Staff, Board, and Volunteer Favorites of 2006
LIBRARIES
TOGETHER
[Bettendorf, Davenport, LeClaire & Scott County]
www.librariestogether.org
Remember:
If your local library doesn't own some of the titles on
this bibliography, you may use your card at any of the Libraries
Together libraries. You may also request that any of these
titles be sent to the library of your choice for pickup
and checkout. Library contact information is on the last
page of this bibliography.
BETTENDORF PUBLIC LIBRARY
INFORMATION CENTER
FICTION
JFIC
DICA (also at Davenport Main & Fairmount, Scott County
Eldridge & SC Walcott) DiCamillo, Kate.
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
It's hard to know what to write about the book-I loved the
writing and the pictures are exquisite. But it may be the
shared experience I had with my step-daughter that makes
me love the book the most. I am a big fan of Kate DeCamillo's
work. As a relative newcomer to the world of children's
literature, she has a way of drawing the reader into her
stories and making you love the characters.
Edward Tulane is a 3-foot china rabbit. He begins his journey
with a young girl named Abilene Tulane. She adores Edward
and her family treats him much like a member of the family.
This treatment has spoiled him in the eyes of Abilene's
grandmother, the one who gave Edward to Abilene. Edward's
journey is filled with tender moments of love and loss and
readers will be touched by the changes in Edward throughout
the book. This is a great family read-aloud choice! -Tami
Finley, Youth Services Manager
JFIC
SAIN (also at Davenport Main & Fairmount and Scott County
Eldridge) Saint-Exupery, Antoine de. The
Little Prince
I hadn't read this philosophical fairy tale since I was
in college in the 1960s. Upon re-reading it 40 years later,
it resonated more than ever. It's such a mysterious fable,
timeless, and set in many worlds. Heidegger called it "one
of the great existentialist books of the 20th century"
with its themes of grown-ups vs. children, friendship, loyalty,
solitude, consolation, responsibility, vocation vs. occupation,
love, and death. When the BPL Foundation director asked
the Library Staff to make doodles for Doodle Day, I was
reading this book and wrote out this quotation: "One
sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is
invisible to the eyes." My doodle ended up selling
for $200-as much for the enigmatic sentiment as for my artistic
rendition, I'm sure. The Little Prince speaks to us on many
levels. -Hedy N.R. Hustedde, Information
Librarian
FIC ANDR, LARGE TYPE FIC ANDR, TC FIC ANDR Andrews,
Mary Kay. Savannah Breeze
In this sequel to Savannah Blues, Weezie and Bebe are again
involved in a little romance and intrigue in and around
Savannah and Tybee Island. A fun read. -Nancy
Medema, Lead Library Assistant, Circulation
FIC
CLAR, TC FIC CLAR (also at Davenport Main & Fairmount
and Scott County Eldridge) Clarke, Susanna.
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrel
This book was very engrossing-I liken it to a Harry Potter
for adults. You can tell that the author spent a lot of
time developing the story. -Joanne
Milleman, Information Desk
FIC
DOIG, LARGE TYPE FIC DOIG (also at Davenport Main &
Fairmount and Scott County Eldridge) Doig, Ivan.
The Whistling Season
Fans of Wallace Stegner and Lawrence Watson's Montana 1948
would enjoy this beautifully descriptive novel set in eastern
Montana at the turn of the century. 1908 is a defining year
in the life of thirteen-year-old Paul Milliron. Paul's father,
overwhelmed by housekeeping chores and the needs of his
three boys after the death of his wife, reads an advertisement
in the newspaper for a housekeeper who professes she "Can't
Cook, Doesn't Bite". He is intrigued enough to invite
the lovely Rose into their lives. Rose comes with some baggage,
including her mysterious brother, Morrie. Part love story,
part mystery, wholly entertaining and beautifully written,
this is a book with appeal to a broad audience. -Rita
Rosauer, Senior Manager
FIC
EDWA, LARGE TYPE FIC EDWA (also at Davenport Main &
Fairmount, LeClaire and Scott County Eldridge) Edwards,
Kim. The Memory Keeper's Daughter
Kim Edwards spins a mesmerizing tale that draws the reader
into the lives of two families. The writing skills of this
author make the reader feel as though they are there, watching
the tale unfold. You will feel the warmth from the sunshine,
smell the scent of lilacs and freshly fallen rain as you
become entwined in the lives of these characters.
