New Booktalk Booklist - Short and Sweet

Erin S., from the Anderson and Bethany Branch Libraries, presented an all-new booktalk at Bethany Branch on January 28, 2011, and will present the same talk at Gere Branch on April 25, 2011. Erin's theme for this talk was short works (mostly fiction), or "good things come in small packages".

Her hotlinked list of titles -- Short and Sweet -- is now available on the BookGuide web site on the Booktalk Booklists page. Check it out for some great reading (and viewing) suggestions

Cottages and Bungalows

Cottages and Bungalows
[Periodical Cottages]

For fans of vintage homes and decorating, and Arts & Crafts style homes with a slightly modern touch. You'll find lots of photos of makeovers, suggestions and ideas on how to make those renovations work in your own home, Do-It-Yourself info, and resources of suppliers. You'll have a fun evening browsing through all the photos and collecting ideas for yourself. Published monthly except for Feb/Mar and Jul/Aug. Current issue does not check out. Available directly at the South Branch, or have issues transferred to your local library branch. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Country Living magazine, and any books by The Farm Chicks.] -- recommended by Charlotte K. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ official Cottages and Bungalows magazine web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Dewey's Nine Lives

Dewey's Nine Lives: The Legacy of the Small-Town Library Cat Who Inspired Millions
by Vicki Myron [636.8 Myr]

This follow-up volume to Myron's mega-bestselling Dewey revisits that loveable cat who called the Spencer Public Library home, with a few more stories of his inspirational interactions with patrons. But the majority of this book is a look at other cats and their special relationships with "their people". Following the publication of Dewey, Myron received thousands of letters from readers who shared their stories of their own relationships with special pets. For this book, she picked a handful, and goes into great detail about how unique those cats were. The stories range from heartwarming to distressing. Myron finishes up the book by telling more about her own personal experiences, and the wonderful man (and his cat) that she fell in love with in recent years. This is a feel-good book, that even non-cat-lovers should be able to appreciate. Not quite as good as the original -- after all, Dewey was a unique and unusual cat, with a degree of empathy that I don't think could possibly be duplicated. But I still enjoyed this one, and think most readers will, too. [If you enjoy this, and you haven't read the original, you may also wish to try Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat That Touched the World.] -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[Also available in book-on-cd format.]

[ official Dewey the Library Cat web site ] | [ another official Dewey the Library Cat web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction

The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction [2nd ed.]
by John Clute and Peter Nicholls [R 809.388 Enc]

Despite now being a bit "dated", The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction by Clute and Nicholls, published in hardback in 1993 (which the library has) and reprinted with updates and an addendum in paperback in 1995 (which the library does NOT have), is an absolutely essential part of any science fiction fan's reference collection. This massive and exhaustively researched volume contains biographies and bibliographies for every known author of science fiction literature through the early 1990s. Each author's entry features a biographical blurb, followed by a critical look at that author's most important or noteworthy stories or novels. If the author wrote books set in a series, there is a specific examination of that series. If the author's work are prominent within a SF subgenre, there are suggestions for additional topics to look under in the encyclopedia. But wait, there's more! You will also find detailed examinations of SF categories (cyberpunk, robots, artificial intelligence, big dumb objects), looks at famed science fiction artists, and entries on hundreds of classic and contemporary science fiction movies and television series. The 1993/95 edition is the 2nd Edition (the first was in 1979), and the editors have stated that all future editions of this Encyclopedia are intended to be on the Internet, once they are finalized. This volume is in the Reference Collection on the second floor at the Bennett Martin Public library downtown. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try the companion volume from the same editors, The Encyclopedia of Fantasy. Clute has also edited Science Fiction: The Illustrated Encyclopedia, a handsomely-illustrated but noticeably less-exhaustive book, available in our circulating collection.] -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ Wikipedia page for this book ] | [ Internet Speculative Fiction Database - not associated with the Encyclopedia but a great site! ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Burn Notice - Season One

Burn Notice - Season One
[DVD Burn]

Watching a show from the beginning is always a good way to start. I'd seen commercials for this show but I'd never had time to watch it. The first season is hilarious. The show is set in Miami. Here you meet Michael Weston, a spy who's just been burned and blacklisted. The entire first season is about finding out why he was burned and who burned him. Meanwhile, with the help of his best friend Sam, his ex-girlfriend Fiona and his nagging mother, he picks up odd jobs helping those in deep. If you're looking for a series with a lot of adventure - explosives, guns, undercover operations - and a lot of humor this is it. [If you like this, you may also enjoy NCIS - Their mix of action and humor is somewhat similar, and the movie RED with Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, etc.] -- recommended by Carrie K - Bennett Martin Public Library and South Branch Library
[Also available: Season Two, Season Three.]

