Come Write In!

November is National Novel Writing Month. What that means for thousands of writers around the world is the chance to get serious about that book they've always wanted to write. On the website NaNoWriMo.org, writers can commit to writing a 50,000 word novel in a month. Last year over 200,000 people took part, and 30,000 actually met the challenge. Among the published books which were NaNoWriMo projects is Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, which became a bestseller and a staple of book clubs everywhere, along with a major movie. While most writers won't achieve that lofty status, NaNoWriMo is a way to start their own Great American Novel.

This year, Wilks Branch Library is doing its part to help participants in the challenge along. Each Saturday in November, Wilks is opening up its meeting room to aspiring writers, who need a place to craft their work. We're providing, not only writing space, but power strips for laptops, writing books, and those all-important ingredients for any successful writer, chocolate and coffee. Authors are welcome to use our space for however long they wish: all day, or only part of it. It doesn't matter what kind of book they're writing, or whether they're beginners or experienced writers. All are welcome.

On December 1, Wilks will hold a Thank God It's Over party. Everyone who participates will receive a certificate, along with the pride of having taken part in something important and rewarding.

So Come Write In, every Saturday at Wilks, 9 AM to 4 PM. And don't forget our regular writing group, which meets on the first Thursday of every month. For more information, call (508) 991-6214. We're hoping to see you!

Writing About Writers

To most people, the process of creating a book is a mystery, sometimes including the writers themselves. November, being National Novel Writing Month, seems as good a time as any to try to demystify this process. While each writer in the following books is different, there is one constant: creativity, while often difficult, is always rewarding.

Most writing books give advice and how-to's. Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott, is a classic in the field, but is so much more. Lamott's book touches on the realities of the writing life that most people don't know about. Everyone's heard of writer's block, but what about professional jealousy? Or the fact that publication isn't as much of a high as creating the work itself? Lamott's book shows that, in life as well as in writing, one has to take things "bird by bird."

Looking for Anne of Green Gables: the Story of L. M. Montgomery and her Literary Classic by Irene Gammel blends biography of both Montgomery, the creator of the beloved Anne of Green Gables series, and her literary creation. From her home on Prince Edward Island, the setting of the Anne books, Montgomery created a character that has delighted readers down the ages. Isolated though she was, she experienced the larger world through the magazines and catalogs that came in the mail. In particular, she was influenced by pictures of Irene Nesbit, a classic Gibson Girl. Gammel has done exhaustive research in writing this book, and the result is rewarding. If you haven't read the series, Gammel's book is a good introduction. But read the books, too. Today the Anne books are considered to be for children, but Montgomery intended them for a general audience. Even from an adult perspective, they're a lot of fun.

Fiction about writers isn't easy to find, but in Writing Jane Austen by Elizabeth Aston, the trials and tribulations of a would-be Austen follower are told to comic effect. Georgina Jackson is chosen to complete a fragment of an Austen novel which has recently been discovered. The author of a critically acclaimed, but dark, novel set in Victorian England, Jackson is the antithesis of Austen. A great deal of the book deals with her comic attempts to finish the book, until something monumental happens: she discovers within herself the book she was always meant to write. This is a fun, and funny, book.

Stephen King writes wittily and well on the writing life in Stephen King Goes to the Movies. Adapting their own works for the silver screen has bemused authors from Faulkner to Fitzgerald, and King is no exception. In this book he reflects on the filming of some of his works, including The Shawshank Redemption and Hearts in Atlantis. Each work is included in the book, along with a brief commentary. Different Seasons, the anthology in which "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption" was originally published, also contains a semi-autobiographical prologue, which touches on the author's literary process. Well worth a read.

King also created a classic tale of an author in transition, and his biggest fan, in the terrifying novel Misery. When author Paul Sheldon is rescued from a serious accident by Annie Wilkes, he has no idea of the ordeal his is about to undergo. Enraged that Sheldon has killed off his best-known character, Misery Chastain, Annie forces him to write a new book, just for her. For Sheldon, who has lost his joy in creation, writing the book provides escape and salvation . The question remains, though: what happens when Sheldon finishes the book?King is an often underrated writer who creates a believable, sometimes sensitive, portrayal of both captor and captive. Don't read this at night, with the lights off - but do read it.

