Daniel Boone Regional Library

If you have not watched the television show “Supernatural,” then give yourself a treat: get your hands on the first seven seasons, lock yourself away in your room and don’t emerge until you’ve enjoyed all 100+ hours of  monster-chasing and ghost-hunting. If you have seen this show and want more, more, more, the library has books filled with new stories.

“Fresh Meat” by Alice Henderson follows brothers Sam and Dean and their fellow monster-hunter Bobby to the Tahoe National Forest to investigate possible zombie attacks. But what will kill them first: the monsters or the approaching blizzard? Also available:

• “Rite of Passage” and “Night Terror” by John Passarella
• “Coyote’s Kiss” by Christa Faust
• “One Year Gone” by Rebecca Dessertine.

Sometimes in television, ideas for episodes end up on the cutting room floor for various reasons, like lack of resources or lack of room in the schedule. But these ideas don’t just go away. Often they’re passed off to other writers who translate the ideas into novel form, creating pages and pages of new episodes of your favorite shows! Writers have created books based on “Buffy The Vampire Slayer,” “Angel,” “The X-Files,” and even “Doctor Who.”

If you’re anything like me, it’s tragic when you lose a television show, and all you want to do is curl up in a ball and weep for the loss of your fallen characters. But these books provide a sense of promise, a tiny comfort that whispers, “Wait! There’s more!” DBRL carries:

Books based on “The X-files”

• “Antibodies,” “Ground Zero,” “Ruins”by Kevin J. Anderson
•  “Goblins” by Charles L. Grant

Books based on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel”

• “The Book of Fours” and “Heat” by Nancy Holder
• “Pretty Maids All In A Row” by Christopher Golden
• “Coyote Moon” by John Vornholt

Books based on “Doctor Who”

• “The Jade Prymaid: The Gemini Contagion” by Martin Day
• “The Wheel Of Ice” by Stephen Baxter
• “Shada: The Lost Adventure” by Douglas Adams (that’s right – THE Douglas Adams)
• “Dead Of Winter” by James Goss
• “The Coming Of The Terraphiles, Or, Pirates Of The Second Aether” by Michael Moorcock

And don’t forget about books that have inspired television shows, like Kathy Reichs’ Temperance Brennan series on which the show “Bones” is based.

If you have not watched the television show “Supernatural,” then give yourself a treat: get your hands on the first seven seasons, lock yourself away in your room and don’t emerge until you’ve enjoyed all 100+ hours of  monster-chasing and ghost-hunting. If you have seen this show and want more, more, more, the library has books filled with new stories.

“Fresh Meat” by Alice Henderson follows brothers Sam and Dean and their fellow monster-hunter Bobby to the Tahoe National Forest to investigate possible zombie attacks. But what will kill them first: the monsters or the approaching blizzard? Also available:

• “Rite of Passage” and “Night Terror” by John Passarella
• “Coyote’s Kiss” by Christa Faust
• “One Year Gone” by Rebecca Dessertine.

Sometimes in television, ideas for episodes end up on the cutting room floor for various reasons, like lack of resources or lack of room in the schedule. But these ideas don’t just go away. Often they’re passed off to other writers who translate the ideas into novel form, creating pages and pages of new episodes of your favorite shows! Writers have created books based on “Buffy The Vampire Slayer,” “Angel,” “The X-Files,” and even “Doctor Who.”

If you’re anything like me, it’s tragic when you lose a television show, and all you want to do is curl up in a ball and weep for the loss of your fallen characters. But these books provide a sense of promise, a tiny comfort that whispers, “Wait! There’s more!” DBRL carries:

Books based on “The X-files”

• “Antibodies,” “Ground Zero,” “Ruins”by Kevin J. Anderson
•  “Goblins” by Charles L. Grant

Books based on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel”

• “The Book of Fours” and “Heat” by Nancy Holder
• “Pretty Maids All In A Row” by Christopher Golden
• “Coyote Moon” by John Vornholt

Books based on “Doctor Who”

• “The Jade Prymaid: The Gemini Contagion” by Martin Day
• “The Wheel Of Ice” by Stephen Baxter
• “Shada: The Lost Adventure” by Douglas Adams (that’s right – THE Douglas Adams)
• “Dead Of Winter” by James Goss
• “The Coming Of The Terraphiles, Or, Pirates Of The Second Aether” by Michael Moorcock

And don’t forget about books that have inspired television shows, like Kathy Reichs’ Temperance Brennan series on which the show “Bones” is based.

