Library News and Notable New Books

A Book for Teenagers About Teenagers - The Crawfordsville Library's Carnegie Museum Director Kat Burkhart is the writer of a selection in editor Nancy Reagin's "Twilight & History" featuring twelve authors/historians. Kat's piece is Getting Younger Every Decade and connects Twilight characters to historical events that actual teenagers throughout the centuries have experienced "from Renaissance Italy to persecution of suspected witches in early modern England to the American Civil War". Kat says "It's a book where teenagers can read about teenagers."

Notice: The Library will be closed for Independence Day Sunday, July 4 and Monday, July 5.

Here's new nonfiction requested by patrons. "Fifty Shoes That Changed The World" from the Design Museum starts with the plimsoll, galosh and Frye boot, and moves on through winklepickers and UGG boots to today's Melissa shoe. Jonathan Krohn's "Defining Conservatism" lists "The Principles That Will Bring Our Country Back". Shankar Vedantam's "The Hidden Brain" discusses "How Our Unconscious Minds Elect Presidents, Control Markets, Wage Wars, and Save Our Lives." In "The Bag Lady Papers" Alexandra Penney tells about losing all her invested savings (re Bernie Madoff) as told in her Daily Beast blogs. John Vining's "The Trans-Appalachian Wars, 1790-1818" explains the area between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River where intrigue, strategies, and campaigns rank high in complexity and interest. "Winston's War" is Max Hastings' study of Winston Churchill during wartime (1940-1945) and captures what he calls his "appetite for the fray." The cover says the chapter on Churchill's 1944 Christmas in Athens is priceless. In "For All the Tea in China" Sarah Rose weaves together historical, geographical, and scientific stories about how England "stole" the world's favorite drink and changed history. "The War Lovers" by Evan Thomas follows Roosevelt, Lodge, Hearst, and the rush to empire in 1898. The book suggests vital lessons for our generation as we confront some of the same public challenges that faced Theodore Roosevelt and his contemporaries. "The American Leonardo" by John Brewer is a study of the twentieth century art market, showing how dealers, curators, and connoisseurs authenticate works of art. "Eye Tricks" holds visual deceptions and brain teasers in 150 optical illusions pictured by Gianni Sarcone and Marie-Jo Waeber.

Rachael Ray's "Yum-O!" is her family cookbook from 2008. Ina Garten's book of "fabulous flavor from simple ingredients" is "Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics". Jimmy McDonough offers "Tammy Wynette: Tragic Country Queen", showing how her songs and her story illustrate her vulnerability, disillusionment, strength, and endurance. To celebrate the centennial year of Artie Shaw, Tom Nolan has composed "Three Chords for Beauty's Sake".

Steve Wulf's "The Mighty Book of Sports Knowledge" with contributions by successful sports figures explains 101 things about the games we love. "After Many a Summer" is Robert Murphy's research about the Giants and Dodgers and a Golden Age in New York baseball. "Satchel" is Larry Tye's biography of legendary pitcher Satchel Paige, "an overlooked pioneer in the integration of baseball, and of America itself".

Children of all ages love the rails, and "Trains" a photographer's journey, is pictured by Graeme Outerbridge; "Oh those elegant dining cars!" Jeff Conner's (et al) "Stephen King Goes to Hollywood" is an illustrated guide to all the films based on his fiction and includes an interview with the author. "The Edge of Physics" by Anil Ananthaswamy is a journey to earth's extremes to unlock the secrets of the universe.

Preview Shelf by Janice Clauser

Library News and Notable New Books

The Special Gift Given by a Local Author - A gift to the Crawfordsville Library is a set of two recent books by Ruby Gwin who has resided in the Linden area since 1967. With a background of eight writings, she's recently published "A Day That Would End Tearing At Your Heart" about her son Dan, paralyzed by a fall, who has "worked hard to make his life as full as possible,...a hero who can and will give his all to make a difference." Another recent achievement is "The 250th Field Artillery Men Remember World War II" with two subtitles: "The 250th adapted to the artillery trademark: shoot-more-and-communicate" and "The 250th have seen battle; heard and seen one close, and one afar: they have seen the aftermath; they have not forgotten." Her research captures 38 men in their words with her understanding of their achievements. Her husband Carl's memoir and Crawfordsville's Loran Rutledge's writing are included. Reference librarian Tom West, upon seeing this book said, "This is a very valuable preservation of history made local, otherwise perhaps tragically forgotten."

Four books about baseball arrived at the same time. "Under the March Sun" is Charles Fountain's story of spring training. "The Baseball Codes" (unwritten rules of America's pastime) like beanballs, sign stealing, and bench-clearing brawls are revealed by Jason Turbow. "Growing Up with Clemente" by Richard Peterson refers to the sport in a post-World War II memoir of a childhood in working-class Pittsburgh. Michael Shapiro's "Bottom of the Ninth" tells about Branch Rickey, Casey Stengal, and the daring scheme to save baseball from itself; fifty years ago, as baseball faced crises on and off the field, two larger-than-life figures took center stage, each on a quest to reinvent the national pastime. The "Official 2010 Price Guide of Baseball Cards" Edition #30 comes from James Beckett.

