Monthly Archives: July 2015

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In Which We Talk About Romances…

Believe it or not, the staff here at the Library have secret identities in the wider world.  Speaking for myself, I teach the history of gender and sexuality.  And while I adore both my identities, there are times when they clash…because there are a lot of people who think that feminists, especially feminists who talk about gender a lot, can’t like romance novels.  Since this week has been about celebrating what we love to read without shame, I thought I’d take a moment to talk about the romance genre.

What is at the heart of romance that makes it such a difficult genre? I mean, the covers, for one, can be a little…much.  That I will admit.  But above and beyond the Men Who Own No Shirts and the Women Who Cannot Stand Up Straight, why do romances get a bad rap?  Obviously, romances deal with issues of physical desire, but so do plenty of other genres.  Thrillers, spy novels, mysteries, adventure tales–all of these books deal with sex and love to varying extents (see: James Bond, for a prime example). But these books don’t get stigmatized because of it.  But when we are dealing with a heroine who falls in love, suddenly these books become “Those Books”.   The ones that we hide on the floor of the car, or in the bottom of a bag, or in the files on the e-readers.

Speaking academically (just for a second, I promise), the primary message of feminism is that women should be respected as individuals–that their individual goals, values, and dreams deserve the same respect and attention as men–whether that was the right to vote, the right to own property, or the right to work inside or outside the home.  In fiction, romances offer the clearest validation of the individual–especially women.  At the heart of all the best romances is validation; that what the heroine (and the hero) want in life, and in a relationship, is valid; that their goals and hopes and fears and dreams are legitimate, and that they have a right to become the very best version of themselves, because who they are is perfect. 

And that is a message that is not easy to accept.  We live in a world that tells us that we are not good enough, and, speaking as a woman, I can tell you that those messages are really, really loud.  Lose weight you’ll be more attractive.  Open up and live a little, and other people will like you.  Don’t be so open and lively, or you’ll drive them away.  Wear this mascara and you will look just like that person you always wanted people to think that you are.  Romance novels, in the end, subvert every one of those messages, and reminds us that the only way to get a happy ending is to be true to yourself and true to your own desires–and to find someone who loves you precisely as you are.  And that is pretty revolutionary, when you come to think about it.

So, rather than hiding your love for romance, let’s read them–and whatever else we want to read, as well–and let’s change the world.

For this week’s If/Then, here are a few of my favorite romance novels, in case you are looking for a place to get started:

3092802Follow My Lead: Regardless of the fact that the heroine of this historic romance is an historian, this is one of my favorite books of all time.  Winifred is on a trans-European expedition to prove herself the author of several historic articles along with her erstwhile companion, the terribly well-meaning, but not very savvy, Jason Cummings, Duke of Rayne.  Their road trip from hell is full of ridiculous scenarios and plenty of humor, but in the end, both Win and Jason realize that they have spent their whole lives chasing other people’s ideals of what they should be, and have to find the courage to define their futures for themselves.  There aren’t too many romances where the hero and heroine get to laugh with–and at–each other, but this book gives them both the freedom to have fun.

3456931Rule: Jay Crownover’s Marked Men series is a manifesto for respecting and loving yourself for precisely who you are, and this book is a perfect example.  Rule is a bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks who couldn’t care less about what people think about him–except for Shaw Landon, who was once his dead brother’s girlfriend.  But Shaw’s life is based around what other people expect of her…and it’s killing her by inches.  Both Rule and Shaw spend this book dealing with their own self-image, both physical and mental, but offer each other the tough love and unwavering support that they need to find a way to each other.

3244939One Good Earl Deserves A Lover:  I have a soft-spot in my heart for Sarah MacLean’s work for many reasons, but this book, especially, has a special place.  Lady Philippa Marbury is a scholar and an intellectual, but her duty is to marry.  So, terrified that she will never get to experience life, she seeks out Cross, the co-owner of London’s most famous gaming hell, to teach her about the darker side of life.  This book is gut-wrenchingly emotional and whimsical by turn, but there is never a moment when Philippa’s learning and social awkwardness is played for comedy, or when her intellect and individuality isn’t respected.  Indeed, it’s her brains that save the day for her and for Cross, who loves her precisely as she is–spectacles, books, and all.