Vote for the Next One Read Book April 8-26

The Call by Yannick Murphy

The Ruins of Us
by Keija Parssinen Vote for “The Call” Vote for “The Ruins of Us” Thank you for your vote

 

 

The One Read reading panel narrowed the list of more than 140 book suggestions for the 2013 program to two top contenders. Between now and April 26, cast your vote for either “The Call” by Yannick Murphy or “The Ruins of Us” by Keija Parssinen.

“The Call” by Yannick Murphy

A large animal veterinarian in rural New England chronicles a year of his life and his practice in a series of log-like entries. As the days fly by, he saves some animals and doesn’t save others, he ponders nature and time, listens to what his house tells him, worries about the economy, waits for his son to wake from a coma and discovers what it means to be a family. In this highly original book, Murphy paints a quirky, reflective and warm portrait of small-town life that is both funny and deeply moving.

Preview the first few pages of “The Call.”

More information:

• Author’s Website
• Publisher’s Page
• Publisher’s Reading Group Guide
• Boston Globe Review
• Washington Post Review
• Author Interview With The Daily News

• Books & Authors Database
• Google Books
• Goodreads
• LibraryThing
• Shelfari

“The Ruins of Us” by Keija Parssinen

After more than 20 years of marriage to wealthy Saudi Abdullah al-Baylani, Rosalie, an American expatriate, discovers that her husband has taken a Palestinian second wife, which makes her contemplate escaping both the marriage and the country she has grown to love. Leaving will not be easy, however, given the country’s restrictions on women and the needs of her teenage children – a headstrong daughter becoming increasingly westernized and a son succumbing to radicalism. This is an intimate and suspenseful family drama.

Preview the first few pages of “The Ruins of Us.”

More information:

• Author’s Website
• Publisher’s Page
• Publisher’s Reading Group Guide
• The Guardian Review
• Publisher’s Weekly Review
• Author Interview With The Missouri Review

• Books & Authors Database
• Google Books
• Goodreads
• LibraryThing
• Shelfari

 

A new look and functionality to the library’s digital book services launches on Monday, April 8 when OverDrive will update our eBook and downloadable audiobook catalog. In addition to introducing a new look, you’ll see improvements to the searching, browsing and check-out procedures. Some of the changes include one-step borrowing (no more cart) and better limiting options for search results. You will also have the option of reading many titles in your browser instead of downloading them. No e-reader required!

Watch this video to preview several of the important changes. We’ll also be updating our Quick Start Guide with tips on how to use the new site when it goes live.

We hope you’ll like this update. Please contact us if you have any questions or comments.

 

I picked up “Dark Lord, the Early Years” by Jamie Thomson because of its interesting, if somewhat ridiculous, premise. The Dark Lord, a Sauron-like being who rules the Darklands, is banished to Earth in the form of a teenage boy. He remembers who he is, or was, and vows to conquer our world before returning to his own to seek vengeance against his enemies. As you might expect, no one in this world believes him and hilarity ensues.  After a series of misunderstandings, his name becomes Dirk Lloyd, he is placed with a foster family and enrolled in school.

Unfortunately, none of his spells or magical items work and everyone around him believes he is crazy. But as he begins to come to terms with his situation, he is able to assemble a small group of friends who, for one reason or another, are willing to aid him in his quest to return home.

There are plenty of fantasy tropes thrown around throughout the course of the book, but they are used to poke fun at the genre and highlight the ridiculousness of Dirk’s situation. The story itself is pretty novel and quite enjoyable if you can get past most of the ridiculous plot elements. I had a hard time figuring out whether Dirk was actually a powerful sorcerer from another world or just delusional. You find out by the end, but I won’t spoil anything.

If you enjoy this book, the sequel, “Dark Lord: A Fiend in Need,” will be coming out in October.

April 5: “Chasing Ice” opens at Ragtag. (via)
April 6: “Fly Fishing Film Tour” 1:00 p.m. at Ragtag. (via)
April 7: “The Flat” 1:00 p.m. at Ragtag, free. (via)
April 8:  “Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry” 5:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. Forum 8. (via)
April 9: “Tough Guise” 7:00 p.m. at the MU Student Center, free. (via)
April 11: “Teenage Paparazzo” 6:30 p.m. at  Jesse Auditorium. Director Adrian Grenier in person. (via)

After two months of nail-biting competition, central Missouri teens have selected their March Madness Teen Book Tournament Champion. We began with a list of 32 finalists which included bestsellers such “Ship Breaker” by Paolo Bacigalupi, “Paranormalcy” by Kiersten White, and many Gateway and Truman Award nominees. Many thanks the teachers and school librarians who have supported this program, and to all the teens who have participated in this competition! And now, the 2013 Champion is….

