I thought for a long time that my favorite genre was mystery. However, I’ve discovered that what I really like is a good “thriller.” Most mystery/suspense stories fall into this category, but so do many books about war, intrigue, and illegal activities of all kinds. According to Wikipedia, the all-encompassing but sometimes uneven and poorly documented online encyclopedia, thrillers are a “broad genre of literature, film, and television” that is “characterized by fast pacing, frequent action, and resourceful heroes who must thwart the plans of more-powerful and better-equipped villains. Literary devices such as suspense, red herrings, and cliffhangers are used extensively.”
What I really like are strong characters who are trying to make things right. They can be male or female, police detectives or private eyes, cops or criminals, lawyers or their clients, game wardens or poachers, and so on. All of them must have some redeeming quality, even if it’s minimal and only temporary. Some of my favorites are Max Allan Collins’ Quarry, who is an independent hit man for the Mob, Wyatt, Garry Disher’s Australian bank robber, and Spenser, Robert B. Parker’s irreverent private investigator. Even though each of these men operates either outside the law or skate along the razor edge of legality, each is also quick-thinking, decisive, and committed to whatever action is needed to resolve the problems he faces.
On the other hand, I thoroughly enjoy the impulsive, lovable Stephanie Plum, Janet Evanovich’s hometown New Jersey bounty hunter. Evanovich has written a very entertaining series that combines humor, romance, mystery, and action into a tasty thriller stew. Another of these humorous antiheroes is John Dortmunder, whose thieving antics that always go wrong for everyone but him. Donald E. Westlake is the creator of this comic thief and deserves credit for bringing a bit of laughter into what could be a too-serious genre. By the way, I don’t include horror stories in my list of thrillers because I find believable stories about life may be horrible enough without the addition of the gruesome or macabre.
Other than those mentioned above, here are some of my favorite authors:
Elmore Leonard—Has written 33 crime novels, the first being The Big Bounce (1969), The Hot Kid (2005), and the latest, Up In Honey’s Room (2007). Often writes about the criminal rather than the cop. Originally wrote westerns. His westerns are among the best you’ll ever read. For a sample, read The Complete Western Stories of Elmore Leonard (2004). There are also several western novels.
James Lee Burke—Has 2 major characters: Dave Robicheaux (RO bih show), a deputy sheriff in New Iberia, Louisiana (Crusader’s Cross, 2005); Billy Bob Holland, an attorney and former Texas Ranger in Deaf Smith, Texas (In the Moon of Red Ponies, 2004).
Ben Rehder (RED er)—An Austin, Texas writer who writes about the experiences of John Marlin, a Blanco County game warden. Books are full of humorous characters and unexpected action. First book: Buck Fever (2002); latest, Gun Shy (2007).
Lee Child—Writes about Jack Reacher, former U. S. Army Military Policeman. First book, The Killing Floor (1997); latest book: Bad Luck and Trouble (2007).
Stephen Hunter—Writes about the Swaggers, father and son, Earl and Bob Lee. Often sets the scene in Arkansas (Hot Springs, 2000) and once in Oklahoma (Dirty White Boys, 1995). His first book, The Master Sniper (1980), is about the greatest Russian sniper during WWII. His latest is about Bob Lee Swagger, 47th Samurai (2007).
William Diehl (DEEL)—Wrote a 3-book series about Martin Vail, defense attorney in Chicago, Illinois. The first book, Primal Fear (1993), is one of the most powerful, disturbing crime novels you will ever read. It was made into a genuinely frightening movie, starring Richard Gere (lawyer) and introduced us to Edward Norton (really scary bad guy). The succeeding books in the series are Show of Evil (1995) and Reign In Hell (1997). Has also written 6 non-series books.
Bill Pronzini—Has written about 70 books, with 30+ books in his “Nameless Detective” Series, the latest being Mourners (2006). “Nameless” books are chronological, beginning with The Snatch (1971). His latest non-series book is The Alias Man (2004).
-- Tim, MCMLS Assistant Branch Manager
Have a favorite thriller? Leave it in the comments!