3577495The Wedding Vow: Cara Connelly’s Save the Date series are all fun, but the characters in this book grabbed my attention from the very first page.  Prosecutor Maddie St. Clair knows that billionaire Adam Le Croix is an art thief, but, to her fury, she has never been able to prove it in court.  When Adam needs legal help, he turns to Maddie, knowing that she is the only person smart enough to help him.  But what starts as a familiar enemies-to-lovers, billionaire-gets-the-girl story quickly turns into something utterly unique; neither Maddie nor Adam are the people we expect them to be, and as they keep peeling away layers of themselves, and exposing their deepest secrets and worst fears, they become that much more real, and that much more deserving of their happy ending together.

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Wednesdays at the West: Not Just for Teens

Before starting my tenure as a branch librarian, I spent twelve years as a teen librarian.  During that time, I always had an excuse to read books written for and marketed to teens– it was a professional obligation.  As the years went on, I noticed an increasing number of other adults were catching on to what had previously been a teen librarian secret: books marked teen or young adult are often some of the most engaging, enjoyable literature being published.  After a few high profile titles that had clear generational cross-over appeal (Harry Potter, Twilight, The Hunger Games), more and more adventurous “grown-ups” started seeing the teen section as a place they too could discover books worth of their time and devotion.

One of the (many) great things about teen books is that there is truly something for every reader.  Historical fiction, realistic, thriller, fantasy, whatever your favorite genre is, you can find some wonderful teen literature to expand your “to read” list.

northernlightHistorical fiction fans won’t want to miss A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly.  Based on a true story, Donnelley’s fictional heroine is struggling with the expectations of her family and the man who wants to marry her.  Their demands clash with her own desires to attend college and become a writer.  When Mattie takes a summer job at a hotel, she becomes embroiled in a mystery when a guest, who after entrusting Mattie with a secret, drowns.  Donnelly is the author of a popular trilogy for adults, starting with Tea Rose.  Another of her young adult titles, Revolution, is another sure-fire hit with fans of historical fiction.

madwickedAfter you’ve made your way through Donnelly’s teen fiction, you may want to check out A Mad Wicked Folly by Sharon Biggs Waller.  Another tale of a young woman chaffing against society’s expectations, Victoria is more interested in becoming an artist than in attending debutante balls, as her parents expect.  Both of these competing pulls, however, seem to be at odds with Victoria’s increasing involvement in the British women’s suffrage movement.

wildthornFor a darker, more gothic historical story, with a sweet love angle, we have Wildthorn by Jane Eagland.  After Louisa is told she is being sent to stay with cousins, she find herself imprisoned in an insane asylum.   Here Eagland borrows from the all too common real life practice of locking up young women who showed too much interest in academic pursuits or a attraction to same-sex love.  Louisa is “guilty” of both.  Amid cruel treatment and great frustrations in the asylum, Louisa finds affection and a blossoming relationship with a young asylum worker, Eliza.  With Eliza’s help, Louisa plots an escape from her imprisonment, seeking both freedom and explanation of why she was locked up in the first place.  Dark and gripping, yet still hopeful.

parttimeindian

I have been on a mission for several years now to get everyone I know to read The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie.  A rare story that will have you laughing and crying within pages of each other.  Alexie’s main character, Arnold Spirit, is one of those classic literary underdogs, who readers will root for from start to finish.  Arnold lives on a Native American reservation, but fed up with the poor schools, he decides to become the first kid to leave the reservation school for the more affluent and primarily white school in the surrounding town.  Arnold’s path is certainly not smooth, either on or off the reservation, but he relates his story with humor and optimism and it is one that will stay with you for a long time.

queenofwaterbamboopeoplePersonally, one of my favorite things about teen literature is that so much of it has a real social justice bent to it.  It can be seen in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, but also in two of my other recommendations:  The Queen of Water by Laura Resau and Bamboo 
People by Mitali Perkins.  Teens often get the reputation for being self-centered and oblivious to the world and injustices around them.  The literature that has been written and enjoyed by them, however, often tells a different story.  In The Queen of Water, Resau tells the story of a Quechua Indian girl in Ecuador who is indentured by her desperately poor family to work as a servant for an upper class family where she suffers abuse as a young child at the hands of the mother and finds herself facing worse at the hands of the father as she reaches adolescence.  In Bamboo People, Mitali Perkins’ character, Chiko may live on the other side of the world, but his life as an forced child soldier in the Burmese army is yet another tale of   exploitation and survival.

