Read All About It - February 2003

The single topic history is one of the hottest trends to hit non-fiction publishing in recent years. Exhaustively researched but accessible in approach, these works offer in-depth looks at seemingly insignificant artifacts, examining their historical evolution as well as their social and cultural impact. Caviar, salt, candy and pencils are just a few of the items that have come under scrutiny. Look for these titles:

Gately, Iain. Tobacco: The Story of How Tobacco Seduced the World. 394.14/GAT
Although in recent years its use has been derided, tobacco has been a part of human culture for 18,000 years. Gately presents a sweeping cultural history of this "equivocal substance," including lots of facts on the cultivation of tobacco, its uses, smoking paraphernalia, and the history of anti-smoking movements.

Goodwin, Jason. Greenback: The Almighty Dollar and the Invention of America.
Goodwin examines the history of the dollar not just as a form of currency but as a work as art and an exemplar of American power, and introduces the reader to a host of colorful characters: presidents and statesmen, artists and engravers, bankers and frontiersmen, who took on the mission of "getting the money right".

Kurlansky, Mark. Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World. 333.956/KUR
For centuries the codfish was the economic backbone and the staple diet of several different societies in both Europe and North America. Kurlansky chronicles the history and habits of the cod and the men who pursued it to near extinction.

Kurlansky, Mark. Salt: A World History. 333.85632/KUR
If you think salt is only a flavor enhancer, then you need to read this book. See why salt is "dear to the gods" and how it shaped civilization from its beginnings.

Henry Petroski. The Pencil: A History of Design and Circumstance.
Most people don't think of the humble pencil as a piece of technology, but Henry Petroski shows that the pencil, like most other man-made artifacts, in fact has a long and complex history and one that illuminates the development of human engineering.

Richardson, Tim. Sweets: A History of Candy.
Did you know that sales of confectionery increase in times of national unease? That chocolate has more than 1,200 chemical components? That caramel can be used as a depilatory? If this is the sort of trivia that interests you, then you will be fascinated by Tim Richardson's book on the history of candy.

Saffron, Inga. Caviar: The Strange History and Uncertain Future of the World's Most Coveted Delicacy. New 21 Day 641.392/SAF
Both a culinary and a natural history, Saffron's work traces the transformation of caviar from pig slop to peasant food to an aristocratic delicacy.

Books on the Screen

On Television

1st to Die (NBC - Feb. 16)
Serial murders and life threatening diseases don’t interfere with a bit of romance in this adaptation of the novel by James Patterson.

Open House (CBS)
A love story based on the novel by Elzabeth Berg.

At the Movies

Gods and Generals (Feb. 21)
A sprawling Civil War epic, based on Gods and Generals: The Illustrated Story of the Civil War Epic by Ronald F. Maxwell.

The Dancer Upstairs (Feb. 26, NY/LA)
Based on the novel by Nicholas Shakespeare, this dramatic romance set in 1980s Peru marks the directorial debut of John Malkovich.

Spider (Feb. 28)
Patrick McGrath adapted his own novel about a mentally unbalanced man who witnesses the brutal murder of his mother by his father. Directed by David Cronenberg.

Try Out Novelist

Novelist is a tool for finding fiction. It is available from a library computer station or from your home computer using your Glenview Public Library card.

Novelist will help you find:

Books by your favorite authors
Titles similar in plot, setting or subject matter to ones you've enjoyed
Lists of award-winning fiction
Book discussion guides
All the books in a series
And much more!

A fun way to use Novelist is to search for books similar to one you enjoyed. For example, if you really enjoyed Donna Tartt's new book The Little Friend, and you want to find books like it. Novelist will show you a list of subjects from that book and let you choose which subject headings you desire or require in another book. Novelist will then give you a list of books that are about the subjects you selected, including setting and plot, and it will rank them according to their score: 100% for all subject headings matched.

Using Novelist is easy. Log onto the library's website at http://www.glenview.lib.il.us/electronic3subjbooks1.htmland select "Novelist" from the list of choices. Type in your library card number where it asks for "username," and leave the password box blank.

Once you're in Novelist, just click on the Start button. You can choose to Find a Favorite Author, Find a Favorite Title, Find a Series Name, Describe a Plot, or conduct a Boolean search.

Try selecting "Find a Favorite Author." Type in the name of an author. Choose a book from the list of titles provided. You will see a list of subject headings that have been assigned to the book. You may also see book reviews and other information. Near the top right of the screen, is the button "Find Similar Books." Click on it and you will see a list of subjects. Now you can select desired subjects and required subjects, or omit a subject (by leaving it blank). Click Search.

Now you have your list of similar titles, ranked highest to lowest.

The only hard part is deciding which book to read next!

Remember, if you need help using Novelist, logging onto Novelist, or finding a book in the library, ask at the Information Desk!

Scott Turow in Debate

The Adult Education Board of The Glenview Community Church (1000 Elm Street---Elm Street and Glenview Road) is pleased to announce that well-known and respected attorneys William Kunkle and Scott Turow will debate the merits of Governor Ryan's death penalty commutation and the value of capital punishment to society going forward. Please save the date: Thursday, February 27, 7:00 P.M. at GCC.

