Mercury Column

Looking for Some Funny, Inspiring Audiobooks? Yes, Please!

By Diedre Lemon, Adult Services Librarian

I have a long commute to work each day, and I have spent a great deal of time in a car traveling back to Illinois to visit family. So, I discovered audiobooks to keep going on the long hours behind the wheel. Normally I choose a fun fantasy book like the Percy Jackson series or Neil Gaiman. Since I have listened to the newest Rick Riordan book, Magnus Chase and the Ship of the Dead, I need some fresh audiobooks to enjoy, and after re-watching West Wing with Rob Lowe, I was ready to re-watch Parks and Recreation. Therefore it made sense to listen to Amy Poehler’s book, Yes Please! After Poehler’s book came Tina Fey’s book Bossypants partly because Poehler mentioned Fey’s book.

One could quickly judge these books as nothing more than memoirs filled with reflective essays, but I would suggest listening to or reading them before jumping to such conclusions. Poehler and Fey address issues of gender, body image, comedy, being a woman and becoming a mom. Their backgrounds in comedy deliver these topics with humorous candor, so after you stop laughing or smiling, you catch how clever and talented they are as comedians. They are also not afraid to talk about how hard it can be to be a mother, a wife and to have a career. Listening to these women admit their flaws and carry on, gave me quirky pep talks each time I was in the car. For a short time, it was like driving to work with a funny cool older sister who offered advice.

Another reason to listen to these books is to hear about Saturday Night Live. I grew up watching Michael Myers, Phil Hartman, Molly Shannon and Chris Farly, and of course I enjoyed writing and performing sketch comedy in junior high and high school. Occasionally, I would catch episodes of the show with Amy Poehler and Tina Fey. Both women worked on Saturday Night Live as writers and performers. Fey was on from the late 1990’s to early 2000’s, and Poehler was part of the show from 2001-2009 with some special guest appearances in the following years. They were the first two women to host Weekend Update on Saturday Night Live. Up until that point, Weekend Update had never had two female co-anchors. Listening to both of these women speak about this in their books, I could hear how proud Poehler and Fey were of their work together on the show and the boundaries they broke.

Both address what life is like as female comedians in a male driven business. Each one spoke about how the inclusion of more female comedians who could write and perform helped changed the industry. It was encouraging that both of these ladies went on to have successful TV shows after working at Saturday Night Live. Balancing work with a husband and children was also part of life after Saturday Night Live. Each one had to navigate writing scripts for weekly episodes, learning lines, filming, children, family and more. Not all of this was done successfully, either. Poehler and Fey were quick to admit life is messy, constantly changing and there is little we can control of it.

The themes and topics of the book were the same; however, the voices and humor were different. Poehler’s audio was a little flashier with guest readers, while Fey has a more understated tone and sense of humor. Fey was more reserved while Poehler was a little more emotional. Yet, both books are worth listening too. Each writer spoke about the other writer and their themes were similar. I am to finish the books.

Mindy Kaling’s Why Not Me is next on my reading/ listening list for inspiring, humorous audiobooks. Additionally, male comedians also made the list: Neil Patrick Harris’ Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography, Aziz Ansari’s Modern Romance, and Jim Gaffigan’s Dad is Fat and Food: A Love Story.

A majority of my audiobooks are from the Sunflower E-Library using the Libby app on my phone. Hoopla is another favorite app for audiobooks and e-books. The library also has a great books on CD collection, too. For more great titles, be sure to check out the apps and our audiobook collection at the library.

Criminal Detection in the Streets of Victorian England

By Marcia Allen, Technical Services and Collections Manager

If you are a reader of period mysteries, you will most likely enjoy the Gower Street Detective series by M. R. C. Kasasian.  The stories take place in a gritty London of the 1880’s which invites comparison with the great Sherlock Holmes mysteries, but there is a freshness in plot and a cast of characters unlike any found on Baker Street.  Let me give you a clue to the appeal.

Personal (not private) detective Sidney Grice is a brilliant man.  He has an excellent reputation for uncovering the truth in baffling cases, but his services do not come cheaply.  He has little compassion for others, and openly admits that fact that he doesn’t like people and they don’t like him.   He has a glass eye that causes him some irritation and some shock for other people, and he is well beyond frugal when it comes to purchasing food.  His servants are belligerent and frequently make fun of his personal habits.