terrier

trciksterschoiceIf you’d like to explore the world of teen fantasy fiction (and I do highly suggest it), you really must make room on your reading list for Tamora Pierce.  The prolific Pierce has so many wonderful series to her credit that it can difficult to pick a starting point.  My personal favorites are Trickster’s Choice and Trickster’s Queen, which take place in her fabulously detailed, magic world of Tortall.  Other Tortall series include her first series about Alanna the Lionness, Keladry in the Protector of the Small series and Beka Cooper, a Provost guard in the series that begins with Terrier.   Pierce has created other beloved magical worlds that are featured in her Circle of Magic and Circle Opens series, featuring mages who can control the elements of the earth.  If you’re having trouble picking one Pierce novel to read, just give it up and commit to reading them all!

lifeasweknewitIf you like your science fiction with more than a touch of the apocalyptic, you won’t want to pass up Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer.  Miranda’s account of life after a meteor hits the moon and causes an unprecedented wave of natural disasters on Earth  has been a favorite among teen readers since even before The Hunger Games launched the current wave of dystopian novels.

dangerousangels

Dangerous Angels by Francesca Lia Block is a compilation of five, genre defying novels.  The closest category I think they could fit in would be magical realism.  Block’s five, very short novels revolve around the lives of Weetzie Bat and the family she creates for herself in an intriguingly magical, but still gritty Los Angeles.  Lyrical and beautiful, the Dangerous Angels novels are truly hard to compare to any other writing for teens or adults I’ve come across.

beautifulmusicWhile I am certainly no expert on the issue, I will say that I find the portrayal of LGBT characters in literature to be more diverse, likable and enjoyable to read about in literature aimed at teens over much of what is written for adults.  Examples include Louisa in Wildthorn and also in the love story of Dirk and Duck in Dangerous Angels.   Kirstin Cronn-Mills creates another wonderful LGBT character in Beautiful Music for Ugly Children.  Gabe is a female-to-male transgender teen, who still lives as Liz at school and home, but is able to be himself when he is on air as a disc jockey on a local radio station.  When Gabe’s radio show gains popularity, his secret is threatened.  The cast of characters in this novel is simply beautiful, Gabe’s love of music is palpable and the whole story is a satisfying read.

doublehelixWhile those who know me can tell you I’m not a big thriller reader, I am glad I made an exception for Double Helix by Nancy Werlin.  Werlin, who has her roots in Peabody, has written some intriguing teen thrillers, as well as branching out more recently into some interesting fantasy fiction.  Double Helix brings her trademark ability to create suspense together with a controversy concerning genetic engineering.  After graduating from high school, Eli decides to postpone college in favor of a job in a lab with a renowned geneticist.  Eli’s father is unexpectedly outraged by this move, which puzzles his son, until he starts to unravel the story of how he and his family are deeply connected to these same genetic experiments.

So the next time you’re in the library, stop by the teen area and browse for some engaging reads.  We officially give you our permission to read as much teen literature as you want!

 

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Staff Favorites!

As was noted in our Saturday post, the library is a place where you can come and select whatever you’d like, without judgement or critique–and we love hearing about books or films or music that you utterly adored.  But today, we thought we’d offer a few suggestions from the Library staff about books that they have loved from our shelves (because we are library patrons, too!).  So here is the first part of our ongoing series of staff selections for your reading pleasure.  We hope you find something to savor!

From the Reference Desk…..

2239162I first read Shadow of the Wind in high school and fell in love, but I didn’t even realize until years later that there were two companion books, too! They all correlate and share characters, but can be read in any order. Initially drawn to Shadow because of my love for the country of Spain and Zafon’s intriguing descriptions of Barcelona, the characters and the mysterious plot kept me reading. Any book lover who reads the Shadow of the Wind books will want to visit the Cemetery of Forgotten Books and take from something special.

Note: The other two books in this series are The Angel’s Game and The Prisoner of Heaven.

From the Children’s Department….

2275990The Seas by Samantha Hunt: Described as “weird, creepy, and beautiful”, this is a modern retelling of the Germany fairy tale Undine, about a sea creature who falls in love with a human knight; except this version is set is a cruel, unhappy fishing village where a nameless 19-year-old girl, who believes herself to be a mermaid, falls for a Jude, a fisherman who is unable to speak about his service in Iraq.  This is definitely one of those books that toys with reality, with the best of results…

2407571Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett: On their own, both of these authors are simply irresistible, but when they combine their considerable powers, the results are hysterical, and surprisingly insightful.  You see, according to The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (the world’s only completely accurate book of prophecies, written in 1655, before she exploded), the world will end on a Saturday. Next Saturday, in fact. Just before dinner.  But someone seems to have misplaced the Antichrist…..