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Friday, December 7, 2007
Reader Resources: MonsterLibrarian
I am not the biggest horror reader, having been cursed with an overactive imagination. But somebody out there loves horror fiction, and the best-selling authors Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and Anne Rice would surely agree. Monsterlibrarian is a great resource not only for die-hard horror fiction fans, but for those looking to just a dip a toe into the genre. There are book lists, reviews, and links to other horror resources. The reviews are broken up by subject-- "Chick Lit with Fangs", anyone?-- but there is also a comprehensive index. The "Coming Horror Fiction Releases" lets you know what's on the horizon. The Monsterlibrarians also include reviews of horror fiction for teens and scary books for kids, which is a nice addition. Check out Monsterlibrarian today!
What's your favorite horror fiction title/author?
What's your favorite horror fiction title/author?
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Best Books of 2007
The lists are starting to roll in as we count down to the end of the year. The top titles of the year include The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao, Tree of Smoke (also the National Book Award winner), A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, Then We Came to the End, and A Thousand Splendid Suns.
Publisher's Weekly Best Books of the Year
The New York Times 10 Best Books of 2007
Amazon's Best Books of 2007
2007 Book Sense Picks Highlights
The National Book Critics Circle Best Recommended Books
What's your favorite read of 2007?
Publisher's Weekly Best Books of the Year
The New York Times 10 Best Books of 2007
Amazon's Best Books of 2007
2007 Book Sense Picks Highlights
The National Book Critics Circle Best Recommended Books
What's your favorite read of 2007?
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
New Oprah's Book Club Title
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet is the newest Oprah pick. Set in the 12th century, this novel examines the building of a cathedral in Kingsbridge, England through the eyes of the many people involved in its creation. Put your copy on hold here.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Self-Help: Survivors of Child Abuse
Most of our Genre Talk posts have covered reading for pleasure, and the types of books that we enjoy reading; but there are darker times in every person's life, when we need help, when we require assistance. Self-help books can be instrumental in providing assistance and support at a time when it is absolutely crucial, in a format that feels non-judgemental and confidential. For further help, I would recommend finding a qualified mental health professional (therapist, counselor, psychologist). In an emergency situation, there are many crisis hotlines that operate 24 hours a day every day of the year. Here in Montgomery County, Tri-County Mental Health operates a 24/7 hotline at 1-800-659-6994.
Child abuse and neglect are widespread problems. According to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System, approximately 899,000 children were abused or neglected in 2005. We see the most extreme cases of abuse in the news-- children starved, locked in cages, or beaten regularly; but the majority of abused children simply grew up in unstable homes, where trust and empathy were lacking and they were emotionally abused or neglected. Many children are not even aware that they have been abused, until they reach adulthood and find themselves struggling with chronic emotional and psychological problems. Their issues can range from difficulties with anger, struggling to trust others, and low self-esteem to disorders such as depression, social anxiety, co-dependence, eating disorders, and alcoholism. For many people in this situation, finding peace and balance is a lifelong struggle. The following titles are intended to support those who are adult survivors of child abuse.
Adult Children of Abusive Parents-- Steven Farmer
Farmer gives examples of dysfunctional families, drawn from real-life situations, and details the things that all dysfunctional and abusive families have in common. He also includes exercises for the reader to work through, for recovery. This book is really the best place for any adult survivor of child abuse to start.
Co-Dependent No More-- Melody Beattie
Merriam-Webster Online defines codependency as "a psychological condition or a relationship in which a person is controlled or manipulated by another who is affected with a pathological condition (as an addiction to alcohol or heroin)" Many adults who were abused as children find themselves struggling with co-dependency, since they never learned how to establish appropriate boundaries for themselves and others. This books identifies the hallmarks of co-dependency, provides real-life examples, and offers exercises to assist readers in overcoming this problem.
Alcoholics Anonymous-- Alcoholics Anonymous World Services
Not every survivor of child abuse becomes an alcoholic, but many develop addictive behaviors to cope with emotional pain and turmoil. AA is the original 12-step program, and has been helping people overcome addiction since the late 1930's. This text is often referred to as "The Big Book".
The Ten Habits of Naturally Slim People-- Jill H. Podjasek
So many weight-loss books are the same, filled with lists of what you're "allowed" to eat and what you should never even dream of eating, but this author chooses to focus on health and weight from a psychological perspective. She emphasizes addressing the mental and emotional reasons why people end up unhealthy and overweight, and walks the reader through the process of creating a healthy mind-body connection. I have included this title in this list because eating, like alcohol, is often used to dull the pain of past abuse, and building a healthy relationship with food is part of the road to recovery.
