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By Amanda, September 4, 2010

The Hunger Games
By Suzanne Collins

So have you read it yet?  I’ve been hearing so many good things about this book for the past year that I finally decided to break down and read it. 

And once I started I didn’t want to stop.  I read up through the first 100 pages in a couple of installments, but when I got past that point it was The End or Bust.  I even stayed up until almost 1 am to finish it – and with the schedule I’m running right now that is saying something. 

So anyway, the story revolves around this Running Man/Gladiator type of contest and is kinda of a post-apocalyptic, alternative history, young adult novel.  Whew!  That was a mouthful (and very exciting sounding, huh?). 

But seriously, the main character – Katniss – is called on to do some things she’d probably rather not do in order for her family to survive in District 12 (aka The Appalachians).  Along the way a love triangle of sorts emerges to rival that of Edward/Bella/Jacob.  I can’t decide who I like together better…but I’ll leave it for you to make up your own opinion.

The Hunger Games is just the first book in the super popular triology.  The other books include:

 So did I peak your interest yet?  Come on, you know you want to read these.

Everybody else is doing it…

Amanda

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By Amanda, July 31, 2010

Ok, raise your hand if you went to the recent Paul McCartney concert. Now keep your hand up if you thought the tornado was gonna get you before security let you in.  Yep, that’s my hand you see in the air.  Definately an interesting beginning to the night, but Paul still managed to put on a great show – as if there was ever any doubt.  I hope I can rock as hard when I’m his age. 

Anyway, for those of you whole missed all the fun, just wanted to let you know that we’ve got a few albums from Sir Paul that you can listen to instead:

These are just a sampling of the Paul.  We also have several Beatles albums in our catalog. (Unfortunately, no Beatles songs are available on freegal, just FYI.) 

Now if you’re saying, “But Amanda, I don’t like to rock out,” that’s fine.  Paul also has a couple of classical albums as well.  Take a listen:

True Paul fans also know that he’s been playing around in a group called The Fireman, and here at NPL, we’ve even got one of their CDs for your listening pleasure:

By the by, I think this one might be available on freegal, but I haven’t downloaded it myself (yet.  Oy, so many downloads so little time!).

So for all of you who got to see the former Beatle, it was nice to spend an evening with you – severe weather and all.  And if you didn’t make it this time, you better get listening, so when he comes back (in 30 years), you’ll be ready…there might even be a quiz.

Amanda

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By Amanda, July 24, 2010

The Prayer Cycle
Composed by Jonathan Elias
Performed by Alanis Morissette, James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, and more

Need another reason why free downloads are fun?  You get to explore and hear music to which you might not otherwise be exposed.  I was puttering around in freegal the other day and came across this hidden gem.  It was listed in the classical genre, by Alanis Morissette (under A for Alanis, naturally) – so I was intrigued.  And for good reason. 

I had never heard of this work before, so I Googled it.  According to Wikipedia, The Prayer Cycle is a nine movement piece that was originally used in the ABC documentary, The Century.  Along with Morissette, it features other big pop names in more classical settings:

I. Mercy (Alanis Morisette)
II. Strength (Richard Bona)
III. Hope (Alanis with The American Boychoir)
IV. Compassion (the now-deceased Nusrat Fatah Ali Khan)
V. Grace (James Taylor)
VI. Innocence (Salif Keita)
VII. Forgiveness (Nusrat)
VIII. Benediction (Linda Ronstadt)
IX. Faith (Alanis and Nusrat)

The piece is sung in twelve languages, but the only bad thing about downloading it is that I cannot find a complete translation of the Elias-penned text anywhere.  Maybe that’s good though.  Maybe that means I just have to be more Zen about it and simply experience it for what it is without analyzing everything.  (That said, if you can find a complete version, please let me know.)

 Sometimes such an eclectic collection of artists can come across as cheesy or overly commercial. But this album is everything you want it to be – relaxing, poignant, hopeful, yet powerful and haunting, all at the same time.  It’s definately not something you put on to dance around the house to. And I probably wouldn’t recommend it for driving either…you might get too relaxed.  But it would be excellent for that quiet, introspective evening in.

