Playaways at the Library: starring Peggy Sue Richards

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Astronomy Picture of the Day is a great website for learning some facts or just gazing in wonder. Gain some perspective and learn about the Universe.

~ Ty

The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit

I was reading a really obscure book....by evolutionary biologist David Sloan Wilson -- when I Googled the author and found out something about his father, Sloan Wilson. A reporter for Time-Life after the 2nd World War, Wilson wrote stories for the New Yorker and in '55 produced the best-seller The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit.

Realizing that I had not the foggiest idea what this novel was about, I grabbed the audio version for the long commute. The book is fabulous! The story is about Tom, a family man, working in the city and worrying more or less constantly about bills, his boss, etc. In the midst of some rather trying experiences with work and family, memories of his wartime experience as a paratrooper float to the surface...with far-reaching consequences.

What caught me is the voice of the storyteller. The rather simple story is told honestly and without embellishment. Tom frets about all the humdrum things that most of us do, getting into debt, not upsetting his aged grandmother's dreams of pre-war gentility, figuring out how not to get screwed over at work...But he is hardly blind or deaf to the consequences of the suburban lifestyle his generation creates...and reacts strongly against them. Wilson tells his tale without pretense or ornamentation...a very welcome blast from the past!

Secret Life of Bees

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd is a delight to listen to - as opposed to simply reading it. I only recommend an audio version when the reader is able to augment the story with the accent of the region. Check out this book at our library today. PSR

Elegance of the Hedgehog

The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery is for those of us who sometimes feel unappreciated and unloved, a novel that celebrates the invisible among us. I loved this book, as much for the beauty of the language as for the deliciousness of the plot. Renee is concierge at a luxury apartment building in Paris whose bourgeois residents daily ignore her existence except when they need her. For her own entertainment, she follows the lives of the residents and revels in her anonymity. It is when the new apartment owner moves in that the real action of the book picks up. Well versed in Japanese culture, Renee quietly observes the Japanese man who is warm in his attention to her intelligence and wit. Paloma, an almost thirteen year old resident, lives a secret existence beyond what others might think, but she has decided to end it all until she meets the new resident. Isn't it magical that when we receive the attention we desire our lives take us on a journey of discovery we couldn't have anticipated. Check out this wonderful book at our library. PSR

Baking Cakes in Kigali

Baking Cakes in Kigali by Gaile Parkin is a marvelous book not to be missed. Angel Tungaraza is a professional cake baker, amateur matchmaker, an ear to listen, and a shoulder to cry on. Set in Rwanda after unimaginable horrors, Angel is able to remind and convince those around her that there is still much to celebrate and be thankful for. "Never Again" is left for survivors to contemplate, as in Europe after the Holocaust, the shared inhumanity of terror and violence is exposed. Gaile Parkin allows us to contemplate the questions of truth and reconciliation, or the possibility of either in the absence of one. Angel is strong, filled with hope and determination, forging her way through life with style, grit, and lots of heart. This is a beautiful book, dealing with very difficult subjects, and yet it is also tender, humorous, and ultimately uplifting. Treat yourself to this wonderful book. M

Pulitzer Prize

The 2010 Pulitzer Prizes have been announced. The first Pulitzer Prizes were awarded June, 4, 1917; they are currently awarded each April. The prize was established by Joseph Pulitzer, a journalist and newspaper publisher, who founded the St Louis Post-Dispatch.

The 2010 Fiction winner: Tinkers by Paul Harding.

The 2010 History winner: Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World by Liaquat Ahamed.

The 2010 Biography winner: The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt by T.J. Stiles

The 2010 General Non-Fiction winner: The Dead Hand: The Untold Story of the Cold War Arms Race and it's Deadly Legacy by David E Hofffman

For a complete list of finalists and winners visit Pulitzer Prize.

Find these and other great titles at your library. M

10 Rules for Being Human

The Ten Rules For Being Human

1. You will receive a body.

2. You will be presented with lessons.

3. There are no mistakes, only lessons.

4. Lessons are repeated until learned.

5. Learning does not end.

6. "There" is no better than "here."

7. Others are only mirrors of you.

8. What you make of your life is up to you.

9. All the answers lie inside of you.

10. You will forget all of this at birth.

Learn more at Your Wilkinson Public Library.

~ Faith

Kate DiCamillo

Every story that I have read by Kate DiCamillo has been absorbing, magical, and left me wanting more. I have laughed and cried in equal measures, recognizing the characters as if I have known them all my life. These books are written for children, which is clear in their brisk pace and generous detail, the stories are bright and vivid, the characters well defined. What is most remarkable is the way Kate DiCamillo can tell a painful or grief stricken story that provokes a child's mind to think about difficult issues, really contemplate with compassion the character's issues. I recommend her books to all parents who want to venture into a conversation with their children about life's less than fair moments, sadness, and grief. These stories are gentle and kind in their understanding of children, but straightforward about the lessons of growing up. Captivating and gorgeous, just as children's literature should be. Share these books with your children. M

The Lady in the Tower: The Fall of Anne Boleyn

The NY Times Book Review encouraged me to read this lengthy and in depth history of Anne Boleyn by Alison Weir. A fascinating, iconic, and misunderstood woman, this book reveals her last few months. A fleeting acquaintance with central characters from her life is recommended to illuminate the intrigue and drama in The Lady in the Tower: The Fall of Anne Boleyn, but expertise is not necessary. This is a well researched and written investigation of the controversy surrounding the circumstances of her imprisonment and death, though ultimately it is mostly assumption, some aspects are corroborated with other historians. There is a fascinating tale in Anne Boleyn's life and death; her remarkable ability to transcend the times and bring forth questions that beg for answers is a testimony to her archetypal power.

Highly recommended for fans of Tudor history or well researched real mysteries. M

A Gate at the Stairs

I have looked forward to reading Lorrie Moore's new novel A Gate At The Stairs. I was not disappointed with it, wonderful and absorbing in a subtle way. I was drawn to the protagonist, Tassie Keltjin, who speaks with both an innocence and weariness that the thresh hold of adult hood brings. Her relationship with those around her is quietly distanced and yet somehow poignant in it's need for validation. A constant questioning on her behalf, and yet she clearly has the fortitude to carry on. My attention wandered at points, not because of any lack of writing but because of contemplation provoked by history yet to be completed, a chord strummed throughout the novel. There are many places in this book that are all too recognizable, pulling back the layers of my own existence. For a wonderful review please read Jonathan Lethem's in the NY Times. M