Info-Graphic: Books Everyone Should Read

The folks over at InformationIsBeautiful.net have combined recommended reading lists put out by various groups to create this interesting info-graphic showing "Books Everyone Should Read." How many have you read?

Women in History: March Book Display

History is full of strong women, from rulers and celebrities to scientists, pioneers and simple unsung heroines. Discover their lives through this month's featured book display located at the foot of the stairs in the adult fiction section, across from the Readers' Advisory desk. Intriguing titles include Every Man in this Village is a Liar, The Poker Bride, A Few Good Women, and many others. Click here for the library's annotated reading list on this topic, and if you have any real (or fictional) heroines you'd like to applaud, please leave a comment!

The Way Back: Book to Movie Alert

Today is the release date for the new movie The Way Back, directed by Peter Weir. Colin Farrel, Ed Harris, Saoirse Ronan, and Jim Sturgess play escaped prisoners of war who undertake a perilous journey to freedom from Siberia to India. The movie is based on the 1997 book The Long Walk: The True Story of the Trek to Freedom by Slavomir Rawicz. The factuality of certain events in the book has been disputed, but both book and movie provide quite a dramatic story.

For more books about World War II-era prisoners of war, try Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand (nonfiction; not for the squeamish), Given Up For Dead: American GIs in the Nazi Concentration Camp at Berga by Flint Whitlock (nonfiction), or The Welsh Girl by Peter Ho Davies (fiction).

Forensic Science: Check Out Our January Book Display

Fans of authors like Patricia Cornwell and TV shows like CSI will definitely want to take a look at our community library's new downstairs book display. Learn about the methods that forensic scientists use to solve the most baffling cases through non-fictional titles that read like thrillers.

Books on display include Cracking More Cases, Trail of Bones, The Real World of a Forensic Scientist, Beating the Devil's Game, Irrefutable Evidence, Tales from the Morgue, and Murderous Methods. Come check one out, or look at this librarian-compiled list for more suggestions.

Featured New Book: The Four-Hour Body

Many New Year's resolutions focus on losing weight, and publishers are not slow to take advantage of this trend. With mountains of weight-loss books competing for reader attention, what makes The Four-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat-Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman worth reading? In Book Page, Timothy Ferris, author of the bestselling Four-Hour Workweek, explains: "Big changes seldom work. The Four-Hour Body is intended to answer one question: What are the smallest changes that produce the biggest physical results?" Sounds promising, but we'll let readers be the judge. For the full interview, see the January 2011 issue of Book Page, free copies of which are available at your community library.

New Arrival on the NYT Bestseller List

In its very first week on the New York Times bestseller list, Patricia Cornwell's newly released Port Mortuary has taken first place. The book is the 18th in the popular Kay Scarpetta series and features the mysterious death of a young man and the trouble it causes for Kay and her new forensic center in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Newcomers to the series should start with book 1, Postmortem, which also holds the honor of being the first novel ever to win the Edgar, Creasey, Anthony, Macavity, and French Prix du Roman d'Adventure awards in one year.

2011: A New You

Looking to make a personal change in this coming year? Here is a list of 5 potentially useful new books recommended by the January 2011 issue Book Page and available through your community library.

• Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life by Karen Armstrong (on order)
• Peace and Plenty: Finding Your Path to Financial Serenity by Sarah Ban (currently available from partner libraries)
• Your Creative Brain: Seven Steps to Maximize Imagination, Productivity, and Innovation in Your Life by Shelley Carson (currently available from partner libraries)
• The Chemistry of Calm A Powerful, Drug-Free Plan to Quiet Your Fears & Overcome Your Anxiety by Henry Emmons
• The New Normal: An Agenda for Responsible Living by David Wann (on order)

Share your New Year's resolutions with your community library; comment on this post!

Best Books of 2010 - Publisher's Weekly

As 2010 wraps up, just about everyone has an opinion on the best books of this past year. Earlier this week, this blog shared the 10 best books according to the New York Times; here are the ten best books according to an article in Publisher's Weekly, along with links to these books in the Community Library's catalog and to the authors' personal websites (if available). Books that appear on both the NYT and PW lists are in bold.

• A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
• Freedom by Jonathan Franzen
• Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand
• The Surrendered by Chang-rae Lee
• The Big Short by Michael Lewis
• The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
• Just Kids by Patti Smith
• Man in the Woods by Scott Spencer
• The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall
• The Warmth of Other Sons by Isabel Wilkerson

Top 5 Nonfiction of 2010 - New York Times

For all you nonfiction readers, here is a list compiled by the New York Times Book Review with their selections for the top 5 nonfiction books published in 2010.