A Child Called It-- Dave Pelzer
Dave Pelzer suffered horribly under the abusive hand of his mother, and was removed from his home at age 12. At that time, his case was considered one of the most extreme cases of child abuse that had been seen in California. In this book, he details his childhood and how he survived. Reading a memoir like this can help remind survivors of child abuse that they are not alone.
Child abuse and neglect are widespread problems. According to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System, approximately 899,000 children were abused or neglected in 2005. We see the most extreme cases of abuse in the news-- children starved, locked in cages, or beaten regularly; but the majority of abused children simply grew up in unstable homes, where trust and empathy were lacking and they were emotionally abused or neglected. Many children are not even aware that they have been abused, until they reach adulthood and find themselves struggling with chronic emotional and psychological problems. Their issues can range from difficulties with anger, struggling to trust others, and low self-esteem to disorders such as depression, social anxiety, co-dependence, eating disorders, and alcoholism. For many people in this situation, finding peace and balance is a lifelong struggle. The following titles are intended to support those who are adult survivors of child abuse.
-- Bookedupster
Adult Children of Abusive Parents-- Steven Farmer
Farmer gives examples of dysfunctional families, drawn from real-life situations, and details the things that all dysfunctional and abusive families have in common. He also includes exercises for the reader to work through, for recovery. This book is really the best place for any adult survivor of child abuse to start.
Co-Dependent No More-- Melody Beattie
Merriam-Webster Online defines codependency as "a psychological condition or a relationship in which a person is controlled or manipulated by another who is affected with a pathological condition (as an addiction to alcohol or heroin)" Many adults who were abused as children find themselves struggling with co-dependency, since they never learned how to establish appropriate boundaries for themselves and others. This books identifies the hallmarks of co-dependency, provides real-life examples, and offers exercises to assist readers in overcoming this problem.
Alcoholics Anonymous-- Alcoholics Anonymous World Services
Not every survivor of child abuse becomes an alcoholic, but many develop addictive behaviors to cope with emotional pain and turmoil. AA is the original 12-step program, and has been helping people overcome addiction since the late 1930's. This text is often referred to as "The Big Book".
The Ten Habits of Naturally Slim People-- Jill H. Podjasek
So many weight-loss books are the same, filled with lists of what you're "allowed" to eat and what you should never even dream of eating, but this author chooses to focus on health and weight from a psychological perspective. She emphasizes addressing the mental and emotional reasons why people end up unhealthy and overweight, and walks the reader through the process of creating a healthy mind-body connection. I have included this title in this list because eating, like alcohol, is often used to dull the pain of past abuse, and building a healthy relationship with food is part of the road to recovery.
A Child Called It-- Dave Pelzer
Dave Pelzer suffered horribly under the abusive hand of his mother, and was removed from his home at age 12. At that time, his case was considered one of the most extreme cases of child abuse that had been seen in California. In this book, he details his childhood and how he survived. Reading a memoir like this can help remind survivors of child abuse that they are not alone.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Good Things Come in Small Packages: Short Stories
I’ve never been much of a reader. I’ve always read what I had to for class and never made time for much else. I have found, however, that I can make time for short stories. They are faster and easier for me to read because I can read as many or as few as I’d like and always jump back into the collection when I have more time. If you’ve never sat down with a book of short stories, you should!
If you have someone that is a reluctant reader (like myself), short stories can often help. Many people think that short stories would only be something for small children, but the choices are endless. Some collections feature one author, while others focus on a theme, with stories written by various authors. There are short story collections for all ages. This format is especially popular in YA (Young Adult) literature. You can find YA short story collections dealing with everything from spirituality and human suffering to spooky Halloween stories to stories by guys for guys about teenage life and growing up; and some of them are rich and complex enough to be enjoyed by an adult audience.
-- Toni, MCMLS YA librarian
Here are a few recommendations of books that I’ve found interesting:
Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven
By: Sherman Alexie
This collection features interconnected stories set on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Washington State. Characters overlap from story to story, creating a larger picture. You follow the characters on a literal journey across the country while at the same time see the spiritual, emotional, and life-changing journey that they endure. This short story collection is also excellent paired with Judy Blunt’s Breaking Clean and Edward Abby’s Desert Solitaire for a literary portrait of the American Southwest.