Have any ideas how writers do it yet? Neither do I - but it's fun trying to find out.

The Times They Are A-Changing

The book world is changing. Electronic books, which were only a small segment of the market a few years ago, are now overtaking print. At Amazon.com, sales of ebooks outpace print, whether hard or softcover. Lee Child's latest book, The Affair, is a bestseller in print; but again, more ebooks are being sold of this title. If you own an ereader, whether an iPad or a Kindle, getting reading material can be expensive. However, we have our own technology available, through the SAILS system: Overdrive.

Using Overdrive is easy, but it does involve a few steps. To get started, go to www.sailsinc.org; either log in with your card number and PIN, or as a guest. On the next page, click on "downloads." This will bring you to the Overdrive page, which displays available books, and their status in the system. You'll need to log in, with your card and PIN.

Before you can check any books out, you need to download the appropriate software. The Overdrive media console is available for both Macs and PC's, the iPad, and also for smart phones. Just download the software for your device, and you're in business. For Kindle, the process is a little different. I'll get to that in a minute.

Once you have your software, it's time to have fun. Searching for books on Overdrive is pretty straightforward. Browse through the displays of recent books, or recently returned ones; or click on a category, such as mystery, to see what's available. Unfortunately there's usually only one copy of each book, and with the rise in demand now that Overdrive books can be downloaded to the Kindle, many titles will already be out. However, you can place a book on hold, just as with print, or put it on your wish list. You're allowed 6 holds at a time.

When you've found a book, put it in your cart, and then proceed to checkout. For everything except the Kindle, checking out a book makes it ready for downloading to your device. Once that's done, you're ready to read. Just as with your holds, you're allowed only 6 checkouts. You can keep most titles for 14 days, though some are limited to 7. When the loan period is up, the titles disappear from your device. It's that easy. No worrying about getting books back to the library on time, or paying overdue fines. The down side is that you can't keep your book past the due date, so getting it read in a timely manner is important.

The process for the Kindle is a little different. When requesting a book, click on the "Kindle book" button. The check out process is the same, but for downloading, you're redirected to Amazon. Log in there with your account, and then download your book.

Once you've finished reading (or listening - audiobooks are also available through Overdrive), simply delete and return the book, and you're ready to get more.

Overdrive also provides other titles which are always available, and which don't count toward your checkout count, as well as music. It's a great service for those of us who are becoming increasingly reliant on electronic devices. Best of all, whatever you read counts toward your 50 book count. So get into Overdrive, and enjoy!

In the past years several best-selling authors for adults have turned their hands to writing for a younger audience. Since these authors write primarily thrillers with male protagonists, their young adult books are aimed, refreshingly, towards boys. However, they're good reading for adults as well. Best of all, they count toward the 50 Book Challenge.

John Grisham brings his considerable knowledge of courtroom procedure, and the law, to bear in Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer. Theodore, an aspiring judge, has his own small office in his parents' law firm, and helps out friends with their problems. When a schoolmate comes to him with information that could influence a murder trial, Theodore faces a dilemma. Should he keep his informant's identity a secret, as promised, or reveal information that could change the course of the trial? Grisham's style is a little stiff, but this is still a fun read. The second book in the series is Theodore Boone: The Abduction.

Apparently not content to write about a million books a year for adults, James Patterson is another author who has produced books for younger readers. Best known are his Maximum Ride books. In The Angel Experiment, the first in the series, he introduces us to a group of kids who were bred in a laboratory, mostly human, but also part bird. As might be expected, the series has a decidedly paranormal tone.

Patterson's latest book for young readers, Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life, is more down to earth. Illustrated by Laura Park, the book tells the story of Rafe, who, egged on by a friend, is determined to break every rule in his school. But Rafe has bigger problems to face than just the detentions his pranks earn him. By story's end he will have to deal with bullying, among other problems. A poignant, as well as funny, book.

