BOOKS, MOVIES & MUSIC

Staff Recommends

More suggestions are available on Staff Recommends for Kids!

Recommendation for the Week of May 12, 2008

How I Paid for College: a Novel of Sex, Theft, Friendship and Musical Theater
by: Acito, Marc
FIC A181h

Are you looking for a book that is out of the ordinary and will make you laugh? This one will leave you in hysterics. Acito`s debut novel follows the senior year of Edward Zanni, who—after his father drops a bombshell on him—finds himself fighting to achieve his dream of attending Juilliard to study acting. Edward has been coasting along without a care in the world when his father, under the influence of his evil Austrian bride-to-be, decides he will not foot the Juilliard bill. Edward and his friends band together to find a way to pay for college. On their crazy adventures Edward discovers his bisexuality, impersonates a priest, and puts a senator's son in an uncompromising position. Edward's life as a typical "Play Person" in the bedroom community of Wallingford, New Jersey becomes a roller coaster adventure that will appeal to teenagers and adults alike.

- recommended by Lindsay Haddix, Pike Branch

Recommendation for the Week of May 5, 2008

Get Yourself in Golf Shape: Year-Round Drills to Build a Strong, Flexible Swing
by: Reid, Cindy
796.3523 REI

With golf season fast approaching, (or long since here for you die-hards!), Cindy Reid’s tips and drills will have you and your golf swing in perfect form to hit the links. Reid, a former LPGA player who teaches current PGA players, has put her years of knowledge and experience into simple, yet very effective exercises that will help you train your body to execute the perfect swing. With an easy to use format and lots of pictures, you can practice these drills on and off the course. And as the title says, you can use Reid’s book year-round; even if you can’t escape the Indiana winters, you can keep your swing, as well as your body, in shape. Reid will teach you how to improve your swing and elevate your game just by getting your body into “Golf Shape”.

- recommended by Melissa Wooton, Shelby Branch

Recommendation for the Week of April 28, 2008

Tool & Die
by: Graves, Sarah
MYS GRA

The eighth book in the "Home Repair is Homicide" series starring Jacobia "Jake" Tiptree, is a fast paced read through the world of home repair and murder, two subjects which, when thought about, are not that far apart; just ask any man and wife who embark on their own repair projects! Jake and her best friend Ellie White, long known as the biggest snoops in Eastport, are ready to lend a hand when Jake's housekeeper, Bella, is in need of help. Bella has been getting threatening notes from her ex-husband. Jake and Ellie decide to pay a visit to the ex-husband only to find him dead. After Bella is arrested for the murder, it is up to Jake and Ellie to do what they do best - snoop. When not investigating the murder, Jake must continue to work on the restoration of her home and deal with a family reunion and with moose puke in her kitchen! As a bonus, home repair tips are included in the book.

- recommended by Laura Dixon, Outreach Service Section

Recommendation for the Week of April 21, 2008

Don't Get Too Comfortable: The Indignities of Coach Class, The Torments of Low Thread Count, The Never-Ending Quest for Artisanal Olive Oil, and Other First World Problems
by: Rakoff, David
081 RAK

As the book's subtitle suggests, the author pokes and stabs at a slice of society in which excess is applauded and decadence considered an entitlement. Witty, sarcastic and self-effacing, Rakoff's collection of essays describes the wastefulness of flight on the Concorde and the silliness of couture fashion shows in Paris. Despite his irreverence, Rakoff's observations don't stem from santimonious asceticism. In fact, he writes "It's nice to have nice things. Creature comfort is not some bourgeois capitalist construct…" However, he clearly makes the point that just because you can, doesn't necessarily mean you should.

- recommended by Ann Ricciardelli, Central Library

Recommendation for the Week of April 14, 2008

The Thirteenth Tale
by: Setterfield, Diane
FIC SET

Margaret Lea is the daughter of a London bookseller and a passionate book collector herself. She’s a writer, but just barely, having only published a little-known work about siblings. Out of the blue, mega-famous writer Vida Winter writes Margaret to say that she finally wants someone to write her life story, which has been shrouded in mystery for decades. In the wilds of North Yorkshire, Margaret conducts a series of interviews with the terminally ill Winter, and in her leisure time explores the haunting Angelfield estate, the setting for Vita’s childhood. Gradually, a host of eccentric characters emerge: Vita’s strange Uncle Charlie; his enigmatic sister, Isabelle; their star-crossed parents; Isabelle’s twin daughters; the devoted cook and caretaker and a bevy of bewildered governesses. Will Vita have enough time left to reveal the whole story to Margaret? Is any part of the tale she is telling true? Are there really ghosts at Angelfield? A brilliantly written and uttering absorbing gothic first novel by the gifted Setterfield.

