Bowker Reads

Mr. Pusskins and Little Whiskers: Another Love Story

Diane Kinney — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:29:59 +0000

Mr. Pusskins is back—and this time his complaints are legitimate. The small white kitten recently adopted by his owner Emily is nothing but a troublemaker, yet only Mr. Pusskins sees her true nature. Wrongfully accused of perpetrating the mischief, Mr. Pusskins is summarily banished from the house. Will Little Whiskers confess? If you’re looking for a book to introduce the concept of forgiveness to your child, this one should be quite effective. Or if you’re like me, you’ll just find it supremely entertaining and endearing. My favorite part—the priceless letter Mr. Pusskins writes objecting to the kitten’s very presence in the household.

Dawn Light

Diane Kinney — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:28:31 +0000

This is one of those works that I really should have read in print rather than listened to while driving. The eclectic subject matter shifts very quickly, and I feel like I daydreamed a bit too much at times to catch everything. I’ve meant to read this author for ages now and am glad to have finally discovered her. If you’re a fan of nature; interested in mythology, history, and culture; and not opposed to poetic metaphors, this ethereal book is definitely worth considering. If you’ve read A Natural History of the Senses, please let me know what you thought of it. I’m also interested in which of her other books I should add to my list. Thanks!

Children’s books

Lynda Keller — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:39:51 +0000

I thought I would have lots of time to catch up on some reading during my maternity leave…. silly me. I have not picked up an adult book in months. Books have become a world I can share with my daughter as she sits on my lap with wide eyes and a big smile on her face. For now the books are interactive with their bright colors and different textures. Her favorite book is Pat The Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt. She loves patting the soft fur of the bunny on the pages. I just found out there are two similar books written by the author’s daughter that I need to get for her. Another one of her favorite books is The Wheels on The Bus by Paul Zelinsky. I’ve been singing the song to her since she was born so I just had to get the book for her. I love how the book has moving parts that coincide with the song lyrics. Toes, Ears, and Nose is a lift the flap book that reveals body parts hidden under different articles of clothing. Its amazing to think that these little board books are the beginning of the journey of learning how to read. My little girl already has a good sized library.

Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal: A Worldwide Cinderella

Diane Kinney — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:40:56 +0000

I’m a huge folktale fan, so I found this unusual picture book combining snippets of the popular fairy tale told in 17 different geographical regions to be very original and appealing. Gouache illustrations depicting the plot’s details as told in countries including Korea, Mexico, Indonesia, Iran, Poland, and Zimbabwe make one curious about other world cultures and why there are often so many similarities among myths and legends in places separated by great distances. Contrasting styles of dress and footwear, plus the foods eaten and daily chores performed, spice up the familiar storyline. I’d love to see more folktales worked in this way!

Six-Word Memoirs on Love & Heartbreak

Rosemary Walker — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 21:53:45 +0000

The entries in this book seem so honest and direct. But I suppose that was the point in using only six words. I expected a few memoirs to make me laugh. But I forgot just how heavy heartbreak can be. The pain and sadness was there even with so few words. I didn’t expect to want to know more about some of their stories. It’s a book worth checking out. Happy Valentines Day.

The Lamp, the Ice, and the Boat Called Fish

Diane Kinney — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:54:30 +0000

I tend to view books and articles about Arctic exploration to be dull, but I found The Lamp, the Ice, and the Boat Called Fish to be very interesting and suspenseful. This amazingly- and intricately-illustrated picture book written following extensive research is based on a true story and includes black and white photos of the Inupiat family involved and other survivors of the arduous expedition. If I were tagging this one, I’d add the following keywords: uncertainty, hope, warmth, and patience. I’d also likely toss in “snow goggles,” but that’s probably just me. (If you’ve never seen indigenous versions, try an image search adding “Inuit” for some beautiful examples.) One of the features I liked best is the author always clearly indicates when she is imagining something versus stating a fact. This book should definitely make you ponder that human urge to explore and inhabit even the most hostile environments on the planet.

The Guinea Pig Diaries: My Life as an Experiment

Diane Kinney — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:05:56 +0000

While I’ve always thought it would be fun to design and conduct sociological experiments, it never occurred to me to undergo them myself. Each chapter of this book describes the process and results of the author’s assorted undertakings, including outsourcing his personal tasks to India, impersonating an absent Australian actor on the red carpet at the Oscars, and navigating the online dating scene while pretending to be an attractive woman. Fascinating stuff! Be sure to read the notes at the end of the book for some excellent bonus material. My husband read this one the same month and has generously provided the following quote: “I would recommend this book to men and for men to give to their wives. Any husband will look good compared to what A.J. puts his wife through.”

