What's your line?

“Call me Ishmael.”

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”

“Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.”

“In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.”

A great opening line can capture the imagination and draw you into the story. I ran across such a line recently. The book is entitled “Wild Sorrow” and the author is Sandi Ault. “The wind howled like a broken-hearted woman who had given up on life.” That painted such an evocative picture for me I just had to read this book.
While tracking a wounded mountain lion on a desolate canyon rim, Jamaica Wild, Bureau of Land Management agent, and her wolf, Mountain, come across and old Indian School—a place where children were “Americanized” after being taken from their homes. When a snowstorm sweeps the canyon, Jamaica is forced to take refuge in the abandoned school. As she explores her impromptu haven, she discovers the desecrated body of an elderly Anglo woman. This discovery combined with the troubled history of the abandoned school and the sorrowful howling of the icy wind haunt Jamaica throughout the night. After the storm, the FBI takes over the murder investigation while Jamaica continues to search for the wounded she-lion and her cubs. As the dead of winter approaches, arctic temperatures on the mesa threaten the survival of the mountain lions—and Jamaica herself, as she is stalked and terrorized by the unidentified killer.
This is not the sort of book I usually read, but like I mentioned the opening line had me. I have enjoyed the characters and the setting. This is the third book in the series and I have enjoyed it enough to want to go back and read the previous ones.

Tea Time in Botswana

I just finished reading the newest installment in the delightful "No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" series written by Alexander McCall Smith. The book, Tea Time for the Traditionally Built is another charming installation of the series, which stars Mma Ramotswe as the proprietor and head detective of the agency which is located in Gaborone, Botswane. You really do need to read this series from the beginning, as the stories build on each other and you'll seriously miss out on several nuances of Botswane if you skip ahead. The first book in the series is the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, which was published in 2003, and there are currently ten books in the series. Like the other nine books, the current book is a cozy that covers the solving of several cases, interspersed with the further development of the characters' lives. You just can't help but fall in love with Mma Ramotswe, her Assistant, Grace Makutsi, and all of the other details of life in Africa! Alexander McCall Smith is a wonderful storyteller and his words envelop you in African culture. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. McCall Smith in person at a book signing at Lemuria Books in Jackson, MS last year and he is as delightful in person as he is in his books. He is professor emeritus of medical law at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, was born in what is now known as Zimbabwe and was a law professor at the University of Botswana. He currently lives in Scotland, but makes several trips to Botswana every year. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is now a television series produced by HBO and the scenery and casting of the show have made the books come more alive for me. Alexander McCall Smith is also the author of the Isabel Dalhousie series, the Portuguese Irregular Verbs series and the 44 Scotland Street series of books.

Vicksburg 1863

I read the book, Vicksburg 1863 by Winston Groom, to acquire a better understanding of the Civil War. The author Winston Groom brings the Civil War to life in this book and I found myself caught away in reading of this great historical event. The book covers the War in great detail. You will read of the battles and leaders of the Civil War, Ulysses S. Grant’s drinking problem, diary entries from citizens and soldiers, etc. You’ll also read of the hardships of life in Vicksburg. Before the war Vicksburg had forty-five hundred residents and there were about thirty-thousand soldiers added to the population during the war. Cave shelters were built and furnished with items from homes. Water and food were scarce and people were starving. After nearly seven weeks in the heat of the battle, Vicksburg surrendered on July 4th. As the tattered Rebels marched out with their white flags and laid down their arms, it was as if a funeral were taking place. Union soldiers stood by and watched quietly. The grieving citizens of Vicksburg were relieved that the fighting had ended.

Are You a Hater?

Every so often I stumble upon a strange book--Hater by David Moody is one of the most disturbing ones I have read in a while! Set in an unnamed town in England, the novel begins innocently with the bored, hum-drum day of an employee in the Parking Fine Processing Office where he daily deals with visitors who are upset about receiving and/or paying for their parking violations. Unexpectedly, society is rocked by a sudden increase in the number of violent assaults on individuals. The main character begins to witness more and more violent incidents, from the member of a rock band who goes berserk at a concert, to a policeman firing random shots into a crowd of innocent bystanders. As time progresses, the reader sees that within seconds, normally rational, self-controlled people become frenzied, vicious, killers, who can't be stopped. Soon, two groups of people appear--the victims and the Haters. Which one will you become? The action of this book takes place in a week, so I suggest you take a deep breathe, open the cover and dive in. This is definitely a bizarre book with a twisting plot, but I believe it will catch you from the beginning and push you through until the climactic ending. This book was originally published online in parts, and is soon to be a major motion picture produced by Guillermo del Toro and directed by J A. Bayona.

Pretty Little Projects

Three really cute books just recently crossed my desk. Being a fan of quiliting, I was very intrigued by their covers and the sweet projects described in them! the three books are Pretty Little Patchwork, Pretty Little Potholders and Pretty Little Cozies. All three books were edited by Valerie VanArsdale Shrader and published by Lark Books. The books are a little smaller than your average non-fiction title, which makes them the perfect size to prop up on your table while you are completing several of the projects contained in the books! Pretty Little Patchwork contains 32 projects that are colorful and modern and have a twist of vintage chic. Projects include sachets, a fabric clock, a mini quilt or a handy bag, all made from piecing strips and pieces of fabric together. Pretty Little Potholders offers thirty imaginative designs to make cute potholders, using creative techniques such as applique' and felting. Beginners will appreciate the basic sewing and hand stitching instructions and seasoned sewers will enjoy learning new tips such as how to use digital photo transfer fabric. Pretty Little Cozies offers a new take on how to make cozies, those fabric covers that are used to protect all of our "can't-live-without" belongings such as cell phones, checkbooks, and mp3 players. This book details several cutting-edge projects that are colorful, modern, playful and feminine that are made with new and recycled fabrics and are packed full of clever design elements and intriguing details. Try out one of these books for a cute craft project that won't take up too much of your time!!

