Here are the meeting topics for 2012, look for exact dates in the sidebar!
February – Debut Novels
April – Cowboys vs. Aliens (westerns and/or science fiction)
June – Beach Reads
August – Young Adult
October – Audiobooks
December – Cookbook Potluck (bring a cookbook AND make a recipe!)
The following is an alphabetical list of the awards won by the books we discussed today.
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chabon
(Hugo Award for Best Novel, 2008)
Michael Chabon, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, comes up trumps again with The Yiddish Policemen’s Union, winner of the 2008 Hugo Award for Best Science Fiction Novel. In this alternative history, the Jewish Homeland is not in Israel but in the Sitka district of Alaska. However, it has only been a temporary homeland; control of the district is about to be handed over to Alaska once more, leaving the Jewish refugees fearful for their futures. In the midst of this uneasy atmosphere, detective Meyer Landsman takes on a baffling homicide case that has occurred in the hotel where he drags out his days guzzling alcohol, missing his estranged wife, and reflecting on how “these are strange times to be a Jew.” It seems he is the only one who wants to solve the murder; the word from his higher-ups is to close the case at once. But Landsman persists, determined to do one thing right in a life that has gone completely wrong. Part speculative fiction, part hard-boiled detective novel, The Yiddish Policemen’s Union is an outstanding achievement in plot and style. Reminiscent of the noir worlds of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett, Chabon’s nod to the pulps takes nothing away from his unique narrative voice. The world-building is solid and readers may find themselves tempted to check a map of Alaska to see if the Jewish district really exists there. Mazel tov to Chabon for the creation of an excellent read.
Mary Anne, Southern History
Prior to the Hugo for The Yiddish Policemen’s Union, Chabon won a Pulitzer for The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. Critics argued that those awards would not have been awarded the other way around. The chances are slim Chabon would have been considered for the Pulitzer if he’d won the Hugo first.
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
(2010 Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers, YALSA 2008 Best Books for Young Adults, YALSA 2008 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, YALSA 2008 Selected Audiobooks for Young Adults, The International Reading Association (IRA) Literature for Young Adults Committee Young Adults' Choices 2009, 2007 California Book Award for Young Adult Literature)
Clay Jensen comes home from high school to find a package on his porch, addressed to him with no return address. Inside, there are seven audio cassette tapes. When he plays the first tape, he is astounded to hear the voice of Hannah Baker—a girl from his school who recently committed suicide. He wonders if this is some kind of strange suicide message, but then hears the following: “I hope you’re ready, because I’m about to tell you the story of my life. More specifically, why my life ended. And if you’re listening to these tapes, you’re one of the reasons why.” She further instructs that he is to listen to the tapes and then pass them on to the next person, that’s he’s being watched, and if the tapes are not forwarded, a copy will be released to the public. What follows is an excruciating narration of the destruction of a young girl’s life, interspersed with Clay’s reaction to each part of it. Hannah is not being vindictive. She just wants people to realize that no one knows the affect they may have on another person and how easily the most innocuous remark or action can contribute to pushing someone over the edge. This book switches from Hannah’s voice to Clay’s as he listens and then fits what she is saying into his memories. A movie is being made from the book, and Selena Gomez has been cast as Hannah.
Kelly, Springville Road
The audiobook for Thirteen Reasons Why is very highly regarded. There are two narrators for the separate parts of the book and, as you can see, it was a YALSA Selected Audiobook in 2008. The movie adaptation is in development and expected in theaters, according to IMDB, in 2013. April mentioned that Jay Asher is an excellent acquaintance to make on Facebook!
The Simple Art of Eating Well Cookbook: 400 Easy Recipes, Tips and Techniques for Delicious, Healthy Meals by Jessie Price & the EatingWell test kitchen
(The James Beard Foundation Award for Healthy Focus, 2011)
Gina, Gardendale
A flurry of foodie talk erupted at this point. We discussed how cookbooks have changed over the years from simple self-help to visually stunning volumes works of biography and local history.
Some very interesting stories may be found in books such as:
Fannie Flagg's original Whistle Stop Cafe Cookbook : Featuring Fried Green Tomatoes, Southern Barbecue, Banana Split Cake, and Many Other Great Recipes by Fannie Flagg; with recipes from the Irondale Cafe.