This is a story of secrets, lies, and choices that from
the moment they happen can alter a life and cause irreparable
damage that can haunt us for a lifetime. It is also the
story of that which society considers imperfection, and
how those born with these imperfections or differences are
ostracized and kept at arms length. The love and compassion
that we feel for these characters keeps us turning the pages
and feeling the regret, loss and pain that has been woven
into their lives. Even as their lives come full circle,
as the truth unfolds, we become aware of all that was lost
and cannot be regained. -Chris Little,
Circulation Clerk
FIC
ELIZ Elizabeth (Von Arnim). Elizabeth
and Her German Garden
In a journal format, Elizabeth records each season in her
beloved garden in the Nassenheide in 1890s Germany (Pomerania).
This is a book of fiction which reads like nonfiction and
delightfully so. Elizabeth is very opinionated and her writing
is her outlet, so it sounds completely real and honest.
Two of the things that utterly tickled me were the winter
picnics on the Baltic Sea and the exchange between friends
of the very same birthday present over and over. -Hedy
N.R. Hustedde, Information Librarian
FIC
FOER, CD FIC FOER, TC FIC FOER, eAudiofile (also at Davenport
Main & Fairmount) Foer, Jonathan Safran.
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
After reading a couple of reviews, I wanted to read the
book; I would not have read it based on the jacket's summary.
Sounded potentially troubling-face it, the whole 9/11 thing
is troubling. Anyway, the boy is clever, the story engaging,
and I enjoyed the writing. The characters and settings are
very realistic. The aftermath of a disaster is brought home
to you via a young boy and his attempt to resolve the loss
of his father. -Darcey Jaeschke, Youth
Services Aide
FIC
HAWT, CD FIC HAWT, eBook, eAudiobook, VC FIC SCAR (also
at Davenport Main & Fairmount, LeClaire, and Scott County
Eldridge) Hawthorne, Nathaniel. Scarlet
Letter
I like this book very much and I have read it 3 times. Also,
I like the movie with Demi Moore (as Hester Prynne). I like
this book because Hester is brave woman who defends her
principles, keeps her love, and loves very deeply. She is
very sincere woman. Also, the book has happy end-THE LOVE
won! -Anelia Ivanova, from our Sister
Library in Montana, Bulgaria
FIC
MAPS (also at Davenport Main & Fairmount) Mapson,
Jo-Ann. The Owl & Moon Cafe
Story of mothers and daughters. Each chapter told in a different
voice. Very enjoyable! -Carol Crane,
Tech. Services
FIC
NEMI, CD FIC NEMI (also at Davenport Main & Fairmount
and LeClaire) Nemirovsky, Irene. Suite
Francaise
The author had intended to write five novellas, focusing
on life in France during WWII. Before she could complete
the final three stories, she was arrested and sent to Auschwitz
where she died.
Nemirovsky intertwines the lives of several people during
the German occupation of France. The stories tell how the
citizens reacted to and interacted with the German soldiers
during the occupation.