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this series ] | [ official Burn Notice page on the USA web site ] | [ official Episode Guide at epguides.com ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

A Catered Thanksgiving

A Catered Thanksgiving
by Isis Crawford

This cozy blends elements from the "golden age of mysteries" with modern day humor. Our intrepid heroines, Bernie and Libby Simmons, are stranded by a blizzard in a large country home with the bickering Fields family. Bernie and Libby are hired by the Fields to cater their Thanksgiving dinner. While Bernie and Libby pack their catering van with all the fixings for a sumptuous Thanksgiving feast the snow starts falling. By the time they are ready to leave the snow is falling in a heavy white curtain. They slip and slide their way out of tiny Longely, New York and down the country roads to Monty Fields' mansion where they will prepare the traditional dinner for Monty and his greedy relatives. Monty comes into the kitchen to check on the roasting bird. As he taps on the red, pop-up timer the turkey explodes killing Monty. The Fields family initially blames Bernie and Libby because they prepared the felonious fowl. The family soon starts pointing accusing fingers at each other. Lexus, Monty's widow, asks Bernie and Libby to investigate because she is afraid that one of the clan will kill her in order to inherit a larger share of the estate. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try the works of Tracy Kiely, Laura Childs or Kaitlynn Dunnett.] -- recommended by Donna G. - Virtual Services Department

[ Bibliography of Isis Crawford's books ]

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives

Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives
by Guy Fieri [641.5 Fie]

This volume, and the follow-up (More Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives) feature abbreviated looks at the joints that Guy visits in his Food Network series of the same name. Each brief (3-4 page) chapter features an introduction to a quirky little restaurant, its history, and the people who run it. Each entry them includes the recipes and instructions for fixing one of that restaurant's/chef's signature dishes. Most entries also have black & white photos accompanying the text, and many feature Guy's own personal recollections about the food and the people he met at each restaurant. Although the first volume doesn't include anything from Nebraska, volume 2 does have three Omaha diners in it -- Amato's Cafe, California Tacos & More, and Dixie Quick's Magnolia Room. When will he get to Lincoln?? [Obviously, if you like these books, you'll really like the episodes they were based on, which get regular rotation on The Food Network. I'm hoping the libraries will buy the DVD sets as well!] -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library


[ official Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives web site ] | [ official Guy Fieri web site ]

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful? Which Lincoln restaurants do you think Guy should profile?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Books, Movies & More newsletters

Have you subscribed to any of the libraries' 35+ monthly book and commentary newsletters, available on our Books, Movies & More pages?

Well, why not?! Here's your perfect opportunity to explore all that Books, Movies & More has to offer. Today, we're launching another new monthly newsletter, What's Cooking!, which will focus on the extensive cookbook collection of the Lincoln City Libraries. If you're a fan of cookbooks, a collector of recipes, or just like to look at gorgeous and mouth-watering images of exotic culinary delights, check out the premiere issue of What's Cooking! to see what you could be receiving in your e-mail inbox or RSS feed every month!

After your literary taste buds have been tantalized, explore the rest of the Books, Movies & More pages on the Lincoln City Libraries' web site -- see the lists of award winners, read profiles of some of your favorite authors, sample the booklist newsletters and custom commentary newsletters by some of your favorite librarians around the city of Lincoln, like Lisa, Erin, Rebecca and Susan.

Stop by our Index to Back Issues page to read some of the back issues of the newsletters hosted by your friendly librarians, as well as the Heritage Room and Polley Music Library newsletters.

And then make your final stop be the Newsletters Sign-Up page or RSS Sign-Up page, where you can provide your e-mail address and check off on a list of all the newsletters you'd like to have automatically delivered to you in upcoming months.

You want to be among the first to know about new and noteworthy titles in the libraries' book and DVD collections, don't you? Then, check out Books, Movies & More!