Intrigued yet?  Well, don’t take my word for it.  Log on to freegal yourself (here’s how) and check it out.  If you don’t want to download all nine tracks, just listen to the 30 sec. samples to get an idea of what I’m talking about.  Since our new limit is 5 songs a week (still better than nothing, folks, let’s be honest), it will take you two weeks to get the whole thing.  But, it’s worth it.

Trust me.

Amanda

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By Amanda, July 10, 2010

Dead in the Family
By Charlaine Harris

I don’t know why everyone told me this was not a good book.  I almost didn’t read it because I didn’t want to waste my time.  And while this isn’t my mostest favoritest series by my mostest favoritest authors (for those, see my PNRUFy list), I’m still glad I picked it up.

SPOILER ALERT – If you’d like to remain blissfully unaware of any events in the book, please stop reading now, go check it out, peruse it, and then come back.  We’ll still be here.  For the rest of us who’ve read the thing or for those of you who like to read the back page first (gasp!), soldier on…

This is the tenth book in Harris’s popular Southern Vampire series, and I must admit that the last couple haven’t really floated my train (yes, I know that train’s don’t float, as a rule, but imagine how good something would be to make that happen!).  I’m not really sure why I’m not in love with Sookie and her world, but the books usually just leave me flat.

This one, however, I thought was better.  There wasn’t one big plot device that Sookie and pals had to overcome.  It was more of a regrouping after the last couple of death-defying endings.  I enjoyed seeing the characters go about their everyday lives for a change.  After all, you don’t have to have an apocalypse in every book, right?

It was good for Bill to get some page time – even if it wasn’t under better circumstances.  I have to say, True Blood has redeemed Bill a little bit in my eyes, but I am still an Eric girl at heart.  Which means, I’m very glad Sookie and Eric got to spend a good chunk of time together.  They still have a few issues to work through, but I am keeping my fingers crossed for those two crazy kids.

Ok, fellow PNRUFy freaks, here’s my call on this one.  Not the best book you’ll ever read, but definitely worth the couple of hours it will take you to get through it.  When you’ve finished, treat yourself by checking out a few episodes of True Blood (We just got in season two! Woohoo!). 

Happy Sookiefying (Sookiesizing?)

Amanda

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By Amanda, July 3, 2010

NCIS: The Complete Series (up ’til now…)

I love my mother.  She is, in my humble opinion, the best mother in the world – except that sometimes, she watches weird things on TV.  For the longest while, my mom loved to watch Law & Order.  She even mastered the esteemed Da Duh sound effect and would use it in every day conversation.  Then one day I noticed she was watching a new show.  A show that she said was better than Law & Order.  Well Da. Duh.

So what show toppled L&O from its mighty perch?  Why NCIS, of course.  My Mom and Dad now know these shows so well that they can watch the first segment – before the credits – and tell you how it ends.  In their fervor, somehow they managed to addict me to the show as well, and NCIS (pronouned NIN-sis) is a part of my every day life.

Thankfully, NPL has the first six seasons on DVD.  When I first started watching on TV (on USA), I didn’t watch from the beginning, so I was very confused about how things came to be (it doesn’t help that I can be kind of OCD about reading/watching things in order).  Once I went back and got a more complete history of events, I enjoyed the episodes even more.

Who doesn’t like watching Abby outsmart McGee?  I thought Mark Harmon was the bees knees when he was on Chicago Hope, but his Leroy Jethro Gibbs is my favorite of his characters.  Also…I must admit, I have a teeny, tiny, almost miniscule really, crush on Tony.  But I’m smart enough to know that he’d totally break my heart, plus I like him and Ziva together, so I must find a way to soldier on without him (seriously, though, Tony, call me…).

NCIS is the number one show on TV for good reason.  Good writing, good actors, good fun.  Maybe my mom’s taste in TV isn’t quite as bad as I thought.