Homans, Jennifer. Apollo's Angels: A History of Ballet.
Schiff, Stacy. Cleopatra: A Life.
Mukherjee, Siddhartha. The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer.
Sondheim, Stephen. Finishing the Hat: Collected Lyrics (1954-1981) With Attendant Comments, Principles, Heresies, Grudges, Whines, and Anecdotes.
Wilkerson, Isabel. The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration.

What do you think? Did the New York Times miss one of your favorites from this year? Share your thoughts; comment!

Top 5 Fiction of 2010 - New York Times

At the end of any year, people love to look back and reflect. In keeping with this tradition, the December 12th edition of the New York Times Book Review released a list of the top 10 books published in 2010. Here are their top 5 fiction books, all of which are available in multiple formats (including audio, largeprint, and e-book) to Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Library cardholders.

Franzen, Jonathan. Freedom.

Beattie, Ann. The New Yorker Stories.
Donoghue, Emma. Room.

Trevor, William. Selected Stories.

Egan, Jennifer. A Visit from the Goon Squad.

Do you have any books you feel should have been on this list of top 2010 fiction? Please leave a comment!

Books to TV

We can all name a few books that have inspired movies, but what about books that inspired TV series? Here are a few suggestions from librarian Genive P.

The Dexter series by Jeff Lindsay

Jeff Lindsay's books inspired the Dexter crime drama about a morally-ambiguous Miami forensics expert who kills criminals who he believes have escaped justice. Check out his latest title, Dexter is Delicious, located at the Mastics-Moriches-Shirley library's new books section.

The Temperance Brennan series by Kathy Reichs

These books by Kathy Reichs are the inspiration for the TV show Bones, featuring a forensic anthropologist and an FBI agent who team up to solve murders using little more than bones as clues. The newest installment in the series is Spider Bones, also available in large print.

And rememember, your community library also has all available seasons of Dexter and Bones in the DVD section, alphabetized by title.

Caught Reading: Candy Cane Murder

Tis the season for cozying up with a good book, and Joanne Fluke's culinary mysteries are a great way to do exactly that. A patron just snapped up Candy Cane Murder for his niece, and both copies of Gingerbread Cookie Murder are checked out, but as of this writing the audiobook versions of Plum Pudding Murder are still available, as are regular print, large print, and ebook versions of Sugar Cookie Murder. Non-Christmas titles are also on the shelf; Fluke's popular Hannah Swenson culinary mystery series starts with Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder.

December Book Display: Legal Thrillers

On the hunt for some exciting legal thrillers? Go beyond John Grisham with the books featured in the library's December Readers' Advisory display, at the foot of the stairs in the fiction section. Selections include works by established favorites like Steve Martini and William Bernhardt to relative newcomers like Joshua Ferris and David Hosp (click here for a complete list). And if you've read all these already, try searching the subject term "legal stories" to browse 800+ similar books in the Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library's catalog. What are your recommendations?

Author Spotlight: Elin Hilderbrand

Although Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library owns multiple copies of Elin Hilderbrand's books, you probably won't find them on the shelf; enthusiastic readers have made sure her books are constantly checked out. Here's what the library's readers' advisory database Novelist has to say about this rising star:

"While Elin Hilderbrand's characters change from novel to novel, her setting remains consistent - the historic island of Nantucket. Using the island as a jumping off point, Hilderbrand's works offer the hallmarks of an ideal summer vacation read: romance, friendship, a beautiful setting, conflict and characters facing personal challenges. While rife with tales of people living privileged lifestyle, Hilderbrand grounds her stories in topics that will feel familiar to all women: love, illness, friendship, and family relationships."

Because each book is a stand-alone story, newcomers can start with any of Hilderbrand's books. Her most recent book, The Island, is also available to Mastics-Moriches-Shirley patrons in large print and on CD.

Black Friday Reading

Exhausted from all that Black Friday shopping? Hiding out until after the holidays? Here are a few recently-published reads that both Santas and Scrooges may enjoy.

Cardella, A. (2010) Spent: Memoirs of a Shopping Addict

Nonfiction. Presents hard lessons about money, men, and the price of trying to keep up appearances as the author recounts her trouble with shopping addiction, which left her hungry, empty, and deep in debt.