Before his death, Robert B. Parker began what was to be a series featuring his iconic detective, Spenser, as a young man. Growing up in the west with his father and uncles as role models, Spenser developed early his code of honor and self-reliance. In Chasing the Bear, he learns not only how to fight, but to fight for what is right. When a friend is abducted by her abusive, alcoholic father, Spenser tracks and rescues her, ultimately escaping in a tense, downriver journey. The climax is shocking, and yet in keeping with the Spenser we all grew to know and love. Written in Parker's terse style, this book illuminates Spenser's character, while providing a good story. Parker also wrote 2 other books for young readers, The Boxer and the Spy, and The Edenville Owls. Well worth a look.

Other authors who have written for young adults include Jack Higgins (Sure Fire), Carl Hiaasen (Hoot) and former NFL player Tim Green (Football Genius).

While these are all worthwhile books, there are many more titles by authors who don't also write adult books. Look for more suggestions in the future.

Murder Most Medieval

Mysteries set in medieval times abound, from the venerable Brother Cadfael, to a new series of "medieval noirs." Cadfael, a monk, is the creation of Ellis Peters, and is the best-known of the medieval detectives. From his abbey in Shrewsbury, Cadfael has solved many a mystery over the years. The books have also been made into moves shown on PBS's Masterpiece Theater, starring Derek Jacobi. Less known, though just as enjoyable, is a crop of more recent books, all set in that faraway, fascinating time.

When Abbess Helewise of the Hawkenlye Abbey finds a young nun murdered, King Richard sends one of his knights, Sir Josse d'Acquin, to investigate, in Alys Clare's Fortune Like the Moon, set in the 12th century. Sir Josse and the Abbess seem like an unlikely pair of detectives, but together they work well. While Helewise has to stay in the Abbey and Sir Josse does the legwork, she is the one who understands the motives behind the murders. By the end of the book, a solid partnership has been forged. As with other books set in medieval days, the politics of the time play an important part, adding some weight to the plot. The most recent book in the series is Rose of the World. The titles of the books, incidentally, come from Carmina Burana, a musical work which takes its lyrics from poetry written by a 12th century monk.

The incredibly prolific P. C. Doherty is the author of the Hugh Corbett series, set in the 14th century. In The Waxman Murders, Corbett, a member of the royal court, travels to Canterbury by request of the king, to find a supposed treasure map. Instead he finds himself faced with a series of gruesome murders, which only an incident in the past helps him solve. A richly detailed view of the world at the time, this is the fifteenth book in the series. The first is The Death of a King. Doherty is the author of many, many other historical mysteries, some written under pseudonyms, including the Sorrowful Mysteries of Brother Athelsan, and the Canterbury Tales mysteries.

Alan Gordon's The Lark's Lament introduces us to yet another aspect of medieval life, that of the court jester, in the sixth installment of the Fools Guild series. It also gives an insight into the espionage of the time: the Fools Guild is actually a secret spy agency. In 13th century France, Theo and his wife Claudia, members of the guild, ask a former troubador turned monk for help to keep the Fools Guild alive in the face of church opposition. When a monk is murdered at the abbey, the old friend asks Theo and Claudia for help, with a condition: solve the mystery, and he will help them. With their very survival in peril, Theo and Claudia uncover a mystery from the past, as dangerous now as it was then. The Fools Guild series starts with Thirteenth Night.

"Down these mean streets a man must go who is not himself mean." Raymond Chandler might have written this about his 20th century detective, Philip Marlowe, but 14th century London had mean streets, too. Down those streets goes Crispin Guest, the antihero of Jeri Westerson's "medieval noir" series. Branded a traitor, and thus stripped of his titles and lands, he ekes out a living as an investigator of sorts. In Serpent in the Thorns, the second book in the series, Crispin finds himself in deep trouble when asked to solve the murder of a man in the tavern. The tavern wench is the only person who could have committed the crime, except that the man was killed by a crossbow, a weapon she doesn't know how to use. When it's learned that the dead man is a French courier, it sets off a serious diplomatic incident between France and England, with Crispin at the center - as the main suspect. The medieval noir series starts with Veil of Lies. The Demon's Parchment is the most recent installment.

All of these are fun reads, and good titles to add to your 50 book challenge log. Keep on reading! The end is in sight.