Oh wait, no.  She used to like Quantum Leap.*

Amanda

* Ok, I apologize to folks out there who actually liked Quantum Leap.  However, I’m still undecided if I’m apologizing because I don’t want to hurt your feelings or just because I feel sorry for you…

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By Amanda, June 26, 2010

Glee: The Music
Brought to you free by NPL and freegal!

Attention all Gleeks!  Are you missing your musical slushiness?  Are you going into withdraw from not getting to enjoy all new Glee songs each week?  Summertime means no new episodes (boo), but to tide you over until next fall, NPL has teamed up with freegal to bring you lots of free (that’s right, I said, free) downloads – including…drum roll please…the entire Glee selection (cymbals crash randomly in the background)!  Yeah!

Choose from Mercedes favorites like “Hate on Me” or “Bust the Windows.”  Or maybe you’re a Rachel fan?  How about “Hello” or “Don’t Rain on My Parade”? So many choices so little time.  And how can we forget about Sue Sylvester’s reimagination of “Vogue”…I want to go listen to it right now.  Hold on a minute…

Strike a pose…

Ok, I’m back.  Vogue-ified.  Now to access freegal:

1. Simply visit the library website.
2. Go under Books Movies Muisc.
3. Use the freegal linkl.
4. Enter your library card number and PIN to log in.
5. Download!

That’s it.  No need to create a new account with new log in info – which is awesome because I already have, like, 453 passwords for things.  And each week, you get 20 free songs.  20!  2. 0.   Each week.  So after the first two weeks - once you’ve downloaded all the yummy goodness that is Glee, you can move on to other great artists, like Beyonce or Journey! Is this cool or what?

Now for those of you who aren’t computer savvy – you can still enjoy all the great Glee music by checking out the old-school CDs.  Still cool(ish).  Still free (but please don’t copy the CDs because that violates copyright laws and I’m contractually obligated to tell you this otherwise the RIAA will come in and punch me*…and who wants that?).

Some of you might be asking, what, exactly, is this Glee of which you speak?  You guys need to go right now, get the DVDs from the library (or at least put them on hold) and sit in front of a TV until you’ve seen every minute of the first 13 episodes.  Do not pass Go, do not collect $200.

It’s a long time until we get new Glee (sigh), but somehow, fellow Gleeks, we’ll make it.  Don’t stop believing…

Amanda

*Umm…so the RIAA probably won’t come punch me, but it’s still illegal to copy CDs, just FYI.

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By Amanda, June 19, 2010

The Help
By Kathryn Stockett

I like reading about the south.  It’s usually fiction and usually about the Civil War.  However, recently I’ve heard so many good things about Katheryn Stockett’s, The Help, that I decided to try it out – even though it’s set a century later than my favorite time period.  Thank you to everyone who told me to check out this book, because it was completely worth it.

The Help is about a handful of African-American maids and the white society ladies they work for in Jackson, MS during the racially-charged 1960’s.  I thought the characters were well developed and I really enjoyed how Stockett wove all the different story lines together.  Growing up in the racially-homogenous north (in a slightly more recent decade), we didn’t have help in the house, so I don’t know about the accuracy of the author’s portrayal.  All I know is that it was a good story and an enjoyable read – which is what I’m looking for in a book. 

Now, when you finish with The Help, I predicting that you’re gonna come in and say, “Amanda, I really liked this one.  What else you got like it?”  Well, because you asked so nicely, I am going to give them to you right now…no waiting.  I’ve got three books that I think are both very similar to, and as good as, The Help.

Book #1: The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder
by Rebecca Wells

I’ve told you about this little gem before.  Check out what I said here, and then feel free to jump into the fun. (Get it?  Jump in…because the girl of the cover is jumping…ha ha…but seriously folks…)

Book #2: Between, Georgia
by Joshilyn Jackson

I thought this one felt a lot like The Help. Not quite as racially divergent or controversial, but still a good, solid read.