“Divergent” by Veronica Roth

All of our prize winners have been contacted. Stay tuned to teens.dbrl.org for our sneak peek at this year’s teen summer reading challenge, Beneath the Surface. Through this program, the library challenges young adults to read for 20 hours, share three book reviews, and do seven of our suggested activities. Complete the challenge, and you will be eligible to win cool prizes. Stay informed by subscribing to our email updates!

We recently added “Sound City” to the DBRL collection. The film currently has a rating of 100% from critics at Rotten Tomatoes. We also have the film soundtrack, Sound City: Reel to Reel, available to check out. Here’s a synopsis from our catalog:

In 2012 Dave Grohl purchased the legendary Neve 8028 recording console from Sound City Studios. The board, built in 1972, is considered to be the crown jewel of analog recording equipment, having recorded such artists as Neil Young, Fleetwood Mac, Johnny Cash, Guns and Roses, Metallica, and many other musical legends. This tells the story of real rock history, and celebrates the music, as Grohl gathers some of rock’s greatest artists to collaborate on a new album using this classic console.

Check out the film trailer or the official film site for more info.

April is National Poetry Month, and the Academy of American Poets has provided a list of 30 ways to celebrate, one for each day of the month. (Who says poets can’t do math?) I especially like the suggestion to buy a book of poems for your library, but I may have a slight bias. Most of the ideas are free and many are simple – chalk a poem onto the sidewalk, pack a poem with your lunch. Here’s one I’ve already done: sign up to receive a poem a day in your email.  Don’t forget to wear something with pockets for Poem in Your Pocket Day on April 18.

Resources for poetry enthusiasts are as “plentiful as the grass that grows.”* Here are a few:

Wanting to find a favorite verse from your past? Try searching for it in the Litfinder database. In addition to literary works, Litfinder includes analyses of works and information about the authors.

Many folks would like to develop an appreciation for poetry but feel intimidated by it. Molly Peacock removes the fear factor in her book “How to Read a Poem…and Start a Poetry Circle.”

“Poetry on Record” provides an enriching listening experience and a good overview of English-language poetry from 1888 to the 21st century.

Perhaps you’ve enjoyed reading poetry so much you want to compose some of your own. “Writing Poems” by Michelle Boisseau will get you started, and keep you going.

Poets who are ready for a challenge should consider signing up for NaPoWriMo, National Poetry Writing Month.  The goal is to write a poem each day in April.

A nice cap to the month of celebration will be the Youth Poetry Awards Ceremony at 6 pm on April 25 at the Callaway County Public Library.

*from a traditional Irish verse

We recently added “Fast, Cheap & Out of Control” to the DBRL collection. The film by director Errol Morris was an award winner from 1997 and currently has a rating of 90% from critics at Rotten Tomatoes. Here’s a synopsis from our catalog:

Acclaimed filmmaker Errol Morris paints a fascinating portrait of four obsessed eccentrics. Morris weaves interviews with a wild animal trainer, a topiary gardener, a robot designer and an expert on the naked mole rat together with old movies, cartoons and stock footage for a compelling, kaleidoscopic look at the very thin line which separates madness from genius.

Check out the film trailer or the official film site for more info.

“What is Sorry Charlie Day?” you may be asking. A perfectly legitimate question considering most of us have never heard of this “holiday.” According to “Chase’s Calendar of Events,” April first is a day where we celebrate how we’ve all been rejected before, accept it as a natural part of life and then rejoice in the fact that something better usually comes along. With this being almost two months after Valentine’s Day, I think the holiday is aptly placed. Here are a few titles from the library’s collection you might check out to observe Sorry Charlie Day.

“He’s Just Not That Into You” by Greg Behrendt is a great collection of advice for women having trouble recognizing rejection from the opposite sex. It’s straightforward and a little crude at times, but this book doesn’t beat around the bush. Directness is the whole point as Behrendt explains, without any platitudes, why you’re getting the boot.

In fiction, we have Jane Austen’s “Persuasion,” the classic tale of a young woman rejecting the man she really loves when persuaded to do so by her family. If you prefer more contemporary fiction, then try “The Discreet Pleasures of Rejection” by Martin Page, a witty and quick read about being rejected without knowing why, quite literally! The main character is rejected by a woman he has never met or spoken with and wonders what this says about him as a sane person.