I enjoyed this book because it gives us a glimpse into the
lives of ordinary French citizens-not the soldiers-during
the war. -Barb Reardon, Information
Librarian
FIC
PAMU (also at Davenport Main & Fairmount) Pamuk,
Orphan. Snow
This book chronicles an exiled poet who returns to Turkey
and travels to an isolated city named Kars. His purpose
is to report on a wave of suicides among religious girls
forbidden to wear their head scarves. The story is sentimental,
funny, and full of suspense. The storyteller has done a
fantastic job of telling his tale in a descriptive, beautiful
manner. -Pat Laas, Trustee
FIC
STEI, CD FIC STEI, VC FIC EAST (also at Davenport Main &
Fairmount, LeClaire, and Scott County Eldridge & SC
Blue Grass) Steinbeck, John. East of
Eden
This book is very interesting because it describes the real
life and the fight between hate and love, between sincerity
and lie, describes about the difference between two brothers
and about the hard choices which people make in their life….maybe
it sounds not very interesting, but in English I don't speak
very well about feelings. I said feelings because every
book is feeling for me. -Anelia Ivanova,
from our Sister Library in Montana, Bulgaria
MYSTERY
MYS
DOYL (also at Davenport Main & Fairmount and Scott County
Eldridge & SC Durant) Doyle, Arthur Conan. The
Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
This series of short stories first published in London's
Strand magazine won immense popularity for Sherlock Holmes
and Dr. Watson. If you haven't read about Holmes lately,
you should refresh your cultural literacy. The stories are
easy to read, unusual, and charming. My mystery discussion
group voted on which of the 12 was our favorite: "A
Scandal in Bohemia" won, but 6 other stories were tied
for 2nd place. So there's something to intrigue almost everyone.
-Hedy N.R. Hustedde, Information Librarian
MYS
MANK Mankell, Henning. Faceless Killers
I recently "discovered" Henning Mankell, an internationally
acclaimed bestselling and awardwinning Swedish author whose
works have been translated into over 30 languages. Faceless
Killers is a crime novel featuring inspector Kurt Wallander,
an interesting and somewhat flawed Swedish police inspector.
Finding a favorite book that is first in a series is fun
as I now look forward to reading the rest of the series.
I especially enjoyed this mystery as I have a strong interest
in Swedish culture and society. The setting in small towns
in Sweden, depictions of Swedish life, reflections on Swedish
social democracy and social changes and issues brought about
by the country's policy of accepting refugees, all were
of interest to me. Aside from the setting, how Wallander
solves the brutal murder of an elderly couple in their remote
farmhouse and the devastating repercussions of this crime,
makes for an entertaining read. -Caran
Johnson, Adult Services-volunteer and outreach services,
programming
ROMANCE
ROM
BROW, LARGE TYPE ROM BROW, CD ROM BROW, TC ROM BROW (also
at Davenport Main & Fairmount, LeClaire, and Scott County
Eldridge) Brown, Sandra. Ricochet
Suspense/Romance -Mary Burkhead, Periodicals/Circulation
ROM
ROBE, LARGE TYPE ROM ROBE, CD ROM ROBE, TC ROM ROBE (also
at Davenport Main & Fairmount, Scott County Eldridge
& SC Bookmobile) Roberts, Nora. Angels
Fall
Suspense/Romance -Mary Burkhead, Periodical/Circulation
SCIENCE
FICTION
SF/FAN
JORD, CD SF/FAN JORD, TC SF/FAN JORD (also at Davenport
Main & Fairmount and Scott County Eldridge) Jordan,
Robert. Wheel of Time series
I spent the better part of the last 4 months reading this
series-11 books plus a prequel. There should be one more
title to complete the series but no publication date has
been set.
It is a fantasy series that weaves an intricate plot and
introduces you to many intriguing characters. The core characters
become like family.
Epic and grand-it's really good too! -Paul
Odell, School Liaison Librarian
NONFICTION
Meyer,
Joyce. Battlefield of the Mind: Devotional:
100 Insights That Will Change the Way You Think
Our minds are a battlefield. Overcoming negative or damaging
thought patterns that truly influence us is the way to win
that battle and find freedom and peace in our lives. Almost
every scenario or illustration described throughout the
book are examples of honest thoughts and feelings that the
human heart and mind feel and think. These thoughts leave
us feeling worried, doubtful, confused, depressed and sometimes
angry. In other words, we feel discontent.
This book is a reminder to Christians of why we are here
and how we can live a truly satisfying and contented life.
