just bad

Burnt Mountain by Anne Rivers Siddons


My rating: 1 of 5 stars


Siddons, Anne Rivers. Burnt Mountain. 8CDs. 9 Hours. AudioGo. 2011. ISBN: 978-1-6078-8553-5 $69.99. F




Thayer Wentworth's life starts fairy-tale like; beloved father and grandmother, rich family, idyllic-southern childhood, until her father dies in a terrible accident on Burnt Mountain. She discovers her first love at camp and loses him due to her mother's betrayal. She later finds solace in her Irish Professor at college, marrying him in spite of her mother. Thayer eventually abandons her husband on Burnt Mountain, coming full circle. Sadly, what begins as a lush southern saga filled with family drama, ends as a disjointed Celtic fable with nothing linking the two. Thayer's growing dissatisfaction with her husband feels forced and his decline into possible lunacy an afterthought. An incongruous timeline with extraneous, under-fleshed characters, incoherent foreshadowing and several abandoned story-lines leave the reader utterly confused. Kate Reading's wonderful narration, unfortunately, doesn't save the book.




-Terry Ann Lawler - Phoenix Public Library, AZ.








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ever watch a train wreck?

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


this book is disgusting and horrible and aweful and un-put-downable. i think the author really nailed the serial killer mind, or as close as i could imagine it anyway. completely engrossing.




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Upper Cut

Upper Cut: Highlights of My Hollywood Life by Carrie White

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


maybe not the best written book, but quite good. ms. white is uber honest about her life, her rise to fame, her crash, her burn and her come back. at the beginning, i thought it was all going to be celebrity gossip, and at times, the story seems to just be names of famous people who she came across. but it ended up being a genuinely heartfelt memoire. i'm glad for ms. white and for her success. i recommend to anyone who likes celebrity memoires and anyone who is interested in hollywood in the 60's and 70's.




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longer longer days...the summer is almost over

so, i know it is only day 3 of this week, but it feels like day elevendy.

one of my 4 year old storytime kids came in while i was at the reference desk. i see her and go: why hello ashley! i hope you are having a terrific day! are you checking out some great books?

she looked at me, all serious, bug eyed and goes: what are you doing out here?

i guess she couldn't figure out why i would need to be outside of the story room

space issues dude who also thinks i'm racist (we're the same race) and sexist has come back. he studiously avoids me but seems to feel like he owns the entire liberry again. i think it is REALLY funny that he minds so much when other people get within 3 feet of him but when he's yelling at them about it, he's right in their face. sheesh, people. i've noticed that he's stopped showering, i'm wondering if its a defense mechanism to keep people out of his abnormally large personal space bubble. if it is, it is REALLY working.

a co-worker came in and wanted to know if we should call hazmat over a bunch of glass in the parkinglot. we looked, it was a beer bottle. most of which was still stuck to the lable. we got a broom and dustpan an a librarian and dealt with it. no one died. master's degree to the rescue.

now, if i can just keep enougn of the juices flowing at the end my 16 hour day to say hello to ashley in the right place tonight during storytime

:) happy dayz

little girl, maybe 9 comes up to the reference desk. she's shy and doesn't want to talk. the mom pushes her forward and tells her to ask for the book she wants. she tells the liberrien all earnestness:

"my favorite poet in the whoooooole wiiiiiiiiide world is jack frost. do you got any books by him?"

why yes, yes we do

a gem!

Meditations for manic motorists: In-car relaxation techniques by David Michie


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Michie, David. Meditations for Manic Motorists: In car relaxation techniques. 1CDs. 1 Hour. Bolinda Audio. 2011. ISBN: 9781742850894 $34.95. NF




Is driving home from work a time for angry gestures and tension headaches? What if it could it be a time for rejuvenation and recharging? Imagine getting home tranquil and full of peace after your commute by using other annoying drivers as practice tools for your own serenity. With several deceptively simple mind and body practices, Michie's (Buddhism for Busy People) meditations invigorate and release tension endowing drivers with improved focus. Exercises can be listened to individually for a 10 minute pick-me-up or all at once in a lengthy drive. Read by Nicholas Bell whose soothing, educational voice is a perfect fit, enhancing the calming effect. A great listen for anyone with a daily commute. Recommended to fans of The Cow in the Parking lot by Leonard Scheff.




-Terry Ann Lawler - Phoenix Public Library, AZ.




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very clever poetry

Triangles: A Novel by Ellen Hopkins


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


very ellen, dramatic, clever poetry and great characters. a nice twist for a grown up read with some sexy parts too:)




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nice use of old books!

someday, when i grow up, i might want to be mike stilkey, how about you?

check out more of his stuff at the sundance channel or mike's website