Take a Trip Down the Concourse

I just read an interesting mystery novel set in New York City, mainly in the Bronx. The book, titled Concourse and written by S. J. Rozan, stars Private Investigator Bill Smith and his sidekick/love interest Lydia Chin. This is the second book in this series (the first is China Trade) and is a great story about life in the Bronx. Bill is assigned by his old friend Bobby Moran to investigate a brutal murder of a security officer at a nursing home in the Bronx, situated on the "Concourse." Bill poses undercover as a security office to try and discover the truth and meets some hardball criminals, sweet older people and other Bronx residents along the way. The story is a convoluted tale of corruption, but Bill works tirelessly to solve the mystery and find the truth. He is half in love with his partner, Lydia Chin, a tough Chinese woman who puts up with his shenanigans in spite of her distate for them! This is an entertaining New York P.I. and would be a great choice for anyone who enjoys police procedurals.

Dogs Rule

I have to confess that I am a dog fan--I can't help it! I like cats too, I just like dogs more. A new book crossed my desk today that I just had to read. Michael Schaffer's book One Nation Under Dog: Adventures in the New World of Prozac-Popping Puppies, Dog-Park Politics, and Organic Pet Food. The title may be daunting, but the subject matter inside is wonderful and the cover is very cute. Schaffer examines all of the politics behind Americas love affair with dogs and other companion animals, and how pets have moved to the center of people's lives. It's fun and factual, and a great read for someone who loves dogs. Especially fun is when Schaeffer discusses how the way we treat our pets reflects our own views on topics such as science, consumerism, politics and family. Michael Schaeffer is a former staff writer at The Philadephia Inquirer, U.S. News and World Report, and Washington City Paper, who lives in Philadelphia with his wife, Keltie Hawkins, and their daughter Eleanor. Schaeffer insists that his own pets, Murphy the Saint Bernard and Amelia the black cat are not "freakishly pampered" like many of the pets he talks about in his book!

FOLK MUSIC

I had the opportunity to get away for the weekend and enjoy the 47th Annual Arkansas Folk Festival in Mountain View, AR. There were musical gatherings on the courthouse square and handmade arts and crafts booths .This is one of Arkansas longest-running festivals. The festival originated in 1941 at Blanchard Springs. Its annual tradition was once interrupted by World War II. Thousands of visitors and residents took part in the weekend festival where music programs were presented on the outdoor stage at the courthouse. A parade was held Saturday morning including floats, marching bands, antique cars, tractors, motorcycles, and horses.

We also enjoyed the Ozark Folk Center and its craft grounds on Saturday. There were demonstrations such as broom, candle, knife, soap, and rope making. This was a learning experience for us adults as well as the children. I participated with helping my daughter make a rope. We were placed across from each other using cranks to wind the rope. The rope maker announced that I was now a “Cranky Mom”!

We also attended folk singing at the Jimmy Driftwood barn. We heard a variety of music including “The Battle of New Orleans” an American classic country/folk song, written by Jimmy Driftwood in 1936. Jimmy Driftwood was a teacher that wrote music to help interest his students in history. He was born in Mountain View, AR on June 20, 1907 and died July 12, 1988. During his career he wrote over six thousand folk songs.

Mountain View, AR is known as the “Folk Music Capital of the World” and is a great place to relax and enjoy the beautiful mountains of the Ozark.

Our library has many books and videos on Folk Music. You may wish to check out American Folk Songs for Children in Home, School and Nursery School: A Book for Children, Parents and Teachers by Ruth Crawford Seeger or Southern Folk Ballads published by August House Publishers of Little Rock, AR

Nip Bullying in the Bud

The Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) Center in Vicksburg graciously donates two books to the library every April, in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month. The Center donates one adult and children's title to the library, and most cover subjects such as parenting, bullying, inappropriate touching or other subjects teaching kids how to be safe and giving parents advice. This year's children's title is a wonderful book and deserves to be talked about! One, by Kathryn Otoshi, discusses bullying in a picture book that is very accessible to children. The book is beautiflly illustrated with watercolor prints and the story is deceptively simple. The bullying message is "disguised" in a picture book about colors and numbers. Blue (a blue blob on the page) is a quiet color who enjoys interacting with all the other colors except for Red, because Red picks on him and is mean to him. None of the other colors will stick up for Blue and stand up to Red until 1 comes along and tells Red no. This immediately has an escalating effect and the rest of the colors start standing up to Red too. This is a wonderful book to share with your kids, and open up a dialogue about bullying. Check out Kathryn Otoshi's website at http://www.justtakesone.com/ for more tips!

Customer Appreciation Day at WCVPL

On Friday, April 17, 2009, the Warren County-Vicksburg Public Library is hosting a "Customer Appreciation Day" at the library. From 9:00 AM-11:00 AM the library will be serving coffee and cookies in the library in celebration of one of our most important assets--YOU! The library would not be able to do all of the things it is able to do without the support of its patrons and visitors. Whether its visiting the library to attend programs, check out books or DVD's or to use the library's computers, we thank you for every visit you make to our building. Library staff members enjoy meeting patrons, so please make sure to introduce yourself while you have a cup of coffee and a cookie--on us!