- recommended by Emily Talbott, Nora Branch

Recommendation for the Week of April 7, 2008

Dishwasher: One Man’s Quest to Wash Dishes in All 50 States
by: Jordan, Pete
B Jordan, Pete JOR

While growing up an uninspired, lazy punk whose only aspiration was to avoid being tied down to a dreaded 'real job,' writer Pete Jordan came up with what could only be seen as an overly-ambitious slacker mission: his personal goal was to wash dishes in all fifty states. Pete began his career as a "dish dog" while in college, finding it an easy job to quit without notice. But the biggest draw was that it was an even easier career in which to find work quickly, with no resumé. "Dishwasher wanted" signs became the shining beacon in those travels from city to city, state to state. Jordan originally documented his travels and travails in a photocopied 'zine simply called, "Dishwasher." His memoir is an engaging, entertaining read that could be an inspiration to those who always wanted to see the world without being tied down to it.

- recommended by Michael Schull, formerly of the Lawrence Branch

Recommendation for the Week of March 31, 2008

Roscoe Turner, Aviation’s Master Showman
by: Glines, Carroll V.
B Turner, Roscoe

Mr. Glines has never failed to “take me along” on his historical writings. His biography of Roscoe Turner is no exception. You might remember Roscoe Turner’s hangar at Weir Cook Airport. Indianapolis is where Turner made his home following his daredevil days, and this book brings those days to life. Roscoe’s career in the 1920s and 1930s was part flamboyant air racer and part flamboyant advertiser. He frequently flew with a “pet” lion cub named “Gilmore.” Gilmore also happened to be the name of Turner’s sponsor oil company. When he wasn’t flying with lions, Turner was winning air races flown in single engine experimental aircraft. Though now largely unremembered, he was a multiple winner of the Bendix and Thompson Trophy races, and in the process set many cross country speed records. His efforts made flying better, safer, and faster for all of us. Carroll Glines's biography reveals both the super-man and the man.

- recommended by Mike Hylton, Irvington Branch

Recommendation for the Week of March 24, 2008

The Writing on the Wall: Why We Must Embrace China as a Partner or Face It as an Enemy
by: Hutton, Will
303.48273051 HUT

In 1978, China opened its door to the world and initiated a so-called “socialist market economy” under the directions of the late Chairman Deng Xiaoping. From 1978-2006, China’s economy has grown nine times; the average per capita income has increased six times from 1978-2003; and 400 million people were pulled out of poverty from 1981-2001. Has the “socialist market economy” innovation been successful? Can capitalist market economy and socialist system co-exist? Can China continue to grow economically without political reforms? This controversial book presents the central argument that for all China’s success to-date, ultimately the system that the communists have created is structurally unstable. What can the U.S. do if we are to develop a harmonious and prosperous global economy? Hutton’s book is thought-provoking and worth reading whether you have business ventures in China or are interested in that country or in world development.

- recommended by Sailan Liang, Glendale Branch

Recommendation for the Week of March 17, 2008

His Majesty's Dragon
by: Novik, Naomi
FIC NOV

This first novel by Naomi Novik takes a unique look at the concept of the dragon rider. In her novel dragons are as real as humans, and in Britain they are bred and trained to be the driving force behind the Aerial Corps. This novel is the first in a historical fantasy series set during the Napoleonic Wars.

Will Laurence, a British Naval Captain, finds himself the accidental aviator in charge of a Chinese dragon he names Temeraire. After a crash course in dragon handling, he and his crew of aviators must help defend Britain from the ever increasing threat of Napoleon Bonaparte. The descriptions of battle between formations of dragons are both detailed and exciting. Laurence and Temeraire’s complex partnership is thought-provoking, as they battle not only France but their own inner conflicts concerning duty, honor, freedom, and loyalty both to their country and each other.

The most fantastic part of this novel is how Novik makes dragons in history so believable. Not only could they exist, but Novik makes you want to meet one.

