Books - Sept. 14 - Oct 23

Sadie Shapiro's Knitting Book - Robert Kimmel Smith, 1973 - last of the knitting books. Little old lady wants to publish book of knitting projects and becomes national celebrity in the process.

The Monk Downstairs - Tim Farrington, 2002 - Rebecca Martin, a single mother with an apartment to rent, finds her life beginning to change when her new tenant turns out to be a monk newly departed from twenty years in a monastery. Humorous characters and gentle romance.

Away - Amy Bloom, 2007 - LLB selection. Saga of Lillian Leyb who escapes the destruction of her family in Russian pogrom, comes to New York and then begins quest across the country to track down young daughter she had believed lost. Disappointed with ending, but good discussion. & Audiobook

Whitethorn Woods - Maeve Binchy, 2008 - A new highway threaten to bypass the town of Rossmore and cut through Whitethorn Woods destroying St. Ann's Well. Almost a collection of short stories. Brief chapters giving insight into various inhabitants of Rossmore, clues from one chapter in later ones, eventually coming to conclusion. Dissatisfied with disjointedness but like the Ireland locale.

Out Stealing Horses - Per Petterson, 2003 - LLB selection. Trond Sander, man nearing 70 in self-imposed exile at the eastern edge of Norway reminisces about a transformative summer in 1948  when his friend suggests they go out and steal horses and Trond discovers secrets about his father's wartime activities. Liked it more after our discussion. Reminded me of a male version of Astrid and Veronika.

Play Dirty - Sandra Brown, 2007 - A disgraced Cowboys quarterback who having served prison time for gambling and throwing games is trying to start anew. Avoiding any connection with the gamblers of his old life, his only job offer is to father the child of a disabled airline CEO. Steamy, engrossing, fun to read.

Audiobook - The Cure for Modern Life - Lisa Tucker, 2008 - Blend of the issues of bioethics of pharmaceuticals, corporate greed and homelessness. 

Audiobook - Cross My Heart - Carly Phillips, 2006 - To claim her rightful inheritance as the Dumont heir, Lacey Kincaid, (born Lillian Dumont) needs all the help her childhood sweetheart, Tyler can give her. Suspense and romance, but kind of clumsy.

Audiobook - Dead Lines - Greg Bear, 2004 - A brand-new channel is discovered for data transmission allows almost infinite volumes of data to be transmitted instantaneously, but strange things are happening to the users of this bandwidth, and the most likely explanation is this is the pathway the dead use to get from this life to the next. I had listened to this book before and didn't realize it until I started it. I like Scott Brick and I couldn't remember the ending, so I listened again. Pretty weird, but well written.

Books - Aug 31 - Sep 13

The Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread - Don Robertson, 1965 - novel based on factual incident of 1944 gas explosion in Cleveland through the eyes of nine year old boy. History is interesting and boy's perspective is funny and touching.

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox - Maggie O'Farrell, 2006 - Kappa Book Club. Young adult woman suddenly has to deal with great-aunt who nobody knew existed and is being released from a mental institution after over sixty years. Written from viewpoints of Esme, her sister Kitty and Iris, the granddaughter. Well-written and fascinating. Well received by group.

Audiobook - The Dante Club - Matthew Pearl, 2003 - An actual group of 19th-century Bostonians gathered to translate Dante's Inferno (including Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Oliver Wendell Holmes, James Russell Lowell) find themselves on the trail of a serial killer who tortures his victims in ways that seem to be taken straight out of the pages of the Inferno. Dense book, easier to listen to than read, but interesting mystery and historical fiction.

Audiobook - The Knitting Circle - Ann Hood, 2007 - woman joins a knitting circle in Providence, Rhode Island as a way to fill the empty hours following the death of her only child. Each woman in the circle teaches her a new knitting technique and as they do, reveals to her their own personal stories of loss, love, and hope. Seemed unbelievable that each woman in group had so much trauma in her life, but satisfying overall.

Audiobook - Remember Me? - Sophie Kinsella, 2008 - a young woman wakes up in the hospital with amnesia for the last three years of her life and no memory for how she transformed herself from a down-on-her-luck underling with a loser boyfriend to a chic, powerful executive with a gorgeous husband. Predictable but entertaining.

Connections-distant mother in San Miquel de Allende, Mexico-What the Dead Know, The Knitting Circle

Books - Aug 3-30

A Good Yarn - Debbie Macomber, 2005 - book 2 in the trilogy, knitting socks - want to try the two circular needle technique and self-patterning yarn.

The Wedding Officer - Anthony Capella, 2007 - a British officer in Naples during WWII is charged with discouraging the marrying of Italian women and British soldiers, until he himself falls in love with his chef. True story of Vesuvius eruption during war. Buffalo mozzarella comes from water buffalo milk. Light romance and descriptions of Italian food.