Come to Me
By: Amy Bloom
This is a collection of stories revolving around a few central characters. Each story can stand alone, but they are all intertwined. Bloom alternates her story lines, allowing you to follow each character’s journey through varying viewpoints. At only 192 pages, it’s easy to get caught up in the author’s world and read the book as a novel. At the same time, you feel satisfied at the end of each story, so if you need to put it down for the night or for 3 weeks, you can come back to the rest of the book easily. If you like her style of writing, check out her novel Love Invents Us.
Girl in the Flammable Skirt
By: Aimee Bender
In this collection of individual tales, each story pulls us into a single surreal feature, leaving the rest of the setting and characters in normal, every day situations. In “The Rememberer”, a woman watches her lover evolve backward from man to ape to turtle to salamander. Bender somehow makes the unbelievable plausible and the bizarre features of each story become allegories of our lives. They are somewhat serious, but with an overall feel of a dark comedy to them. Through the humor and surrealism, she holds a mirror to our own insecurities, our flaws, and our humanity. Just be ready to put up with oddities and fairly straightforward writing (which is helpful for those that aren’t into looking up vocabulary in dictionaries while they read for enjoyment…yes…I’m one of those kids who never did that either.)
Where I’m Calling From and What We Talk About When We Talk About Love
By: Raymond Carver
These books offer an all too honest look at life. If Aimee Bender’s bizarre paranormal tendencies don’t strike your fancy, check out Carver’s collections of short stories. He looks honestly at life and isn’t afraid to deal with difficult issues. He has a way of presenting a situation to allow you to see the heart of the issue without overtly describing what is going on. Instead, he describes little details to give insight into the human experience. Here’s an example of one of his stories, "A Small Good Thing".
Do you have a favorite short story? Leave it in the comments!
If you have someone that is a reluctant reader (like myself), short stories can often help. Many people think that short stories would only be something for small children, but the choices are endless. Some collections feature one author, while others focus on a theme, with stories written by various authors. There are short story collections for all ages. This format is especially popular in YA (Young Adult) literature. You can find YA short story collections dealing with everything from spirituality and human suffering to spooky Halloween stories to stories by guys for guys about teenage life and growing up; and some of them are rich and complex enough to be enjoyed by an adult audience.
-- Toni, MCMLS YA librarian
Here are a few recommendations of books that I’ve found interesting:
Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven
By: Sherman Alexie
This collection features interconnected stories set on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Washington State. Characters overlap from story to story, creating a larger picture. You follow the characters on a literal journey across the country while at the same time see the spiritual, emotional, and life-changing journey that they endure. This short story collection is also excellent paired with Judy Blunt’s Breaking Clean and Edward Abby’s Desert Solitaire for a literary portrait of the American Southwest.
Come to Me
By: Amy Bloom
This is a collection of stories revolving around a few central characters. Each story can stand alone, but they are all intertwined. Bloom alternates her story lines, allowing you to follow each character’s journey through varying viewpoints. At only 192 pages, it’s easy to get caught up in the author’s world and read the book as a novel. At the same time, you feel satisfied at the end of each story, so if you need to put it down for the night or for 3 weeks, you can come back to the rest of the book easily. If you like her style of writing, check out her novel Love Invents Us.
Girl in the Flammable Skirt
By: Aimee Bender
In this collection of individual tales, each story pulls us into a single surreal feature, leaving the rest of the setting and characters in normal, every day situations. In “The Rememberer”, a woman watches her lover evolve backward from man to ape to turtle to salamander. Bender somehow makes the unbelievable plausible and the bizarre features of each story become allegories of our lives. They are somewhat serious, but with an overall feel of a dark comedy to them. Through the humor and surrealism, she holds a mirror to our own insecurities, our flaws, and our humanity. Just be ready to put up with oddities and fairly straightforward writing (which is helpful for those that aren’t into looking up vocabulary in dictionaries while they read for enjoyment…yes…I’m one of those kids who never did that either.)
