Le Conversazioni is an annual literary festival. Taking place in idyllic Capri, it's been described as "part Club Med, part Charlie Rose." The fest's website has writer's bios and links to (interesting but really short!) YouTube interviews. Writers include Jonathan Franzen, David Foster Wallace, Jonathan Safran Foer, Sadie Smith, Salman Rushdie, Donna Tartt and more. Tip: select the "English" tab.

 

posted by Jeff R.     Category: Books/Authors    

What do the Wanderer, the all Black Tank Battalion, and the Homestead Grays have in common? They are all small parts of the rich history of African Americans.The pages of these titles bring Black History to life!

 

posted by Jennifer L.     Category: nonfiction    

 

posted by DJ     Category: romance    

Nominated titles from this year or last year, provide fodder for book club reading. Consider attending the Awards Gala on April 12, 2012 to celebrate Minnesota's literary culture!

 

posted by Rose R.     Category: Book Clubs    

USA Today recently reported that Minneapolis is the third most literate city in the country (Washington D.C. and Seattle are #1 and #2).  Our wonderful libraries and bookstores must take some credit! http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-01-10-literary10_ST_N.htm  Let's see Minneapolis take the #1 spot next time!

 

posted by Kim B.     Category: fiction    

Christmas Eve is not starting well for under-sheriff Estelle Reyes-Guzman of Posadas County, New Mexico. Statute of Limitations is part of the Posadas  County series.  The  Chief of Police has a heart attack while confronting car thieves, Sheriff Torrez has a pulmonary embolism Christmas morning; a deputy's fiancée is murdered that afternoon; and former sheriff (and Estelle's best friend) Bill Gastner is brutally attacked that night. Just visiting everyone in the hospital would be a full time job, let alone tracking down the perpetrators and raising two children.  This series is a favorite of mine. 

 

posted by Jean B.     Category: mysteries/thrillers/suspense    

Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA) has named Connie Willis as its latest Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master, and has joined fellow women Anne McCaffrey, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Andre Norton on this lifetime achievement list.

Living in Minnesota is a connection between these Grand Masters: Poul Anderson and Clifford D. Simak.

Other great masters of writing you can check out include Michael Moorcock, Harlan Ellison, Robert Silverberg, Damon Knight, Frederik Pohl, Ray Bradbury, Alfred Bester, Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, Fritz Leiber, and the first ever winner, Robert A. Heinlein (1975).

 

posted by Jody W.     Category: science fiction/fantasy/horror    

John Barron of the Chicago Sunday Sun-Times says of Chad Harbach's novel The Art of Fielding, "It's hard to figure who wouldn't take to this captivating, breezy debut... it has it all: love, the search for identity, redemption, a superbly drawn setting, engaging characters...and baseball." It's been compared to John Irving's The World According to Garp (which piqued my interest as Garp remains one of my all-time favorite novels). Ten years in the writing, The Art of Fielding brought Harbach a whopping $665,000 advance. It's a character-driven novel set at a fictional Wisconsin college. I loved the first half.  Then Harbach lost his way and my interest waned. Where was this book going, I wondered?  I wasn't emotionally engaged at its dramatic and tear-jerking ending. Tighter editing was sorely needed (the book goes on much too long at 512 pages).   Harbach's talent is evident but I hope he finds a new editor.

 

posted by Kim B.     Category: fiction    

Want to know which comics Europeans love the most? Check out the British Eagle Awards.

Favourite New Comicbook - Daytripper by Fabio Moon & Gabriel Ba
Favourite American Comicbook: Colour - Batman & Robin by Grant Morrison
Favourite Manga - Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa
Favourite European Comicbook - Blacksad by Juan Diaz Canales
Favourite Continued Story - The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman

Unfortunately the Favourite British Comicbook: Colour (2000AD by various) and Favourite British Comicbook: Black & White (Commando by various) aren't readily available here. Check out the list for even more suggestions!

 

posted by Jody W.     Category: graphic novels    

According to the Federal Government, some of the most popular New Year's resolutions are:
•Drink Less Alcohol
•Eat Healthy Food
•Get a Better Education
•Get a Better Job
•Get Fit
•Lose Weight
•Manage Debt
•Manage Stress
•Quit Smoking
•Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
•Save Money
•Take a Trip
•Volunteer to Help Others 

Maybe your top resolution this year is to keep your resolutions!   Whatever your goals might be, use the library to help you achieve them.  Our Health and Wellness Subject Guide is full of resources, and we have books for almost any resolution can think of. Here's a book list with a few titles to get you started:
Making (and Keeping!) Your New Year's Resolutions

 

posted by Stephanie S.     Category: nonfiction    

Booklist has named the year's top 10 Romance Fiction featuring "smart, strong, and witty women rescuing animals, creating elegant dresses, studying medicine, and falling in love with men who truly cherish their wonderful, authentic selves."

 

posted by DJ     Category: romance    

The New Inquiry was started by an upstart group of  New York's young literary class--overeducated and underemployed but with the goal of making writing about literature and culture available via the internet.  New Inquiry features interesting graphics and provocative writing; there's a newsletter,  Facebook page and an RSS feed. They take submissions, too. 

 

posted by Jeff R.     Category: Books/Authors    

The MIA regularly hosts book tours featuring recently-released title. You can find out about current book tours here. To schedule a book tour, please contact 612-870-3140.

 

posted by Rose R.     Category: Book Clubs    

Tamar, by Mal Peet, is an engaging historical/present time novel of both the resistance movement in the Netherlands during World War II and the journey of self-discovery by a 15 year old girl in London.  She shares her name, Tamar, with one of the key players in the resistance and in fact has a much deeper connection.  Peet is a superb writer and combines gripping suspense and adventure with believable emotions and relationships.  It’s really as much of a love story, both tragic and wonderful, as it is about a particular time and place.  Peet is my favorite author of late and another novel by him, The Keeper, about a totally different topic, is equally rewarding.   These are regarded as teen titles, but trust me, they hold up just fine as adult novels.  You won’t be disappointed.

 

posted by David L.     Category: fiction    

There are some exciting movies coming up this next year if you love comic books. Here's a quick calendar of their releases. Check out the books they're based on too!

The Amazing Spider-Man: based on the character created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko (July 3, 2012)
The Avengers: based on the characters created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby  (May 4, 2012)
Batman 3 - The Dark Knight Rises: based on the character created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger  (July 20, 2012)
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance: based on Ghost Rider by Daniel Way (Feb. 17, 2012)
Red 2: based on Red by Warren Ellis  (August 2, 2012)

 

posted by Jody W.     Category: graphic novels    

Need gift ideas for the romance reader on your list? Check out Fresh Fiction's list of new paranormal titles out this month, or BookSpace's list of new December romance releases.

 

posted by DJ     Category: romance    

Check the compatible device link for Overdrive from our eBooks page. Before you buy, also check our Consumer Information subject guide for links to databases and websites with product ratings and reviews.

 

posted by Christine C.     Category: eBooks    

Looking for a good gift? Take a look at these nonfiction titles library staff enjoyed! 

 

posted by Jen L.     Category: nonfiction