The reader is encouraged and empowered to be the best person
that they can be to themselves and others. As I closed the
book after finishing the last page I knew that this was
a book that I needed to own personally. -Chris
Little, Circulation Clerk
364.1523
CA, CDBOOK 364.1523 CA, DIBS (Discussions In BoxeS), DVD
FIC IN, VIDEO FIC IN (also at Davenport Main and Scott County
Durant) Capote, Truman. In Cold Blood:
A True Account of a Multiple Murder and its consequences
I'm not a great fan of true crime on my own-makes me too
squeamish-but I read this for a discussion group and the
skill of the author drew me inexorably into the world of
1950s America and into the minds of murderers who could
be anybody. Capote called it a "nonfiction novel,"
the first of its kind. The writing is poetically beautiful
somehow in a way hard to pinpoint-the details, the phraseology,
the flow of the sentences-inspired. It's worth reading also
for the insights into the nature of violence and for its
discussion of the death penalty. -Hedy
N.R. Hustedde, Information Librarian
636
BE Belozerskaya, Marina. The Medici
Giraffe: And Other Tales of Exotic Animals and Power
This is the story of exotic animals used by six different
princes to solidify their power. The book is a delightful
way to learn the history from Ptolemy to Randolph Hearst.
Belozerskaya started off as an art historian with a passion
for reading and is now a writer of history who lets her
wide ranging reading interests determine her subject. -Faye
Clow, Director
636.752
GR, LARGE PRINT 636.752 GR, CD 636.752 GR (also at Davenport
Main & Fairmount, LeClaire, and Scott County Eldridge)
Grogan, John. Marley & Me: Life
and Love with the World's Worst Dog
Marley joins the family as a puppy-everyone falls in love
with the lab. He creates one disaster after another. If
you have/had a dog-this is a must read. (Warning: do not
read in public-you laugh-you cry.)
-Shar, Reception Desk
I loved this book! If you are a dog lover, do yourself a
favor and read it! I laughed, I cried..... -Carol
Crane, Tech. Services
973.931
RI (also at Davenport Main & Fairmount) Rich,
Frank. The Greatest Story Ever Sold: The Decline
and Fall of Truth from 9/11 to Katrina
Anyone who cares about our country and their rights as citizens
needs to read this book. This is a serious wake-up call
about how those who control our government avoid taking
responsibility for their decisions, leaving the American
people to suffer the reality of those choices while the
right-wing has placed power and financial profit above freedom
and human life. -LuAnn Hogan, Clerk,
Technical Services
977.0049
ER (also at Davenport Main) Erdrich, Louise.
Books and Islands in Ojibwe Country: Traveling Through
the Land of My Ancesters
While I am a big fan of Erdrich's fiction, this slight volume
of travel writing captured my attention from its opening
lines. She uses that same ability to paint images with words
that she uses in her fiction in this book about her (and
her infant daughter's) exploration of the Boundary Waters
in southern Ontario. The trip was a homecoming event for
her (her Ojibwe ancestors lived in the Boundary Waters area),
but the connections hit home with me because of her description
of the life and work of Ernest Carl Oberholtzer. His local
roots came to my attention through a program presented by
Augustana College and he's buried in Davenport's Oakdale
Cemetery. What a small, but glorious world. I went to bed
each night for a couple of weeks exploring this area of
southern Ontario through and with Erdrich…what a guide!
-Michael Hustedde, A/V Volunteer, Emily
Dickinson Garden Weeder, Book Discussion Leader
977.264
KI (also at Davenport Main and Scott County Princeton) Kimmel,
Haven. A Girl Named Zippy: Growing Up Small
in Mooreland, Indiana
This is a laugh-out-loud story of a girl growing up in the
1960s in a small Indiana town.-Judi Sarafin, Information
Librarian (Judi tells me her copy is being read and enjoyed
by her sister in Australia right now.-compiler)
BIOG
RADZIWILL (also at Davenport Main & Fairmount) Radziwill,
Carole. What Remains: A Memoir of Fate, Friendship,
and Love -Susan DeGeeter, Tech
& Circulation
BIOG
ROOSEVELT (also at Davenport Main) Morris, Edmund.
The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt
I had no idea what an intelligent and fascinating individual
Roosevelt was. -Joanne Milleman, Information
Desk
DAVENPORT
PUBLIC LIBRARY MAIN & FAIRMOUNT
MAGAZINE
Real
Simple (also at Davenport Fairmount)
-Amy Youngerman, Customer Service Dept.
FICTION
FIC
Ald (also at Bettendorf) Aldrich, Bess Streeter.