Metzger's Dog - Thomas Perry, 1983 - soldier of fortune steals cocaine from college research facility and also takes some CIA classified documents. A standoff between his ragtag band and the US government ensues. Funny and clever.

Knitting under the Influence - Claire LaZebnik, 2006 - three young single women from LA bond over drinks and knitting and discover that the men in their lives they spar with are really their true loves. Predictable but still fun.

Audiobook - Back on Blossom Street - Debbie Macomber, 2007 - book 3 in the trilogy, prayer shawls. Discovered a companion knitting book with the patterns.

Audiobook - What I Call Life - Jill Wolfson, 2005 - young adolescent in foster home learns to knit with "the knitting lady" and bonds with a group of girls who help heal each other.

Audiobook - What the Dead Know - Laura Lippman, 2007 - A driver who flees a car accident breathes new life into the 30-year-old mystery disappearance of the young Bethany sisters at a shopping mall when she tells the police she's one of the missing girls. Moves between past and present to present the last day for both sisters from a variety of perspectives. Intricate and unpredictable.

Connections-WWII battle at Anzio: The Wedding Officer, What the Dead Know. Setting in Los Angeles: Metzger's Dog, Knitting under the Influence.

Books - July 18 - Aug 2

Rapture in Death - J.D. Robb, 1996 - 4th in the series, Eve investigates a series of unexpected suicides related to virtual reality goggles and subliminal suggestions.

The Shop on Blossom Street - Debbie Macomber, 2004 - a young cancer survivor opens a yarn shop in Seattle and the three disparate women that enroll in her first knitting class bond into friends and support. Pleasant and easy to read. Enjoy the knitting references.

Audiobook - People of the Book - Geraldine Brooks, 2008 - Fascinating story of a book conservationist who uncovers tiny clues to the history of her ancient Jewish prayer book as she preserves it.  The story jumps back to explain the origins of each fiber or stain as the author rewinds the history of the book. Very well written and intricate story.

Audiobook - The Friday Night Knitting Club - Kate Jacobs, 2007 - another story about a knitting store and the knitters that gather there. Set in New York City, owner is a single mother who reconnects with the father of her child. Surprised by the ending, not really satisfied by it.

Connections-daughter abandoned by unknown father: Special Relationship, Weekend in Paris, People of the Book

suicide theme: The Pact, Rapture in Death

cancer: The Friday Night Knitting Club, The Shop on Blossom Street

Books - July 11-17

The Stolen Child - Keith Donohue, 2006 - read for Virago. Parallel stories of a changeling and the boy he sends to the fairies (hobgoblins) when he takes his place. Well written and thought provoking. I made many notes on the last 50 pages, but unfortunately forgot to bring them and the book. Inspired by the WB Yeats poem of the same name and I brought recordings of the poem set to music by the Waterboys and Loreena McKennitt.

Weekend in Paris - Robyn Sisman, 2003 - Small-town girl is excited when her London boss invites her to accompany him to Paris for a business trip, but quits when she finds out what his plans for the weekend are. She goes to Paris anyway and has adventures. Main character is a little too silly and book is not as good overall as Summer in the City.

Audiobook - The Associate - Philip Margolin, 2001 - good, but not outstanding, legal thriller. Young attorney is accused of making a mistake that could loose the firm's drug company client a multi-million dollar case. He sets out to clear his name and uncovers a plot of murders and illegal planting of evidence. Enjoyed the Portland, OR setting and the narration of Scott Brick.

Books - June 26 - July 10

Glory in Death - J.D. Robb, 1995 - book  2, Eve Dallas investigates the murder of prosecuting attorney Cicely Towers and other prominent women.

Immortal in Death - J.D. Robb, 1996 - book 3, Eve Dallas plans her wedding and tries to solve the murders all linked to a designer recreational drug with extraterrestrial ingredients.

Special Relationship - Robyn Sisman, 1995 - English girl has a brief, intense relationship with an American Rhodes scholar with political aspirations. 20 years later her son becomes convinced that a Presidential candidate is his father. Obviously inspired by Clinton who attended Oxford at the same time as the author. Not that deep, but entertaining. 

Audiobook - The Pact : a love story - Jodi Picoult, 1998 - the murder trial of a 17 yo boy after a suicide pact with his girlfriend goes awry. Sad story since death occurs at beginning and can't be changed. Picoult writes some pretty unsympathetic mother characters. Had some issues with the underlying psychology, but still an interesting, well-written story with legal and psychological issues to explore.

