The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

It’s not often that a book totally consumes my life but for the last couple of days I haven’t been able to put “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” down. It started out slow and I have to admit that I wanted to skip a little further ahead but once I got into the story my life jumped into hold mode while I eagerly consumed this fast pace thriller. Every time I tried to put it down to do something else I found my thoughts wondering back to Mikael and Lisbeth and their frantic quest to figure out what happened to Harriet Vanger decades ago when she went missing from her family’s home.

The story takes place in Sweden. Henrik Vanger is getting up in age and is determined to discover what happened to his niece all those many years ago when she went missing from a family gathering on the family’s island. He hires the recently disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist to investigate the cold case with hopes that he will finally find the answer to Harriet’s disappearance. Lisbeth, a tattooed, multi-pierced, punk, super hacker becomes his sidekick helping him gather the information as they go digging up dirty family secrets looking for clues.

It was a great read and I encourage anyone who enjoys a good suspense novel to pick it up. When you’re done, check out the sequel The Girl who Played with Fire It too is promising to be a great story.

Book of the Month - Day After Night

Anita Diamant’s Day After Night is based on the real life drama that took place in October 1945 in the British run, Atlit interment camp for Holocaust survivors. It follows the day to day lives of several of the women in the camp, narrating how they came to be in the camp and what their hopes and dreams are for the future. Several of their stories are tragic as they recount the horrors they witnessed and the loved ones they lost but their stories are uplifting as well for they never lose hope. Hope for their future, hope for freedom and continued survival.

It’s the first time in a long time that I’ve been moved to tears over a work of fiction but this was a very special book. Simon and Schuster very graciously sent the library a copy to read (we are very delighted that they did !). Day after Night is not the normal genre of book I would normally pick up on my own to read but I’m happy that I did. The bonds of friendship that were created and shared between the four main characters made for a fascinating read.

Reserve your copy today at your local library.

Sacred Hearts

This is a story about women’s lives and the consequences of being too poor, alone, and not having the means to marry in the 16th century. It is also a story about strength, courage, faith and love. Dunant weaves a detailed historical account of life during that era. The smells and sights transported me right into their world and I would suggest this book to lovers of historical fiction.

Sacred Hearts is set in a convent. The year is 1570, in the Italian city of Ferrara. The convent is filled with women who are married to Christ. Serafina is 16 years old when her family pays the church a hefty dowry for her to enter their protected walls. Needless to say she’s not very happy about the turn of events in her life and she is determined to escape.

Serafina is given over to Suora Zuana, a scholarly nun who is educated in the healing arts, with the hopes that the young woman will find a way to come to terms with what her life has become. Sacred Hearts not only tells Serafina’s story but Zuana’s, and a cast of characters who came from different backgrounds and lifestyles before entering the convent. It examines the role of faith, passion and character in the lives of women some of who were not willing to be locked away for the rest of their lives.

Memoirs of An Imperfect Angel

This past November in our Perfect & Pitch musical journey, we celebrated Woman in Song. We highlighted some of the greatest female vocal talents of all time. One of the women spotlighted was Whitney Houston who’s first album in seven years I look to you – CD 784.5 H843i celebrates her comeback with great determination and has become a true force to be reckoned with. She wasn’t the only one who has triumphed over personal setbacks to make an amazing recovery.

Mariah Carey whose personal life and breakdown of 2001 were splashed on covers of magazines across the world has journeyed back and the results have been outstanding. Her latest album Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel released October 20, 2009 is a testament to it.

Her remake of Foreigner’s I want to know what love is is breathtakingly poignant. The tracks Standing O and Angel’s cry are also songs for the heart and soul. Obsessed will get your feet moving and dancing, just pick one of the many dance versions she’s got going. This is the second album she’s released since her comeback and if you haven’t listened to either of them, the first being The emancipation of Mimi then I encourage you to do both.

Lost Symbol - Dan Brown

Robert Langdon, Dan Brown’s famous Harvard symbologist, is back! This time he’s summoned to give an evening lecture in the U.S. Capitol Building but within moments of his arrival, strange events unfold around him. He discovers that his mentor Peter Solomon has been kidnapped and a disturbing object is discovered. Langdon’s area of expertise comes into play and he identifies the object as an ancient invitation. If he wants to rescue his friend and save the day he’ll have to accept the invitation and follow it wherever it may go.

Dan Brown’s highly anticipated novel is finally out. Did I like it? Freemasonry, Washington DC, codes, secrets and symbols. It is definitely a far cry from his previous controversial subjects but certainly entertaining. The big bad in this novel is Mal'akh, a tattooed eunuch bodybuilder. He’s been labeled as being the worst foe Langdon has faced yet. I don’t know. Personally, I thought that the Camerlengo Carlo Ventresca from Angels and Demons was worse.

Lost Symbol has the typical twists and turns of a modern day thriller. It is well researched but I’ve come to expect that from Dan Brown. He always leaves no stone unturned and manages to weave secret societies into every day life. So what’s my issue with this book… well I have none. However, many have said that it was too predictable but I suppose that all thrillers are predictable in their own way. Other said it was too formulaic, they wanted to be led on a chase and be duped at every twist and turn. I think Robert Langdon leads us on a very merry chase but don’t take my word for it, read the book and let me know.