Picture This

Most of us grew up reading comic books. Most of us stopped reading them as we got older. In recent years, though, comics have made a return, in the form of graphic novels. Inspired by Japanese manga, graphic novels span every subject and every age group. Popular authors such as James Patterson are producing them. Best of all, they count toward the 50 book challenge.

Janet Evanovich is best known for her series featuring Stephanie Plum. She is also the co-author, with her daughter Alex, of Troublemaker: a Barnaby and Hooker Graphic Novel. Alexandra Barnaby and Sam Hooker are characters in two previous Evanovich novels, including Motor Mouth, but it's not necessary to read those books to enjoy this one. The book is well illustrated, with an easy layout and bright colors, evoking south Florida, its setting. It is also filled with Evanovich's trademark humor. For anyone wishing to get acquainted with graphic novels, this is a good start.

At the other extreme is A Family Secret, by Eric Heuvel. While this book is geared toward younger readers, its subject matter is adult: a family trying to survive the Nazi occupation of Holland. When young Jeroen is searching through his grandmother's attic for items to sell at a flea market, he comes across an old scrapbook. Through that, and his grandmother's memories, he learns the often harrowing story of her youth. Brightly colored panels tell the present day story, but the ones for the past are appropriately darker in both color and tone. It's an effective and emotional story. The companion book to this is The Search.

Stephen King's novels seem made for this format. His Dark Tower series has been continued in several graphic novels. The Fall of Gilead has striking, sometimes disturbing illustrations. Even the font used for the text is stark. This gives the book the same air of menace that the best of King's books have. I have to admit that this is not my kind of book, but for King fans it's a find.

Have you had enough of the Twilight books yet? Originally written for teenagers, this series became popular with adults, as well as a successful series of movies. If you're not familiar with the tale by now, it tells about Bella, who moves from sunny Phoenix to rain-drenched Forks, Oregon. There she meets, and falls in love with, Edward, who is a vampire. The drawings are in shades of gray, as befits a place where it rains almost continuously, and making the few splashes of color all the more effective. While Bella looks as angst-ridden as she does in the movies, this is still a lovely, romantic book to look at.

Finally, we must not forget Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. P & P & Z became a surprise bestseller, its mixture of Austen's mannered prose and the ghoulishness of zombies making it unique. Reading about Elizabeth Bennett's and Darcy's battles with zombies (who knew the Bennett girls trained in martial arts in China?) is funny enough. Seeing the action in pictures is even better. The drawings are in classic comic book style, appropriate to the story.

These, and many more titles, can be found at any library branch. Pick up a few to enjoy during the last hot weeks of summer. You'll never think of comics the same way again.

All My Favorite Authors are Dead

In the past years, my favorite mystery writers have all died. All were prolific and all had long, distinguished careers. All left long backlists, totaling hundreds of books. The problem is, I’ve read most of them. However, if you’re not familiar with them, you have a treat in store.

It started with Ed McBain, author of the 87th Precinct mystery series. With titles such Let’s Hear it for the Deaf Man and Cop Hater, McBain transformed the police procedural into something more than the standard mystery, with complex characters and unusual storylines. Under his real name of Evan Hunter, McBain wrote many other books, including The Blackboard Jungle.

Then there’s Tony Hillerman. In his books featuring Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee of the Navajo Tribal Police he brought to life a segment of American society unknown to many people. Set in the southwest, such books as Dance Hall of the Dead and The Shape Shifters revolve around life on the Navajo reservation, and are influenced by Navajo mythology and traditions. These are good, absorbing reading. I miss Hillerman.

Donald Westlake was best known for his Dortmunder series, a career criminal who dreams up grandiose plots for capers that always go just a little bit wrong. From The Hot Rock, the first book in the series, to Get Real, the final one, Dortmunder and pals blunder through one comic misadventure after another. Westlake also wrote many stand-alone titles, as well as other mysteries and Westerns under various pseudonyms. I’m really going to miss Westlake.