Michael Jackson: The Making of Thriller

Michael Jackson: The Making of Thriller - 4 Days/1983
by Douglas Kirkland [Music 781.66 JacYk]

An interesting and quick read. Kirkland was the LIFE magazine photographer who was assigned to do a "making of" photo documentary for the music video Thriller back in 1983. This is a collection of his behind-the-scenes photos, accompanied by a variety of short essays and/or quotes from notable celebrities in Michael's life, or who were strongly influenced by Michael's work. The stills here remind me of the iconic images from the legendary Thriller music video, but add to that experience by showing Michael as a "real person", enduring hours in a special effects make-up chair without complaint, or goofing around with the director and crew. Jackson's Thriller album is still the top-selling album of all time, and may have shown the singer at the apex of his creative career. This is a very fond look back at that era, although it makes me a bit sad to think of how disconnected and bizarre he became in later years. Nicely packaged book...but a bit pricey. I'm glad I was able to read a copy from the library! [Obviously, you need to watch the Thriller music video (available commonly online), and listen to the full Thriller album to accompany this book!] -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ Thriller article on Wikipedia ] | [ official Douglas Kirkland web site ]

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Miss Rose's Spice of Life Quilts

Miss Rose's Spice of Life Quilts
by Carrie Nelson [746.46 qNel]

Thirteen quilt patterns using favorite blocks - Sawtooth Star, Log Cabin, Flying Geese, Hour Glass, Four Patch, Ohio Star, a House block, Bear Paw - combined together to appear intricate but are actually not. She uses strip sets and a neat, quick, cheater method for making Flying Geese. Fabrics shown are current and colorful but not blinding. Each chapter begins with her explanation of how she came about to make that particular quilt. The usual General Instructions on quilt-making are included. If nothing else you'll love browsing through the photos. Recommended for those who especially like the traditional patterns in soothing colors using cotton fabrics - no geometrics, batiks, or loud colors here. -- recommended by Charlotte K. - Bennett Martin Public Library


[ official Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. web site ]

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

The Corpse Wore Tartan

The Corpse Wore Tartan
by Kaitlynn Dunnett

I picked up this book because the name of the town intrigued me. It's Moosetookalook, Maine. I had hoped that the author would tell me how the town got its name, but no such luck. Instead I found a charming cozy with a Scottish-American heritage theme. Our heroine, Liss MacCrimmon, is helping to host the Scottish Heritage Appreciation Society's annual Burns Night Supper at the Spruces hotel. The festivities get off to a bad start when Phineas MacMillian insults everyone at the dinner and his twin, Phil, finds that someone has stolen his clan crest broach. Liss calls in local police officers, Sheri Willet and Pete Campbell, to investigate. As the evening wears on the heavy snow turns into a blizzard, stranding everyone at the hotel with no electricity or way to communicate with the outside world. Someone takes advantage of the situation to commit murder. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try the works of Isis Crawford, Ellery Adams and Sally Goldenbaum.] -- recommended by Donna G. - Virtual Services Department

[ official The Corpse Wore Tartan page on the official Kaitlynn Dunnett web site ]

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Valentines

Valentines
by Ted Kooser [811 Koo]

This is a light poetry collection from Nebraskan and former U.S. Poet Laureate (2004-2006) Ted Kooser. Starting in 1986, Kooser composed a Valentine's Day poem and mailed it (first to 50 women friends, but in more recent years to more than 2,500 women friends) around the country, to arrive on the holiday. This book collects the first 22 years of Kooser's tradition, and accompanies the poems with attractive, homey pen-and-ink illustrations by Robert Hanna. The poems range from serious to whimsical and touch on all aspects of the Valentine's Day holiday, from the stereotypical hearts, flowers and chocolates trappings, to explorations of love and friendship. These poems will make you think, will force you to explore your own feelings, and will make you appreciate the loved ones in your own life. If you've never read Kooser's poetry before -- and his work regularly appears in the local newspaper, so why haven't you? -- this is a marvelous collection to get started with. Make it an annual tradition to read Valentines by Ted Kooser on Valentine's Day!. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try the other poetry collections by Ted Kooser.] -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library


[ official Valentines web site ] | [ official Ted Kooser web site ]

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

The Dalek Conquests

The Dalek Conquests
presented by Nicholas Briggs [Compact Disc Briggs]