 
Book #3: To Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee

Ok, I must admit I’m not the only one to make this comparison, but I do think it’s a good one.  Both of these are set in the south.  Both cover racial issues and civil rights tension.  And both are first major novels from their authors.   Mockingbird actually makes a few cameos in The Help, as the main characters read it.  One of my All-Time Top-Ten Reads (Ever!), you definitely can’t go wrong with this one.

So let’s get readin’, y’all.  (Sorry, that’s my best attempt at a southern accent…)

 Amanda

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By Amanda, June 12, 2010

Ok.  So I am cough cough years old (excuse me, ah, something in my throat :) ) and have never, until very recently, understood the allure of audio books.  I thought because I tend to read things very quickly that the slower pace of the books would bore me and make me lose interest.

But I’ve heard such good things about a few series, that I just decided to try a couple.  It’s not like it cost me anything but time (thank you, NPL!).  First up on the docket – my Harrys.  Harry Potter and Harry Dresden. 

The Harry Potter series  (by JK Rowling) is read by the illustrious Jim Dale who somehow manages to create a different timbre of voice for each of the myriad number of characters he presents.  I have read the print books numerous times and have the movies memorized, but it is still fun to hear them read to me in my car as I drive to work.  And somehow I manage to find something new every now and again.  The library has all the HP books on audio, so feel free to start listening today!

With Harry Dresden (by Jim Butcher), on the other hand, we were a little more selective in purchasing.  You can’t get the first couple of books on audio from us, but the back half of the series is just waiting on you to check them out.  This series is read by James Marsters – or Spike of Buffy fame, if you will.  He even uses his Spike voice when he reads Bob’s parts, which is awesome.  Marsters has that dry wit that totally works for Harry and I’ve long thought these two were a match made in heaven, and now I can see that I wasn’t wrong.  Good times.

I will admit that I have read all of these books before I listened to them, and I’m not sure I could tackle an audio book for a first “read.”  There are times when I find my mind wandering, which doesn’t matter so much if you already know the story.  Also, I can guarantee that the reason I like these so much is directly attributable to the reader.  If there was someone not quite as talented, that would be a complete turn-off for me (as would smelly feet and an overinflated sense of ego, but I digress…). 

After I finish with the Harrys, I’m going to listen to Paolini’s Eragon and Eldest to refresh my memory before I start Brisingr.  We’ll see how that works out with a new reader.   Fingers crossed…

So you may now consider me convinced (partially, at least) that audio books are good.  My name is Amanda, and I am an official audio book convert (more or less…).

Amanda

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By Amanda, June 5, 2010

My Soul to Take
By Rachel Vincent

Ah, teenage romance.   It’s fun for everyone.  Teens.  Vampires.  Bean Sidhes (also known as banshees).  In Vincent’s newest series, Soul Screamers, high school student Kaylee Cavanaugh is about to learn that things are not always what they seem.  Pretty girls around her keep dying, which is really freaking Kaylee out.  Literally.  She sees about-to-be-dead people and all she wants to do is scream.  Unfortunately, that’s what got her locked up in the psych ward.

But she can’t help feeling the way she does.  Turns out, Kaylee’s a bean sidhe.  Screaming around dead people is what she’s genetically programmed to do.   Doesn’t mean she has to like it.  Take the angst of Twilight, the female empowerment of Buffy, and add just a dab of that creepy I-see-dead-people kid from The Sixth Sense, and you’ll have a pretty good idea of what you’re in for with this one.

This series wasn’t quite as enjoyable as Vincent’s Werecats, but it did have its own unique take on banshee mythology.  A little predictable in places, Vincent’s left herself quite a few possibilties for future story lines. Before you pick up My Soul to Take, though, make sure you read the prequel, My Soul to Lose, which is a free download from Vincent’s website.  It’s short and if you don’t read it, you’ll be lost through most of the book.  Just FYI.