Stuart Kaminsky authored several series, each one featuring offbeat characters. Toby Peters is a detective in 1930’s and 1940’s Hollywood, who works with such people as Groucho Marx (You Bet Your Life) and Cary Grant (To Catch a Spy). His other series feature Abe Lieberman, an aging and much put-upon Chicago detective; Lew Fonesca, a process server who lives in a decrepit office building behind a Dairy Queen in Sarasota; and Inspector Rostnikov, who battles crime and corruption in post-Communist Russia. Kaminsky was also a film historian and screenwriter; he wrote the screenplay for Once Upon a Time in America.

Within the last few years, we lost a trio of great Massachusetts authors. First was Philip R. Craig, whose books featuring J. W. Jackson are set on Martha’s Vineyard. A former Boston detective, Jackson now does odd jobs around the island when he’s not fishing for stripers and bluefish. He should be enjoying the good life, but in books such as A Shoot on Martha's Vineyard and A Beautiful Place to Die, he keeps encountering murder. Who knew the Vineyard was such a hotbed of crime? Craig also authored a cookbook, Delish!: The J. W. Jackson Recipes, which is well worth a look.

Like Jackson, Brady Coyne, the lawyer hero of the books by Boston author William G. Tapply, is an avid fisherman. Tapply and Craig, good friends, collaborated on several novels featuring both characters, beginning with First Light. Conscientious and dedicated to his clients, Coyne finds himself in suspenseful and dangerous situations, while dealing with a difficult personal life. Some of the titles in this series are Past Tense and Nervous Water.

Last, but never least, is Robert B. Parker. From the first book in the Spenser series, The Godwulf Manuscript, to the last, Sixkill, Parker wrote consistently entertaining stories about a man in a violent profession, who is not himself violent, and has a strict code of honor. In doing so, Parker transformed the private eye genre from the stereotypical hard-drinking macho detective, to a multi-faceted character. Parker also wrote two other series, and some stand-alone titles. The Spenser series and the Jesse Stone series will be continued by other authors, but somehow I don’t think it will be the same. I miss Parker a lot.

All of these authors left terrific legacies, in their books. But if you’ve read them all, as I have, the question is: what do I read now?

This and That

It's hard to believe, but we're more than four months into the challenge. What's not hard to believe is that people have already completed it, and are well on their way to reading their next fifty books. One gentleman told me that he is up to number 83! That's impressive.

Reading this, you may think that it's too late for you to participate in the 50 book challenge. It's not. The flip side of people finishing early is that it's possible to read 50 books in a short period of time. The end of the challenge is still a long ways off. Think of how many books you could read before December.

On our end, we're working on a number of things. We're still waiting for the prizes for completing the challenge to arrive; we promise they'll be worth the wait! We've also contacted authors to make appearances and sign their books. And, of course, we're always thinking of ways to help you find books to read. Don't forget to look at our newsletter, Check It Out!, for reading suggestions and lists of upcoming releases. May's bookmarks will spotlight different countries, offering everyone a chance to do some armchair traveling. In other words, there's something for everyone.

So if you haven't signed up, what are you waiting for? Join the other library patrons, nearly 400 strong, who've already taken the challenge. And if you've finished your 50 books already, good for you! We're proud of you.

February bookmarks

The bookmarks for February highlight 2 iconic holidays. The first is for all the romantics. That's right - Valentine's Day. "Isn't it Romantic?" features a list of books by well-known authors of all things romantic, including Mary Balogh, Julia Quinn, and James Patterson. (yes, that James Patterson, who writes best-selling thrillers). They're a nice, light way to get through a nasty, dark month.

More substantive are the titles on the nonfiction bookmark. As it's Black History Month, it focuses on black history, with a local emphasis. Many people don't know that the Massachusetts 53rd regiment, whose story was told in the movie Glory, was started right here in New Bedford. They went on to fight with distinction in the Civil War. A book telling this story is A Brave Black Regiment, by Russell Duncan.

Another book featuring New Bedford is The Fugitive's Gilbraltar: Escaping Slaves and Abolitionism in New Bedford, Massachusetts, by Kathryn Grover. With its strong Quaker traditions, New Bedford was a haven for escaped slaves in the years preceding the Civil War. Frederick Douglass was just one of the people who found sanctuary here.

The bookmarks, and more reading suggestions, are available in all the New Bedford libraries. And watch for March's bookmarks, which will feature two very different aspects of New England: New England Sports, and Mass(achusetts) Murder.