This one is a treat for science fiction fans, particularly those with a love for the British SF icon Doctor Who. One of The Doctor's main nemeses, ever since his second storyline in 1963, has been the Daleks, rolling weaponized tanks containing the mutated biological remnants of a species so dedicated to war and destruction that their ultimate goals include the destruction of all other life forms and the placement of themselves as the most superior form of life in the universe. Over 43 years of their history (this audioset was put together in 2006), the Daleks have returned again and again in episodes of Doctor Who, with their strident mechanical voices shrieking "Exterminate! Exterminate!" Over that length of time, a great deal of inconsistencies has cropped up regarding the origins and evolution of the Daleks, complicated by the time travel elements that are intrinsic to Doctor Who. This 2-disc CD set uses a narrative framework of a researcher attempting to compile a history of the Daleks, as well as audio clips from various generations of the tv series, to try to create an acceptable level of Dalek continuity over the years. The continuity ends up a bit flimsy, considering the vast number of TV writers/producers/directors who had a hand in individual Dalek storylines. But the attempt is admirable. For me, the most interesting part of this set is the chance to hear bits from rare episodes of the show that haven't been available any other way. Being a fan of the recent new Doctor Who adventures that have been airing since 2005, it was also mildly frustrating to not have the new Dalek storylines since 2006 included. But, still...this is a fun oddity for genre fans! [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try the various Doctor Who DVDs and novels in the library collection.] -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ official Doctor Who web site at the BBC ] | [ Wikipedia page for Nicholas Briggs ]

Have you listened to this? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

John Adams

John Adams
based on the biography by David McCullough [DVD John]

This HBO mini-series aired in 2008. Based on the book by David McCullough, the series chronicles the life of Founding Father John Adams as he moves from his role as Boston lawyer and farmer to patriot and ambassador, and from his roles as Vice President and President of the United States to retired farmer. Paul Giamatti's performance as John Adams is incredible. He plays John with both subtleness and passion. The portrayal of the relationship between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson is extremely well-done. I highly recommend this DVD. [If you enjoy this, you may wish to try the book John Adams by David McCullough, "The Adams Chronicles" PBS mini-series (1976) available on DVD; can be checked out through ILL, and the book My Dearest Friend: Letters of Abigail and John Adams by John Adams.] -- recommended by Kim J. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[Also available in print and book-on-cd formats.]

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ] | [ official John Adams mini-series web site ]

Have you seen this? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

The Fatal Heir

The Fatal Heir
by Lois Lewandowski

Gillian Jones is a part-time probation officer and a newly minted investigator for Jackson County, Nebraska. Her first case as an investigator is to find the birth parents of Caroline Schwartz. Caroline has little information for Gillian. All Caroline knows is that she was left at a monastery near Aspen, Colorado in 1967 and that the Purina salesman left her in Bend Brook at Howard and Libby Mehrman's home. Howard tells Gillian that he and Libby tried to adopt a child but were not having any success because the adoption agencies said that they were too old. One night in September 1967 their Purina salesman, Pete Livingston, calls them and asks if they would like to adopt a baby girl. They say yes and the next day Pete puts Caroline in Libby's arms. Caroline wants to know who her birth parents are and she asks Gillian for help to find them. Lois Lewandowski has written an engaging debut novel set in the fictional town of Bend Brook, Nebraska. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try the works of Joanne Fluke and Laura Childs.] -- recommended by Donna G. - Virtual Services Department

[ official Lois Lewandowski web site ]

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Foyle's War

Foyle's War
by Anthony Horowitz

As World War II rages over Europe, Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle fights his own battles against murder, conspiracy and intrigue on the homefront of the south coast of England. Although the stories are fictitious, they are all inspired by historical events that happened during the war. The main character of Foyle was created by writer Anthony Foyle with actor Michael Kitchen in mind. Kitchen also helped to create the character of Foyle through his meticulous portrayal of the Chief Superintendent. The interactions of the three main characters (Foyle, Sam and Milner) are what makes this dramatization stand out above others. At this time, the series has had six installments, all worthy of viewing. I highly recommend this DVD set. [If you enjoy this, you might wish to try the DVD sets of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Danger UXB! -- recommended by Kim J. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ] | [ official Foyle's War web site from PBS ]

Have you seen these? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

New Booktalk Booklist - My Life of Crime!

Erin S., from the Anderson and Bethany Branch Libraries, presented an all-new booktalk at Bethany Branch on September 3rd, 2010, and at Gere Branch on November 1st, 2010, which included a variety of fiction, non-fiction and DVDs related to the topic of art theft.

Her list of titles -- My Life of Crime -- is now available on the BookGuide web site on the Booktalk Booklists page. Check it out for some great reading (and viewing) suggestions!