Alrighty.  Well, you better get reading.  After all, you’re not going to live forever…or are you? (insert evil laugh here)

Amanda

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By Amanda, May 29, 2010

The Spellmans Strike Again
By Lisa Lutz

Ok, let me ask you something.  When was the last time you started to read a book on the same day you checked it out from the library?  Maybe you’re a better library patron than I am, starting each book responsibly, as soon as you get it home.  But me?  I have what some would call a massive To-Be-Read (from here on known as TBR) pile, and what usually happens is that the books I get from the library go on top (because they have to go back before the ones I bought, which I own in perpetuity) and hopefully I get to them before my third renewal runs out (yes, you get three!  Woohoo!). 

Except with this book.

On the Friday I checked this out (I remember it was a Friday because I had to watch Friday Night Lights before I could read), I went home, had supper, watched TV, and then started it.  Being the fourth book and final (gasp) book in this series, I couldn’t wait to see what happened to my beloved Spellmans. 

If you’ve never met the Spellmans, let me bring you up to speed.  A family of PIs, the five members (Dad, Mom, David, Izzy, Rae - in birth order) seem to spend more time investigating each other than solving local mysteries.  Lutz has a charmingly eccentric writing style that includes the use of humorous footnotes.  Here are the books you need to read sooner than later:

Without giving too much away, this last entry finds Izzy struggling to deal with her family while at the same time trying to maintain the family business.  Her friend Len is pretending to be a butler, Henry is pretending he likes her again, and good old Morty is pretending to like the great state of Florida.

Lutz hasn’t said definitively that she’ll never write another Spellman book, but if she does, I’m going to have to wait a VERY VERY long time for it (sigh).  And that makes me sad. 

What am I gonna do without my annual Spellman fix? Oh yeah, my massive TBR pile. That’ll work.

Amanda

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By Amanda, May 15, 2010

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much
By Allison Hoover Bartlett

I’m sure it’s no stretch of the imagination to believe that someone who works in the library loves, not only books, but books about people who love books.  So I was excited to pick up The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett.  Knowing that someone else can get as crazy-obsessed as I do about a favorite author or series makes me feel all toasty inside.

And then there’s this guy Gilkey.  He loves books, but not because of their stories.  He seeks out particularly rare books, and then he steals them.  Not for their resale value and not because of any sort of nostalgia.  John Gilkey steals rare books because he wants other people to think he’s smart and wealthy and cultured.  Plus, he thinks he deserves them.

Kinda makes you want to punch him, right?  I know, I know.  But at least there are men in the world like Ken Sanders, who make it their mission to stop guys like Gilkey.  This book tells the tale of Sanders, Gilkey, and the books that came between them.

Interesting sidebar: I also learned that I can never, ever be a rare books dealer.  Why?  Because once I’ve tracked down some highly-sought after, highly-priced copy of some highly-prized work, the last thing I’m going to do is sell it to somone else – I don’t care what kind of profit I might turn. I want to keep it because it’s MINE!!! (Is that a little selfish?  See, I told you I couldn’t share…)

So, boys and girls, the moral of this story is Don’t Steal Books.  Instead read about someone else who tried.

‘Til next time…

Amanda

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By Amanda, May 8, 2010

Darkly Dreaming Dexter
By Jeff Lindsay

As I’ve mentioned before, I am a fan of the TV show Dexter (if you missed my previous thoughts, feel free to catch up here).  I’ve only got one more season to go before I am caught up with the general viewing public – so don’t spoil it for me.  (Yes, I heard what happens, but I’m still going to be surpised when the dark deed occurs.) 

While I’m waiting for the latest season to emerge on DVD, I thought I’d give the novels a chance.  I’m always curious to see how close the show/movie comes to the author’s original vision.  So to begin at the beginning, I picked up Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay.

Lindsay’s style of writing is good – narrative with just a hint of sarcasm.  It’s written in first person, much like the show is narrated with a Dexter voice-over.  We get all of the wonderfully macabre thoughts that flit across his brain.

Plotwise, the story is pretty similar to season one.  Bad guy is the same.  End result is slightly different – one character dies in the book that doesn’t die on the show and Deb has a different level of involvement with our villain, but the main objective is still acheived.

