2006 Best Books of the Year Kirkus Reviews, Publisher’s Weekly, Christian Science Monitor, and The New York Times have all recently published their Best Books of 2006. Many of them are owned by the Glenview Public Library. Have you read these yet?   Fiction Arthur & George by Julian Barnes The life of Sherlock Holmes creator Arthur Conan Doyle and Doyle’s real-life involvement with a criminal case. Black Swan Green by David Mitchell A coming-of-age story of a 13-year-old boy struggling with a speech impediment. Digging to America by Anne Tyler Two families – one recently arrived Iranian-American, the other all-American – begin an unlikely friendship after both adopt Korean babies. The Emperor’s Children by Claire Messud The shocks of 9/11 disrupt the privileged lives of a group of young urban New Yorkers. The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai Questions of identity weave throughout this rich, tragicomic novel set in both India and New York. The Lambs of London by Peter Ackroyd The real lives of Charles and Mary Lamb are the inspiration for this story of a literary family undone by the supposed unearthing of a new work by Shakespeare. The Lay of the Land by Richard Ford Frank Bascombe is back preparing for a Thanksgiving dinner with his dysfunctional family and the upcoming Presidential Election. The Road by Cormac McCarthy A father and son push an old grocery cart through civilization’s ruins and debate ethics along the way. Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl A professor’s daughter aces a murder investigation along with her high school classes. The Summer Snow by Rebecca Pawel Set in fascist Spain shortly after WW II, a detective must find his aunts’ killers and save his aristocratic family from scandal.   Nonfiction At Canaan’s Edge: America in the King Years, 1965-68 by Taylor Branch Detailed portrait of Martin Luther King Jr. and the events of the civil rights movement. Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq by Thomas E. Ricks Detailed and devastating portrait of the Iraqi “quagmire.” The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 by Lawrence Wright A comprehensive and compelling account of the events preceding and causing 9/11, with a tight focus on al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden and on the men who were pursuing him before the attacks. Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War by Nathaniel Philbrick A vivid account of the earnest band of Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony. The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan Four separate eating adventures, each of which begins at the beginning – in the soil – and ends with a cooked, finished meal. Oracle Bones: A Journey Between China’s Past and Present by Peter Hessler Insightful description of “new” China, one no longer rooted in its traditional rural past. The Places In Between by Rory Stewart The author recounts his walk across Afghanistan in the dead of winter. State of Denial: Bush at War, Part III by Bob Woodward Describes the administration of George W. Bush and the war in Iraq. My Life in France by Julia Child and Alex Pred’homme An account of some of the happiest years, and meals, of Child’s life. The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl by Timothy Egan What happened to those who stayed put in the 1930s while the very earth itself blew away?

On Display in the Library Look for these displays in the library in December There's No Time Like the Presents Gift making, crafts Flour Power Holidays Are Murder Mysteries set during   the Holidays   Don't Judge a Book   By Its Cover  Look for these author displays: Paul Bowles Nikos Kazantzakis James Thurber In the Teen Corner: Abraham Lincoln IL High School Book Award 2007 2007 Best Books for Young Adults

History Study Center   by Anne O'Donnell If you read historical fiction, you will be pleased to discover History Study Center (HSC). A collection of primary and secondary sources covering global history, HSC provides access to a wealth of information and arranges it into neat categories: historical documents, maps and reference, multimedia, journals, and study units.  HSC has recently revamped its search screens, so they're easier to use than before. You can search by keyword in either basic or advanced search. Advanced search allows you to limit your search to one category or several, or to exclude categories. I'm currently reading Gregory Maguire's Mirror Mirror. The author of Wicked, Maguire retells the story of -- you guessed it -- Snow White and the seven dwarves in Mirror Mirror. The setting is Renaissance Italy, the Borgias are major characters (Lucrezia is the evil stepmother figure), and Savonarola is mentioned often. By searching for the word Borgia in HSC, I quickly found biographical information on Lucrezia and her brother Cesare, full-text journal articles about their escapades, and a map of Reformation Europe, 1492 - 1560. A search on Savonarola yielded similar results. Turn to History Study Center the next time you want to dig a little deeper into your current historical fiction read. Access HSC through the Glenview Public Library homepage in the library or from home with your GPL card at www.glenviewpl.org . And remember, if you need help at any time, ask a librarian for assistance. Did You Know? Magazines Available @ GPL by Iva Freeman Wisconsin Trails A bi-monthly treat that proves that there is more to that northern neighbor than cheese, Green Bay Packers, Door County and the Dells. Features include profiles of interesting residents (present and past), information on weather, culture, nature, history, artists and artisans, recipes, and color photos. The articles are well-written and fresh. Readers who are considering a second home, a move or just a weekend away will find this an informative read.

E-Mail Services for Book Lovers   BookNews   The Glenview Public Library continues the online service for readers called BookNews. This service gives readers access to free electronic newsletters about a wide variety of books via the library's Web site or delivered to their desktop via e-mail. Select the newsletters of  your choice via the BookNews link from www.glenviewpl.org and receive your e-newsletter on the 15th of each month. The newsletters have reviews, descriptions and author commentaries. What's your favorite category? Whether it's new non-fiction, new fiction, home & garden books, or something else, the Glenview Public Library's BookNews can help you decide what to read next!                Online Book Clubs   Each day, Monday through Friday, the library e-mails a portion of a book that takes about 5 minutes to read directly to your email. You can read two or three chapters from a book each week. If you like the book, check it out from the library. A new selection of books is provided each week. Choose from 11 different Online Book Clubs like  Fiction, Non-Fiction, Business, Teen, Mystery, Science Fiction, or Horror. You can also listen to Audio Books in your e-mail, or subscribe to the Pre-Publication Club. You can start reading books in your e-mail before they're even published! And best of all, you can forward the emails to your friends and family. This month's Mystery Club subscribers will receive: Drama City by George P. Pelecanos. This crime novel is the story of Lorenzo Brown, a Humane Society officer who cruises the streets looking for mistreated dogs, and Rachel Lopez, his overworked and diligent parole officer. Each has a past -- and a present -- that involves them in a "cruel twist of fate."   Missing Persons by Stephen White. A dead colleague and a missing 14-year-old girl would be enough for Boulder Colorado psychiatrist Alan Gregory to contend with, but then his partner disappears in Las Vegas, a patient can't be found, and a body turns up in the forest. Point Blank by Catherine Coulter Typical of the FBI series featuring Agents Savage and Sherlock, this fast-paced story moves with momentum through numerous plot lines of love, murder, and stalking. Burned by Carol Higgins Clark LA-based private detective Regan Reilly gets invited to Hawaii. Unfortunately for Regan, the body of Dorinda Dawes, the hotel's gossipy PR woman, washes ashore wearing a valuable, stolen shell lei. Humorous crime-solving storytelling at its best!  Sign up for the Online Book Club service here: http://www.supportlibrary.com/su/su.cfm?x=44521

Forthcoming Books     FICTION True Evil by Greg Iles Dr. Chris Shepard, newly and happily married, is informed by FBI agent Alexandra Morse that his wife is involved in a plot to murder him. His first reaction is disbelief, but soon turns to paranoia and a desire to assist Detective Morse in unraveling a divorce lawyer's twisted scheme. Capital Crimes by Jonathan & Faye Kellerman The latest collaboration by the husband and wife team of bestselling authors features two suspenseful novellas set in cities rich with atmosphere, Nashville and Berkeley.   Crimson Portrait by Jody Shields In order to fulfill a promise made to her husband on his departure for war, Catherine opens up her house to a wounded soldier as a hospital during World War I. Unprepared for the emotional impact of the wounded soldiers, she finds refuge in the company of a young soldier whose face is covered by bandages.   The Long Night of Winchell Dear by Robert James Waller Set in south Texas, this is the story of one night in the life of professional poker player Winchell Dear by the author of The Bridges of Madison County. The Boleyn Inheritance by Phillipa Gregory  The latest installment in the saga of the court of Henry VIII. Alternate narrators include Henry's fourth wife, Bavarian-born Anne of Cleves, his fifth wife, English teenager Katherine Howard and Lady Rochford (aka Jane Boleyn). NON-FICTION Triple Cross: How bin Laden's Master Spy Penetratedthe CIA, the Green Berets, and the FBI -- and Why Patrick Fitzgerald Failed to Stop Him by Peter Lance The story of the former Egyptian captain who infiltrated the CIA in Europe, the Green Berets at Fort Bragg and the FBI in California and assisted in the campaign that led to 9/11 as told by Emmy award-winning investigative reporter Peter Lance. Alpana Pours: About Being a Woman, Loving Wine, and Having Great Relationships by Alpana Singh In addition to being the host of WTTW's Check Please, Singh is the youngest woman to be a member of the Court of Master Sommeliers. In Alpana Pours she offers advice on wine and relationships based on her extensive knowledge of wine and her experiences as a sommelier at a four star restaurant. A Photographer's Life: 1990 - 2005 by Annie Leibowitz A chronological presentation of the award winning photographer's work featuring photos from her personal life and her professional life.

Literary Happenings @ the Library  Monday, December 4 Monday Afternoon Book Discussion GPL Conference Room, 1:00 pm Pomegranate Soup by Marsha Mehran. Books are available in advance at the Circulation Desk. Registration is not required; all are welcome to attend.  Thursday, December 7 Mystery Book Discussion Group GPL Maynard Room, downstairs, 7:00 pm Join Librarian/mystery buff Mary Van Dyke for a timely discussion of thrillers taking place in World War II on the home front or on the battlefields. Refreshments will be provided. A list of book titles is available at the Information Desk. Registration is requested; call 847-729-7500, extension 112. Friday, December 8 Mother/Daughter Book Discussion Youth Services, 7:00 - 8:00 pm For girls in grades 4-7 and their mothers or other special adult. Register beginning December 1 with your GPL card. A Long Way From Chicago by Richard Peck. Monday, January 8 Monday Night Book Discussion GPL Conference Room, 7:30 pm The Song Reader by Lisa Tucker. Friday, January 26 Mother/Daughter Book Discussion Youth Services, 7:00 - 8:00 pm For girls in grades 4-7 and their mothers or other special adult. Register beginning December 1 with your GPL card. Sarah Plain and Tall & Skylark by MacLachlan. In Glenview and Beyond Saturday, December 2 A Pickpocket's Tale: the Underworld of Nineteenth-Century New York Borders, 3232 Lake Avenue, Suite 100, Wilmette 11:00 am Author Timothy J. Gilfoyle signs his thoroughly readable and lavishly illustrated book.   Borders - Wilmette (847) 256-3220   Saturday, December 2 Chicago in the Sixties Barnes & Noble, 55 Old Orchard Center, Skokie 2:00 pm Author Neal Samors with special guests Bob Sirott, NBC Channel 5 anchor, and Clark Weber, former radio personality will discuss Samors book Chicago in the Sixties. This book is on order at the Glenview Public Library.    Barnes & Noble - Skokie (847) 676-2230   Saturday, December 2 Crossroads: A Storytelling Concert for the Adult Palate Fine Arts Center, Highland Park  7:00 - 9:30 pm An evening of both true and not so true stories of change, transition, and life altering experiences.  Tickets and Info (847) 432-1888 or http://www.storytelling.org/events.html  Thursday, December 7 Strange Fruit: The Voice of Protest by David Margolick Alliance Francaise de Chicago 6:30 pm In 1939, Billie Holiday took the stage at Cafe Society, a New York nightclub, and sang these words: "Southern trees bear a strange fruit/Blood on the leaves and blood at the root/Black body swinging in the Southern breeze/Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees." David Margolick talks about how Strange Fruit became an anthem for the civil rights movement. He also examines the lives of Holiday and Abel Meeropol, the Jewish schoolteacher who wrote the song. Margolick is the author of Strange Fruit: The Biography of a Song and Beyond Glory: Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling; both works are available at the Glenview Public Library. Saturday, December 16 Rachael Ray 2, 4, 6, 8: 30-Minute Meals for Couples or Crowds Barnes & Noble, 55 Old Orchard Center, Skokie 6:00 pm Rachael Ray appears in person to sign her newest cookbook. Come early and stay late! This book is on order at the Glenview Public Library.    Barnes & Noble - Skokie (847) 676-2230   Thursday, December 21 Book Club Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, Kendall College, Evanston, 2:00 pm Book club discussion of Pike's Peak by Frank Waters. (847) 475-1030 or http://www.mitchellmuseum.org