Kava, A. (2009) Black Friday

Thriller. When terrorists attack the largest mall in America, FBI profiler Maggie O'Dell, while sifting through the debris for answers, discovers that her brother is involved and that another attack could happen in less than twenty-four hours.

Kinsella, S. (2010) Mini-Shopaholic

Fiction. Financially strapped Becky Brandon attempts to plan a surprise party on a budget for her husband, and starts to come apart at the seams as she juggles the party, her precocious child, and her faltering personal-shopping business. Newcomers to the "Shopaholic" series should start with Confessions of a Shopaholic.

Waldfogel, J. (2009) Scroogenomics: Why You Shouldn't Buy Presents for the Holidays.

Nonfiction. Economist Joel Waldfogel illustrates how our consumer spending generates vast amounts of economic waste. By reprioritizing our gift-giving habits, Scroogenomics proves that we can reclaim the true spirit of the holiday season without gouging our wallets.

Caught reading...Scottish romance

Do hunky Highlanders make your heart race? Earlier, a patron at the Readers’ Advisory desk (at the foot of the stairs, near the Quiet Study room) asked for help finding Scottish-themed romances. For all of you Highlander fans out there, the Readers' Advisory Librarian recommends these recent publications:

McCarty, M. (2010) The Chief: A Highland Guard Novel
In order to secure his command of the deadliest fighting force the world has ever seen, Highland warlord Tor MacLeod is forced to marry Christina Fraser, a woman determined to break down his defenses and lay siege to his heart.


Scott, A. (2010). Tempted by a Warrior
Sir Richard Seyton is honor-bound to guard Lady Fiona Jardine, whose husband has gone missing in the Scottish borderlands, and he will do anything to keep her safe from her enemies, but cannot protect her from his own desire.

Quinn, P. (2010). Seduced by a Highlander
When he discovers that the woman he stole a kiss from at the king's court is one of his clan's greatest enemies, Highland warrior Tristan MacGregor is still unable to forget her and vows to possess her at any cost.

Other authors to try include Kathleen Givens, Hannah Howell, Lynn Kurland, Julia London, Karen Moning, Bertrice Small, and Veronica Wolff.

Only one week until Thanksgiving

There's one week left until Thanksgiving! Become inspired to count your blessings through these (or other) selections, and please comment: what are you thankful for?

Leszowitz, N. & Sammons, M.B. (2009). Living Life as a Thank You: The Transformative Power of Daily Gratitude

Publisher Summary: The authors present a program for incorporating gratitude into one's life and reaping its many benefits, in a book with motivational quotes, suggested gratitude practice, and anecdotes that is divided into such chapters as "Thank You Power" and "Putting Gratitude into Action."


Emmons, R. (2007). Thanks! How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier

Publisher Summary: A proponent of the field of positive psychology offers a close-up study of the positive influence on people's lives of the systematic cultivation of gratitude, explaining how the practice of grateful thinking can increase one's chances for happiness and help one cope more effectively with stress, recover more quickly from illness, enjoy better physical health, improve relationships, and other benefits.

Patron gushes about Adriana Trigiani

Grace G. of Mastic recently shared an enthusiastic recommendation for author Adriana Trigiani with the librarians at Mastics-Moriches-Shirley. She really loves the books' non-stop humor, as well as the way the author draws on her Italian heritage and life experiences to make the books feel true to life. Grace recommends that anyone looking for a "happy read" would do well to check out Trigiani's books, starting with Big Stone Gap, a book about a thrirty-five year old pharmacist in a sleepy Viriginia town who discovers a shocking family secret.

If you really catch Trigiani-fever, you can see her at Best Bargain Books in Centereach on Saturday, December 4 at 2 pm. She's based in New York City but is no stranger to Long Island: click here for the list of upcoming tour dates.

Patron enthusiastically recommends Debbie Macomber's books

Recently, Linda from Shirley enthusiastically recommended Debbie Macomber to the Readers' Advisory Librarian. Linda said she loved the way Macomber's books keep characters' intimate passions private, and how they are real page-turners that keep a strong hold on a reader's heart. The book that got her hooked on Macomber? Changing Habits (2003), about three very different women who enter a convent in Minneapolis, then change, grow, and ultimately leave the sisterhood.

For Debbie Macomber fans, Novelist (a readers' advisory database free to Mastics-Moriches-Shirley cardholders) also recommends Jan Karon's Mitford series (start with At Home in Mitford) and the Navy-oriented love stories by Susan Wiggs (start with The Ocean Between Us).