I Love Surprises!!

There are many, I am sure, who would consider me an indiscriminate reader. There are very few topics or genres that I avoid, and if someone gives me a book, I'm usually willing to at least give it a try. Sometimes, though, I will start to read a book with the preconceived notion that I'm not going to enjoy it very much. When these books turn out to be wonderful, it's such a pleasant surprise!

Ordinarily, I'm not a huge fan of historical fiction, and I'm particularly not a fan of civil rights novels for children and teens. I just feel that, while rushing to make their point, these books tend to get very simplistic, hollowly written, and manipulative. Morning in a Different Place by Mary Ann McGuigan surprised me, then, by being nuanced, interesting, and moving. It is the story of a 13-year old Irish American girl who is growing up in 1963 with an African American best friend and an alcoholic father. Touching on issues of race, class, and social change, the author offers up a very good read.

Heartsinger is a slender novel by Dutch author Karlijn Stoffels, which is ostensibly the story of two musicians--Mee, who can see into people's souls and sing their sorrows, and Mitou, who brings great joy to everyone who hears her songs. I'm so glad that I ignored my feelings that it was going to be corny and vague, as it is beautifully written! Stoffels weaves together the disparate stories of numerous characters to create a whole that is far greater than the sum of its gorgeous parts. The reader doesn't always understand how the different tales are going to fit together, so when the connections become clear, it's all the more delightful.

DIY

There's always been a certain draw to doing things yourself, and when the economy tanks, DIY can be a money-saver, too! HCL has several new books that will help you take on various projects.
My friend's mother crochets, and every year about this time she gives me beautiful towels, cloth napkins, blankets and more with crocheted edges. Crochet Edgings and Trims by Kate Haxell promises to teach 150 different stitches that can be used to edge various items. With that many stitches, this book is sure to have something for every level of crochet aficionado.

Since we live in the state that coined a term, "Michigan basement," for unfinished under-the-house space, The Black and Decker Complete Guide to Finishing Basements is certainly appropriate. With many ideas for fixing common problems like moisture and lack of light, this book will help you tackle this large task. This book contains many photos to help you along.

Complete Leatherwork: Easy Techniques and Over 20 Great Projects by Katherine Pogson contains just what the name implies--detailed instructions on how to make a variety of projects using leather. Since it also includes information on basic tools and techniques, it should be useful for everyone, from beginners to pros.

It's nearly December, and with that will surely come snow, but it's never too early to think about spring and gardening. The Rock Garden Plant Primer: Easy Small Plants for Containers, Patios and the Open Garden by Christopher Grey-Wilson recommends easy-to-grow plants for a variety of garden situations. Whether you have a lot of space or only a tiny nook, you're sure to find some greenery that will please.

Something For All You Twilight Fans

The latest Twilight movie, New Moon, opens across the country at midnight tonight, and you can bet that teenagers and adults alike are excited. The Twilight books are a phenomenon, but what do you do when you've finished all four and have a craving for more supernatural romance? One option is Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. About a teenaged girl's lifelong fascination with a yellow-eyed wolf and the yellow-eyed boy who loves her, this story is very popular with people who like the Twilight series.

A Lucky Find

"Feelers" are people who dispose of all the furniture and junk in buildings after the owner has died, and they often find money hidden away (and get to keep it, as there are contracts and whatnot). This is a good book about a profession I knew nothing about. The protagonist's flowery style of speaking can be slightly disoncerting at first, but it allowed me an understanding of his character that I appreciated. And I had no idea how the story was going to end, which doesn't always happen when I'm reading. You could pair this book with Mop Men: Inside the World of Crime Scene Cleaners by Alan Emmins, a non-fiction book about another not-so-run-of-the-mill job.

A Recommendation from Joyce

Jane Stanton Hitchcock's latest, Mortal Friends, takes place in the upper echelons of Washington DC society. When the latest victim of the "Beltway Basher" shows up in a chic Georgetown neighborhood and a detective starts nosing around, Reven Lynch decides to find out what's going on. Joyce enjoyed all the curves in this mystery that People magazine called a "killer read."

Autism and Asperger's Resources

Several years ago, HCL received some sort of grant that allowed us to buy a bunch of books about autism and Asperger's. I wasn't here, so I don't have all the details about the grant, but I do know that the collection is remarkably sizeable and helpful. We have books for different age levels, and the topics range from treatment to explaining autism to support for parents. New books on the topic are coming out all the time--here are just two of them:

Quirky, Yes--Hopeless, No by Cynthia La Brie Norall can perhaps best be described by its subtitle, Practical Tips to Help Your Child with Asperger's Syndrome Become Socially Accepted. Norall, an educational psychologist, uses twenty years of experience with Asperger's children to create this easy-to-follow, practical guide. With topics such as "How to Greet Others and Make Eye Contact" and "How to Pay Compliments," this book gets right to the nitty-gritty of human interaction.



Growing Up on the Spectrum: A Guide to Life, Love, and Learning for Teens and Young Adults with Autism and Asperger's by Lynn Kern Koegel and Claire LaZebnik is aimed at older children and people in their early 20's, so it deals with topics that aren't always addressed in the autism and Asperger's literature. Subjects like dating, romance, and life beyond high school and college are explored. LaZebnik's 15-year-old autistic son also weighs in, and contributes drawings for the book.

I Might Have a Weird Sense of Humor

While graphic novels as a genre have been very hard for me to get into (if you have any suggestions for a reluctant graphic novel reader, you should let me know), I've always enjoyed comics of the "funny papers" variety. Which might help to explain my latest obessession, Pearls Before Swine, which is written by Stephan Pastis. While Pastis always depicts himself as a something of a pathetic slob with a cigarette dangling out of his mouth, he doesn't smoke and is actually quite handsome.






That's him right there.







His work is featured in over 150 newspapers, and has a cast of characters that are both funny and touching. There's Pig, who is optimistic and good-natured and innocent. Rat is conniving and doesn't like other people (and is a little bit like Dogbert at times). Goat is the smart one, while Zebra lives next door to a fraternity of crocodiles that want to eat him. I know it all might sound a bit bizarre, but what comic strip doesn't? What really matters is that Pastis has a delightfully skewed view of the world that entertains me greatly.


Where can you find Pearls Before Swine? Several collections and treasuries--like Sgt. Piggy's Lonely Hearts Club Comic--are available via interlibrary loan. Pastis also has a blog which is highly entertaining.