Thomas Skidmore's "Brazil" shows its five centuries of change from colony to democracy. Two travel guides, Frommer's "South Africa" and "The Rough Guide" are worth reading for armchair traveling to that African nation.

"The Lost Tombs of Thebes" by Zahi Hawass is a "coffee table" text/picture book of southern Egypt. "The Secrets of Tomb 10A" is an equally beautiful book about Egypt in 2000 B.C. "Lafayette" the French hero of the American Revolution is studied by biographer Gonzague Saint Bris. "Moses Montefiore" by Abigail Green tells about the Jewish liberator (1784-1885) and imperial hero who was one of the first truly global celebrities as he campaigned for Jewish emancipation on a grand scale. Hal Williams' "Realigning America" is about President William McKinley and William Jennings Bryan during the remarkable election of 1896. "Supreme Power" by Jeff Shesol brings alive Franklin Roosevelt's battle with the Supreme Court in the years before World War II. "Valley of Death" is Ted Morgan's story of the tragedy at Dien Bien Phu that lead America into the Vietnam war. "Inside the Kingdom" by Robert Lacey explains the kings, clerics, modernists, terrorists, and the struggle for Saudi Arabia.

"Oprah" by Kitty Kelley gives us "an unvarnished look at the stories Oprah's told and the life she's led." A history of Purdue in Flight by John Norberg is titled, "Wings of Their Dreams" dedicated to the Purdue University people of yesterday and today who have dedicated their lives to flight and to the next generation of visionaries who will fashion tomorrow's dreams. It features stories of 18 different astronauts' experiences in space. "Jenniemae & James" is a "A Memoir in Black & White" by Brooke Newman telling of the friendship between a brilliant mathematician friend of Albert Einstein and an African American numbers-savvy maid and lottery champion.

Library News and Notable New Books

It's time for the Crawfordsville Library's Adult Summer Reading Kickoff. This year readers will be moving around a big "Readopoly" board and playing for choice weekly prize packages which include books and special prizes from local contributors. Sign ups begin June 14th at the Circulation Desk. Earliest signers get a special bonus prize.

Local prize contributors are Arthur's, Athens Nutrition and Smoothies, Caldwell's Sew and Vac, Creekside Lodge, Bindings and Grindings, China Inn, Family Video, Friends of the Library, heathcliff, The Iron Gate, Joey's, La Rose on Main, Little Mexico, McDonalds, Milligan's, Taylor Lanes, and Vanity Theater. Their support is very much appreciated.

New books feature celebrities and their pictures. "The Genius and the Goddess" by Jeffrey Meyers presents an intimate portrait of the ultimate tragedy of Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller's short marriage. "This Time Together" by Carol Burnett is subtitled "laughter and reflection" telling the story of her rise in show business and the people she's met along the way. She adds anecdotes from the hilarious to the heartbreaking. "Paul and Me" is A. E. Hotchner's tale of his 53 years of adventures and misadventures with his pal, Paul Newman, including starting Newman's Own as a prank. "Star" by Peter Biskind tells how Warren Beatty seduced America as one of the most ambitious and successful stars in Hollywood. Four short books by Hollywood-story writer David Thomson are "Ingrid Bergman", "Humphrey Bogart", "Bette Davis", and "Gary Cooper". "Tiger Woods Syndrome" by Bruns and Richards analyzes why men prowl and how to not become the prey. It begins with a quiz for the reader then offers information about different kinds of people and guides for their successful pursuits of relationships.

In "No Apology: The Case for American Greatness" Mitt Romney asserts that American strength is essential - not just for our own well-being, but for the world's. He proposes solutions to restore economic vitality, create good jobs, reduce out-of-control spending, improve education, and rebuild the military. Harry Markopolos' "No One Would Listen" is the financial thriller showing his attempts to warn the government, the industry, and the financial press that the largest and most successful hedge fund was a total fraud. An uplifting story of her mother, determined to die on her own terms, and the family who has to learn to let her go, is the composition by daughter Zoe Fitzgerald Carter called "Imperfect Endings".

Another adventure is Christopher Heaney's "Cradle of Gold" about Hiram Bingham, a real-life Indiana Jones, and the search for Machu Picchu. The lingering question today is "Who owns Inca history?" How about "Black Sun" by Geoffrey Wolff about Harry Crosby who was the godson of J. P. Morgan and center of the wild life of the Lost Generation in Paris. Crosby directed the Black Sun Press, which published James Joyce among others. In 1929 he shot his girlfriend, the recent bride of another man, and then himself.