Kunkle is best known for the successful prosecution of John Wayne Gacy and has published extensively in respected legal journals on trial and prosecutoral advocacy. Kunkle defends the appropriate use of capital punishment. Turow is a well-respected litigator as well as best-selling author. His latest work, Reversible Errors, as well as his service on the Capital Punishment Commission, caused Turow to explore his ambivalence towards capital punishment, eventually deciding against it. . Turow's books, including his latest, will be available for purchase and signing at this event.

This event will be moderated by GCC Adult Education Board member Wayne Andersen, a Federal Judge for the Northern District of Illinois. Plan now to attend-admission is free. For directions or information call 847 724 2210.

Scott Turow's Works

Presumed Innocent, 1987.

One L, 1988.

The Burden of Proof, 1990.

Pleading Guilty, 1993.

The Laws of Our Fathers, 1996.

Personal Injuries, 1999.

Reversible Errors, 2002.

Literary Happenings

@ the Library

February 10
Monday Night Book Discussion
GPL Conference Room, 7:30 pm

Join a discussion of Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind by Ann B. Ross, the story of how Julia Spencer, the epitome of Southern gentility, copes with widowhood, sudden wealth, and the revelation that her husband led a double life. When "Little Lloyd", her husband's nine year old bastard son, arrives, he sets off a chain of events which forces Miss Julia to reassess her life and motivates her to speak her mind without heeding the consequences.

March 3
Senior Book Discussion
GPL Conference Room, 1:00 pm
A Cup of Tea by Amy Ephron
A Cup of Tea springs to life from its rich cast of characters and brilliant evocation of the uncertain days of World War I. This darkly romantic novel engages the reader with impeccable plotting and a deep sense of foreboding, revealing a shocking conclusion.

Around Chicagoland

February 16
WBEZ Stories on Stage
Museum of Contemporary Art, 3:00 pm
Dark Matters, Luminous Thoughts
http://www.wbez.org/storiesonstage
or (312) 948-4704

February 20
Book Discussion
Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, Kendall College, Evanston, 2:00 pm
Any book about Lewis and Clark
847-475-1030, http://www.mitchellmuseum.org

February 24
Reading Group Seminar and Luncheon
Harrison Manor House, 136 Green Bay Road, Lake Bluff, 11:00 am
Novelists Elinor Lipman and Richard Russo, sponsored by Lake Forest Book Store and Vintage books
$27 per person. Reservations, call (847) 234-4420.

March 31
NSLS Literary Circle
Glenbrook South High School, 4000 W. Lake Avenue, Glenview, 7:30 pm
Billy Collins, Poetry Reading with Commentary by the US Poet Laureate.
Call: (847) 353-7143

Forthcoming Titles

Can’t wait for the next book by your favorite author? Want to plan your reading list a few months in advance? If you like to know about books even before they are published, then this list is for you. Keep your eyes open for these titles coming soon . . .
Coming Soon:
Laura Landvik, Angry Housewives Eating Bon-Bons
Small town Minnesota is featured in Landvik's forthcoming novel. A group of five women come together to form the Freesia Court Book Club and find that laughter and good coffee can fix just about anything.
Robert B. Parker, Back Story
Seeking closure, Daryl Gordon asks for Spenser's assistance to solve the murder of her mother, the victim of a 1974 bank robbery. Despite a cold trail, Spenser's resourcefulness and courage crack the case.
James Patterson, The Jester
A new page turner by a master of suspense, set during the time of the crusades.
Nora Roberts, Birthright
A romantic suspense tale of an archaeologist embarking on a new project. To complicate matters, she must deal with her ex-husband and a stranger who confronts her with her past.
Danielle Steel, Dating Game
After a failed marriage, Paris returns to the dating game for a second chance at love.
Mimi Swartz, Sherron Watkins, Power Failure: The Inside Story of How Enron's Culture of Arrogance and Greed Led to the Biggest Bankruptcy in American History
Watkins, a former Enron employee and Swartz, editor of Texas Monthly team up to disclose what fueled the rise and fall of Enron.

Two NEW Online Book Clubs
This month we are pleased to introduce two new online book clubs for those who like to receive books in their e-mail. The Pre-Pub book club gives you a sneak peek at books that will be published in the subsequent month. If you like mysteries, then the Mystery book club is for you. Every day, Monday through Friday a 5-minute installment will be e-mailed to you. After you’ve received 2 or 3 complete chapters, we’ll start a new book. If you want to finish the book, come to the library and check it out, or call us and we’ll reserve it for you. To sign up, log onto the library web site at http://www.glenview.lib.il.us/ and click on the “Books in Your Email” logo, then choose the clubs you want to join and enter your e-mail address. You’ll begin receiving selections the next day! Look for works by these popular authors coming in February: Mystery: Nevada Barr, John Lescroart; Fiction: Wallace Stegner; Original: Pat Conroy, Patricia Cornwell.