A Lantern in Her Hand
This book appeals to readers on many different levels. First
of all, there is the historical aspect of the struggle of
life on the prairie when Iowa was just becoming a state.
Added to that is the impact of the Civil War. Second, there
is the story of a young girl, unsure of herself, growing
to womanhood and finding out who she really is as she faces
events that are out of her control. We witness Suzanne's
first infatuation, her crushing disappointment when she
realizes her feelings are not returned, and, eventually,
a true love that will outlast anything, even war. The reader
realizes that though the times may change, the emotions
of growing up do stay the same. At times, we just need a
good, old-fashioned story. -Rita Specht,
Librarian
FIC
Ban (also at Davenport Fairmount and Bettendorf) Bank,
Melissa. Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing
An intelligent and funny read about adolescence, falling
in love, and surviving life. -Dee,
Reference Librarian
FIC
Bic (also at Bettendorf) Bickmore, Barbara.
The Moon Below
It's a fictional book, but there is romance, mystery, and
adventure. Dated back in the 18th-19th century about a woman
who shows independence and courage in her young life in
Australia. I have loaned my copy to many friends who could
not put it down. Excellent story! -Kaymie
McKinny, Sr., Clerk
FIC
Bro (also at Davenport Fairmount, Bettendorf, and Scott
County Eldridge, SC Blue Grass, SC Bookmobile, & SC
Buffalo) Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre
My all-time favorite book ever-never to be surpassed! -Dee,
Reference Librarian
FIC
Cri (also at Davenport Fairmount, Bettendorf, LeClaire,
and Scott County Durant) Crichton, Michael.
Jurassic Park
If you haven't seen the movies, this is a great read. The
book's focus isn't so much action scenes, as in the movies,
but more on technology, and the abilities and frailties
of the systems we set up. It also touches upon moral and
ethical issues. -Anonymous, Librarian
FIC
Lud (also at Davenport Fairmount, Bettendorf, and Scott
County Durant) Ludlum, Robert. The Prometheus
Deception
Nothing is as it seems, and everything has a twist. -David
Svoboda, Special Collections
FIC
Jil (also at Davenport Fairmount and Bettendorf) Jiles,
Paulette. Enemy Women
Set in the Missouri Ozarks during the Civil War, Jiles's
story focuses on 18-year-old heroine Adair Colley who is
falsely accused and imprisoned on charges of being a Confederate
spy. The story of Adair's escape and long journey home is
interspersed with historical testimony-a fantastic read.
-Dee, Reference Librarian
FIC
MURA (at Bettendorf) Murakami, Haruki. The
Wind-Up Bird Chronicle
This was the first book I've ever read by this author, so
I have a sort of sentimental attachment. It is brilliant,
but all of his works are brilliant. Reviews range from "Long
and rambling with no ending" to "Long and rambling,
but an addictive page-turner." It is my opinion that
the few people in this world that did not like this book
obviously didn't get the point. It's not a point that can
necessarily be spelled out; it has to be felt by the reader.
Essentially, the main themes are man's relationship with
evil, responsibility, and reality. The following are a few
of my favorite quotes. I'll let the beautiful writing speak
for itself:
"There's a kind of gap between what I think is real
and what's really real."
"But even so, every now and then I would feel a violent
stab of loneliness. The very water I drink, the very air
I breathe, would feel like long, sharp needles. The pages
of a book in my hands would take on the threatening metallic
gleam of razor blades. I could hear the roots of loneliness
creeping through me when the world was hushed at four o'clock
in the morning."
"I saw myself as the wind-up bird, flying through the
summer sky lighting on the branch of a huge tree somewhere,
winding the world's spring. If there really was no more
wind-up bird, someone would have to take on its duties.
Someone would have to wind the world's spring in its place.
Otherwise, the spring would run down and the delicately
functioning system would grind to a halt. The only one who
seemed to have noticed that the wind-up bird was gone, however,
was me." -Angela Campbell, PR/Programming
Coordinator
FIC
Syk (also at Davenport Fairmount and Bettendorf) Sykes,
Plum. Bergdorf Blondes
Light, funny reading, in the vein of "Sex and the City"
-Dee, Reference Librarian
MYSTERY
M Kin
(also at Davenport Fairmount, Bettendorf, and Scott County
Buffalo, SC Eldridge & SC Walcott) King, Laurie.