Like No Other Place

Like No Other Place: The Sandhills of Nebraska, Photographs and Stories
by David A Owen [978.232 Owe]

One of the items on David Owen's bucket list was to live a place totally different from his home in urban Connecticut for a few years. Owen explained "Whenever Anne and I traveled, I wondered what it would be like to live in this place or that for a long enough period of time to get a solid and thoughtful sense of the history, the memories and the stories; of the beliefs and values; of how weather and geography formed the living there; of the diet and the spirituality; of how all of this orders and shapes the routine of daily life." A chance remark by a classmate at photographic workshop in Maine led David Owen to consider the Sandhills. The classmate talked about the beauty of the Sandhills where he had grown up. The comment stayed in David Owen's mind. He and his wife, Anne, decided to vacation in western Nebraska and see these rolling hills. They camped at Lake McConaughy and drove the two-lane highways that cut through the sparse landscape. Owen said that he knew this was the place that he wanted to be when he saw the way the light played over the land; "the strong summer light raised a subtle richness of shadows that brought out every latent curve, depression and angle. This was the place. The Sandhills was where I wanted to be." David Owen packed a small U-haul truck and moved to the Sandhills, specifically Ellsworth, Nebraska (population 32). His landlady, Kathie Bixby, introduced Owen to small town life and ranching in the Sandhills. He documented his time in Nebraska with his camera and with his pen. The result is this fine book filled with black and white photos of life in this vast prairie branded by fences. No detail escaped his lens -- not the pegboards of wrenches or the racks of ear tags hanging in the Ashby Ranch store. His essays describe events such as praise parties in rich detail, down to the food served at the potluck dinners and songs and hymns sung. And there are stories about the people such as Heidi Ostrander, who, after earning a degree in Accounting at Chadron State College in 2003, chose to return to the family ranch. This is a book about people and the land that provides them with economic and emotional sustenance. It is a fine work. -- recommended by Donna G. - Virtual Services Department

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

The Strange Return of Sherlock Holmes

The Strange Return of Sherlock Holmes
by Barry Grant

This volume is one of the latest books to cash in on the long-standing fascination with the legendary British sleuth, this time bringing Holmes into the modern era through a bit of a science fictional trick. The story is narrated by James Wilson, a recently retired journalist - a war coorespondent who's looking to settle into the small English town of Hay-on-Wye. Looking for lodgings, Wilson is connected (through a mutual acquaintance) with the eccentric Cedric Coombes, a man looking to share the expenses of a lodging, as he pursues a variety of odd research projects, primarily focused on pop culture and history of the the past 90 years. When Coombes is called in to consult on a local murder, Wilson accompanies him and slowly begins to realize that his roommate may very well be the legendary Sherlock Holmes. Coombes admits this and, interspersed with their contemporary murder investigation(s), shares with Wilson the tale of how he came to be "preserved" and brought back to existence in the 21st century. This is a fun, though slow-paced, read, and the characterizations are excellent. The mystery is pretty obvious, and a heavy-handed political editorializing to the conclusion may prove to be rather jarring for many readers. However, if you're a fan of classic Holmes, and don't mind a few twists, this is worth a try! -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library

See more books like this on our Elementary... booklist

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New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Unbearable Lightness: A Story of Loss and Gain

Unbearable Lightness: A Story of Loss and Gain
by Portia DeRossi [Biography DeRossi]

After being cast as Nelle Porter in "Ally McBeal," Portia DeRossi's life of bulimia and being in the closet became much more complicated. DeRossi writes, without a ghost writer, about how her battles with bulimia, anorexia, and sexuality were affected by her new celebrity status. DeRossi traces her time on "Ally McBeal" and her ventures into celebrity (a L'Oreal spokeswoman deal, a Blockbuster film, red carpets, meeting Ellen DeGeneres) alongside her daily weight, food allotments, and exercise. This is the most personal, honest memoir I've ever read. DeRossi simply explains what her life was like and what she was thinking along the way. DeRossi does not stop to apologize or agonize over the roughest parts. Rather, DeRossi picks them apart to explain, in the best detail I've ever seen, the truth about eating disorders. While the memoir is emotionally tough and heartbreaking at times, it is an amazing read written. "Unbearable Lightness" is by not just another Hollywood actor, but an amazing woman who has taken the time to reflect on her life and retell it for the world to understand and learn from. -- recommended by Courtney D. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ Publisher's official Unbearable Lightness web site ] | [ Wikipedia page for Portia DeRossi ]

This review was the 1000th review submitted by a Lincoln City Libraries staff member to the Staff Recommendations feature on our website!!

