Poetry tells a tale

Contemporary poetry has a "serious" reputation; only by close and sustained analysis, it is said, can a reader discern a poem's true meaning. But how many of us can spare the requisite hours for such an activity (even if it is April, National Poetry Month)? Fortunately, limited time and energy may no longer be a problem if you've discovered one of the livelier genres of the form - the novel in verse.

Narrative poetry, particularly for young adults, is flourishing. This distinctive way of telling a story has been fairly described as "a quick read, with depth". Sounds promising to busy readers!

Click here for a select list of verse novels. One, Out of the Dust, won the 1998 Newbery Award for its poignant depiction of the Great Depression. A more recent title, The Watch that Ends the Night: Voices from the Titanic, has been described as a "masterpiece". While not every book listed deserves such high praise, each will provide reading (or listening) pleasure.

Mary Hoskinson-Dean

Charles Dickens - Let's Celebrate!

2012 is a banner year for Charles Dickens, as the English-speaking world celebrates the 200th anniversary of his birth. I've been a fan of Dickens since I was a teenager. I loved the way that the virtuous young protagonists of his novels ultimately prevailed; I found his ability to weave together the fraught lives of a vast scrum of vivid characters compelling; and, of course, the brisk pace of his storytelling (Dickens published most of his novels in serial installments, typically with cliffhanger endings) prompted me to race to the end of each of his books, not even aware of their many pages.

It's surprising to me, therefore, that many readers these days are reluctant to try Dickens; perhaps they are daunted by the length of his books.  A look at his work as presented on the small screen, however, might persuade some to pick up his novels. The BBC has spent the last thirty-plus years adapting one Dickens masterpiece after another for television, including the superb Bleak House (2005), Little Dorrit (2008), Nicholas Nickleby (2000), and my favorite, Our Mutual Friend (1998). Two more (Great Expectations and The Mystery of Edwin Drood) are coming to the TV screen in 2012.


But the way you experience his work doesn't really matter. Whether you read, watch - or listen to* - Mr. Dickens' tales, your time will be well rewarded.

And how will I observe his milestone birthday? I am finally going to read a biography of Dickens, whose life story is reputed to be as compelling as his fiction!

Mary Hoskinson-Dean

*Click here for a list of the library's collection of Dickens books, audiobooks and video adaptations

Book Groups Seek Book

In a book group with lots of avid readers who would think there would be that moment of silence when not one member has an idea for the next book to read … or worse there are too many ideas.  As the librarian in my group, I sometimes want to hide because eyes turn to me.  When that happens, I pull out my secret weapons, suggestions from three favorite websites for book lovers.   Avoid that awkward moment at your next meeting.  Come armed with suggestions from one of these sites:

Reading Group Choices is one of the oldest websites for book lovers and just seems to get better with age.  If food is a big part of your groups reason for meeting don’t miss the  food by the book link

MostlyFiction is fueled by its contributors and often has reviews of books just released.  There are great links to past reviews  

Reading Group Guides – Launched by an avid reader this site has grown to include over 3500 guides.  Check out their advice on how to run an effective group

Still need suggestions or want a reading guide prepared for you contact me - Beth@marktwainlibrary.org

Great Reads by Genre Picked

Every year the Reading List Council, a group of librarians considered the most expert at providing advice to readers about the best books published in a calendar year develops a list of Best Books by Genres.
Here's a list that the Mark Twain Library has culled from that list with special interest for our Redding Readers.  Enjoy! Be sure to let the Mark Twain Library staff if you agree with the experts.

Airport Lit

What is Airport Lit? Well, as Dominique Browning, a NY Times travel writer, opined recently, it's literature that features "plain, old-fashioned, unrelenting, compelling storytelling." She finds such books so engrossing that she can easily ignore the increasing indignities of air travel (hence the name).

My reaction is - why save such good reads for the airplane?  They're engaging and satisfying anytime and anywhere.

Ms. Browning listed some of her favorite 'AL' authors - George R. R. Martin, Scott Turow, P. D. James, Maeve Binchy, Bernard Cornwell, Ruth Rendell - and opened up the article for comments. Her readers cited a wide range of writers, including novelists Deborah Crombie, Jo Nesbo, Ian Rankin, Charles Todd, Joanna Trollope, Georgette Heyer, and Louise Penny, and such nonfiction authors as David McCullough. Here's a link to the article and reader suggestions.

I would enthusiastically include in this group fiction writers Philip Kerr (Bernie Gunther series), Robert Harris, and Elizabeth Jane Howard (Cazalet Chronicles), plus nonfiction notable Erik Larson.

Have you got any names to add to this list of sure-bet reads? Please add them below!

Mary Hoskinson-Dean

Romantic Reads - teen edition

"Birds do it, bees do it, even educated fleas do it, let's do it, let's fall in love" *

Teenagers of both sexes find the lure of love just as irresistible as their elders do - though they may be less willing to admit it! But the most popular teen novels often use romantic tension to keep readers rapidly turning pages.

What would THE HUNGER GAMES be without the emotional triangle between Katniss, Peeta and Gale?  Could the DAIRY QUEEN trilogy, with its full complement of football, basketball and tractors, retain its appeal absent the poignant bond between D. J. and Brian? Would readers rush to finish THE SCORPIO RACES if they were not tugged by the fledgling relationship between Puck and Sean?

To introduce you to a wide variety of well-written, briskly-paced novels with engaging characters and satisfying endings (many of which will appeal to older as well as younger readers), here's a link to a list of some of the best teen "romantic reads" of the past few years, organized into various categories for your browsing pleasure, such as "At Death's door" (characters with fatal conditions) and "What's a good war without a buddy by your side?" (dystopias are no fun without a special friend). Hope you find a new favorite!

Mary Hoskinson-Dean

* thanks, Cole Porter

Tattle Tattle for Feb 2012

Award winning authors offer words of inspiration and dramatic stories - Two to read now and one to look forward to:

Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death and Hope in a Mumbai University - Pulitzer Prize winner Katherine Boo offers a dramatic story of families striving for a better life in a city of stark contrasts.  Based on three years of uncompromising reporting, a bewildering age of global change and inequality is made human.

What we Talk About When we Talk About Anne Frank - Nathan Englander grapples with the great questions of modern life. From a gifted young writer and award winning author chosen as one of  "20 writers for the 21st century."

When I Was a Child I Read Books - The Pulitzer Prize winner author of Gilead and Housekeeping offers a series of essays that reviewers are describing as "tightly developed ...some personal but mostly more general, on the Big Themes: social fragmentation in modern America, human frailty, faith."  Place your hold now for the March debut of this work.