Southern Country Cooking from the Loveless Cafe: Hot Biscuits, Country Ham by Jane & Michael Stern (There is a new Loveless Café dessert cookbook coming out in September, Desserts from the Famous Loveless Cafe: Simple Southern Pies, Puddings, Cakes, and Cobblers from Nashville's Landmark Restaurant by Alisa Huntsman, 978-1579654344, $24.95)
The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl by Ree Drummond
Aunt Bee's Mealtime in Mayberry by Jim Clark and Ken Beck
White Trash Cooking by Ernest Matthew Mickler
The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook: From Cauldron Cakes to Knickerbocker Glory--More Than 150 Magical Recipes for Muggles and Wizards by Dinah Bucholz
On the fun side, there are many blogs devoted to food and food culture. Here are the three that came up in discussion:
The Inn at the Crossroads
“In the Game of Food, you win, or you wash the dishes…”
From the blog:
“We are two big fans of George R.R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire series. We are also fans of food. What, then, would be more natural than to combine them into one fabulous blog? In the coming months, we will be delving deep into the world of Westeros and far over the Narrow Sea to explore the mouthwatering cuisines favored by the fantastic cultures in the books. Where appropriate, some recipes will be two-fold: A modern recipe, and a traditional recipe more in keeping with the quasi-medieval world of the series. So loosen your belts, sharpen your knives, and whet your palate for the foods of Westeros…”
The Gallery of Regrettable Food
From the blog:
“What were they thinking? How did they eat this bilge? Good questions, but you won't find them answered here. This is a simple introduction to poorly photographed foodstuffs and horrid recipes. It's a wonder anyone in the 40s, 50s and 60s gained any weight; it's a miracle that people didn't put down their issue of Life magazine with a slight queasy list to their gut, and decide to sup on a nice bowl of shredded wheat and nothing else.”
Cake Wrecks
“When professional cakes go horribly, hilariously wrong”
Did you know that the Southern History department at the Birmingham Public Library downtown collects local/historical cookbooks? Me either! Road trip!
Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King
(Bram Stoker Award for Fiction Collection, 2010)
Mondretta, Leeds
Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny (first in the series is Still Life)
(Agatha Award for Best Novel, 2010)
Shannon, Hoover
The Long Quiche Goodbye by Avery Aames
(Agatha Award for Best First Novel, 2010)
Beth, Homewood
If you are a fan of mystery or you are the favorite librarian of someone who is, bookmark the following websites! They are timesavers and easy peasy ways to put together interesting displays!
Stop, You’re Killing Me
“Stop, You’re Killing Me! is a resource for lovers of mystery, crime, thriller, spy, and suspense books. We list over 3,600 authors, with chronological lists of their books (over 41,000 titles), both series (4,100+) and non-series. Use the alphabetical author and character links above or the special indexes in the left column. And it’s perfectly fine with us if you print our pages for your private use, especially for a trip to your local library or bookstore.”
Berkley Prime Crime
Cozy Mystery List
A Guide to Cozy Mystery (and Other Favorite) Books and DVDs
So Much for That by Lionel Shriver
(National Book Award, 2010 Finalist)
April, Pinson
April mentioned that Shriver’s other book, We Need to Talk About Kevin, will be out in theaters later this year.
Room by Emma Donoghue
(longlisted for the 2011 Orange Prize, won the 2011 Commonwealth Writers' Prize regional prize, was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2010 and was shortlisted for the 2010 Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize[4] and the 2010 Governor General's Awards, Indigo Books Heather's Pick (2010), New York Times Best Books of the Year (2010), New York Times Notable Book of the Year (Fiction & Poetry, 2010), Salon Book Award (Fiction, 2010), Alex Award (2011), Publisher's Weekly Listen Up Award (Audio Book of the Year, 2010), ALA Notable Book (2011), Irish Book Award (Novel, 2010)
Susan, Trussville
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Nora Neale Hurston
(Audio Publishers Association Audie Award for Solo Narration-Female, 2001)
I consider Janie Crawford to be one of the strongest, most independent female characters I’ve ever encountered. Even during those times when she is dependent on someone else, she is, to paraphrase, living entirely between her hat and her toes, keeping her own counsel, dreaming her own dreams. She suffers through loveless marriage and through too much loving, poverty, constant discrimination, and tragedy, yet she continues on, beating the odds. The language is beautiful already, but Ruby Dee’s narration bumps it up into transcendence!
Holley, Emmet O’Neal
What are YOU reading?
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