“The Mangle Street Murders,” the first in the series, brings sudden changes to Sidney’s household.  Always a private man, Sidney has accepted the responsibility for March Middleton, a young woman who has lost her parents.  She becomes his ward and attempts to conceal her occasional drinking and her love of smoking from her picky benefactor.  The two routinely dine on sodden, cold vegetables at Sidney’s meager table.  And they share a fondness for barely concealed sarcasm that spices up the whole story.

Mrs. Grace Dillinger calls on Sidney with a new case.  Her ironmonger son-in-law has been charged with the vicious murder of his wife.  Sidney, seeing little likelihood of collectible fees, refuses the case.  But March, who wants to become a detective in her own right, insists on using some of her own money to help the desperate mother-in-law.

To the streets of London the two detectives go, examining a battered body in the morgue and questioning witnesses who might shed some light on the crime.  During their investigation, they encounter pickpockets and bullies who complicate the case.  Ultimately, Sidney realizes that his ways may not always be the best course of action.

The second in the series is “The Curse of the House of Foskett.”  This outing involves unexplained sudden deaths among members of the Final Death Society.  Sidney and March take on the case when, to Sidney’s disgust, the first victim has the nerve to die in front of him.  As Sidney and March go about their investigation, other victims appear, each one dispatched under ugly circumstances, including one in a kill chamber.

The third in the series, “Death Descends on Saturn Villa,” is also compelling.  March is contacted by an odd gentleman who claims to be her only living relative.  When she calls on his estate, things go horribly wrong, and she finds herself charged with a murder that she may have committed while under the influence of some drug.  Of course Sidney will get involved, and the interplay between fact and illusion becomes quite complicated.

As these stories progress, other puzzling facts about characters’ backgrounds emerge.  There are allusions to March’s previous engagement that ended with the violent death of her fiancé.  There is the sense that Sidney knows more about March’s deceased mother than he cares to admit.  And there is Sidney’s background yet to be revealed.  After all, how did he lose one eye?  Too, there is a growing sense that despite his protestations, Sidney has begun to take a paternal attitude toward March.

For some riveting detection and likeable characters, I recommend the Gower Street Detective series.  A sixth installment involving a Prussian count and ladies in distress is due out in December, yet another title in a compelling series.

May the Odds Be Never in Your Favor: Contemporary Classics of Dystopian Fiction

By Crystal Hicks, Adult Services Librarian

Dystopian fiction has seen a resurgence lately, with people eagerly checking out classics like 1984, Brave New World, and The Handmaid’s Tale. Clearly, dystopian stories are as relevant as ever, but what do you read after you’ve hit all the classics? The following are some contemporary classics of dystopian fiction that are worth taking a look at. Some you’ll most certainly have heard of, and some you may not, but all of these books make us think a little more about the uncertain future of humanity.

Let’s start with the most obvious: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Collins posits a future where North America has become the totalitarian Panem, and every year 24 teenagers are sent into a battle to the death, broadcast on live TV so eager audiences can watch the ensuing bloodbath. The Hunger Games critiques society’s obsession with reality TV and over-the-top violence all while mixing in good, old-fashioned love triangles and teen angst, resulting in a book that’s almost impossible to put down.

With technology entering every facet of our lives, it’s no surprise that other books also ponder the relationship between humans and technology. Dave Eggers’s The Circle looks at the technological ideal: a world where everything done online runs through one company, creating a seamless experience for users. In this thriller, Eggers explores the modern tendency to give up privacy for convenience and the possible ramifications of allowing a single company to know everything about you. M.T. Anderson’s Feed addresses similar concerns, taking place in a future where everyone has a “feed” implanted in their brain from infancy, telling them what to think about and even what to think. For a lighter read, Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One mixes social commentary with video game culture and ’80s nostalgia, creating a plausible dystopian future that’s also fun to read about.