Switching to creatures great and small, "Cranes" is Janice Hughes' natural history of a bird in crisis, another book in this list with beautiful pictures. Philip Hoare's "The Whale" has won the BBC Samuel Johnson prize for non-fiction. Inspired by Herman Melville's "Moby-Dick", Hoare explores the troubled history of man and whale at New Bedford, Nantucket, and the Azores. He wants to know why these animals still exert such a powerful hold on our imagination.

Preview Shelf by Janice Clauser

Library News and Notable New Books

Library Brunch Artists Learn New Technique - The sixth annual Blossoms & Brunch for young ladies (six and up) and their adult guests was held in the Youth Services Department at the Crawfordsville Library. Artist Lu Johnson directed the YUPO, a YoU Paint Opportunity of take-home art. Librarian Linda Brady supplied special brushes, paper, and mats. The 28 young artists and adults took home beautifully-matted watercolor art.

Toby Mac's "Under God" is one of many books recently donated to the library in memory of Gary M. Nelson. Studying the faith of our forefathers who recognized God's hand in shaping this nation, it is a collection of short stories; it's subtitle is "Triumph and Tragedy: Stories of America's Spiritual Battle." "Open the Eyes of My Heart" is a group of daily devotions in the Songs 4 Worship series. Another donation in Nelson's memory is "Gift of Power" the life story of Archie Fire Lame Deer, a modern-day Lakota spiritual man, whose career shared his faith with many people including the Pope, the Dalai Lama, and Druids at Stonehenge. The other books in the Nelson collection are two volumes called "The American Story" from Penguin Academics and a geographical history of middle-western agriculture called "Making the Corn Belt" by John Hudson.

James Strong's "The New Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible" is in large print and indexes every word of the Bible. Now, there's a reference book! "When Life and Beliefs Collide" by Carolyn James shows how knowing God makes a difference during challenges, weaving stories of contemporary women with episodes from the life of Mary of Bethany. "Life in the Spirit" is a King James Version study Bible from Zondervan Publishing editors Donald Stamps and John Adams. Jesus' words are in red print. Each page has interpretations and definitions to aid understanding of the translation.

Giving is a popular subject now for method books. "The Power of Half" by Kevin Salwen tells of his family's big decision to stop taking and start giving back. In "29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change your Life" Cami Walker liked the idea and an organization was founded around the simple, daily practice of altruism.

Stephen Hall's "Wisdom" is a history from its sudden emergence in Greece, China, Israel, and India in the 5th century B.C. to its modern manifestations in education, politics, and the workplace. It's about Buddha, Confucius, and Jesus, and also refers to recent professionals; the author realizes that "wisdom continues to elude easy understanding". "Who Switched off My Brain?" by Caroline Leaf discusses controlling toxic thoughts and emotions, and how to choose positive approaches to life.

The world of professional wrestling is covered by Ted Kluck in "Headlocks and Dropkicks". Bounty hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman captures fugitives on A & E's "Dog the Bounty Hunter" show and here he offers a wake-up call for another shot at the good life in "Where Mercy is Shown, Mercy is Given".

Lastly, three large books would be fun to peruse in the summertime. "Paris Mon Amour" by Jean-Claude Gautrand contains text in French, German, and English side by side, and the large black and white photos make you feel like you were there when they were taken. "The Summertime Anytime Cookbook" by Dana Slatkin contains recipes from Shutters on the Beach, a hotel in Santa Monica CA to "bring the beach to your home kitchen!" Last, John Basedow's "Fitness Made Simple" offering "3 steps, 8 weeks, 1 killer body!" includes a bonus DVD.

Adult Summer Reading Program

"Readopoly" - the 2010 Adult Summer Reading Program

Sign-ups for the Adult Summer Reading Program will begin on June 14! This year our theme is “Readopoly” and the program will run until August 31st.

After signing up at the Circulation Desk and receiving your program folder you will be asked to select a game piece. You can choose from 9 different library themed pieces including being our own Stained Glass Window from the Reference Department, the Carnegie Logo or even the Words Worth Reading Blog! You’ll begin your journey around our Readopoly board by selecting and reading two magazines of your choice. From there you will move around the board by completing the challenge found on each block such as read a book in a series or read a book from the 7-Day shelf. After making your reading requirement you can return to the Circulation Desk to get your name turned in for a chance to win at our weekly prize drawing every Monday. If your name is drawn you will get to a select a prize package best suited for you such as the Charlaine Harris Prize Package or the Large Print or Suspense Prize Packages. These packages are filled with books and other fun gifts from our local contributors. Once you have completed all 14 reading challenges you will get your name in our Grand Prize drawing, which will be held on Sept. 1st.

For questions about the game or about signing up please contact the Circulation Department at (765)362-2242 or leave a comment here.

While sign-ups will last all through out the game be sure to sign-up early for a special prize!