Curtsies and Conspiracies

Gentle reader, you may remember that I reviewed the first book in the Finishing School series by Gail Carriger, Etiquette and Espionage, and found it quite enchanting. We again join Sophronia in Curtsies and Conspiracies, where she is continuing her education as an intelligencer at Lady Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality. While learning such social niceties as how to faint (backward, never forward!), Sophronia spends her time sneaking about the airship and spying on teachers. She is still caught up in a conspiracy over a valuable prototype, and she suspects that an upcoming trip to London has something to do with it. And it is so difficult to spy properly in ladies' skirts and petticoats!

With the second entry in the Finishing School series, Carriger again creates an intricate plot (perhaps too convoluted at times) that is sure to keep readers guessing. The author is a master of satire and silliness, and the book had me laughing out loud. However, characterization were problematic - all the characters besides Sophronia are flat and Sophronia herself is too perfect. She receives top marks in her class, all the boys love her, and she is the only one who seems to know what is going on. This is disappointing in a series that tries to pick apart young adult fiction tropes and stereotypes. Nevertheless, if you are a fan of spunky young adult heroines and intricate, steampunk settings, you should investigate Gail Carriger's newest YA offering.

Shannon Wood, Adult Services Librarian

Join us to discuss The Girls of Atomic City!

Feeling a little stir crazy after all these cold, snowy days? Get out of the house and join us for the first meeting of the "Let's Talk About It" book club of 2014. We will be discussing The Girls of Atomic City by Denise Kiernan this Thursday, February 6, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. in the Junior Home Room.

This is the true story of the women who worked and lived at the mysterious Site X in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, never knowing that what they were working on would change the world forever. These women held not just the traditional feminine jobs of secretaries and nurses, but were welders, engineers, statisticians, and much more besides. They took pride in making the Site X complex a home, even though they were forbidden to talk about their work in producing the atomic bomb.

To get you thinking before book club day, check out these discussion questions:

1. Denise Kiernan explains in an author’s note, “The information in this book is compartmentalized, as was much of life and work during the Manhattan Project." How does the book manage to recreate the workers’ experience of months-long ignorance, and the shock of finding out what they were working on?
2. Discuss the role that patriotism played in everyday life during World War II. Do you think Americans today would be willing or able to make the same sacrifices—including top-secret jobs, deployment overseas, rationed goods, and strict censorship—that families of that era made? Why or why not?

For a multimedia experience, including music of the period and photos of the mysterious Oak Ridge, check out GirlsofAtomicCity.com.

Join us for light refreshments and a discussion that's sure to warm up your day!

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

I've got another young adult title as my selection for this week, but as with The Book Thief, this novel can (and should) be appreciated by teens and adults alike. The Fault in Our Stars is an enormously popular novel by author and web sensation John Green. It is a #1 New York Times Bestseller, with starred reviews from Booklist, SLJ, Publisher’s Weekly, Horn Book, and Kirkus.

Hazel Lancaster and Augustus Waters meet at a cancer support group and instantly make a connection. She has terminal lung cancer and his bone cancer is in remission, though it took one of his legs. The two of them bond over books and witty repartee, but Hazel resists falling in love because she doesn't want to leave him brokenhearted when she passes away.

Green's novel is tremendously funny and sad and will probably leave you in tears. The portrayal of the self aware cancer patients is true-to-life - they are not always heroes and not always fighters - they are at times sad, terrified, and selfish. The depth and complexity of these two and their romance is wonderful. However, the way Hazel and Augustus talk is somewhat pretentious and stilted, and you will find it hard to believe that anyone - including teenagers - would talk the way they do. Unfortunately, there is no happily-ever-after for these star-crossed lovers, but teens and adults will appreciate the beautiful love story and new perspective on life that Hazel and Gus show us.

Shannon Wood, Adult Services Librarian

Loving Frank by Nancy Horan

Loving Frank by Nancy Horan is a fictionalized account of the true story of the love affair between famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright and his mistress, Mamah Borthwick Cheney. Both trapped in loveless marriages, they are drawn to each other despite struggling to stay apart. Love blooms between them, and they begin an affair - and a nationwide scandal - that will last years. Written from Mamah's perspective, the book is a fascinating exploration of two people in love, living in opposition to their society's suffocating moral beliefs.