- recommended by Emilie Van Sloun, East 38th Street Branch

Recommendation for the Week of March 10, 2008

Enclosure
by: Goldsworthy, Andy
730.942

Sheepfolds, pens for gathering sheep, are not usually considered artistically interesting, unless you’re Andy Goldsworthy. In a new book, Enclosure, about his “Sheepfolds Project,” he uses stone, wool, feathers, and even peat to create evocative sculptural forms that exist with nature. His projects are deep appreciations and ways of relating to the earth, not only as nature has formed it, but as humankind has interacted with it. And, while some of his work does end up in gallery installations, most of it either remains as an often-functional part of the landscape or is dissipated by wind and water. The focus of this book is an 11-year commissioned project to create sites based on the repair or rebuilding of derelict sheepfolds, no longer used because of modern agricultural practices. In his hands, they become intricate and fascinating pieces of sculpture in themselves. Startling, mysterious, intricate, and beautiful – this is a real treat for the eye and the soul.

- recommended by Kathy Barnard, Selection Service Section

Recommendation for the Week of March 3, 2008

The Dead Secret
by: Collins, Willkie
FIC C71344d

Wilkie Collins, now an obscure literary figure to most readers, is considered by some to be one of the fathers of the modern mystery; and The Dead Secret, originally published as a serial in 1857, does present a mystery. It opens with a deathbed scene and the disclosure that Sarah Leeson, lady's maid, has a tragic secret--and that her mistress (who is dying) shares the secret. With her dying words, Mrs. Treverton forces Sarah to write the secret in a letter that she wants her husband to have. But she dies before she can force Sarah to swear to give the letter to her master. The secret has to do with Mrs. Treverton's daughter, surely; but Sarah runs away and the story jumps fifteen years ahead to the daughter's marriage. The story's original format leaves the book with lots of cliffhangers as we puzzle out the secret and how its knowledge will change the characters' lives. This was a book that I closed a little sadly, wishing that the journey could continue a little longer.

- recommended by Katherine Rowland, Franklin Road Branch

Recommendation for the Week of February 25, 2008

The Republic
by: Plato
321.07 PLA

In the time of primaries, it can be a pleasure to feel yourself really thinking. Try reading one chapter of an ancient classic: Book 1 from Plato's Republic - less than forty pages. Socrates asks his friends, "What is justice"? Everyone has an answer: Pay your debts. Be generous to friends and pay back your enemies. Most disturbing of all - whatever the ruler says, because might makes right. Socrates' hard questions demonstrate that such platitudes, even cynical ones, are wrong. But then, after really thinking, we still cannot say what justice is. As with politics, is there no substance? But Plato is not done. He has answers. (In Books 2 - 10.) One that feels true: justice is creating a just society - it can't be reduced to being a fair-minded individual. We hope that Plato's other answer is false: surely we don't need a ruler to get justice? Following Socrates in Book 1, the time of primaries could be ideal for his hard questions: What is - "change?" Or "experience?" Or "faith" within government?

- recommended by David Vaprin, Eagle Branch

Recommendation for the Week of February 18, 2008

Blood and Thunder: An Epic of the American West
by: Sides, Hampton
978.02 SID

The author follows the almost mythical life of the explorer and scout, Kit Carson, to tell a larger story--the conquest of the American West. It’s hard to imagine one person being involved in so many important events, but as the author states, Carson seems to have “been everywhere, met everyone.” He played a crucial role as guide for the army during the conquest of New Mexico and California. He led campaigns against the powerful Navajo nation. He even helped repel a Confederate invasion of the new territory. Well documented yet very entertaining, this is a great book for those wishing to learn more about this important time (1846-1868). Readers will gain an understanding of what life was like for the many groups of people caught up in the growth of our country. This is also an amazing account of a larger-than-life but very real American legend.

- recommended by Mark Kincaid, Decatur Branch

Recommendation for the Week of February 11, 2008

The Book Thief
by: Zusak, Marcus
FIC ZUS

This poignant and compelling read is by an Australian author who uses Death as the protagonist during the Holocaust, observing astute young Liesel Meminger and her foster family, neighbors, and the Jewish man they hide for months in their basement. One of the themes is the power of words, so it’s fitting that much of the prose involves bittersweet humor, keen observation, and beautiful description. For example, one character is described as having eyes "made of kindness, and silver," and wearing "a face with the shades pulled down." Death, the philosopher who removes many a soul, is also not without feeling, irony, and a sense of humor, with observations such as: "I like this human idea of the grim reaper. I like the scythe. It amuses me." Zusak, author of the earlier I Am The Messenger, notes on his website that he was inspired by stories of his parents’ youth when he began to craft The Book Thief. The result is an engrossing read for young adults through adult age range.

