Read Outside Your Comfort Zone

Do you ever read outside your comfort zone?

I was reminded of that today when I read an article in The Guardian where science fiction writers choose their favorite titles.

I typically don't read science fiction, yet a few of my favorite books have been science fiction — the Dune series by Frank Herbert and Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell come to mind.

I just might challenge myself and have an experience from another world.

Pulitzer Prize Winner is a Winner

Normally, I'm not a big fan of short stories, but I am a huge fan of this year's Pulitzer Prize winner, Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout, a novel told in thirteen short stories.

The novel tells the story of Olive, a retired school teacher, and the people who surround her in a small coastal Maine town. Her story along with the stories of her husband, a lounge singer haunted by a past love, her Olive's own resentful son.

Kirkus Reviews (February 1, 2008) said it is:

A perfectly balanced portrait of the human condition, encompassing plenty of anger, cruelty and loss without ever losing sight of the equally powerful presences of tenderness, shared pursuits and lifelong loyalty.

I listened to the book and enjoyed the narrator, Sandra Burr, tremendously. She really made Olive's character come alive. I will remember Olive's voice for a long time.

Water for Elephants -- Late in Finding a Gem!

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen has been on my bedside table for at least 2 years when I received a copy at Book Expo in New York City. A number of people highly recommended it to me, but I just never got to it.

This past week I did...and what an original story!

Ninety-two (or ninty-three) year-old Jacob Jankowski remembers his time as a young man in the circus during the Great Depression, and his friendship with Marlena, the equestrian star, Rosie, the elephant, and Walter, the dwarf.

While some of it was a little tough to read at times (some violent treatment of animals and people), I highly recommend it.

Roadside Reviews on NPR

I've long been a fan of audio books; and judging by our circulation numbers, a lot of our library card members are too. Last year over 257,000 audio books were borrowed from the Cumberland County Library System.

Now, National Public Radio has started a summer series called "Roadside Reviews" where truckers offer their recommendations of the best and worst books for listening. The first trucker interviewed loves murder-mysteries by Kathy Reichs and Patricia Cornwell. The only problem is, he is renting them from truck stops. He could make his diesel money go a little further if he borrowed them from his local library!

Three of my own personal favorites from the past six months or so are:

• Lush Life by Richard Price, narrated by Bobby Cannavale -- This will definitely be on my list of Best Books for 2008. Richard Price's use of language and Bobby Cannavale's narration make this police procedural superb.
• Rhett Butler's People by Donald McCaig, narrated by John Bedford Lloyd -- For anyone who has ever read and loved Gone with the Wind, this is a wonderful re-telling of the story we all know, but from Rhett Butler's perspective. McCaig makes it possible, even in this day and age, to fall in love with Rhett Butler all over again.
• Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo, narrated by Arthur Morey -- This rich, complex story of life in a small town in upstate New York is one that I simultaneously read and listened to...a technique I recommend for getting through big books in time for your next book club meeting!...It will also be on my Best of Books of 2008 list.
  

Are We Ready for E-Books?

In November 2007, Amazon released its new e-reader Kindle.

Costing about $400, Kindle is a portable reading device that can wirelessly download books, blogs, magazines, and newspapers. It uses e-ink technology that its creators say is as crisp and clear as your daily newspaper. What's more, most of the books that you can download cost only $9.99. You can even subscribe to newspapers from around the world. (The New York Times is available for $13.99 a month).

Kindle has been getting pretty good reviews in the news media and by technology buffs alike. And, I have to say that I've been tempted to try it out.

Now, I may be even more tempted. I've long been a fan of audio books, always having one from the library in my car's cassette or CD player.

Yesterday, Amazon announced that it is buying Audible.com, the Web's biggest publishers of downloadable audio books. The New York Times has even suggested that Amazon's new acquisition may provide even more seamless technology that would allow you to switch from reading to listening or vice versa.

How cool is that?