Of course the novel is historical, but at its heart, it is a love story. The romance between Frank and Mamah is never sappy or cloying, and the two characters are drawn with depth and detail. However, this causes other secondary characters to fall flat, especially Mamah's sister, Lizzie, and her best friend Mattie. Although not much is known about Mamah, the few fictionalized letters and diary entires add a realistic dimension to the novel, as well as the depiction of the scandal that erupts when the affair is revealed to the public by the newspapers. Loving Frank is well worth the read for anyone who enjoys history, romance, or wants to know more about the lover of master architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

Shannon Wood, Adult Services Librarian

'Tis the season... for reading!

Christmas is just around the corner (as I'm sure you know), so take a break from the holiday madness and check out these new Christmas-themed books from your favorite authors!

Silent Night is Robert B. Parker's last novel, finished and published posthumously by his longtime agent. When a homeless client and a local halfway house are being threatened, Spenser discovers links to a drug lord.

For fans of Debbie Macomber, Starry Night is her newest novel. Carrie follows a scoop to get an interview with bestselling, recluse author Finn Dalton. As the two warm to each other, Carrie must choose between her career and her heart.

In A Christmas Hope by Anne Perry, a murder at a holiday party with her new beau as the prime suspect means Claudine must work fast to solve the crime and save the day.

Journey to Savannah in Christmas Bliss, Mary Kay Andrews' newest Christmas outing. Weezie is getting married, but her bridesmaid reveals she is expecting - within a few days! Can Weezie get married in time for Christmas and convince her bridesmaid to settle down with the father? 

In A Seaside Christmas by Sherryl Woods, Jenny returns to her hometown, where she has always been treated as an outsider, for a music project and to see her estranged family. At the same time, an old flame tries to rekindle their stalled relationship. 

It's the perfect season for curling up with a good book. Happy holidays from us here at the Reader's Corner!

Shannon Wood, Adult Services Librarian

Allegiant by Veronica Roth

I have been a fan of  the wildly popular Divergent series since the first book, and I am sad to say that the third book is a disappointment. Allegiant by Veronica Roth takes all the potential of its predecessors and throws it away. I won't go into too much detail in terms of plot in case you haven't read the other books, but suffice to say Tris, Four, and their friends finally get outside the fence surrounding their city and discover what is on the other side.

The final book in the trilogy does not live up to promise of the first two, as it takes the central conflict of the previous novels and makes it completely unimportant. The plot stalls out halfway through the book, so that both the characters and the readers are stuck in one place. In addition, the alternating viewpoints between Tris and Four did not add to the experience, since their voices are so similar as to be completely indistinguishable. There were more than a few times that I had to skip back to the start of the chapter to figure out who was narrating. As I really enjoyed the first two books, I am disappointed in the overblown melodrama  that is the conclusion of this trilogy. Read this novel if you really must find out what happens to Tris and Four, but otherwise - skip it.

Shannon Wood, Adult Services Librarian

Geek's Guide to Dating

As a geek girl (though I have a boyfriend), when I saw this book, I had to read it. The Geek's Guide to Dating by Eric Smith is just what the doctor ordered for all the socially awkward geeks out there who can't find their "Player Two." From the first paragraph, Smith sits this slim tome in the middle of geek lore. With numerous references to pop culture, television, movies, comic books, and other things geeks love, Smith outlines a solid plan on how to date. As a woman, I have to say that Smith's advice is spot on - there are no easy shortcuts, no pick-up lines, and he emphasizes putting in hard work to attract the opposite sex.

I liked that Smith starts with taking a look at yourself and discovering your "special abilities" - knowing yourself before dating others. He emphasizes that you must love yourself and your interests, but also be open to new things and what other people enjoy as well. However, one complaint I have is that there are no tips specifically for the geek girl, which is unfortunate, though Smith says that you can apply his guide to both sexes.

Need a gift idea for the single geek in your life? This book is perfect for any geek ready to dive into dating and who may not want to read a traditional dating guide.

Win a copy of this book! All you need to do is correctly answer this question:

What is the best-selling video game console of all time?

First correct answer wins a copy of the book and a poster. Five correct answers after that will win a poster.


Shannon Wood, Adult Services Librarian