Plymouth Staff Choices

World War Z by Max Brooks
Adult Science Fiction - Main Level - SCIFI BROOKS

At first glance, the title World War Z might sound as though it’s going to be the equivalent of a schlocky B horror movie. We are talking about zombies here, and the material with which they’ve been presented in the past hasn’t been very deep. Aside from a few metaphors about consumerism that one might gleam from a George Romero film, the zombie hasn’t been treated very seriously as a motif. However, World War Z not only succeeds in presenting the zombie in a realistic setting, but there is also a mountain of sub-text being presented about our own human nature.

The book is presented as an oral history of the war in question and every detail down to the jacket is meant to convey the “realism” of it. The author himself is a character who interviews a wide variety of people from across the world about their experiences with the war. From political officials, military personnel, and pharmaceutical companies to celebrities and the average citizen, Brooks manages to capture each characters voice perfectly. Of course there’s gore, and lots of good old fashioned zombie violence, but what makes this book stand out is the grounding it has in reality.

It’s the arrogance of the politicians, the greediness of the companies, and the foolishness of the citizens that makes you really horrified, because if you were to replace the zombie element with any other crisis so much would still ring true. It’s this examination of our human nature when we are faced with such a dire dilemma that really resonates. In addition to this title, Brooks has also put out a Zombie Survival Guide that is actually referenced in World War Z.

Challengers by the New Pornographers
Cd Bins- Rock- N

Don’t let their name gross you out- there’s little to offend listeners in this new release from Canadian indie rock band the New Pornographers. A bit mellower than their 2005 album Twin Cinema, Challengers still has a few rousing toe-tappers mixed in with slow, harmonious tunes- all featuring poetic and slightly nonsensical lyrics. The songs have an unpolished tinge that showcases their talent (in other words, no auto-tune necessary). Especially lovely are the crisp, clear vocals of Neko Case on the title track and “Go Places.” This album brings more tingly-eared satisfaction with every listen, in particular for any lovers of Andrew Bird, the Arcade Fire or Rilo Kiley.

Crow Lake by Mary Lawson - Adult Paperbacks – Main Level – Lawson

Kate Morrison is a 26 year old zoologist and Assistant Professor of Biology at a Toronto university. She is in love with Daniel Crane who is the Professor of Zoology at the same university. She seems happy on the surface, but her family’s past always haunts her. When she receives an invitation to her nephew Simon’s 18th birthday party all of these memories from the past flood back into her mind.

The Morrison family suffers a great tragedy the summer of Kate’s 7th year. Her parents die in a car accident, and she and her little sister, Bo, are left to be raised by their older teenage brothers, Matt and Luke. Kate idolizes Matt who loves to study marine life with her in the many ponds near their home of Crow Lake.

The family struggles to make a living and find peace during the first year after their parents’ death. Eventually, their lives seem to get better until Matt gets involved with Marie Pye. Marie Pye is the daughter of the local farming family, the Pyes, who possess dangerous secrets. Once Matt becomes close to Marie, Kate and Matt’s relationship changes forever, and these events leave Kate bitter and un-fulfilled. Will Kate learn to confront and make peace with the past?

Crow Lake is a 2003 Alex Award winner which means it is an adult novel that will appeal to teenagers as well. Written in a mesmerizing fashion, Crow Lake by Mary Lawson is a fascinating portrait of one family’s life in Northern Canada. This novel switches between past and present so expertly that the reader is never left confused. In fact, once a reader starts Crow Lake, he/she will not be able to put it down until its conclusion!

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff. Narrated by Kim Mai Guest.
Teen Zone CD Books – Main Level - Rosoff

Fifteen-year-old Daisy is mostly relieved when she leaves her pregnant stepmother in New York to stay with her aunt and cousins in the English countryside. She loves the old farm house and being part of a large family. Then, her aunt leaves the country for a few days. England is attacked and the borders are sealed, leaving four teens and nine-year-old Piper alone in the big house. Somehow, Daisy falls in love with her younger cousin Edmond (fourteen), who seems to be able to read her thoughts. In spite of the ickiness factor, but aided by the war, they have a tender but inexplicit romance. Then the children get discovered and separated, the oldest brother joining the military, Daisy and little Piper to one house, Edmond and his other brother to another, hours apart. As the war gets worse, Daisy knows that it’s up to her to reunite the only family she’s ever felt she belongs in. And as food gets scarcer, the eating disorder she brought over from New York starts to look very different. At the height of the book, Daisy and Piper are traveling secretly across England by foot, foraging for food, and trying to find Edmond, whom Daisy can still hear faintly in her mind. What started off looking like a loveable family drama turns quickly into a survival adventure, with explicit and gory violence. The narrator of the audio book sounds utterly believable as a young teen. For older teens through adults, this is a book you won’t want to turn off.

Kira-kira by Cynthia Kadohata. Youth Cd Books - Lower Level - KADOHATA

This is the story of two incredibly close sisters, Katie and Lynn Takeshima. They are Japanese-American sisters growing up together in Iowa and Georgia during the 1950s. Katie adores Lynn and feels she can do anything. Sometimes the girls are shunned by their white classmates, but these occurrences only bond the sisters together more tightly. The two girls love to stare at the stars in the night sky and chant “Kira-kira Kira-kira” which is the Japanese word for glittering. In fact, Katie starts using the word to describe anything she finds beautiful even colored Kleenex! Their parents are so busy with work that often the children, which includes a younger brother named Sammy, are left alone or in others care. Still the children know that their parents are working hard to make the family’s life better, and the children admire and love them deeply.

The girls’ idyllic life starts to change when Lynn is 14 and Katie is 10 and a half. Lynn gets more and more fatigued during her 14th year. She also starts to hang out with a popular girl named Amber. Suddenly, Lynn is interested in boys and making her posture straight, while Katie still wants to play games with the neighborhood children. Thus, they experience a slight drift in their closeness. As Lynn grows more ill, the family struggles to cope with her suffering and her mood swings. Through it all though, Lynn and Katie remain extremely close.

Elaina Erika Davis acts out all of the character parts in this audio version of Kira-kira. She does a very good job at portraying their different emotions. Listening to the unfolding of the sister’s close bond should draw many listeners into this touching story—which is essentially a love story between two sisters. The book won the 2005 Newbery Medal Award and while this is a youth fiction selection, it could and should be enjoyed by people of all ages!

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
Teen Graphic Novels- Main Level- P

Contrary to what I thought when I started the book, Persepolis is not the name of the main character. The main character’s name is Marjane; Persepolis is the Greek name for the capital of the former Persian Empire. Wait, you say. The main character has the same name as the author? Yes, friends, this is an autobiographical comic book.

Marjane, the great-great granddaughter of Nasser-al-Din Shah (the Shah of Persia for the second half of the 1800s) grew up in Iran with her Marxist parents. During her youth, the Shah was overthrown, the Islamic Revolution was accomplished, and Iran went to war with Iraq. Sadly, Satrapi cannot imagine her childhood without these events. She was obliged to wear a veil in public, propaganda was taught at school, and many loved ones were in danger of being arrested, tortured, killed, or bombed in the war. Somehow the simplicity of the comics lightens the tone of the story, while the emotion on the character’s faces had me (big cliché coming…) both laughing and crying. I sure hope the film adaptation makes its way to Michigan.

Mister B. Gone by Clive Barker
Adult New Book Display - Main Level - Barker

Clive Barkers first “adult” novel in six years begins with a very simple plea, “Burn this book.” It seems Jakabok Botch the minor demon now inhabiting the pages of Mister B. Gone would like nothing better than for you the reader to stop what you are doing grab a match and incur the wrath of a hefty library fine. However, if you are like me the temptation to read ahead instead of immolating the pages will no doubt be too much. Thus, Botch is resigned from the first page to threaten, taunt, seduce, and reason with the reader as well as tell his life story. Spanning from the depths of hell to the workshop of Johan Gutenberg, Botch revels in his family life, his love life (demons apparently love in their own ghastly way), and ultimately how he found himself trapped in the pages before you.
While many of Clive Barkers horrific trademarks remain, the book has enough humor in it to set it apart from his previous efforts. Fans may be a bit disappointed that this book isn’t the sprawling epic they might be waiting for. Especially if you’re like me and you are eagerly awaiting the final installment of his classics “The Great and Secret Show,” and “Everville.” However, if you view his latest book as a light appetizer instead of a hearty main course Mister B. Gone delivers enough to sate your appetite.

Dealing with Dragons
Youth Fiction - Wrede

This is not your usual fairy tale. Princess Cimorene (smart, adventurous & bored with princess duties) runs away from home, seeks employment with a dragon and refuses to be rescued. Yes, there is a fairy godmother, but the Princess ignores her advice, listening instead to an ordinary frog (well… a talking frog… not an enchanted prince, though). Enjoy numerous references to ordinary fairy tales as the Princess ignores expectations, overcomes the mantra “it just isn’t done”, and works on a fireproofing spell to protect herself and other princesses from over-emotional dragons. Keep in mind Princess Cimorene has “always been more interested in what the knights and dragons were supposed to say than in memorizing the places where she was supposed to scream.”

Fairy Moon: Songs of the Ring by Maria Sangiolo
Youth CD Bins - Music, General

A lot of my children’s music reviews seem to include, “If you are tired of voice and solo guitar…” This gentle, unplugged recording charmed me. Sangiolo’s songs of shoe-making gnomes under the pines and fairy dances range in style from straightforward folk to Irish traditional, and are accompanied by piano, flute and harp, as well as the ubiquitous guitar. They capture a young child’s easy belief in fairies and joy in life in a way that reminded me of Waldorf fairy dolls. Sure enough, the liner notes, when I looked at them later, said that the album was inspired by her daughter’s Waldorf preschool. My son, knowing nothing of Waldorf, still liked the “fayee” songs, and was dancing and singing along. Your fairy friends might, too.