Large-scale catastrophes are another favorite plot device in dystopian fiction, with authors speculating across the board at how different catastrophes could affect society. In Paolo Bacigalupi’s The Water Knife, global warming has led to drought and massive water shortages, and the Southwestern states have become dried-out, dusty, and flat-out dangerous places to live. Bacigalupi sets a cutthroat thriller in the midst of this societal collapse, creating a story so compelling and exciting that you’ll forget the entire thing revolves around water rights. Margaret Atwood, on the other hand, looks at an altogether different kind of man-made disaster in Oryx and Crake. Told alternately before and after this catastrophe, Oryx and Crake looks at the murky side of morality and what obligations humanity has to each other and to the planet.

Totalitarian governments are an old standby of dystopian fiction, allowing authors to imagine the different ways that society could be reshaped and controlled. In Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies, everyone is ugly until they turn sixteen, when they undergo an operation to become a pretty. But the operation, while getting rid of all your flaws, has more insidious roots than just making people physically perfect. Red Rising, by Pierce Brown, presents another society hiding secrets, in a world where society is stratified by caste and by color. Darrow is a miner gladly giving his life up in hopes of making Mars habitable, until he discovers that the surface is already colonized, and he and his fellow Reds are nothing but slaves working for the upper class of Golds. With the help of a resistance group, Darrow infiltrates Gold society in hopes of bringing down the system from the inside.

Finally, some books defy all attempts at categorization, and Jeff VanderMeer’s Annihilation is one of them. Area X, an uninhabited area that’s been cut off from humanity for decades, seems like a perfect, unspoiled forest wilderness; unfortunately, it has strange effects on humans. Eleven research teams have entered Area X, and all have met their ends in disparate, bizarre ways. Annihilation follows the 12th expedition as they set out, record what they see, and try not to be contaminated by Area X. VanderMeer creates a world that’s impossible to describe, both incredibly detailed and difficult to pin down, making for a fascinating reading experience.

Manhattan Public Library is joining the dystopian discussion with our Brownbag Book Club, which will be discussing The Handmaid’s Tale on November 2 at noon. If you still need a copy of the book, stop by to pick one up from the Reference Desk. And if you’re looking for more dystopian fiction to read, we’ve got even more recommendations for you!

Audiobooks for the Family

By Amber Johnson, Youth Services Assistant

Having books read to you can be one of the most delightful experiences.  Ask any adult what they loved to do before bed as a child, and the answer will most likely be listening to their parents read them a story.  As children get older, that ritual might change into reading on their own before bed, but the excitement of being read to doesn’t always fade along with it.  Audiobooks are a great resource for children and families to quench this thirst for more books in their lives.  Audiobooks give children (and adults!) the opportunity to engage with a book that is above their reading level.  They also help readers develop a sense of prosody, or using expression as they read.  The library gives you access to thousands of audiobooks, both in CD format and digital.  The following are a few titles and series that I would recommend for the whole family to enjoy together.

The Ramona series by Beverly Cleary

This classic series follows sisters Ramona and Beezus as they try to navigate through sisterhood, silly business, and family struggles.  Ramona is the obnoxious little sister, prone to shenanigans and honest words.  Beezus is the put-together older sister, trying to figure out life and its intricacies.  The Ramona books offer opportunities to talk with your kids about family dynamics and making positive decisions.  This series is available on CD, Hoopla and Sunflower eLibrary.

All the Wrong Questions series by Lemony Snicket

Alleged to be an autobiographical account of his life, Lemony Snicket describes his experience as an apprentice to an investigator in this quirky series.  Snicket uses the usual gloomy, sarcastic tone throughout this series and gives readers the chance to meet a crew of very unusual characters.  If you liked the Series of Unfortunate Events, this is definitely the series for you.  This series is available on CD and Hoopla.

I, Funny series by James Patterson

Middle schooler Jamie wants desperately to be a standup comedian.  This series follows his quest for comedic greatness among the unfortunate trials and tribulations of being a teenager.  From contests to TV shows to comedy classes, Jamie tells his story in such a hilarious way, it’s sure to have everyone laughing out loud.  This series is available on CD and Hoopla.

