Posted in Autobiography, Books, Nonfiction, Quick read, Rebekah's Picks on June 3, 2008 | No Comments »
When I first heard about this book on a library listserv, I thought it was a very interesting concept. The author decides to live one year without purchasing products that are made in China. Her family, a husband and two young children, are not nearly as happy about this, but they begrudgingly participate. The premise [...]
Posted in Autobiography, Books, Jinker's Picks, Nonfiction on March 11, 2008 | No Comments »
At the age of 12, Howard Dully underwent a trans-orbital (through the eye sockets) lobotomy at the behest of his stepmother, who could not cope with his behavioral problems. In frank and straightforward language, Dully (now 52) describes his dysfunctional family background in the years leading up to the procedure. He then relates the story of [...]
Posted in Autobiography, Books, Memoir, Nature writing, Nonfiction, Setting, Todd's Picks on November 8, 2007 | No Comments »
Pete Fromm spent a winter alone in the Bitterroot Mountains guarding salmon eggs. This is his account of his Walden-esque experience.
After a friend drops out of the job just before the training starts Pete says I can do that and works out his college class schedule (independent writing) and heads to the woods to provide [...]
Posted in Autobiography, Barry's Picks, Books, Language Focus, Memoir, Microhistories, Nonfiction, Quick read on October 25, 2007 | No Comments »
Although Nick Hornby may be best known for his clever and witty fiction (try High Fidelity, Hornby’s look at a record store owner, his quirky staff, and his dysfunctional social life), he writes equally well about music in the nonfiction realm.
In Songbook, Hornby writes with insight and passion about 31 of his favorite songs from [...]
Posted in Amy's Picks, Autobiography, Books, Coming of Age, Graphic novel, Quick read on October 10, 2007 | 2 Comments »
I really dislike using the designation “coming of age story” to describe a book. I’m not totally sure why, but I think it’s partially because of the term’s pretentiousness, and perhaps more significantly, the fact that it makes me think of sappy Hallmark TV specials (*grimace*). Still, “coming of age story” is so [...]
Posted in Autobiography, Documentary, Movies, Nonfiction, Rebekah's Picks on September 21, 2007 | No Comments »
To end the week, I have selected a film set in a maximum security prison. That may have caught your attention. Yes, I did say a prison.
What I Want My Words to Do to You is a moving film about a writing program for female prisoners at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in New York. [...]
Posted in Author obituary, Autobiography, Books, Characters, Children's, Christian, Classics, Coming of Age, Fantasy, Jessica's Picks, Language Focus, Literary fiction, Mainstream fiction, Nonfiction, Plot, Science fiction, Sense of place, Setting, Young Adult on September 7, 2007 | 3 Comments »
Madeleine L’Engle died yesterday at the age of 89.
How can I even begin to describe the impact that L’Engle had on readers? Or on me?
She wrote some of everything: novels, nonfiction, poems, plays. She wrote for everyone:
young children, tweeners, young adults, adults. She wrote in a variety of genres: autobiography, coming-of-age, contemporary fiction, science fiction, [...]
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