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Slow Cookers for Dummies

Slow Cookers for Dummies
by Tom Lacalamita [641.7 Lac]

My initial reaction at seeing this book was disbelief. What could be simpler than using a slow cooker? You read the little manual that accompanies your slow cooker and you're ready to go. But after several months I finally picked up this book, prepared to ridicule it, and was pleasantly surprised. The author begins with an interesting history of the slow cooker and the various brands available (FYI: "crockpot" is a registered trademark of the Rival Corp). Learn the difference between slow cookers, and appliances that cook slowly. He expands on your little instruction manual on use and care, and most importantly the "whys." Avoiding salmonella is one of your main goals here and a handy Cooking Temperature guide is included so you'll know the safe cooking temp needed for each food to achieve. Not necessary for success in using your slow cooker but a nice piece of info to have regardless. Additionally is included a table of how long you can store foods safely in the fridge (and freezer) before you've created a cool bacterial science project. How many of us have wondered if that 5-day-old chicken casserole in the back of the fridge is still safe? (No.) Learn how to convert your conventional recipes to a slow cooker. The author provides several recipes prepared in the conventional fashion and then as a slow cooker creation. A good half of this book includes recipes, as well as tips on how to handle any problems you might have. Also interesting, a list of Special Occasions for which you might use your slow cooker and sample menus(Super Bowl Chili Party, skiing trips, summer picnic). Overall, a basic, enjoyable, informative book on a topic you thought you already knew all about. -- recommended by Charlotte K. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ Publisher's official Slow Cookers for Dummies web site ] | [ Publisher's official Tom Lacalamita web site ]

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.

Chase's Calendar of Events

Chase's Calendar of Events (2011 ed.)
[R 394.26 qCha 2011]

This annual volume -- available at all Lincoln City Libraries locations in the non-circulating Reference collection -- is a wonderful and invaluable resource. Each year's edition of this large trade paperback opens with a set of colored pages that highlights significant "anniversaries" due to be acknowledged in that calendar year -- for events that specifically occured 200, 150, 100, 75, 50 and 25 years previously (in this case 1811, 1861, 1911, 1936, 1961 and 1986). The end of the book features numerous tables of useful information -- significant calendar dates for the next three years (holidays, starts of seasons, Daylight Savings Time change dates, etc.), listings of the Chinese calendar, classic and contemporary wedding anniversary gifts, a world map of time zones, astronomical phenomena (moon phases) charts, hurricane naming conventions, trivia info about the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, a list of U.S. presidential proclamations for the previous two years, lists of the major award winners in the fields of film, television, music, arts, humanities and journalism. The majority of this book, however, is a massive chronological listing of events -- day-by-day -- and anniversaries, primarily in North America (but occasionally in other countries). For sponsored events, or events with a web presence, the descriptions will give contacts' phone numbers, address and web addresses. There is also a very helpful 100-page index at the back of the book that assists researchers in finding events or anniversarsaries both geographically and by subject. Some examples: Curious about when the 2011 Belmont Stakes will be run? Page 315 - June 11 - Belmont Park, NY. Want to know when National Pecan Month is? Page 200 - April - Sponsored by the National Pecan Shellers Association. Know whose 125th birthday is being celebrated on December 1st? Mystery author Rex Stout (author of the Nero Wolfe stories). Want a list of noted celebrities who share your birthday, if you were born on July 5th? Page 356 - Edie Falco, Katherine Helmond, Huey Lewis, Robbie Robertson and a dozen more. This is not a book to just sit and read cover to cover, but it is a wonderful reference for researchers! -- recommended by Scott C. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ Publisher's official Chase's Calendar of Events web site ]

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You

You
by Charles Benoit

You wouldn't have noticed this book if you had not been putting a Young Adult sticker on it. You -- an intriguing book title with a striking cover: Y-O-U, spelled out in red pieces of broken glass. You skim the flap...a young adult "debut" with three prior adult mystery novels. So, not exactly a novice author, you think. You decide to read it. Author Charles Benoit, a former high school teacher, knows the territory in this book inside out. You can't get ahead of him. You don't want to. You can't put the book down. High school-. How has it changed? How is it the same? You've known someone like Kyle Chase, the main character. Or have you? You will have to read You to find out. -- recommended by Kay V. - Bennett Martin Public Library

[ Publisher's official You web site ] | [ official Charles Benoit web site ]

Have you read this one? What did you think? Did you find this review helpful?

New reviews appear every month on the Staff Recommendations page of the BookGuide web site. You can visit that page to see them all, or watch them appear here in the BookGuide blog individually over the course of the entire month.