The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer Holm

When a strange boy appears in her life who seems to resemble her grandfather in stature and character, Ellie is faced with truths about immortality, science and her family.  Filled with facts about science and funny quips from the boy, this book is lovable and entertaining.  This book is available on CD and Sunflower eLibrary.

Hoot by Carl Hiaasen

Carl Hiaasen is the king of writing books about children making an environmental impact.  When main character Roy discovers a building site underneath which owls have made their home, he sets his mind to sabotage the building plans.  Through quick wit and quirky characters, Hoot will surely cause you and your kids to think about the way you view the world around you.  This book is available on CD.

Any books by Andrew Clements

Children love reading about other children accomplishing great feats.  In his stories, Andrew Clements introduces numerous situations in which children want to change their world.  From inventing a new word to starting a class newspaper, his characters are determined to make an impact.  Adults listening to these books might just feel empowered as well.  This author’s books are available on CD.

If none of these titles sounds intriguing to you, or if you’ve already listened to them, a member of the Youth Services staff would be more than happy to recommend different audiobooks to you.  If you are new to audiobooks and would prefer to listen to them digitally, stop by any reference desk to get help in setting up your Hoopla or Libby account.

World War One on Film

By John Pecoraro, Assistant Director

On October 15, 1917, alleged German spy Mata Hari was executed by a French firing squad. You can read a fictionalized account of Mata Hari’s life and death in “The Spy,” by Paulo Coelho. 1917 also marked the United States entry into the Great War. While many movies have been made about World War 1, several stand out as classics.

“All Quiet on the Western Front,” from 1930, directed by Lewis Milestone. Also remade as a movie for television in 1979, starring Richard Thomas (John Boy Walton). The movie, like Erich Maria Remarque’s novel, tells the story of Paul Baumer and his journey from a youthful student patriot to a disillusioned, worn-out soldier who has grown old before his time.

“Paths of Glory,” 1957, directed by Stanley Kubrick, and based on the novel by Humphrey Cobb. This film is a devastating comment on the politics of war. During the third year of the Great War, The French General Staff sends orders for what amounts to a suicide mission. The troops advancing to take the Ant Hill are slaughtered, and do not take the objective. General Mireau cries cowardice and demands the arrest and execution of three soldiers as an example to the rest of the troops. Colonel Dax, who led the charge, acts as defense attorney, but the fate of the unfortunate soldiers is already set.

Executions of soldiers for cowardice, desertion, and disobeying orders were not uncommon. During World War One, the French Army executed over 600 of its own. The armies of the British Commonwealth executed 306; the German Army 18; and the United States Army none.

“Gallipoli,” 1981, directed by Peter Weir. Gallipoli follows two idealistic young friends, Frank and Archy, who join the Australian army during World War I, and fight at the Battle of Gallipoli in Turkey. The first half of the film concerns the lives of Frank and Archy in Australia. The second half of the movie chronicles the ill-fated and ill-planned battle, where the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps is hopelessly outmatched by the enemy forces. The British Commonwealth forces suffered over 160,000 casualties during the battle.

“Sergeant York,” 1941, directed by Howard Hawks. A rabble-rouser in his youth, Alvin York has a conversion experience that makes him a pacifist, seeking conscientious objector status when he is drafted into the Army. During basic training, he has a second conversion, convinced by his commanding officer that sometimes violence is the only way to defend democracy.  York goes on to become the most decorated hero of World War 1.

“The Lost Battalion,”  2001, directed by Russell Mulcahy. The true story of the men of the U.S. Army’s 77th Division, 308th Battalion. During the final days of the war, the battalion was surrounded by German troops in the Argonne Forest. Without food, water or reserve ammunition, and cut off from supply and communication lines, the battalion suffered under constant assaults and bombardments. They managed to hold off the enemy until they were finally rescued after five days of desperate action.

“The African Queen,” 1951, directed by John Huston. In this adaptation of the novel by C.S. Forester, Humphrey Bogart plays a hard-drinking river trader, and Katharine Hepburn portrays a prim missionary. These unlikely travel companions battle nature, a German gunboat, and each other on a river expedition in the war-torn African jungle of 1914.