The Mary Russell series
I just re-read Laurie King's Mary Russell series this year.
The series begins with The Beekeeper's Apprentice, in which
Mary Russell, a brilliant orphaned teenager, first meets
Sherlock Holmes, who is living a hermit's life in rural
England just before the First World War. They begin an odd
intellectual friendship which develops into a partnership,
as local mysteries and political intrigues draw Holmes out
of his self-imposed retirement. Characters include many
real and literary historical figures, and the world-wide
political and cultural changes of the early twentieth century
are a fascinating backdrop for each convoluted plot. Mary
herself grows up and develops into a strong, forthright
woman during the course of the series, which is a nice change
from some serial mysteries with static main characters who
never seem to age, or learn. -Sarah,
Librarian
SCIENCE
FICTION
SF Leg
(also at Bettendorf and Scott County Eldridge) Le
Guin, Ursula K. A Wizard of Earthsea
A really neat Zen parable cloaked in the form of a fantasy
novel. A quote (possible spoiler, so be careful):
[G]ed had neither lost nor won but, naming the shadow of
his death with his own name, had made himself whole: a man:
who, knowing his whole true self, cannot be used or possessed
by any power other than himself, and whose life therefore
is lived for life's sake and never in the service of ruin,
or pain, or hatred, or the dark. In the Creation of Ea,
which is the oldest song, it is said, "Only in silence
the word, only in dark the light, only in dying life: bright
the hawk's flight on the empty sky." [p180-181 Bantam
paperback edition]. -Karl Colón,
Associate Director for Customer Services
SF Pra
(also at Davenport Fairmount, Bettendorf, and LeClaire)
Pratchett, Terry. Discworld series
One of my favorite authors is Terry Pratchett, particularly
his Discworld series, because he always makes me laugh and
think and I enjoy reading what he writes! How could you
not like a flat world that is carried on the back of four
elephants who ride on the back of a giant tortoise who is
swimming through space! It has witches and wizards and dwarves
and trolls (as he wrote in one of his books, racism is not
a problem on Discworld, you are more likely to run across
specieism) and police officers and, in one of them, an all-female
army! But nothing is what you expect it to be!-Lynn Gates,
Cataloging Librarian
Witch and Ahnk-Morpork series
Terry Pratchett is one of the best satirists I have ever
read, with something for everyone. For those who read fantasy,
his Witch series, featuring Granny Weatherwax, is a subtle
underlying sociological (and psychological) look at fairy
tales, while the Ahnk-Morpork series (featuring Samuel Vimes)
is more political satire for those who prefer something
a little more grounded. There are a few independent books,
too, which can be read more or less out of order. But all
of his books will suit those who just want a good, funny
read. -Sarah, Librarian
NONFICTION
133.4097
Wic (also at Davenport Fairmount and Bettendorf) Wicker,
Christine. Not in Kansas Anymore: A Curious
Tale of How Magic Is Transforming America
This book is written in the same manner as Nickel and Dimed.
Wicker travels around the country where she joins different
magical communities such as Wiccans, Voodoo priests, Hoodoo
conjurers, Elves, Vampires, and Satanists. She participates
in their activities and the book is about those experiences.