This and that

We're nearly two months into the 50 Book Challenge now, and things are moving along smoothly. More than 300 people registered for the challenge. Most of them are from the area, but there are also people from Cambridge, Auburn and Falmouth registered. Two people have actually completed it already. We expect within the next month to start seeing that number rise.

You've been promised goodies, and so goodies you shall receive. The prizes for meeting the challenge are a book light, and a book bag. The book bag is red with black handles, and is roomy enough to carry a good supply of reading material. The book light is small but bright, and folds flat for easy storage in the book bag's pocket. Both have been librarian tested. We think you'll be pleased.

Of course, meeting the challenge is reward enough. It's an accomplishment in itself. Even if you don't read 50 books, you've rewarded yourself with hours of reading time. This is why this is a challenge, not a contest. The process is the most important thing.

So keep on reading. That goal is getting closer all the time.

Seen the Movie? Read the Book!

Every year a number of books are adapted into movies, with mixed results. If you're a movie buff, treat yourself to the real thing. Read the books the movies are based on.

Some suggestions:

Shutter Island; Lehane, Dennis, Shutter Island

Charlie St. Cloud; Sherwood, Ben, The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud

Eat, Pray, Love; Gilbert, Elizabeth, Eat, Pray, Love

The Social Network; Mezrich, Ben, The Accidental Billionaires

True Grit; Portis, Charles, True Grit

The American; Booth, Martin, A Very Private Gentleman

Secretariat; Nack, William, Secretariat: the Making of a Champion

Dear John; Sparks, Nicholas, Dear John

So pull up the recliner, make some popcorn, and enjoy!

(Book) Mark the Spot

How are you doing on your 50 book challenge? Finding enough to read? If not, we have some ideas for you. Each month we have new bookmarks available. We try to find themes appropriate to the season or holiday. Our first bookmark gave general suggestions to start you off. For January, though, we have two different lists of suggestions, one non-fiction, "Get in Shape!", and one fiction, "Make 'em Laugh." Each one lists books certain to make your life better, or at least funnier.

In February we'll be celebrating two holidays. The Black History Month bookmark will feature black history from a local perspective. And we can't ignore Valentine's Day. "Isn't it Romantic?" lists titles certain to warm your heart.

Stop by any New Bedford library to pick up your bookmarks. If you have any ideas for book lists you'd like to see, please contact me at mkruger@sailsinc.org, or call me at (508) 991-6214. I'd be happy to put something together.

Get Into Overdrive!

Books today come in other forms than on the printed page. Audio books have been around for a long time. More recently, electronic books, or ebooks, have become popular, with the introduction of such devices as Amazon's Kindle and Apple's iPad. Your library has many titles available to you, both as audiobooks and ebooks, through the Overdrive Media Console. This is software which alows you to download books directly to your device, inluding computers, Blackberries, and the iPhone. Best of all, it's free!

Start at the SAILS website at http://www.sailsinc.org/. From there click on the link for downloads, which will bring up the Overdrive page. Download the free software for your device, and you're ready to go. Browse books the way you do at a library, by title or genre, and add titles you want to your shopping cart. Checkouts work the same as for regular books, with a due date of two weeks. The title automatically expires at the end of the loan period. Once a books is checked out, it's uavailable to anyone else, so check back often to see what's on the shelf. Overdrive books can also be put on hold. Unfortunately, software for the Kindle or Barnes and Noble's Nook is not yet available.

I decided I'd read only for pleasure when I left college, after 4 years of interpreting and deconstructing dense texts. When I got my iPhone, though, I started downloading classics. I've since reread Charlotte Bronte and Jane Austen, and am working through Great Expectations. It took a 21st century device to get me back to 19th century books. For traveling or going to places where I may have to wait, like a doctor's office, an ebook is much easier to handle than a regular book. It's easily portable and accessible. While I'll never give up books in print, I like having the option of reading in a different format. It's still reading.

If you haven't already tried Overdrive, why not start today? Any title you choose is eleigible for the 50 Book Challenge. And, like me, you just might find yourself hooked on new technology.