“Lawrence of Arabia,” 1962, directed by David Lean. This film tells the story of T.E. Lawrence. A British officer assigned to Arabia during World War I, Lawrence unites the warring Arab tribes into a strong guerrilla front and leads them to victories in treacherous desert battlefields. They eventually defeat the ruling Turkish Empire.

“A Farewell to Arms,” 1932, directed by Frank Borzage. Gary Cooper portrays Lieutenant Frederick Henry in this adaptation of the novel by Ernest Hemingway. An ambulance driver in Italy, Henry is wounded, and falls in love with an English nurse, Catherine Barkley. As the war intrudes on their affair, Henry and Catherine escape to Switzerland. For a happy ending? Watch the movie or read the book to find out.

These and many move movies about World War 1 are waiting for you at the library. Also remember to check out the collection of movies on Hoopla. Hoopla is the library’s digital collection of hundreds of thousands of titles available for download all the time.

Literary Rabbit Holes

By Jared Richards, Adult Services Librarian

In 1865, Lewis Carroll sent Alice down a rabbit hole. Fast forward 150 years and the rabbit hole, although rarely literal anymore, remains a popular literary trope. Whether protagonists find themselves in an alternate reality, a parallel world, or on the other side of the universe, the rabbit hole, in all its various forms, can get the job done. Books in general already provide us a rabbit hole into new and exciting worlds that we can get lost in, but sometimes it is nice to follow a character and discover a new world through their eyes. You may consider some of these books a stretch, but fiction is pretty flexible, so I think we’ll be okay.

There are countless retellings, adaptations, and stories set in the world of Wonderland, but I would like to focus on other stories. Classic stories in the same vein include Peter Pan, in which the children fly off to Neverland, and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which involves a tornado and an entire house. Some stories even let you know in the title how the characters will reach their destination, like The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe or James and the Giant Peach. Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire is the first in a novella trilogy that posits the idea that some of these classic stories were actually based on real events, like the children finding secret doorways into fantastical worlds. They have now returned and live in a home with similar children after they or their parents found their return too difficult.

V.E. Schwab’s A Darker Shade of Magic and The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter both involve parallel worlds. In A Darker Shade of Magic, magic is used to traverse among four very distinct versions of London. In The Long Earth, parallel versions of Earth can be traveled to by creating a simple device, called a Stepper, which is powered by a potato. These parallel worlds are devoid of humans and become more and more chaotic the farther you get from our Earth.

In Coraline by Neil Gaiman, our protagonist, Coraline, discovers a small door that should lead into the vacant apartment next door but instead leads to a nonsensical version of her world. Here she finds her Other Mother and Other Father who have buttons for eyes and may not have Coraline’s best interests in mind.

Chris Van Allsburg’s Jumanji, and its sequel Zathura, utilize a board game for their rabbit hole. In each book there are slight variations in how the games work, but the idea is the same, where the moves in the game are manifested around the children playing. Rather than falling down a hole or stepping through a doorway, the world is brought to them with a roll of the dice or the push of a button.

Many novels over the years have used technology to create a rabbit hole to a virtual world. Ernest Cline did this effectively with his novel Ready Player One, in which people can connect to a virtual world called the OASIS and go to school or become legendary heroes. One of the best parts about this book is all the ‘80s references.

The best way to fall down a rabbit hole at the Manhattan Public Library is to come in, wander through our shelves, and engage in a little serendipitous browsing. Stumble across new books and discover your next favorite author. Another good rabbit hole is NoveList Plus, one of our online resources that you can access from home. It lets you browse books by age group within certain genres, like diverse speculative fiction books for teens or historical fiction books about immigrant experiences for adults. You can also search by appeal factors, like the types of characters, pace, or tone you like in a story. They even have a growing list of suggestions for fans of various movies, books, and TV shows, like Gilmore Girls, The Girl on the Train, Doctor Who, and The Handmaid’s Tale. Lastly, you can search for your favorite author or book and get a list of similar authors or books with a reason for why they are comparable. It is easy to fall down a rabbit hole looking for your next book, but at least you don’t have to worry about losing your head or being trampled in a stampede.