- recommended by Diane Palguta, College Avenue Branch

Recommendation for the Week of February 4, 2008

Grace After Midnight: A Memoir
by: Pearson, Felicia
791.45028 Pearson PEA

Felicia “Snoop” Pearson should be a statistic. Born in Baltimore to a crack-addicted mother, she weighed three pounds and was cross-eyed at birth. Foster grandparents in their sixties adopted her soon after, and provided a stable family life. Observant, intelligent, and athletic, Felicia tired of school and became drawn to the street, where life can end in an instant, and survival depends on knowing the players on every corner. Meanwhile, she realized that she was gay. Named Snoop by a drug dealer, “Uncle,” she entered the drug business at age eight, and by age fifteen, was sentenced to eight years in the penitentiary for killing a woman in self-defense. Learning of Uncle’s death while she was serving time caused her to reflect on her life and make changes. After her release from the penitentiary, she was cast as a remorseless assassin in HBO’s critically-acclaimed series The Wire. This honest and unapologetic memoir is a testament to a life reinvented.

- recommended by Beth Baker Schoch, African-American History Committee

Recommendation for the Week of January 28, 2008

Retire Downtown : The Lifestyle Destination for Active Retirees and Empty Nesters
by: Ezell, Kyle
646.79 EZE

Thinking of retirement? Have you ever considered yourself a potential Ruppie (Retired Urban Person)? If the idea of moving to a faraway tropical island doesn’t appeal to you, but the idea of being in the center of cultural, sports and dining opportunities does, then Retire Downtown may be just what you need. Kyle Ezell discusses 20 of America’s best retirement downtowns. These are cities where the downtowns are thriving with growing populations, and Indianapolis is included in the section on Four-Season Downtowns. Each section explores five reasons that make the city’s downtown a good location to consider. Target retirement districts and neighborhoods are described along with downtown essentials. The author provides information on general statistics, housing costs and taxes plus health, education and library facilities. He also sites volunteering, entertainment, transportation and shopping opportunities. Web site addresses are included with many of the citations. This source will help you learn about the most dynamic downtowns in America.

- recommended by Rod Burkett, East Washington Branch

Recommendation for the Week of January 21, 2008

The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Caught
by: Jackson, Neta
FIC JAC

Jodi Baxter and her fellow Yada Yada sisters find themselves facing even more challenges than before. This group of 12 extremely diverse women met when they were assigned to a prayer group at a women's conference in their hometown of Chicago. In the past 4 books in this series we have seen how these women became the best of friends as they supported each other through the challenges and crises in their lives. In book 5, recovering from a recent crime meant to sow hatred and anger, the Yada Yadas find themselves merging a white church and an African-American church in an effort to show the unity of their faith in the face of such animosity. The pitfalls they face only serve to make them stronger as they learn where their strength truly comes from.

- recommended by Suzy Heilman, Franklin Road Branch

Recommendation for the Week of January 14, 2008

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers
by: Roach, Mary
611 ROA

This book could also be called “One hundred and one uses for a dead body” and is not for the weak of stomach. Mary Roach takes you on a comical and well-researched scientific investigation of what happens to a corpse when you donate it to science. Usually you envision your body being used in a gross anatomy lab or as a practice dummy for surgeons, teaching our medical professionals the latest life-saving techniques. However, cadavers also serve the criminology profession in places called “forensic body farms,” and they're used by the automotive industry in car crash impact studies. Roach calls them science's superheroes, because they are put through tests and challenges that no living person would or could endure, and in the process they save lives and educate us about the limits of the human body. So even though your great aunt Edna may have been a lump on the couch for most of her life, who knew that in death she could be so useful?

- recommended by Suzanne Tidrow, Fountain Square Branch

Recommendation for the Week of January 7, 2008

An Abundance of Katherines
by: Green, John
TEEN FIC GRE

Graduating from high school means Colin loses his status as a child prodigy. And he doesn’t yet qualify for genius status. Plus he’s been dumped for the 19th time by a girlfriend named Katherine. The only solution to his depression is to hop in a car and go on a road trip with his best friend. A detour in Tennessee leads to an unexpected summer job, friendship, and a Eureka moment that will change his life. This extremely witty and amusing book is recommended for teens AND adults.

- recommended by Nicole James, College Avenue Branch

Recommendation for the Week of December 31, 2007

Teach Like Your Hair’s on Fire: The Methods and Madness Inside Room 56
by: Esquith, Rafe
370.1 ESQ

Most of us have experienced a few “Ah-ha” moments. For Rafe Esquith, his wake-up call was literally when his hair caught on fire during a science experiment. He was the last one in the class to realize his head was ablaze because he had inadvertently reached classroom nirvana. I think of it as being in the zone, Esquith labels it “ignoring the crap.” Either way, this gifted teacher had a transcendental moment that altered his educational philosophy forever; and his influence is rapidly spreading into classrooms across the globe. Part quixotic and possibly part “mad,” he has transformed his 5th grade class of mainly ESL students into Shakespeare-quoting individuals who have learned how to take charge of their own learning. Esquith’s book challenges such issues as the obsession with high-stakes testing, unresponsive administrators, ineffective professional development opportunities, and the “demons” that take away our energy and spirit. At the heart of his “cookbook” is getting students to take responsibility for their actions and to value failure as an integral part of the learning process.

