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Category Archives: Library
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What Does Your Library Mean to You?
Texans Love Libraries
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HCPL Staff Pick Best of 2010 | Harris County Public Library
HCPL Staff Pick Best of 2010
http://www.hcpl.net/content/hcpl-staff-pick-best-2010
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2 x 2 Reading List
The 2X2 Committee‘s charge is to produce a list of 20 recommended books for children, age two to grade two.
TBRs – Kerry Miller’s Passive aggressive notes…
Miller, K. (2008). In Passive aggressive notes: Painfully polite and hilariously hostile writings, and just plain aggressive. New York: Harper Collins. 978-0061630590
Title – Passive aggressive notes: Painfully polite and hilariously hostile writings, and just plain aggressive
Author – Kerry Miller
Found – As one of my coworkers was checking the item into the system on June 02, he said, “Jorie, you’ve got to see this.” I later asked if he was trying to tell me something.
From the back cover – “Part voyeuristic entertainment, part group therapy, Passive Aggressive Notes offers a fascinating look at the all-too-familiar frustrations of embattled office drones, apartment dwellers, parents, and pet owners everywhere…”
Did I check it out? – No, but I requested it.
More to see on Kerry Miller’s Passive aggressive notes: Painfully polite and hilariously hostile writings, and just plain aggressive :
Scholastic Series – A Wicked History
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- One of the first Wicked Histories published – I got it through interlibrary loan (ILL)
When I began reading on my own, I gravitated towards biographies. I recall reading about pioneers, heroes and heroines. These folks inspired others. I followed the struggles and triumphs of the likes of Elizabeth Blackwell and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Then, I found out some biographers equivocated in their writings of these “good guys.” Well, folks said to me, they couldn’t tell the kids. Thus, I turned towards the wonderfully made up world of Fiction.
One of my coworkers mentioned Scholastic’s series called “A Wicked History” in a staff book club meeting. These short biographies focus on despots, barbarians, evildoers – basically the bad guys of history. My coworker showed us the one on Napoleon. These biographies may say they’re for kids but I’d recommend them to teens. HCPL keeps the Wicked Histories in the Young Adult nonfiction.
While I checked out the one on Napoleon, I requested one about Catherine the Great. Then, my dad and I had to duke it out over who read what first. Within a couple of days, both of us found these biographies to be candid (no equivocation for teens), informative, and well-contained. This is one of those nice series that doesn’t require reading in a certain order. (Thank you!) These biographies are written by different people as well.
I’ve read a few of these already and taken note of similar formatting. The covers present almost a caricature of the subject. Each villain has a word graffiti-ed across them. In addition, the books present a map entitled “The World of ______,” “A Wicked Web,” “_____ in Pictures,” “Wicked?,” “Timeline of Terror,” “Glossary,” “Find Out More,” and “Author’s Note and Bibliography.”
So far, so good! I’ve read some and intend to read more. I anticipate more Wicked Histories on more women. . . hint, hint.
For more on A Wicked History series, check out the following links:
- About Scholastic: News
- Google’s Listing of Amazon’s “A Wicked History” series
- Abby (the) Librarian: Book Review: Wicked History Series
Alexander McCall Smith’s No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency
McCall Smith, A., & Lecat, L. (2003). The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. Prince Frederick, MD: Recorded Books. 1402545940
While browsing for an audiobook for my work commute, one of my coworkers recommended No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. She told me it was a cute series taking place in Botswana! Heeding my coworker’s advice, I cruised home listening to No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.
Precious “Mma” Ramotswe is the charming director of her own business on her home turf – Botswana. She’s the one, the only, the absolute best – lady detective in all the land. After a rough start and scarce business, people arrive, seeking out Mma Ramotswe’s services. With great aplomb, she handles everything from missing children to missing husbands.
Within this novel, the reader learns of Mma’s precocious beginnings, her doting but sickly father, her personal tragedy, and her current goals. I liked Mma immediately; she listens when people talk to her; she accepts herself. Mma is perhaps McCall Smith and Africa’s response to Miss Marple. I wouldn’t mind listening to another one of these books. I’ve already requested the season one of the Jill C. Scott series! Look out, Jessica Fletcher, the #1 lady detective is on the case.
I enjoyed learning a little more about Botswana; a land overshadowed by South Africa in my education. McCall Smith offered me a bit of a social studies lesson, too.
Four out of Five Pearls
Places: Botswana, South Africa
Word Bank:
What’s What and Who’s Who in THE NO. 1 LADIES’ DETECTIVE AGENCY
For more on Alexander McCall Smith’s No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, please click on the following links:
- Piaw’s Blog: Review: The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency
- Book Review: The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective, by Alexander McCall Smith << Frederation
- Age 30+… A Lifetime of Books: The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency
