Map your favorite book!

Image from Lucius Beebe Memorial Library on flickr

Have you read a book and wondered what the location really looked like?  In my case, I did not read Tony Hillerman's Jim Chee mysteries until after I had lived south of Gallup and Grants for several months and moved away from the state for a couple of years.  Yet I found having the personal knowledge of the towns, distances, and local quirks contributed depth to my appreciation of the novels.
In my mother's case, when she read Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch books, she wondered how many places were based on a real place.  As luck would have it, another fan of the books shared that thought and made a Google map to answer.

If connecting a story to real places catches your fancy, you might also be interested in the Placing Literature project here: http://placingliterature.wordpress.com/page/2/ .  This project focuses on books set in Duluth, New Haven, and San Francisco (see their site for the reading list).

If you are interested in following walks through well-known towns and titles, Ruidoso Public Library has three: one for Santa Fe, another for Dickensian London, and one on Hemingway's Paris.

Armchair travel connects exotic locales and literature without leaving the comfort of home (or the public computers at the library!).  I found a Google map of St. Petersburg, Russia, including photos of locations from Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment (available online to read or listen to).  Comment below, email the library, or call us if you would like to find a map connecting a specific author, book, or city through literature.

Book suggestion: this year's Carnegie Medalist, Timothy Egan

Over a year ago, I read Timothy Egan's The Worst Hard Times.

It won the National Book Award, and well-earned.  This June, Mr Egan won the Carnegie Medal for nonfiction for his newest book, Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher.  I just read Booklist's review, by Brad Hooper.  Hooper collected persuasive comments from Egan about why he wrote this book, now; I won't steal from him but let you enjoy it directly.  Luckily Short Nights is already on order.  Check with us at the library to reserve your turn to read it.

The Shadow Catcher was Edward S. Curtis, famous today for photos like this (Evening in Hopi Land shows three Hopi women gathering water in a sepia photograph):

In the Booklist interview, Mr Egan praises Nathaniel Philbrick's, The Last Stand, a book about the Battle of Little Big Horn (below).  It is already in the library.  Last year I read Mr Philbrick's Why Read Moby Dick. We also have his Mayflower in the stacks, one I've had my eyes on for a while.

   

History is neither dry nor boring when presented by these authors.  They present driving drama and humanity, full of foibles.  If you gave up on nonfiction back in school because of textbooks, I hope you will give one of these a try.  If I am wrong, please let me know (in the comments below or during a visit to the library).  Thanks!

Please check out Abby's introduction to computer stuff

Here at Ruidoso Public Library, we field many questions about computers.  Libraries are about information and connecting visitors with answers to questions, in any format or medium.  The staff are happy to help with your question, whether how to reply to an email or how to find a book.

Available in Ruidoso

If you are curious about computers, there's a new book in town:  Is This Thing On? by Abby Stokes.  If you wish to read a little sample of her style, I suggest this link for a sneak peak: http://abbyandme.com/posts/cracking-the-web-page-code

I would suggest that post for anyone.  From it, I learned phrases to use when teaching someone new to computers--phrases that are free of computer terms.  If you design webpages or have been confused by a webpage (What's a webpage?  Abby's book is for you), Abby's short post reveals tricks that might help you.

If you don't see the book on the shelf at 004.16 Sto, please ask at the front desk.  We can call you when it comes back in, or save a place for you if it becomes popular.

Sample these titles for free on your computer, phone, or e-reader

Major publishers want to whet your reading appetite.  Check out this link for excerpts and first chapters of new books.  These titles will receive a lot of advertising and media-hype hoping to catch your eye.  If you have the time, let us know in the comments whether (after reading several) they deserve attention on par with the media campaigns.
A similar title from last year is available if the titles or authors catch your eye and/or jog your memory for last year's blockbuster books.
If the image above does not load, then try looking for Buzz Books 2013 at your favorite online ebook store (Amazon's Kindle, Barnes & Noble's Nook, iBookstore, Kobo, Sony, Google Play, Powell's, etc.).  The ISBN is 9780985491086.
Library staff are not able to read, review, or even hear about every new book available.  (This article offers a quick explanation of just how many books are released every year.)  Marie adds over 3,000 titles each year to Ruidoso Public Library's shelves.  When publishers release over 300,000 new books (not counting self-published or anniversary releases), it is easy to see how 1% looks lovely on our shelves, but is only a single drop in a very large bucket.  We welcome your insight and input on which titles to watch.

Christian Fiction sampler from New York Public Library

Many of my ideas for posts arise from other blogs and articles in the library "blogosphere," such as today's.  A librarian from New York's Public Library wrote about how to find one popular genre of stories.  I have edited the article and links to reflect the Ruidoso Public Library's collection.