From the South Branch….

1959597Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire: Maguire is great at giving well-known characters an intriguing background and this take on Cinderella is no exception. Wonderfully written with a look at historical Amsterdam during the tulip boom, his story gives great depth to the tale we think we know.

 

b7b2e2533fd5dcb2f68632b31d41395bAll in the timing : fourteen plays by David Ives. A collection of funny, irreverent, one-act plays. Want to know what *really* happens when chimps are locked in a room with typewriters or when people invent their own language? Yeah, he’s got that.  There are also some hauntingly sad, and creepily odd moments in these plays that makes the humor even funnier by contrast.

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Summer Concert Series: Colleen White and Sean Smith

summer concert series
Get ready for the upcoming performances in the library’s Summer Concert Series! Concerts are at 7 p.m. every Thursday night in July and August at East End Veterans Memorial Park. Every Monday, Free for All will offer an article about, or interview with, the band of the week. The following is an interview with Colleen White and Sean Smith.

What made you decide to become a musician?

SEAN: I think pretty early on as a kid, I liked the idea that music wasn’t just something you listened to, passively – you could put yourself into it, express it, even just for your own enjoyment. There’s a photo somewhere of me at 5, maybe 6 years old, pretending to be a symphony conductor (I’m even wearing a suit and tie) and leading an orchestra of my various toys and stuffed animals. I also was fortunate to have parents with eclectic tastes who exposed me to all sorts of music: classical, jazz, pop, rock as well as lots of folk.

Funny enough, though, seeing the documentary on the 1969 Woodstock festival when I was 12 was what really made me want to pick up an instrument – specifically the guitar. Watching Jimi Hendrix, Pete Townshend, Alvin Lee and Carlos Santana up there on the screen, I just thought playing guitar must be the most fun thing ever. And so I got myself a cheap electric guitar and prepared to become a rock-n-roll legend.

Well, didn’t turn out quite that way. The folk music channel in my ear just didn’t turn off. When I was 13, my mother took me to a folk festival in upstate New York, and I kept coming back to it every year, because I liked the sense of community there, and the accessibility of the music. I began spending more time with my acoustic guitar than my electric one, singing songs by the various performers I’d heard at that festival. And as I listened to more of that music, and I worked more at playing guitar, I felt more confident and comfortable about sharing the music with other people.

COLLEEN: For me, it was just always something I grew up with. My dad played classical guitar and my sisters and I were put into music lessons for a little of everything (voice, piano, saxophone, violin – very poorly). But the focus on Irish music happened when I was around 11. We attended the wedding of a family friend, and they had a trad band play for the reception. I must have stared at the flute player for hours before working up the nerve to talk to her and ask her about her instrument and where she’d learned to play. She offered to give me lessons on the spot, and from there she connected me with the Irish music scene in Minnesota. Fifteen years later and here we are!

How would you describe your sound?

SEAN: Colleen and I play mostly traditional songs and instrumental music from Ireland, so a lot of our material is more than a century old, even older. But we like to include modern influences in our arrangements, and we also do a few contemporary songs by people like Kate Rusby, Karine Polwart and Steve Tilston, who incorporate elements from traditional folk music in their work – there’s definitely an old/new dynamic at work. Still, even if we might experiment a little, we both have a lot of respect for the folk tradition and so we want the songs and tunes to stand on their own. There are some great stories in there, after all, and we want to make sure they get a good telling.

COLLEEN: Sean hit the nail on the head! I would also say that I always think of us as storytellers as much as musicians, cheesy as that sounds. Irish music is known for terrific (if often tragic) stories within the melodies, and I think we really try to bring that out and help that connect with the audience.

What is your songwriting process like?

SEAN: Well, in our case it’s more like “song adaptation” or “song arrangement,” since our repertoire comes primarily from folk tradition. But the great thing about folk music is that it belongs to everybody and nobody, so when you sing a song that goes back years and years, you’re indulging in a shared form of songwriting, one that takes place across many generations. You have the opportunity to put your own stamp on the music, whether it’s the way you sing it, or maybe something you do with the accompaniment (if you have one), or some other aspect of the arrangement.

Colleen and I have known each other and played together for several years, but it was only a little over a year ago that we really sat down and worked on a repertoire. Obviously, no two people have exactly the same musical tastes and experiences, and I’ve enjoyed seeing how ours intersect. I think that a collaboration offers the chance to learn and grow, and that’s definitely the case for me: I’ve shared stuff in my repertoire with Colleen, but she also knows songs that I might not have thought about performing; then when we try them out it’s like, “Oh, OK, I could do that. Let me try this…”

COLLEEN: And from the tunes side, it’s always great going back through old recordings or tunes you used to play, dusting them off, and seeing if you can make it work! We’ve also had some fun lately finding tunes that work with the songs we’re singing, especially when the names and melodies work to make a nice little theme (again, we really love word jokes).

Which artists have been your biggest musical influences, and what is it that draws you to their music?

SEAN: Oh boy, there have been so many, at different stages of my musical path. I could go all the way back to Pete Seeger, the Clancy Brothers and Joan Baez, for example, since they were among the first folk singers I listened to; or the people I heard at the folk festival I mentioned earlier, like John Roberts & Tony Barrand, a wonderful English duo; David Bromberg, an amazing blues-style guitarist; the Boys of the Lough, who play Irish and Scottish traditional music – they all helped expand my awareness of folk music.

Once I really decided that I wanted to play this music, I was tremendously inspired by the 1970s folk revival in Ireland and the British Isles. There were all these performers or bands that took the folk tradition in new, innovative directions while retaining its spirit and character: Martin Carthy, Nic Jones, Andy Irvine, Steeleye Span, Fairport Convention, Pentangle, the Bothy Band, Planxty, De Danaan, the Young Tradition, the Watersons, Dick Gaughan, the Battlefield Band, Five Hand Reel, Horslips. I could go on and on. Listening to them, I understood there were many ways you could personalize folk music and make it feel relevant for you, even though it’s based in traditions that are centuries old.

I believe it’s important to keep your ears and mind open for other influences and sources of inspiration. What’s great about the Boston area is we have so many excellent musicians and singers, so all you have to do is go out to concerts or jam sessions and you have the opportunity to further enrich yourself. I’m particularly impressed with the young musicians I meet – some even elementary school-age – who have embraced traditional music and make a point to learn about it. How can you not be inspired by that?

COLLEEN: Sean has a much better background than me! I tend to pick a favorite and listen to them obsessively for six months before moving on to the next “discovery”. Current Irish favorites right now seem to be Colm O’Donnell for his flute playing and Olivia Chaney for her incredible voice.

Please tell us about any albums you have available or in production.

SEAN: That’s something we haven’t quite got around to doing yet. We both have full-time jobs, and Colleen’s going for her MBA, so sometimes it’s all we can do just to get together for rehearsals and gigs. However, we have a SoundCloud site that has samples of our music; while these are not studio recordings, we think they convey the essence of our music quite well.

We also maintain a website, so you can keep up to date on our activities, which perhaps someday might include recording an album.

What should people expect when they come to your concert on Thursday night?

SEAN: Sadly, our 30-piece Irish dance troupe and our 100-voice chorus will not be available for the gig, so you’ll have to put up with just the two of us. OK, there’s your rim shot. Seriously, we try to represent a cross-section of experience and emotion: a love story here, a bit of humor there, an historical ballad, and so on. And there’ll almost certainly be a few instances where people can join in on the singing – we definitely like that.

COLLEEN: I will almost certainly forget the name of a tune that I have been playing for a decade, Sean will wow you with his multi-instrumental talent, and one of us make at least one really awful punning joke. Oh, and a song about a terrible first date.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

SEAN: It’s marvelous to have a library that supports and promotes live music. Sure, you could just spend the evening at home and have all kinds of entertainment options. But going out to a performance – whatever kind of music it might be – that’s organized and presented locally, and in an intimate setting, is really good for you. Doing this reminds us that music isn’t just something that comes out of an electronic device. We all make it – sometimes imperfectly, but that’s what art is about, anyway.

So if you don’t come to see us – though we certainly hope you do – do try to make it out to a local concert somewhere, sometime.

More about the Summer Concert Series:
Concerts will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday evenings in July and August at East End Veterans’ Memorial Park. Bring a blanket or folding chair, and maybe even a picnic dinner, and enjoy live acoustic music from a new performer each week. East End Veterans’ Memorial Park is located at 45 Walnut Street. The concert schedule is as follows:

July 9th: Damn Tall Buildings
July 16th: Hoot and Holler
July 23rd: Colleen White and Sean Smith
July 30th: Semi-Aquatic Rodent
August 6th: Molly Pinto Madigan
August 13th: Eva Walsh
August 20th: Ian Fitzgerald
August 27th: The Whiskey Boys

Please note: In the event of rain, Summer Concerts will be held in the Sutton Room at the Peabody Institute Library and food will not be allowed.

For more information, please call 978-531-0100 ext. 10, or visit the library’s website at www.peabodylibrary.org.

 

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At the Movies: Mr. Holmes

Article Lead - wide998209890gib5sdimage.related.articleLeadwide.729x410.gib3oi.png1437274751273.jpg-620x349We’ve discussed the creator of Sherlock Holmes in a previous post, but with the release this week of Mr. Holmes, starring Sir Ian McKellan as The Great Detective (and the explosion across social media of a teaser trailer for the Christmas special of Sherlock, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman)  it seems the time has come to discuss Holmes himself in a little more detail.

Holmes first appeared in 1887 in the pages of A Study in Scarlet, which was a part of the massive (and massively popular) Beeton’s Christmas Annual.  At this point, Holmes is approximately 27 (experts have deduced his birthdate to be Jan. 6, 1854) and is essentially That Guy who hangs around in the laboratory of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, performing odd experiments which generally put everyone off their lunch.  Thanks so a lack of funds, he has been trying to find a roommate, but we learn, fairly early on, that no one is willing to live with him…which, frankly, isn’t too surprising when Holmes’ first description of himself is “I dabble with poisons a good deal”.

Fate, however, was kind, and brought Holmes together with Dr. John H. Watson, his best friend of more than thirty years.  It is through Watson’s devotion that we learn anything at all about Holmes, but what we see isn’t always pleasant…he is disorganized to the point of being a slob, he is curt and self-absorbed, fires revolvers in the house because he’s bored, has a long-standing addiction to cocaine (which, granted, wasn’t classified as an illegal substance when he was using it, but Watson and Doyle were adamant that the stuff did more harm than good), and faked his own death several times in the interest of a case without alerting his only friend to the fact that it was all an act.

Perhaps some of the appeal lies in Holmes inscrutability.  Conan Doyle himself wasn’t too particular about his details, and as a result, we have a man in a deerstalker hat, with a calabash pipe–but no parents, hardly any family, and few memories.  We can recognize his face and his catch-phrases with ease, but readers only get brief glimpses of the man himself in the course of the stories, tantalizing details that are all the more powerful for their scarcity.  In truth, his flaws may be the very things that make him so loveable.  Unlike so many other literary heroes (particularly in Holmes’ era), he isn’t perfect, and doesn’t pretend to be, either to himself or to Watson (who loves him no matter what).  Yet somehow, he prevails.  He has the power to set the world to rights again, if only a very small scale.  And, that assurance, that someone so flawed and so odd, can still succeed, is perhaps the most meaningful aspect of Holmes’ character throughout the ages.

Yet Guinness Book of World Records lists Holmes as “the most portrayed character” in history, with more than 70 actors playing the part in over 200 films since 1900.  Indeed, there is a charming scene at the opening of Mr. Holmes when the 93-year-old detective (McKellen) ducks into a movie theater, only to be forced to watch The Young Sherlock Holmes (not one of the best pastiches to hit the screen). So if you are eager to learn more about The Great Detective and the myriad actors who have portrayed him, come in and have a look through our collections!

hbaltBasil Rathbone: Rathbone is still the name that most people associate with Holmes on screen, even if only a few of the films were based on actual Holmes stories.  He certainly looks precisely like Sydney Paget’s illustrations of Holmes, which may be why he found himself cast in The Hound of the Baskervilles instead of Gone With the Wind, despite lobbying enthusiastically for the part of Rhett Butler.  The Rathbone era was also the period when Watson was portrayed as little more than a bumbling oaf, and it seems incredible that Holmes would put up with such idiocy, even if it does make his own cleverness a little more obvious.

hound2Peter Cushing: Stars Wars and Dr. Who veteran Cushing portrayed Holmes for Hammer films (the same studio that made The Mummy and The Horror of Dracula), with Christopher Lee in the role of Sir Henry Baskerville.  Though not really the most stellar of adaptations, it’s fun to see Hammer try and do a literary adaptation–and highlights the very real difficulty every Holmes franchise has had with bringing the immortal Hound of the Baskervilles to life.

Jeremy-Brett-as-Sherlock-Holmes-sherlock-holmes-14711339-501-713Jeremy Brett: Though Rathbone may be name people remember, Jeremy Brett’s portrayal of Holmes is considered widely to be the best.  Brett captured Holmes’ darker, troubled side with subtle grace, and wasn’t afraid to confront the unsavory aspects of his character head-on.  Best of all, Brett, and the rest of the production team, were deeply committed to creating the most accurate depiction of Holmes possible, and their on-set ‘Bible’ is considered a benchmark of Holmesian scholarship.  This series also gave Watson his due, emphasizing his intellect and empathy, and reveling in the humor and affection in their relationship.

downloadRobert Downey, Jr: Holmes’ experts and devotees are still a bit undecided about Guy Ritchie’s version of Holmes and Watson.  While this certainly is a series that emphasizes Holmes’ stranger tendencies to the point of making him a caricature, Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law absolutely capture the long-standing, long-suffering relationship between these two men, emphasizing their mutual co-dependency in way that few other adaptations do.

sherlockjpg_2777748bBenedict Cumberbatch: Currently the most famous iteration of Holmes, Stephan Moffat’s series launches Holmes and Watson into the twenty-first century, which gives this show the room to explore their relationship, and Holmes’ personality, in a whole new light.  A number of questions have been raised over the course of this series, including the designation of Holmes as a ‘sociopath’, or his ambivalent relationship with women, but there is no doubt that Cumberbatch and Freeman have made a new generation into Holmes’ aficionados.

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Saturdays @ the South: Book Shame & the Right to Judgement-Free Reading

embarrassed-readingThe other day, I read an article in Business Insider that talked about the “real” reason people buy e-readers. It wasn’t the ability to offer hundreds of books at your fingertips (making the loads for readers that travel so much lighter), or the opportunity to read free and steeply discounted classics, or the chance to read a book in any size font (great for books that never made it into large print), or even  having an in-text dictionary available while reading books with insanely broad vocabularies (I’m looking at you China Mieville!). Nope, according to this article, the reason people like e-readers is so that no one can tell what you’re actually reading. It got me thinking about how people categorize their reading and the fact that, whether we like it or not, there is a certain level of pressure about what is and is not “socially acceptable” reading on the subway, or park, or any other public place where people can possibly judge you for your reading tastes.

As a librarian, and as someone who believes in wide access to reading materials of all types, this gets my ire up. As a human being it bothers me that people make assumptions and snarky judgments about someone based on what they’re reading. Reading tastes are as wide and varied as the people who enjoy them and they aren’t necessarily representative of who that person is or is not. Reading sci-fi doesn’t make someone a dork; reading romance doesn’t make someone a sap. It doesn’t even necessarily represent a genre preference or an author preference. Horizons can be expanded in any direction. Why should people be embarrassed for this?

In one of my classes for my MLIS, I was appalled to read about how librarians used to try and “guide” (i.e. force) readers into “correct” choices by telling them they should be reading “proper” literature. There was even a push to keep popular authors out of libraries because it wasn’t what people “should” be reading. Today, any librarian worth his/her salt today should have their hearts leap with joy because people are reading (no matter what or in what format), but readers now fear public judgment instead. In a Bustle article about narrowing down book choices to read, one of the “concerns” was: “will this book cover embarrass me in public?”

In one sense I’m glad that e-readers have enabled people to read what they want with less fear of being embarrassed, but I don’t see the need to be embarrassed by reading something you think you’ll enjoy in the first place. Therefore,  the point of this little rant is to call for a ban on book snobbery, to recognize fellow readers as kindred spirits in the fact that they are reading for pleasure and to accept each other’s tastes.  As such, here are some suggestions to read, in hard copy, in public, unabashedly. Borrow them freely knowing that we at the library will NOT judge you for what you read and your tastes will be respected:

319963450 Shades of Grey Trilogy – E. L. James

I’m going to address the giant, handcuffed elephant in the room right off the bat, although frankly, given the popularity of these books, the new Grey sequel AND the movie, I wonder why people are even raising their eyebrows at reading this anymore. Over 100 million people worldwide can’t all be wrong…

3081372Flowers in the Attic – V.C. Andrews

There’s something about a book that has characters with lots of secrets that somehow makes people think that reading that book should be a secret. Time to let the cat out of the bag and bring this book out into the open. If you get the South Branch’s copy, you’ll be treated to a double-feature with this book followed by the sequel, Petals on the Wind.

2393457Twilight series by Stephanie Meyers

Yes its another example of 100 million people can’t be wrong, but the Twilight series also brings to light an interesting note about YA books and the stigma attached to them. Some feel that YA books should be left for younger readers and aren’t suitable for adults. As someone who has already gone on record encouraging adults to read children’s books, I see no reason why adults can’t read YA books. And as a rebuttal to these naysayers, I offer you not one, not two, but three articles recommending great YA reads.

3640167Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley 

This book, and often fantasy in general is looked upon as not having any “literary merit” (though I’d defy anyone who’s read anything by Neil Gaiman to prove that comment). But fantasy, much like romance, has the ability to take people out of their norms (and sometimes out of their comfort zones) which may be exactly what the reader needs at that time. What are books for if not to give our minds a bit of a vacation?

2644601Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

I recommend this book, not so much because this title is considered a “guilty pleasure” but because it is a graphic novel and those are often categorized as “geek reads” or too “immature” for adults. Well, they’re not. There are plenty of graphic novels that deal with adult content and can be downright enjoyable for adults to read. And this article tells why far better than I could.

Before I sign off for this week, I’d like to thank my terrific friends who helped me think a bit outside the box and compile this list! My hope is that they, and all of you never feel the need to justify, make light of or be embarrassed by anything you read. Feel free to leave a comment about your favorite no-longer-guilty pleasure book. Till next week, dear readers, be proud to be readers, whatever your tastes are!

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Five Book Friday!

Happy Friday, Beloved Patrons, and welcome to another Five Book Friday.  Our favorite postman and several UPS drivers have been bringing boxes of books to our doors every day, and our shelves are looking much more robust as the days pass, so be sure to come in and whet your literary appetite before another sunny and adventuresome weekend.

3636636The Sage of Waterloo: The narrator of Leona Francombe’s book is a rabbit.  A rabbit who loves history.  I fail to see what more incentive anyone could need to run out and read this book.  However, if you would like some more details, William, a white rabbit, lives at the site of the Battle of Waterloo in Belgium, where his mysterious grandmother, Old Lavender, teaches him to hear the ghosts whose voices still reverberate around the battlefield.  Library Journal called Francombe’s narrative “gentle and poetic”,  and the story itself “an eloquent reflection on the nature and cost of war…Everything in this little book is perfect.”

3633978Trailer Park Fae: Lilith Saintcrow is a born storyteller, and this debut in her Ragged and Bone series is sure to be a hit with her many fans and new readers alike.  Half-mortal Jeremy Gallow walked away from his fairy legacy years ago, and now lives the boring life of a construction worker–until the day he is dragged back into the fairy realm by a woman who looks uncannily like his dead wife, urging him to hunt down an other-wordly serial killer.  RT Book Reviews raves that Saintcrow “blends the realistic and fantastic with gusto to create a world that is beautifully detailed and wonderfully off-kilter, and a cast that is magnetic and empathetic, yet beguiling and mysterious”

3643277The Lost Concerto: Helaine Mario’s blend of thriller, romance, personal journey, and historic quest has been garnering rave reviews from critics and book bloggers alike, with Publisher’s Weekly calling it a “suspenseful, heartrending novel…which builds to a highly satisfying resolution.”  Like any good symphony, this story starts off quietly, but builds in tension and suspense as a young woman, who had fled the world years ago, is forced back when her godson disappears, and a mysterious photograph sends her on a quest that lead her to uncover a plot surrounding a famous manuscript thought lost to the ages.

3643163The Blooding: This is the fifth book in James McGee’s super-terrific historic thriller series featuring Matthew Hawkwood, a soldier-turned-spy whose adventures unfold across the landscape of the early American frontier.  In this installment, Matthew finds himself stranded behind enemies lines during the War of 1812, with no one to trust but a former comrade, Major Denis Lawrence.  As the two men make their secret way to Canada, they uncover a plot that could lose the war for Britain–but will they survive long enough to alert the British authorities?

3636557Franklin Barbecue: The Meat-Smoking Manifesto:  After the sensational Saturdays at the South post on grilling, we’ve seen an uptick in grilling books and other summertime-eats books, so this particular tome couldn’t have come at a better time.  From Franklin Barbecue in Austin, Texas, the winner of Texas Monthly’s Best Barbecue Joint in Texas award, comes the self-proclaimed complete guide to meat and brisket cooking that goes beyond how to make a hamburger, and explores how to make a smoker, select your wood and meats, and creating the perfect fires for cooking them.  I don’t eat meat, but even I have to admit, the pictures in this particular book look down-right delicious.

So there you have it, beloved patrons!  Have a happy weekend, full of fun adventures, good food, and plenty of good books!