Books - June 19-25

Bidding for Love - Katie Fforde, 2005 - Young single English girl unexpectantly inherits a majority share in the family antiques business. Typical light English contemporary romance story. Have read almost all of her other books and enjoy them all.

Just Friends - Robyn Sisman, 2000 - British. free-spirited Manhattan art dealer and her travails in love and friendship. See above comment except author is American and currently living in England.

Audiobook - Bridge of Sighs - Richard Russo, 2007 - another story from the author of Empire Falls. A family saga set in a small town in upstate New York. Complicated relationships between a man, his best friend and his girlfriend/wife and a pattern that repeats over generations.

Books - June 3 - June 18

If You Could See Me Now - Cecelia Ahern, 2006 - this is the author of Love, Rosie and PS, I Love You and the producer of "Pushing Daisies." This book is definitely inferior, a silly plot about an invisible friend that appears to an adult woman.

Chicks with Sticks (Knit two together) - Elizabeth Lenhard, 2006 - second book of the series. Not quite as fresh and new as the first one, concentrating more on relationships with boys rather than among the girls. The patterns were interesting however.

Luncheon of the Boating Party - Susan Vreeland, 2007 - an LLB book. Reminded me of Girl With a Pearl Earring but concerning Renoir and the Impressionist movement. I read and also listened to the audiobook with several art books in front of me, to actually see the pictures she was describing. I enjoyed it, although it wasn't quite as well written as Girl. We all agreed that the details of the boat race were kind of out of place and not that interesting.

Audiobook - The History of Love - Nicole Krauss, 2005 - a long-lost book reappears mysteriously connecting an old man searching for his son and a young girl seeking a cure for her widowed mother's loneliness. Two intertwined stories that come together at the very end. Didn't particularly impress me, although I had heard much about it. Possibly too distracted while listening.

Books - May 26 - June 2

Audiobook - One Good Turn - Kate Atkinson, 2006 - A sequel to Case Histories with protagonist Jackson Brodie, a retired detective, trying to solve intertwined crimes in Edinburg. Very appealing hero and I was totally surprised by twist at the end (one can't read ahead in an audiobook).

Love Walked In - Marisa de los Santos, 2005 - single woman managing coffee shop becomes involved with her boyfriend's eleven year-old  daughter.  Alternating chapters for woman and girl, but girl is not very believable. So-so.

Naked in Death - J.D. Robb, 1995 - first book in Nora Roberts other series. A female detective, Eve Dallas, from 2058 AD is introduced in this book. She solves the serial murder of prostitutes and becomes involved with a wealthy businessman, Roarke, who is initially a suspect. Addictive as usual for Nora Roberts books. At least 27 more books to read in the series!

Books - April 28 - May 25

Audiobook - Chicks with Sticks - Elizabeth Lenhard, 2005 - really enjoyed this Traveling Pants styled story. Four disparate high school girls drawn together by a newly discovered love of knitting. Enjoyed the references to knitting and also the Chicago setting.

Audiobook - Doing It - Melvin Burgess, 2004 - a short British story carrying on with the high school theme. Three friends, boys totally obsessed with sex with very different experiences.

Audiobook - Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl - Barry Lyga, 2006 - yet another high school story, this one centering on a geek loner focused on creating a graphic novel. He is befriended by an emotionally unstable goth girl.

Shutter Island - Dennis Lehane, 2003 - both listened to and read this LLB assigned book. A well-written suspense mystery. Most of us enjoyed this change of pace book. Ending would have surprised me if I hadn't browsed ahead.

A Week from Sunday - Dorothy Garlock, 2007 - a rather formulaic, maukish romance. Young girl discovers at the funeral of her father that his lawyer has inherited control of the estate and wants to force her into marriage. Predictable.

Summer in the City - Robyn Sisman, 1998 - slight book, along the lines of Bridget Jones. A London girl exchanges jobs and apartments with a New York man in advertising. Fun and romantic.

Mortal Love - Elizabeth Hand, 2004 - spent almost a month on this dense book. Story lines set in the mid 1800s and present day exploring the link between creativity and madness and a mysterious, supernatural muse.

Week 7 - Podcasting and Online Hosted Video

Enjoyed exploring YouTube. I'd certainly been there before, but never searched for videos. Some really useful information amid a ton of worthless stuff. It seems to be a relatively simple way of publishing videos that can be accessed easily also. Can see its use in instructional and orientation modes. I was able to insert a video in my blog, but didn't attempt to imbed it. The code intimidated me.

Week 6 - Online Photo Sharing

I think I spent way too much time on this. I was disappointed that after the careful labeling I added to my photos on Flickr, it all disappeared when I inserted them into Facebook or my blog. I was able to insert them into Facebook easily even though they were set as private, but they would only go into my blog after I reset each one to public. Considering the issue with labeling, I would only recommend using Flickr directly. Could be used for archiving historical or current marketing type pictures. A good way to collect pictures and share widely or with a limited group.