If you have questions about a specific genre or format (such as audio or graphic novels) please ask in the comments below, by email, or phone.

God in the Stacks: The Scoop on Christian Fictionby Jean Harripersaud, Bronx Library CenterMarch 27, 2013

You can say it started in 1678 with the publication of John Bunyan's Pilgrim Progress. Then along came Hall Caine'sThe Christian (1897) and C.S Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia in the 1950s. Fast forward to the 21st century, major news magazines such as Time were talking about the Left Behind series. Yes, my interest was piqued when I read a 2002 Time magazine cover article titled "Apocalypse Now"about the popularity of the series. I checked them out of the library and read each one in order. I was intrigued and fascinated.

I decided to give a little more attention to the genre. My interest intensified over the last few years as I observed the genre really taking off and expanding into many sub-genres. I found various list of authors online and decided I would read at least one book by every author in the genre. It was an ambitious feat and I faced the challenge of new authors being published regularly and also, reading every book published by an author I particularly like.

I also discovered many authors not mentioned on the Internet by doing a keyword search in the catalog on "Christian fiction." ...[F]ound the king of legal thrillers — Robert Whitlow.  We have Jimmy in large print.

Christian Fiction can be defined as follows, according to a Library Journal Book Buzz on Christian Fiction (2009):  

"...Most readers would agree that there is a core of biblically-based attitudes, values, and actions, and likely there would be very little, if any, profanity, sex or violence. Generally, Christian fiction has religious themes infused into a regular genre story. ... Christian fiction gives readers characters and situations that demonstrate the growth of faith, depth and breadth of moral responsibility, the possibility of conversion and redemption, and examples of Christian living for men and women of all ages, races and cultures."

Christian Fiction are books written by primarily Christian authors with one or more of the following characteristics: an overarching Christian theme, embracing Christian values and behavior, characters who have faith in God. The Christy Awards and later on the Carol Awards were established to recognize best fiction published in the genre. Pilgrim Progress is an allegorical work of the journey of a Christian from this world to heaven. In the Chronicles of Narnia, Jesus is Aslan the Lion, the ever present guide. The Left Behind series is a fictional series based on Biblical prophecy and historical facts about events regarding the end of the world and the second coming of Jesus as King.

If you have read and enjoyed faith based fiction, here are some others you may enjoy. You can borrow them from the Ruidoso Public Library with a library card. If you are a digital reader, you can download and read library e-books for free. I have enjoyed many of them on my tablet while waiting for appointments.

Amish Fiction

Beverly Lewis - The Courtship of Nellie Fisher: The Longing, The Parting, The Forbidden
Mary Ellis - Abigail's New Hope

Fiction

Jonathan Cahn - The Harbinger
Karen Kingsbury - The Bailey Flanigan Series: Leaving, Longing, Loving

Historical Fiction

Lynn Austin - Song of Redemption
Kathleen Morgan - A Love Forbidden
Janette Oke - Dana's Valley
Tracie Peterson - Hope Rekindled
Francine Rivers -  A Voice in the Wind

Legal Thriller

John Grisham - The Street Lawyer, The Last Testament
Robert Whitlow - Jimmy

Murder/Mystery/Crime

Davis Bunn - The Amber Room
Ted Dekker - Thr3e

Romance/Romantic Suspense

Colleen Coble - Lonestar Sanctuary
Catherine Palmer - The Happy Room

Supernatural/Science Fiction

Frank Peretti - This Present Darkness, Piercing the Darkness, Monster, and The Visitation

William P. Young - The Shack, Crossroads

Good Day for a Picnic, and other ideas to enjoy the summer

Summer is a great time to connect with your kids and/or the outdoors.  Try these titles to find ideas for foods to pack or how to keep the experience fun.  Enjoy the forest before it closes, or just practice in your backyard.



Good Day for a Picnic   Simple Food that Travels Well


Hungry Monkey: A Food-loving Father's Quest to Raise an Adventurous Eater



Camping with Kids



Best Hikes with Children in New Mexico 

For more adventurous hikers:

Trail guide Lincoln National Forest Smokey Bear, Sacramento & Guadalupe Ranger Districts by John W. Stockert ; In cooperation with the staff at Lincoln National Forest.



If it is too hot to hike, these books provide points with purpose for a local road trip.
       
Travel guidebooks of local historical markers

This one was a staple during my childhood here.  It explains the colors, sediments, and geo-history seen staring out the car window.

Roadside Geology of NM

Did I miss one?  Let me know, by email or comment below, if you recommend another library book for picnicking or local tour information.  Thanks in advance!