I really enjoyed Wicker's writing style. She mixed humor,
sarcasm, and empathy all in one. She doesn't judge the people
she meets, but she doesn't readily accept what they believe
in either. Even if you don't believe in magic, Not in Kansas
Anymore provides an enchanting read. -Danielle
Bartling, Public Relations Assistant
191
Wil Wilber, Ken. A Theory of Everything:
An Integral Vision for Business, Politics, Science, and
Spirituality; Integral Spirituality: A Startling New Role
for Religion in the Modern and Postmodern World
Fantastic philosophy books-Wilber treats very difficult
and important subjects in an easy-to-read style. -Dee,
Reference Librarian
277.3082
Mil (also at Davenport Fairmount and Bettendorf) Miller,
Donald. Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts
on Christian Spirituality -Steve
Hart, Library Assistant
306.874
Pip (also at Bettendorf) Pipher, Mary. Another
Country: Navigating the Emotional Terrain of Our Elders
Reading this, I came to understand why my mother communicates
the way she does. I gained new respect and empathy for the
WWII and the Depression generation. Reading the sometimes
heartbreaking stories and Pipher's interpretations, I had
many "ah ha" moments of enlightenment. The author
of Reviving Ophelia has a very accessible writing style
and the series of anecdotes are very readable. -Lynn
Seline, Reference Librarian
599.5
CH (at Bettendorf) Chadwick, Douglas. The
Grandest of Lives: Eye to Eye with Whales
This book is a beautifully written account of the lives
of whales, some of which have just recently been discovered.
Chadwick also traces the use and abuse of these gentle giants
by various cultures in today's world. -Tamra,
Assistant Librarian
641.5635
Wei (also at Bettendorf) Weight Watchers Complete
Cookbook -Amy Youngerman, Customer
Service Dept.
663.42
OG (at Bettendorf) Ogle, Maureen. Ambitious
Brew: The Story of American Beer
http://www.ambitiousbrew.com
I only read a couple books a year that really resonate with
me. Sadly enough, they usually involve some element of digestion.
Ambitious Brew is steeped in the rich tradition of a simple
timeless beverage that Americans saw a need to keep messing
with over the last 150 years. Clearly the product of an
arduous number of interviews and painstaking historical
research, Ogle covers it all and does not de-evolve into
academic pedantry. To sweeten the deal, Ogle earned her
undergraduate and Ph.D. degrees in the state of Iowa.
It starts with dirt-poor German immigrants with names like
Blatz, Miller, Pabst, and Schlitz who had to take out loans
to cabbage together enough rivets and sheet metal to form
small boilers in tiny villages we now call "Chicago"
and "Milwaukee". Beer gradens were just that...large
city parks where the newly-American would gather on Sunday
afternoons. The smell of sausages and sauerkraut would wash
over a sea of laughter and Teutonic-tinged voices.
The brew families whose legacies still exist today can only
be described as lucky and inventive, tweaking recipes and
improvising technology (what's a refrigerator?) to get the
hooch to mystical far-off markets using nothing but steam
and horsepower...in some cases Clydesdales. They quickly
traded their rich heritage and handcrafted ale recipes for
the mediocre lagers that sully our storeshelves today, partly
due to diets inspired by rising hemlines. The cautious and
the principled went bankrupt.
Enter Prohibition, where only a few made it out on the other
side after scraping by on savings for over a decade-renting
their warehouses and trying to make legal foodstuffs like
ice cream, pop, and near-beer with the same equipment. To
the victors came the spoils, the survivors forming dynasties
where entire economies of scale now exist to supply them
with aluminum, glass, malt, hops, and fleets of vehicles.
Some put bean-counters into management. Whoever deviated
from the standardized bland formula was crushed in a St.
Louis second.
Today, if one of the Busch clan sneezes, entire cities tremble.
Meanwhile, in little brewpubs, pie-eyed rebels try to turn
the wheels of the corporate machine backward by paying a
small fortune for dark frosty pints the way our ancestors
(not stockholders) intended.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to making five-gallon
batches of barely-quaffable swill in my mom's basement.
-Bill Fuhr, Reference Librarian
781.642
Zwo (also at Bettendorf and LeClaire) Zwonitzer, Mark.
Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone? The Carter Family
and Their Legacy in American Music
The author has done meticulous research, yet it reads as
a real page-turner. The early years of Maebelle, Sarah and
Pleasant Carter are fascinating as is his depiction of the
very early years of radio. -Lynn Seline,
Reference Librarian
818.5402
Sed (also at Bettendorf and Scott County Eldridge) Sedaris,
David. Naked
Sedaris has been compared to American humorists such as
Mark Twain, James Thurber, and Dorothy Parker; Publisher's
Weekly called him "Garrison Keillor's evil twin".
Pretty heady stuff for a man who claims there are cats that
weight more than his IQ score. In Naked, he takes us along
on his catastrophic detour through a nudist colony, his
stint in a fruit-packing plant, and recounts those strangely
universal childhood rituals when we were compelled to lick
light switches or count our footsteps on the long walk home
from school. -Brenda Ross, Technical
Services
MUSIC
CD 781.643
Mel Melua, Katie. Piece by Piece
-Amy Youngerman, Customer Service Dept.
VIDEORECORDINGS
DVD
741.43 Ben (also at Davenport Fairmount and Scott County
Eldridge) The Benchwarmers -Amy
Youngerman, Customer Service Dept.
jDVD
791.45 Dis (at Davenport Fairmount, also at Scott County
Bookmobile) Disney's Little Einsteins. Our big
Huge Adventure
My four-year-old daughter loves the Little Einsteins and
anything with the word "Adventure" on the title,
so this was one of her favorite DVDs this year! It features
classical music and art, her four "friends" Annie,
June, Quincy and Leo, and their rocket ship. She loves to
sing and dance "to the beat of the music". -Cristina,
Tech Services Clerk
DVD
791.45 Hom Homicide: Life on the Street: The Complete
Series
This cop show aired on NBC from 1993-1999. It's from producers
Barry Levinson, Tom Fontana (HBO's Oz) and Paul Attanasio
(House). Great writing and acting from some of my favorite
guest stars in the TV universe. -Cristina,
Tech Services Clerk
LECLAIRE
COMMUNITY LIBRARY
FICTION
FIC
FITZ (at Bettendorf, Davenport Main & Fairmount, and
Scott County Eldridge) Fitzgerald, F. Scott.
The Great Gatsby
FIC WHAR (at Bettendorf, Davenport Main and Scott County
Eldridge & SC Buffalo) Wharton, Edith.
The Age of Innocence
Both books speak to the heart in terms of passion and unrequited
love. Both tell a story of the exquisite yet agonizing joys
of unattainability and serve as lessons to the reader, both
morally and temporally. -Brent Koenes,
Librarian in Spirit and Practice
NONFICTION
Bryson,
Bill. "Anything" (All libraries
seem to have "something" by this author)
I find his writing delightful & uplifting. I have to
use caution when I read his books, since he makes me laugh
aloud uncontrollably. Who would have thought such humor
could come from a former Iowan?! -Wanda
Gardner, Director
SCOTT
COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM
FICTION
FIC
LAR (also at Bettendorf, Davenport Main & Fairmount,
and Scott County Bookmobile) Larsson, Asa.
Sun Storm
This grisly first novel by Swedish author Larsson won the
award for Sweden's Best First Crime Novel. Sun Storm returns
Stockholm lawyer Rebecka to her childhood home to solve
the murder of her former lover, a well-known evangelist
brutally killed in his church. -Pam
Collins, Director
FIC
SET (also at Bettendorf, Davenport Main & Fairmount)
Setterfield, Diane. The Thirteenth
Tale
I started this book at 8:00 p.m. and ended up staying up
till 2:00 a.m. to finish it. A must-read for fans of Charlotte
Bronte and Daphne du Maurier or anyone who loves a haunting,
old-fashioned mystery. -Pam Collins,
Director
NONFICTION
929.2
COH (also at Bettendorf, Davenport Main & Fairmount)
Cohen, Rich. Sweet and Low: A Family
Story
This memoir combines the story of artificial sweetener,
the diet industry, and the very unflattering history of
the Brooklyn family that invented "Sweet'n'Low".
-Pam Collins, Director
2950 Learning Campus Drive
Bettendorf, IA 52722
563-344-4175
www.bettendorflibrary.com
321
Main Street
Davenport, IA 52801-1490
563-326-7832
and
3000 North Fairmount Street
Davenport, IA 52804-1160
563-326-7893
www.davenportlibrary.com
323
Wisconsin
LeClaire, IA 52753
563-289-4242 (menu option #4)
www.leclairelibrary.org
200
North 6th Avenue
Eldridge, IA 52748
563-285-4794
www.scottcountylibrary.org