Where I’m Calling From and What We Talk About When We Talk About Love
By: Raymond Carver
These books offer an all too honest look at life. If Aimee Bender’s bizarre paranormal tendencies don’t strike your fancy, check out Carver’s collections of short stories. He looks honestly at life and isn’t afraid to deal with difficult issues. He has a way of presenting a situation to allow you to see the heart of the issue without overtly describing what is going on. Instead, he describes little details to give insight into the human experience. Here’s an example of one of his stories, "A Small Good Thing".
Do you have a favorite short story? Leave it in the comments!
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Literature for Chicks? Chick Lit!
When I read a book, I want a happy ending. I really don’t want to suffer through the agony and angst and death and destruction, and get a so-so ending. I want to know right up front that everything will end well for the main character. All the problems will be solved and everything will be right with the world. That is why I read Chick Lit.
Wikipedia defines Chick Lit as featuring "hip, stylish female protagonists, usually in their twenties and thirties, in urban settings (usually London or Manhattan), and follows their love lives and struggles for professional success (often in the publishing, advertising, public relations or fashion industry). The books usually feature an airy, irreverent tone and frank sexual themes." The main feature of Chick Lit is there is ALWAYS a happy ending.
In addition to the predictable happy ending, Chick Lit features down-to-earth girls who have trouble with their credit cards, eat too much cake, forget to make their car payment or stumble, fall and break something. These are real women who struggle through their daily lives by making mistakes and learning from them. Chick Lit also showcases strong female protagonists who are career women, figuring out what life is about and how to make life what they want it to be.
At the crux of most of these novels is the handsome man. Whether it is the carpenter who is really a multimillionaire, the advertising executive who has a mean girlfriend, or the next-door neighbor’s son who has been out of the country attending medical school, the Chick Lit novel prides itself on creating a male protagonist that falls madly in love with the young woman just as she is-- no changes necessary.
-- Sarah, MCMLS librarian
The following titles are great introductions to the world of Chick Lit:
Can you keep a secret?-- Sophie Kinsella
The Sleeping Beauty Proposal-- Sarah Stroymeyer
Bridget Jones’ Diary-- Helen Fielding
Boy Meets Girl-- Meg Cabot
Dear Prince Charming-- Donna Kauffman
Last Chance Saloon-- Marian Keyes
Life A La Mode-- Linda Lenjoff
Passion, Betrayal and Killer Highlights-- Kyra Davis
Playing James-- Sarah Mason
Reality TV Bites-- Shane Bolks
Size 12 Is Not Fat-- Meg Cabot
Society Girls-- Sarah Mason
Read a great chick lit novel? Leave it in the comments!
Wikipedia defines Chick Lit as featuring "hip, stylish female protagonists, usually in their twenties and thirties, in urban settings (usually London or Manhattan), and follows their love lives and struggles for professional success (often in the publishing, advertising, public relations or fashion industry). The books usually feature an airy, irreverent tone and frank sexual themes." The main feature of Chick Lit is there is ALWAYS a happy ending.
In addition to the predictable happy ending, Chick Lit features down-to-earth girls who have trouble with their credit cards, eat too much cake, forget to make their car payment or stumble, fall and break something. These are real women who struggle through their daily lives by making mistakes and learning from them. Chick Lit also showcases strong female protagonists who are career women, figuring out what life is about and how to make life what they want it to be.
At the crux of most of these novels is the handsome man. Whether it is the carpenter who is really a multimillionaire, the advertising executive who has a mean girlfriend, or the next-door neighbor’s son who has been out of the country attending medical school, the Chick Lit novel prides itself on creating a male protagonist that falls madly in love with the young woman just as she is-- no changes necessary.
-- Sarah, MCMLS librarian
The following titles are great introductions to the world of Chick Lit:
Can you keep a secret?-- Sophie Kinsella
The Sleeping Beauty Proposal-- Sarah Stroymeyer
Bridget Jones’ Diary-- Helen Fielding
Boy Meets Girl-- Meg Cabot
Dear Prince Charming-- Donna Kauffman
Last Chance Saloon-- Marian Keyes
Life A La Mode-- Linda Lenjoff
Passion, Betrayal and Killer Highlights-- Kyra Davis
Playing James-- Sarah Mason
Reality TV Bites-- Shane Bolks
Size 12 Is Not Fat-- Meg Cabot
Society Girls-- Sarah Mason
Read a great chick lit novel? Leave it in the comments!
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