Of course, we all know that rejection isn’t totally about romantic relationships. There are some wonderful books on other kinds of rejections. “Other People’s Rejection Letters” by Bill Shapiro collects real life rejection letters that will make you feel much better about whatever situation you’re in. After all, it could be worse – you could be a writer like Laura Resnick, who describes in “Rejection, Romance, and Royalties” the hard times and disappointments of being (or attempting to be) a professional writer.

In short, celebrate Sorry Charlie Day this April with your library and feel good about the fact that in order for something better to come along, you’ve got to get let down a lot first.

Teen Game Night
Friday, April 19 › 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Southern Boone County Public Library

Challenge your friends to a game on our new Wii or to a board game tournament. We’ll have various games available as well as supplies for an art project. Refreshments provided. Please enter through the back door. Ages 12 and older. To register, please call (573) 657-7378. Sign-up begins Friday, April 5. 

If you’re into gaming, don’t forget that that Columbia Public Library will be hosting a Wii U Launch Party this Wednesday, April 3. Call (573) 443-3161 to sign-up. This event is also for teens ages 12 and older.

I get it already.  I do.  Seriously, I do not need to read one more book about painfully detailed wardrobes and how the main character just can’t decide between those two boys, and thinking is hard, and oh gee whiz, she chipped a nail. I mean, I like painting my nails, but give me a break.

No, on second thought, give me some strong ladies.  I want to read books about women making hard choices and doing it well.  I want to see a girl save the day.  I want to see a woman find her happiness without the aid of some significant other.

I want characters I can respect like “Sabriel“ who travels into Death to rescue her father, a necromancer.  Is she prepared?  Not really.  Is it scary and dangerous?  Oh, yeah.  But, she does what she has to and she does it without much help.

Beatrice in “Divergent” leaves her family, her home, her friends and everything she has ever known because she needs to be true to herself.  She needs to find what will make her happy, not what everyone expects from her.

D.J. in “Five Flavors of Dumb” is a deaf teen struggling to fit in at her hearing school, manage a rock band, AND get into college even though her parents stole her college fund.

In my search, I have collected a pretty good list.  Hopefully everyone can find something that appeals to the hero in all of us.

I get it already.  I do.  Seriously, I do not need to read one more book about painfully detailed wardrobes and how the main character just can’t decide between those two boys, and thinking is hard, and oh gee whiz, she chipped a nail. I mean, I like painting my nails, but give me a break.

No, on second thought, give me some strong ladies.  I want to read books about women making hard choices and doing it well.  I want to see a girl save the day.  I want to see a woman find her happiness without the aid of some significant other.

I want characters I can respect like “Sabriel“ who travels into Death to rescue her father, a necromancer.  Is she prepared?  Not really.  Is it scary and dangerous?  Oh, yeah.  But, she does what she has to and she does it without much help.

Beatrice in “Divergent” leaves her family, her home, her friends and everything she has ever known because she needs to be true to herself.  She needs to find what will make her happy, not what everyone expects from her.

D.J. in “Five Flavors of Dumb” is a deaf teen struggling to fit in at her hearing school, manage a rock band, AND get into college even though her parents stole her college fund.

In my search, I have collected a pretty good list.  Hopefully everyone can find something that appeals to the hero in all of us.

“Let’s go fly a kite
Up to the highest height!
Let’s go fly a kite
And send it soaring.
Up through the atmosphere
Up where the air is clear
Oh, let’s go fly a kite!”

Do you remember this song from the movie “Mary Poppins”? It occurs right at the end of the film when the newly harmonized Banks family skips off to fly kites together with the throngs of other kite-flyers at a local park. As a kid it was a magical moment for me to see a whole flock of diamond-shaped paper kites bobbing about in the blue sky over London.

I mention this scene because I was reminded of it when I discovered that April is National Kite Month. I have to admit that when trolling the Internet for kite photos I found some pretty fantastical modern kites that make those Mary Poppins kites look rather dull, but since the movie depicts kites circa 1910, it’s okay.  They didn’t have brightly colored rip-stop nylon fabrics and aluminum and fiberglass rods to produce kites back then.