Book of the Month - Book of Negroes

The Book of Negroes is an award winning novel written by Canadian Lawrence Hill. It chronicles the life story of Aminata Diallo. Told in first person her story begins as she is in the last chapter of her life. She recounts the memories of her childhood in West Africa and tells us of her abduction, the march to the sea, her life as a slave in South Carolina, her trials and tribulations right up until her eventual freedom in London, England where she records her name in the historic British ledger “Book of Negroes”. It is a poignant story that does not soften the realities of what life might have been like for many people who were torn from their families and forced into labor.

This brilliant book won the 2008 Commonwealth Writer’s prize and the 2007 Rogers Writer’s Trust Fiction Prize. It was also chosen to be the Canada reads for 2009. The Eleanor London Cote Saint Luc Public Library is honored to have Mr. Hill speak at the Library June 18, 2009.

If you have not had the chance to read this book then come in and let us know.

Need a good read?

When Kathy, the children’s librarian, first told me that I’d love The Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer I have to admit I was a little skeptical. She told me there would be vampires, werewolves and lots of paranormal elements which are things I love to read about. But read teen literature? I loved the Harry Potter books but I didn’t classify them as a teen read.

Well, teen literature has certainly changed over the years and The Twilight Series is everything it promises and more. Bella, Edward, and Jacob have invaded my reading world and I simply can’t get enough.

Stephanie Meyer brings us to Forks, Washington where Bella Swan has chosen to live with her father Charlie after her mother Renee remarries. Bella goes through typical teen angst of starting a new school, having to make friends and settle in with her police chief father. We meet the quiet yet incredibly handsome Edward Cullen through Bella’s eyes and experience the joys of first love but with a twist. Edward is no typical high school boy. He’s a vampire.

Meyer does a great job of keeping the reader hooked no matter what their age. It’s a quick paced book and her writing style makes for light and entertaining reading. Identifying with the heroine Bella is not a hard thing to do but I’m not the only one who thinks so.

Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse are the first three books in the series. They are extremely popular here at the library. This series is so popular in the reading world that the first one is going to be made into a movie soon. If you haven’t heard of the series then you’re in for a treat. If you have but haven’t read them then you should put your name down on reserve.

Is anyone reading?

For the last couple of years I’ve been hearing about the downfall of the printed word. From Al Gore to Bill Gates the word is that we are living in unreaderly times. Apparently no one is reading anymore…at least not fiction. According to the “National Endowment for the arts” only half of North Americans are picking up books and the numbers are declining year after year at an alarming rate.

In his new book “The Assault on reason”, former vice president, Al Gore claims that we’re too wired in to take the time to pick up a book. From the ipod to the internet, laptops, Blackberrys, and television sets that sit in our homes…he claims that this new wave of technology dominates our time and our lives. Is he right? Have we put down our books in favor of a quick and easy buzz?

If that’s the case could someone please tell the oh so popular Danielle Steel, who just recently published her 7th book in 3 years, to stop writing! If no one‘s going to read them what’s the point? While we’re at it… let’s tell Khaled Hosseini that he’s wasted his time and energy writing “A Thousand splendid suns” despite the close to 200 people waiting to read his book here at the library. And let’s not forget the many people who attend the Library’s book clubs and reviews. If half of North America isn’t reading why are there so many excited people filling the seats to talk about books?

While I’ve never been a big TV fan and can count the shows I’m loyal to on one hand, I have always been a reader. It helps that I’m surrounded by books all day long. I have a hard time not checking them out, promising myself to take the ones I will truly read front to back. It doesn’t matter if it’s light reading or serious political thinking. I’ll give every book its due so long as it’s interesting and entertaining but I’m not alone because Côte Saint-Luc is filled with readers just like me.

Yes it’s true we have Wi-fi access through out the library and a revamped AV department with cool leather sofas and slim, sleek screens to watch our brand new DVDs on but books are still flying out of here. Romance, mystery, thriller, and non-fiction…it all goes. There’s something here for everyone and a good number of Côte Saint-Lucers are reading despite the technology wave and all the new gadgets out there. We may be wired in but we haven’t put our books down but if you have, then you need to come in and let us hook you up. We’ll find something for you to read no matter what your taste or preference is. Come in and find out.

Passport to freedom

Libraries are important to me. While I’m not a librarian and haven’t had formal training in the science of Libraries I am none the less fascinated with them. Imagine a place where you can go and discover the entire world without having to board a plane. This is what Libraries mean to me. I can enter someone else’s imagination, join them on a fun filled ride as they introduce me to the characters that fill their waking consciousness, all the while letting me escape the routines of my own life. I can take trips to Spain, Rome or just walk down the street to Schwartz simply by opening a book.

I remember the first Library card I signed up for. I was seven and my parents, who are avid readers, had been forever trying to encourage me “to pick up a book and go find a spot to read”. My father came with me and signed me up. It turned out to be the most valuable gift I have ever received. My library card became a passport to freedom and exploration. Truthfully, I really can’t imagine my childhood without my local library.

When I speak with patrons about this library and discover that some of them have been members since they were children I smile because I understand their affliction. When I meet others, who are joining the library for the very first time even after living in Cote Saint-Luc for many years I am amazed. "Where have you been?", I often ask. I wish that every single person who lives in this wonderful, vibrant city would take the time to join or rejoin what is a place known for being a true treasure among treasures. Come get your library card today!