Weedflower

By Cynthia Kadohata...what a great read!  I actually listened to this book.  The subject matter was about a period in American History that is not taught about as much as it should.  Now, it seems we are thinking about something like this time again...which saddens me.  We get to see how a pre-teen, teen growing up just after World War 2 starts...she is Japanese.  Her parents have died and she is being raised by her aunt and uncle on their flower farm.  But...Pearl Harbor happens...and Sumiko and her family is moved...first to an assembly center at a racetrack, and then to an internment camp in Arizona.  I highly recommend this book to any reader!  Lots of great information and the story is catching.

Deciding what to read...

In my job, I am asked about what to read.  Here are a few of the ways I pick something to read...I have to say that over the years I have changed my methodology.  I used to just read what I liked.  How did I know that?  Well I would take about 20 books home, read the first couple chapters...if it didn't grab me, I would put it down and try another one.  I used to pick only a couple different genres...mystery, suspense, romance, westerns, science fiction, horror...I went through several phases.  Now, this is how I decide...

1. Does it look interesting?
2. Does the story grab me?
3. Did someone recommend it?
4. What is the subject matter?
5. Have I read about it somewhere?
6. Is it a genre I enjoy?

I have also expanded what I will read.  I read things that are out of my comfort zone...and have been pleasantly surprised!  So, try something new and different, you never know what gems you will find!

Native Seattle

Histories from the Crossing-Over Place by Coll Thrush...this was something I had to read for school.  I am taking a course called Hometown History.  Most of what I have read for this class I have enjoyed and this book wasn't any different.  I was impressed by the intertwining of Native American History and Seattle's History.  I loved the way the author intertwined stories from Seattle's past and present.  Many issues about how the city was formed, how the indigenous people where treated, and how the land was altered to form the city that is there today.  After reading this book I wanted to return to Seattle to check out some of the places mentioned.  I think someone from Seattle, someone who has lived in Seattle or someone who visits Seattle a lot would enjoy this book.  That being said...this is a history book.  It isn't dry...in fact it is interesting!  I recommend!

Frankenstein: Lost Souls

By Dean Koontz...ah, he has done it again...brought to life the Frankenstein that is more modern, more twisted, and more maniacal than ever!  Our favorite characters are back, Carson and Michael and Deucalion...Erica 5...and Victor.  In a book that could be read by itself...or as the fourth book in his Frankenstein series.  This is not for the easily scared or spooked.  This is definitely horror and suspense...and I LOVED it.  Can't wait for the next one coming allegedly in Spring 2011.  There is definitely some possible overlap with Crichton's Prey...but the rest is new and horrifying. 

Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk

A Modest Bestiary by David Sedaris.  My husband and I went to see him at the Fox in Spokane May 8th.  During this performance he read a couple of the stories from this book.  We thought they were hilarious.  Now, finally, I get to read them all!  They were all so funny, thought provoking and definitely pointing out some of the oddities we deal with on a daily basis.  As only David Sedaris can do...I loved it.  Also, just for fun, illustrator of Olivia, does some illustrations for this book!  I recommend for adults with a slightly twisted sense of humor.  This isn't for the prude...although I think you would find something of value contained within the covers of this book.  For David Sedaris fans...this does not disappoint!

Kira Kira

By Cynthia Kadohata...what an incredible book!  I recommend for families...for girls ages 8-12...although anyone would enjoy it.  The book is about a Japanese family and their struggle to survive in a culture who doesn't accept them, with a sick child, and their way of finding something positive through it all.  Told from the point of view of the middle child, Katie.  It starts when she is in Kindergarten and they move from Iowa to Georgia in the 1950s.  I really enjoyed listening to it.  I am currently listening to another book by the author, Weedflower.  This book brings up racism, labor unions, family relationships, and much more. 

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

By J K Rowling...I have read all seven of these books and thoroughly enjoyed them.  Several years ago when the series first started I let my boyfriend (now my husband) borrow book one on a business trip.  He finished it and couldn't wait to get home to start book two, so he bought a copy at a book store.  Ever since then he and I have read each one as they came out.  The year book 7 came out he was in France and couldn't wait to come home to read my copy...so he bought the british version there.  We have also listened to the books.  Jim Dale is an incredible reader and does voices and everything.  I decided in preparation for the movie's release in November to listen to book 7.  I was immediately swept up in the story.  The audio book is 17 discs long and took me over a month to listen.  I am not in the car that much!  Anyway, now that it is over, I see myself starting with book one again.  The other part of this is that kids who enjoy this book often ask me for books that are similar to this series.  I am stumped as a Librarian...as there are no series that measure up to Harry Potter.  There are books that are released to be similar...but I have found that none has sucked me in like Harry Potter and his friends Ron and Hermione.

Reading for History Class

I have returned to school.  Because of that return, I am reading books about history.  One of my classes is about local history or hometown history, and the other talks about historical theory.  I have been reading books for class over the last three weeks and therefore my fiction count is down a little.

Telling the Truth about History by Appleby, Jacob and Hunt is an account of history and how it has been written and passed along through time.  Once linear, now less so...it is kind of a book that helps history make sense to those who enjoy reading it.  This was written with several readers in mind...so if you love history and want to see how history has come about, this is three authors' take on that.

A Crooked Line by Eley is about one historian and his struggle with history.  Eley wants to find his way and this is written with the academic in mind.  Some thought it was easier to read, others thought it was harder to read but it was interesting in its own way.

Spokane & the Inland Empire edited by Stratton was by far my favorite so far.  This book takes the area in and around Spokane and puts it into perspective, bringing in farming, women, Native Americans, railroad, mining, architecture, and the world expo.  The first essay answers the questions where are you from? and each of the essays after address a portion of that essay.  If you are from the area and dabble in history this may be a great read for you!

The Big Burn

Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire that Saved America by Timothy Egan...it took me awhile to read this book.  Partially because I was reading several other things at the same time and partially because there were parts of this book that didn't interest me as much as others.  However the story of the fire that burned Montana, Idaho, and Washington kept me VERY interested.  The book follows several key characters that were around for the fire and follows what happened to them as a result.  The book also has a lot of politics.  Relationships between Teddy Roosevelt and William H Taft...and conservationists, and such.  It was interesting, but it didn't hold me as much as the account of the fire.

An Eagle Named Freedom

By Jeff Guidry...this book was chosen by our local book club.  We have one that meets at the Liberty Lake Municipal Library on the second Monday of the month at 1:30pm.  We had one of our members bring in a list of interesting books and this was one of them.  I wasn't sure what I would think of it.  I have loved some animal books I have read.  Marley and Me, Wesley the Owl, just to name a couple...so I looked forward to this one.  The book was good...but for those of you with a heightened sensitivity to animal stories...take your kleenex with you when you read!  I was on a plane when I was reading this and my husband kept asking me, what is wrong...as I sobbed into the book.  Maybe it wasn't that emotional, but it hit me just the same!