- recommended by Angie Mulholland, Spades Park Branch

Recommendation for the Week of December 24, 2007

DuPont Circle
by: Kafka-Gibbons, Paul
FIC K1186d

In love, do opposites attract? Author Paul Kafka-Gibbons describes DuPont Circle as a place where "poor meets rich, old meets young, gay meets straight, native meets new arrival, and the peoples, styles and languages all squish together to form America." The author uses the traffic intersection in Washington, D.C. as the setting for this novel in which he looks at marriage through three different couples that come together. Love is portrayed through Jon and Peter, two gay men who are raising children; a May/December relationship between Jon’s father Bailey and his female housemate Louisa; and Max and Eve, two people of different faiths who are Bailey’s assistants. Each couple must face obstacles. Will love be sufficient to overcome them? If you like a story that incorporates social issues, you may love this book.

- recommended by Rod Burkett, East Washington Branch

Recommendation for the Week of December 17, 2007

It’s Not News, It’s FARK
by: Curtis, Drew
302.23 CUR

What is FARK? According to the author, Drew Curtis (and he should know since he made up the word), FARK is “what fills space when the mass media runs out of news.” Through his no-holds-barred sense of humor, Curtis explores what he considers the mass media’s patterns when presenting non-newsworthy information. One such pattern is providing ‘equal time for nutjobs.’ This is the media’s idea of providing equal time for differing opinions even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. For each of the eight patterns (including fearmongering and out-of-context celebrity comments), specific examples are given along with humorous reader responses posted on the author’s website (www.fark.com). From local newspapers to the largest cable news networks, no one is immune from using the tried and true methods to make the biggest news more interesting or lesser news seem more important. Read this eye-opening book and you will find yourself scrutinizing the media and saying, “That’s fark.”

- recommended by Will Smither, Haughville Branch

Recommendation for the Week of December 10, 2007

Save Karyn: One Shopaholic’s Journey to Debt and Back
by: Bosnak, Karyn
332.02402 BOS

Here is a cautionary tale dealing with that grimmest of financial situations—credit card debt. Yet Karyn Bosnak, the author and heroine of the piece, is so plucky and engaging that she ably injects humor into a most serious topic. Bosnak details her move from hardy Chicago to chichi Manhattan where she quickly racks up $25,000+ in frivolous credit card bills. The schemes Bosnak concocts to delay her creditors are so zany and her justification for each purchase is so ludicrous that all you can think is, “Oh no she didn’t.” But oh yes—she did. Finally, in the wake of abrupt unemployment in a post-9/11 economy, Karyn’s financial ruin is swift and utter. Now she must rally herself for the long climb out of a very deep hole. Her brainstorm? The creation of a website called www.savekaryn.com wherein the young lady proposes to pay off her debt through dollars donated by complete strangers via the Internet. Another harebrained idea…or total genius? You decide.

- recommended by Angie Lewis, Wayne Branch

Recommendation for the Week of December 3, 2007

Porch Talk: Stories of Decency, Common Sense, and Other Endangered Species
by: Gulley, Philip
LT 242 GUL

Author Philip Gulley will give a reading and will sign books at the Irvington Branch on December 12th.

Not knowing what to expect from an Indiana author/Quaker pastor, I intended to glance thorough this book and return it in three days along with my DVD’s. To my surprise, I read it cover-to-cover. Whether poking fun at himself (“grateful”… his wife’s parents “taught her not to pick a husband based on his looks”), or his Quaker upbringing (“we…take a certain pride in our eccentricities”), Mr. Gulley’s wit and self-deprecating humor elevate this book beyond a “stocking stuffer” and make it something actually worth reading. (Don’t miss his eerie prescience in “The Compact” and “The State of Housing” regarding property taxes). Porch Talk consists of thirty short stories, each only a few pages in length. Reader tip: the large-print edition is easier to read than the smaller hardcover edition--not only is the print larger and the typeface bolder and cleaner, but the book is larger and easier to hold.

- recommended by Kathleen Rivenburg, Flanner House Branch