Early kites were fashioned from lightweight silk or paper fixed to flexible bamboo frames.  Although it isn’t known for certain, it is commonly believed that kites originated in China about 2,000 years ago and then spread west across Asia and into Europe. Kites were first used for military purposes, which included signaling and enemy observation. Later they aided in scientific research by raising meteorological instruments and cameras into the sky for data collection. Being our earliest form of aircraft (even if tethered to the earth by a line), they were instrumental in helping the Wright brothers design airplanes. Once airplanes assumed the military and scientific tool role that kites had held, kite-flying became largely a recreational activity.

How lucky for us that we can enjoy this whimsical pastime, which doubles as a visual art experience, since many contemporary kite designs are modern art sculptures. Yes, art that flies! Of course, you can purchase a kite or you can make your own if you’re feeling crafty and adventuresome. Here at DBRL we have books that instruct in kite-making, from the simple to the more complex. If you want to join others in this activity and live in the Columbia area, the city’s Parks and Recreation Department is sponsoring a Kite Flying Day on April 6.  Shake off any last vestiges of heavy winter from your psyche – head out into the warmer weather and let the April winds lift your spirits with along with your kite.

April 3: “Bully” 8:00 p.m. at  Wrench Auditorium, free. (via)
April 4: “El Vador”5:30 p.m. at Ragtag, free. (via)

Be sure to register online by Friday, April 5 if you plan to take the May 4 SAT exam. If you would like to know more about testing costs, locations, and resources to help you prepare, check out our SAT Test Prep guide. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our blog updates for regular email reminders of upcoming SAT and ACT registration deadlines!

Director Morgan Neville’s film “Twenty Feet From Stardom” was a hit at the True False Film Fest last month. Check out other documentaries he’s directed that are available at DBRL:

“Troubadours: The Rise of the Singer-songwriter” (2011)

This PBS American masters documentary recounts the beginning of the singer-songwriter movement in the 1960s and 1970s focusing on the collaboration between Carole King and James Taylor and their performances at the Troubadour club in West Hollywood, Calif.

“Search and Destroy: Iggy and the Stooges’ Raw Power” (2010)

Six fans were selected to film Iggy & the Stooges’ legendary September 3, 2010 reunion at the All Tomorrow’s Parties Festival. Experience the fans’ journey and joy as they witness a classic performance and meet their heroes face to face.

“Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story” (2007)

With rare performances, previously unreleased home movies and new recordings, this is the first comprehensive look at Stax Records, the greatest soul label of all time. Provides first-hand accounts from Isaac Hayes, Booker T. Jones, Steve Cropper, Mavis Staples, and many more.

“Shakespeare Was A Big George Jones Fan” (2005)

“Cowboy” Jack Clement has written songs and produced albums for some of the biggest names in music: Johnny Cash, U2, Jerry Lee Lewis and Louis Armstrong. He’s also filmed endless home movies, collected in this documentary for the first time.

“Muddy Waters: Can’t be Satisfied” (2003)

Examines the life of bluesman Muddy Waters, who was born the son of a sharecropper in the Mississippi Delta, but later moved to Chicago and became a legendary performer who established the electric blues sound. Includes interviews as well as archival interviews and concert footage.

Editor’s note: This review was submitted by a library patron during the 2012 Adult Summer Reading program. We will continue to periodically share the best of these reviews throughout the year. Many thanks to all of those who participated!

Writers on child development are fond of pointing out that children are born scientists – experimenting with the empirical world from the moment of birth on. But what if children are also born theologians? Justin Barrett, PhD, presents the results of recent research in his well-organized, well-referenced book, “Born Believers: The Science of Children’s Religious Belief.” He makes a convincing case that young children are cognitively predisposed to see agency and purpose in the world and that these two beliefs naturally unfold into a belief in supernatural beings (e.g., God or gods). This provides the skeleton that subsequently gets fleshed out with formal religious belief (some of which runs counter to the natural theology to which children’s minds are predisposed – the idea that God is outside time and space, for example, seems to be a hard one for children to grasp.  Adults, too, for that matter).  

He argues that a sense of the numinous is a natural capacity in human children, just as language is a natural ability, but one that requires rich exposure during a window in development in order to develop naturally. Accordingly, he gives advice about how to nurture the religious development of children in early childhood. Just to balance things out, he gives advice on how to nurture the development of an atheist tot as well, should that be the parents’ desire. These sections of the book are not as well-grounded in the empirical data, and occasionally I disagreed with his recommendations.  Still, this book made me think throughout, and I gained new insights at several points along the way.

Three words or phrases that describe this book: Thought-provoking, persuasive, research-based

You might want to pick this book up if: you have an interest in theology and/or child development.

-Elizabeth K.