New This Week
May 3, 2010
Column: At the Library
From: Cranbrook Public Library
By Mike Selby
Carol Burnett exposes her not so funny side in her second memoir THIS TIME TOGETHER. Here Burnett offers a behind the scenes look at her years of unemployment, the death of her daughter, and how she had to fire Harvey Korman from her television show. Yet all these tales are punctuated with Burnett’s trademark humor, making for a very entertaining read.
All kids should enjoy Toni Buzzeo’s NO T.REX IN THE LIBRARY. When a young girl refuses to follow the rules of the library, she finds herself in charge of a book-gnawing rule-breaking dinosaur.
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 Sunflowers!
Don’t forget to come and see Elmer Higgins’ Artistic Woodworking, currently on display.
ADULT NEWLY AQUIRED SHELF:
The Language of Life " Francis S. Collins (616.042)
Your Best Body at 40-plus " Jeff Csatari (613.7044)
Why Boys Fail " Richard Whitmire (370.154)
Lonely Planet: Discover Ireland (914.15)
Lonely Planet: Discover Great Britain (914.1)
Lonely Planet: Discover France (914.4)
Central American & Mexico Handbook (917.2)
National Geographic Traveler: Argentina (918.2)
Eyewitness Travel: Australia (919.4)
The Procrastinator’s Guide to Getting Things Done " Monica Remirez Basco (115.232)
You Can Build Masonry (693.1)
Celiac Disease for Dummies " Ian Blumer (616.399)
Will & Estate Planning for Canadians for Dummies " Margaret Kerr (346.71052)
The Holistic Baby Guide " Randall Neustaedter (618.92)
Wild Harmonies " Helene Grimaud (bio)
This Time Together " Carol Burnett (bio)
The Bag Lady Papers " Alexandra Penney (bio)
Mountain of Crumbs " Elena Gordkhova (bio)
Matthew’s Story " Tim Lahaye (fic)
One Good Dog " Susan Wilson (fic)
Subterranean " James Rollins (fic)
In the Company of Angels " Thomas E. Kennedy (fic)
Cook the Books " Jessica Conant-Park (mys)
Hush " Kate White (mys)
Hard Rain " David Rollins (mys)
Once a Spy " Keith Thomson (mys)
Our Lady of Immaculate Deception " Nancy Martin (mys)
Blood Vines " Erica Spindler (mys)
Angelology " Danielle Trussoni (sci fic)
This Is Not A Game " Walter Jon Williams (pb)
Beyond the Wall of Time " Russell Kirkpatrick (pb)
Spellbent " Lucy A. Snyder (pb)
Railway Adventures Across Canada (DVD)
For One More Day (DVD)
The Fountain (DVD)
Clear and Present Danger (DVD)
A Fistful of Dollars (DVD)
For a Few Dollars More (DVD)
YOUNG ADULT & CHILDREN’S NEWLY ACQUIRED ITEMS:
Watch This Space " Hadley Dyer (ya 307.1216)
Stuff That Happens to Define Us " Kate Scowen (ya 155.4182)
Teen Cyberbullying Investigated " Tom Jacobs (ya 345.73025)
Dragon " Jeff Stone (ya fic)
Dragons of Darkness " Antonia Michaels (ya fic)
After " Kristin Harmel (ya fic)
After Ever After " Jordan Sonnenblick (ya fic)
Dark Fire " Chris D’Lacey (ya fic)
My Boyfriend’s Dog " Dandi Daley Mackall (ya fic)
The Total Tragedy of a Girl Named Hamlet " Erin Dionne (ya fic)
Scarlett Fever " Maureen Johnson (ya fic)
Raven " Allison Van Diepen (ya fic)
Monster Fliers " Elizabeth Macleod (j 567.918)
Animals Around the World (j 590)
Llamas " Dorothy Hinshaw Patent (j 599.6367)
Not Your Typical Book About the Environment " Elin Kelsey (j 304.2)
Gaming: Deal With It Before It Outplays You " Diane Peters (j 616.8584)
The Boy Who Made DragonFly " Tony Hillerman (j 398.208997)
Eyewitness Economy (j 330)
Ella’s Umbrellas " Jennifer Lloyd (j pic)
The Wild, Wild Inside: A View From Mommy’s Tummy " Kate Feiffer (j pic)
No T. Rex in the Library " Toni Buzzeo (j pic)
Mighty Machines: At the Ski Hill (j DVD)
Mighty Machines: At the Cement Yard (j DVD)
The Last Unicorn (DVD)
Jonah: A Veggietales Movie (DVD)
MIKE’S BOOKNOTES:
In English her name is Pippi Longstocking (if you say her name it’s funny), and she was created in 1940 by children’s author Astrid Lindgren. Ever since her first appearance, the nine-year-old Swedish girl has been a worldwide hit in books and films. Pippi is extraordinarily nonconformist, overbearing, and uncannily strong. Behind her persona of an insipid and unruly truth-stretcher hides a highly intelligent young girl full of courage. Her ability to rain havoc on those who underestimated her is easily her most endearing trait.
But how would Pippi act in today’s world. What would she be like as young woman? Would any of her characteristics help in her the 21st century? These questions were thought about"and thought about quite seriously"by Swedish journalist Stieg Larsson. He began to write his own ‘Pippi’ stories every night when he came home from his job. Larsson made Pippi a young woman whose gifts have alienated her from society. She is emotionally damaged, withdrawn, and vengeful. She suffers from anorexia, has numerous body piercings, and a dragon tattoo. Although her high intelligence is offset by her psychosocial problems, Larsson has his creation"who he aptly named Lisbeth Salander--uncover horrific crimes, including sex trafficking and murder.
Larsson stories were brilliant, and it wasn’t long before he had completed 3 full novels. Yet he only wrote these for himself; an activity of pleasure and relaxation. Publication never crossed his mind. In 2004, at age 50, Larsson died of a massive heart attack. Many thought he had been murdered, as he had received numerous death threats over his career as a journalist. He had spent over 30 years investigating and calling out hundreds of neo-Nazi and white power groups all over Europe. His murder would have been no surprise. Yet it was simply his greasy food diet and 60 cigarettes a day which caused his early demise.
When his family found his Pippi stories, they were amazed, and immediately sent them off to a publisher. The first book was published in 2005, under the title MAN SOM HATAR KVINNOR. While this translates to ‘Men Who Hate Women’, in English the book was called THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO. It became an instant bestseller, selling over 23 millions copies, and winning a host of literary awards. The next two books, THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE, and THE GIRL WHO KICKED A HORNETS’ NEST were equally successful. All three books are currently in the New York Times’ top ten list.
What is frustrating the publishing world is the simple fact Larson is no longer around. There will be no more forthcoming novels; no more adventures of Lisbeth Salander. Rumors of a fourth book have been circulating, but this may be simple wishful thinking. It remains difficult for fans to both welcome and eulogize a new literary light.
