elizabeth Moon (pb)
Whiskey and Water â€" Elizabeth Bear (pb)
The Wicked Ways of a True Hero â€" Barbara Metzger (pb)
Woman of Courage 27 Classic Movies (DVD)
The Doomsday Clock (DVD)
The New Turing Wood (DVD)
Staying Curious : Restorative Practices in Schools (DVD)
Kung Fu Panda (DVD)
YOUNG ADULT & CHILDREN’S NEWLY AQUIRED SHELF:
Feathers â€" Jacqueline Woodson (ya fic)
Kingdom Series 1 to 6 â€" Chuck Black (ya fic)
Celebrate Through Heartsongs â€" Mattie J.T. Stepanek (j 811.6)
MIKE’S BOOKNOTES:
It made no sense.
In 860 A.D., on the eve of the Norse discovering Iceland, the Danish King Horwendil is brutally murdered by his jealous brother Feng. In one fell swoop Feng inherits his brother’s crown, his realm, and his beautiful wife. Only Amlethâ€"Horwendil’s young sonâ€"poses a potential obstacle to Feng’s bloody reign. Danish law demanded sons avenge their fathers, andâ€"although only a small childâ€"all of Denmark knew what was expected of Amleth as he grew older. All Amleth had to do was somehow live long enough to take revenge.
Amleth takes the only route he can possible think of, and begins to act mentally unwell. He chronically drools, rolls around in slime, eats animal waste, and becomes mute. Feng keeps him at court like a dog on a leash, as a type of trophy from his conquest. Years go by until one day, now fully grown, Amleth unleashes himself, and drives his uncle through with a sword.
600 years later, Shakespeare adapts this story (one can see why; it is great tale) into HAMLET. Yet Shakespeare does something almost unthinkable with the plot. In his HAMLET, Shakespeare makes the King’s murder a secret. All of Denmark thinks the king was bit by a snake, not murdered by his own brother. Only Hamlet knows, and only because a ghost tells him. Upon discovering this horrible truth, Shakespeare has Hamlet fake madness.
It makes no sense.
It made great sense in the original story, the motivation of all involved were crystal clear. It makes absolutely no sense in Shakespeare’s play. Yet instead of ruining the playâ€"which it absolutely should ofâ€"it makes the play the greatest work Shakespeare has ever written. This motivational madness of Shakespeare permeates all aspects of our culture. Even Marx and Freud wrestled with it. HAMLET is the great haunting of our lives, and it all rests on the remarkable act of cutting out the play’s driving force, and throwing it away. It makes no sense.