Books - April 9 - April 27

The Tender Bar : a memoir - J.R. Moehringer, 2005 - boy growing up on Long Island without a father turns to the bar where is uncle bartends for male role models and companionship. Read for LLB and MSOE  Great Books dinner and discussion on April 16. Interesting book and enjoyed the format of the MSOE discussion. About fifty people, mostly women, who have all opinions about the book and are not afraid to speak up. We will try to do it again next year. 

Donorboy - Brendan Halpin, 2004 - young, single attorney takes in teenage daughter for whom he donated sperm when her mothers are killed in car accident. Told through email, blog posts, and text messages. Well done and well written. Will recommend to Robin/Karly.

The Food of Love - Anthony Capella, 2004 - retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac, but with a homely Italian chef and a handsome waiter romancing an American student. Enjoyed the romance, the Italian and the descriptions of food.

Audiobook - Kill the Messenger - Tami Hoag, 2004 - suspenseful story of LA bike messenger caught up in blackmail and murder. Read by Scott Brick.

Summer at Tiffany - Marjorie Hart, 2007 - memoir of an Iowa Kappa who gets a summer job in 1945 working as page in Tiffany's in New York. Vividly recounts experiences as small-town girl going out to night clubs, dating GIs and celebrating VJ day in Times Square. Read for Kappa Book Group and finished in one day.

Books of March - Week 2 to April 8

While vacationing in Cancun, and then Columbus, Sarasota, and Claremont:

White Lies - Jayne Ann Krentz, 2007 - a modern day Arcane Society novel. "Human lie detector" and "hunter" solve murder

Birthright - Nora Roberts, 2003 - when 5,000-year-old human bones are found at a construction site in small town, archaeologist drawn out of sabbatical to work beside ex-husband amid adventure and danger. Death, misfortune and mystery about her privileged Boston childhood.

Forever in Blue : the fourth summer of the Sisterhood - Ann Brasheres, 2007 - see subtitle, brought it for Cecily, but had to read it myself

The Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follett, 1989 - long, complex novel detailing the personalities surrounding the construction of a gothic cathedral in England, 1123-1174

Audiobook - Special Topics in Calamity Physics - Marisha Pessl, 2006 - precocious high senior describes final year in a private school marred by mysterious deaths. Told with copious references and ending with a final exam.

Scandal in Spring - Lisa Kleypas, 2006 - "Wallflower series" wealthy American girls come to England to find aristocratic husbands

It Happened One Autumn - Lisa Kleypas, 2006

Devil in Winter - Lisa Kleypas, 2007 - "Wallflower series" orphaned girl elopes to escape forced marriage to cousin and takes over gaming house

Week 5 - Web Office Tools

I certainly can see the benefit of using web-based office tools for access to documents from various locations and by multiple people. Seems to be a little simpler and more intuitive to use than a wiki for basic styles of documents. I wonder about the issue of permanence. What happens if the owner of the software decides to pull the plug.

Week 4 - Social Bookmarking

I created an account in Del.icio.us and played around with tagging. Can definitely see the value of the multiple tagging features in locating bookmarks at a later date. Used others' tags to locate sites of interest to me. Tried adding a few other users to my network, but didn't really like the results of so many bookmarks of absolutely no interest to me. I think I need to keep looking for someone who is a better fit with my interests. Part of the learning curve of social networking.

Week 2 Assignment

I created a wiki for Book Club Suggestions. I see a value in wikis for communally created documents or collections of documents. I view a blog as linear and mainly one person's creation with comments added by others.

MLA Ce Week 1

I created a blog and experimented a lot with RSS feeds and Google Reader.  See more value for me in the latter.  At this point, I see the main value in knowing enough to guide library patrons in using it for themselves.

Books of March - Week 1

Finished recently:

My French Whore - Gene Wilder, 2007 - read for Virago =, but can't attend meeting.  Nvella about  man who ends up impersonating a German spy during WW I. Reminded me of the movie "Catch Me If You Can". Sweet and sad.

The Madonnas of Leningrad - Debra Dean, 2006 - read for LLB and discussed at Geri's on 3/12.  Enjoyed both the detailed description of the Hermitage Museum during WWII's Siege of Leningrad and the modern-day experience of Alzheimer's disease.  Carol and Caroline found it a little too depressing, wished it was only about the historic side of story.  Geri said she got more out of it after discussing and loved the historic aspects.

"Rumors" - Neil Simon - Cecily is in this play next month playing Claire.  Lots of quick repartee as everyone tries to hide events from each other.  Should be funny.