Since the endings were slightly different, I’m interested to see where book #2 goes, compared to season 2.  in fact, I may have to read all four books in the series (a fifth is coming out in September 2010). 

TBR pile: 429-1+4…  Will it never end?

Amanda

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By Amanda, May 1, 2010

And here we are cable freaks.  We finally made it to week #3.  Whew!  It’s been a journey, huh?  First HBO, then Showtime.  And now we reach the final discussion:  Basic Cable.  This encompasses many channels, but today I’m only going to mention 3 great shows on 3 great networks.

The Closer (on TNT)
Great little police procedural.  Kyra Sedgwick takes the lead as a southern belle deputy who is a little out of her element in LA, but who always gets her perp. Thank you.  Thank you so much.

Burn Notice (on USA)
I must admit that I have only seen the pilot of this show, but I have really REALLY wanted to watch it for a while now.  Michael Westen (Jeffery Donovan) plays a spy who was disowned by the government, and he now uses his talents to help others in trouble. The library has just ordered this series, so get your hold on a copy today!

Mad Men (on AMC)
This show was the inspiration for this whole three week series.  Written about Madison Avenue ad executives (hence the Mad in Mad Men), this show is about anything but advertising.  Although it is interesting to get the 1950’s perspective of products.  Great cast, solid writing.  What are you waiting for?

All right, Off-the-Shelfers.  That’s it for me a cable shows (for now).  I think I’ve given you plenty of ideas to get you started until the next batch of outstanding dramas (or comedies) emerges.

Happy watching!

Amanda

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By Amanda, April 24, 2010

Ok, here we are again, back for week #2.  Last week we discussed super great shows on HBO that are available at your Nashville Public Library.  This week, we’re moving on to shows on Showtime.

The Tudors
I’m not Henry VIIIth, I’m not.  But Jonathan Rhys Meyers is.  The show is full of court-intrigue, lust, violence.  Well-written and well-acted, if you can stomach a few beheadings here and there, this is the show for you.

Californication
A show about what you think it’s going to be about. David Duchovny stars as a man who is hopefully nothing like Duchovny in real life.  I haven’t made it through all of season one yet, so if you start now, we can watch it together.  Say it with me…awwwww…

Weeds
Another show about exactly what you think it’s about  And yet, this one has a heart buried underneath all that smoke.  Mary-Louise Parker is a down-on-her-luck mom who has to find some way to support her family.  What else was she gonna do?

So that’s the Showtime round-up.  Two weeks down.  One more to go.  Next week, we discuss shows on regular cable.  Same bat time.  New bat channels.

Amanda

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By Amanda, April 17, 2010

Week #1: HBO

Who here could stand to save some money?  That’s what I thought.  The NPL solution – get your cable TV shows here on DVD.  Why pay premium prices for premium channels when – with a little patience – you can get caught on up your all your favorite shows for FREE! (Unless, of course, you forget to turn them in on time – then, my friend, you are on your own.)

Don’t have any favorite shows, you say?  Well, then let me suggest a few from HBO that I’ve found enjoyable:

True Blood
Big shocker, I know, me being the PNRUFy fan that I am.  Very different from Charlaine Harris’s book series, but close enough to still be fun.  If you like your vampires with crawfish and murder, then check this one out.

                                        Entourage
Yeah. Oh yeah.   This half hour series follows fictional superstar Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier) and his buds as they transverse the trappings of Hollywood life.  Come for the cute guys, but stay because Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven) is one of the best scumbag agents ever.

Rome
Ok, who doesn’t want to watch a show with 500 characters who have very similar names?  All kidding aside, once you get worked out who’s who, these two seasons are filled with intrigue, lust, and betrayal.  Et tu, Brute?

So those are my HBO thoughts.  Tune in next Saturday, when I discuss Showtime and it’s viewing options.  (Then if you can wait 2 whole weeks, you get to hear what I think about shows on basic cable.  Awesome, right?)

So much TV, so little time.  Happy watching!

Amanda