The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game

rcoviello — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 17:02:05 +0000

“The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game” is the book by Michael Lewis that is the basis for the surprise smash hit film starring Sandra Bullock. At the center of both the book and the movie is the incredible true story of Michael Oher and his climb from desperate poverty, neglect and dysfunction to wealth, support and football stardom. In oddly similar ways the strengths and weaknesses of the book and the movie are due to a central character taking over and dominating the narrative. In the movie it is Leigh Anne Tuohy as portrayed by Sandra Bullock, a wealthy white christian lady whose indomitable will and good humor are made the central force in elevating the African-American Michael Oher out of poverty and educational failure to football success and college admission. There is no doubt the movie’s success both financially and as an entertainment rest on Ms. Bullock’s shoulders, but I find it somewhat obscures the man, Michael Oher, whose remarkable story is actually being told. I mention this both because I came to the book after first seeing the movie and because I have been a fan of author Michael Lewis previous books “Liar’s Poker” and “Moneyball” where he examined the inner workings and characters of the bond market and baseball respectively. Ironically, whereas I found Ms. Bullock’s character and performance overwhelmed the movie, in the book I find a similar thing has happened with the character and story of Michael Oher dominating Mr. Lewis’ examination of football. As the subtitle “Evolution of a Game” indicates, it is clear Lewis started out with the intention of creating a book that examined developments in football the same way he had gone inside the changing game of baseball with “Moneyball”. Instead, “The Blind Side” is blind sided by the blitz of Michael Oher’s real life Dickensian story. Recounting Michael Oher’s life in brief it truly sounds like the summary of an overwrought melodrama, he was born to a drug addicted mother, had no relationship with his father, had possibly a dozen siblings and half-siblings, literally slipped through the cracks of the child protective custody system to the point where he did not attend school for years at a time, lived in the gang & drug infested ghetto of Memphis, Tennessee, frequently did not know where his meals would come from or where he would sleep each night, was somehow admitted to a private christian academy. All that was before he, African-American, came to be supported by and eventually adopted by the wealthy white christian Tuohy family and embarked on the football odyssey recounted in Lewis book. How could Michael Oher’s story not overwhelm any book it was a part of and that is too bad because Lewis’ chapters that examine the impact of linebacker Lawrence Taylor and offensive coaching genius Bill Walsh are fascinating. I personally wish Lewis had stepped back when he realized how dominating Michael Oher’s story was and written two separate books, one that could truly have been a look at the evolution of the game of football and another devoted exclusively to Michael’s incredible personal journey. As it is the book is a breeze to read, but fans of football, Sandra Bullock’s movie-version and especially of Michael Oher may be disappointed it does not give them more. (Note - Michael Oher was the Baltimore Ravens Number 1 pick in 2009, signed a $13 million dollar contract and finished 2nd in voting for NFL Offensive Rookie of the year)

Justice: Crimes, Trials, and Punishments

Leigh Wright — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:38:40 +0000

Dominick Dunne, crime journalist for Vanity Fair for nearly 25 years, passed away in August at the ripe old age of 83. I’ve been reading Vanity Fair for the last couple of years and his column was always my favorite, so, in honor of his passing, I decided to pick up this “best of” collection of his crime reporting.

The book starts with his first VF article, an accounting of his daughter Dominique’’s murder and the subsequent trial of her ex-boyfriend, the accused murderer. Though found guilty, Dunne often felt the trial a sham, as many pieces of important evidence were left out, and the murdering ex served only approximately 4 years in prison. Dunne then poured his frustration and fury into his writing, both his journalism and his fiction, seeking justice the best way he knew how - through his words.

Subsequent articles include profiles of the Sunny von Bulow case, the trial of Michael Skakel (for the murder of Martha Moxley), and a whole series on the OJ Simpson trial. Some historical, some modern, but all wonderfully fascinating, Dunne’s articles show that no matter what the era or social status, murder is often fueled by the same things: jealousy, passion, and greed.

Some readers complain that Dunne name-drops too much; that his ego is off-putting; that he is too conversational. However, I have always found his tone to be easy to read, and his name-dropping matter of fact. What shines through more than anything is Dunne’s passion for justice. This is a man who knew all too well that justice is not always served by the US court system; he also knew that a judge’s sentence is not the only way to punish a man. Just look at OJ Simpson. He may have been acquitted of his ex-wife’s murder in a courtroom, but even so, has lived a condemned man ever since.

Overall, a fascinating look back at the greatest trials of the 21st century. Highly recommended.

Moral Disorder

Diane Kinney — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 20:36:40 +0000

This collection of interrelated short stories based to a seemingly-large degree on Margaret Atwood’s own experiences is by far my favorite of her works since 2000’s The Blind Assassin. If you asked me what the stories are about, the images that stick out in my mind include a frightening Halloween costume accessory, a runaway former school horse (this one reminded me a lot of my own beloved chestnut, Carrots), “the entities,” and a knitted layette. Atwood is not known for her predictability, and her talent for storytelling is truly exceptional.

I highly recommend the audio version read by Susan Denaker. She speaks slowly enough that you have the chance to truly appreciate Atwood’s genius. (I tend to read short stories very quickly just because I can, whereas books with long chapters take me forever to finish–not very yogic/present moment of me, I know.) And a note of warning: it’s ridiculously easy to completely miss when one tale stops and the next starts…you must be vigilant to avoid some serious confusion!