Amazing Artists Inspire Kids to Express Themselves

By Jennifer Bergen, Youth Services Manager

If you have a young artist in your house, you likely have a refrigerator or wall packed with drawings, paintings, cartoons or 3-D art. One of my favorite office decorations is a colorful page of scribbles made by my youngest son in preschool. The circles and lines in blue, orange, brown, green and lavender fill the entire page. It is entitled “Cow.” What a fascinating and surprising creature the cow must have been to him at that time.

Artists’ personal stories can be an inspiration for kids, encouraging them to express themselves and create art in their own way. They describe challenges the artists had to overcome to pursue art and stay true to themselves. The Arts & Crafts Neighborhood in the Children’s Room includes treasures like Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, which won this year’s Caldecott Medal and the Coretta Scott King Award, and recently added picture book biographies for Jacob Lawrence, Ansel Adams, and Disney artist Mary Blair. Here are a few more new titles to check out:

Dorothea’s Eyes by Barb Rosenstock and illustrated by Gerard DuBois begins with Dorothea Lange’s childhood, describing her struggles with polio and poverty and feeling “invisible.” That doesn’t stand in the way of her desire to be a photographer. Dorothea “sees with her eyes and her heart,” Rosenstock explains. She loves examining faces, and her persistence leads her to a lucrative portrait photography career.  When the depression hits, Dorothea’s heart calls her out of the comfortable studio and on to the road, capturing the faces of the poor and downtrodden, and using her work to powerfully tell their unheard stories. A double page spread at the end shows six of Lange’s famous photographs. Many readers will be hungry for more of the intensely emotion-filled black and white photographs, which may lead them to Migrant Mother by Don Nardo, or one of the many books in our adult nonfiction collection.

This year, the Vietnam Memorial commemorates its 35^th year, sparking new books about the artist behind the wall.  Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines by Jeanne Harvey tells the story of young Maya who, while in college, entered the Vietnam Memorial design contest, and won. Her vision created one of the most powerful symbols of our nation, honoring 58,000 military service members who served in the war. Another upcoming biography by Susan Goldman Rubin, Maya Lin: Thinking with her Hands, provides more on the topic, including the controversies surrounding Lin’s design and how she was able to stay true to her vision.

Keith Haring: The Boy Who Just Kept Drawing, written by the late Keith Haring’s sister, Kay Haring, describes the strong drive Keith had to make art anywhere and anytime. He started as a doodler, and often made pictures on walls or things on which he was not supposed to draw. This continued as he grew popular in New York City, and Keith often gave his pieces away or used them to raise money for charities. Kids who have been told to stop doodling on their class assignments will take joy in Keith’s response to those who questioned or dismissed his art. He barely had time to hear it, and was usually already on to his next creation. His words to young people are important and true: “Draw anything. Whatever you want. No one can say it’s bad or good. It’s yours.”

For an up-close, hands-on artistic treat, visit the Grafico Movil in the library parking lot on October 8 and 9.  Kids and adults can experience art with this “mural, gallery, printmaking studio and movie theater on wheels.”  The decked-out 1947 Chevy delivery truck created by Artemio Rodriguez is covered in highly detailed black-and-white art. Thanks to the Beach Museum for sharing this piece of their exhibit at the library.  You never know when a certain story or song or art form will resonate with a child, or where that inspiration may take them.

by Vivienne Uccello

Photography is so important in modern society, that there are thousands of books on the subject. While we can all admit that it’s not necessarily the camera that takes a good picture, you may be tempted to invest in expensive equipment as the first step to improve your photographs. However, you would be wise to invest time and effort in mastering photography technique before making that purchase. These are a few books which I’ve found useful and inspiring, and have helped me become a better photographer.

Expressive Photography: The Shutter Sisters’ Guide to Shooting from the Heart is full of gorgeous images with explanations of their elements. Learn about composition, find basic techniques for capturing beautiful shots, and enjoy a wealth of photo examples. One great point the authors offer is to “imagine what the world might look like through the eyes of your subject.” For instance you might lie down in the grass to capture a photo of your puppy and create a story instead of a routine snapshot. After flipping through these pages, you will start noticing new things. One day, you will see the quality of light coming through the window and usher your children outside to capture a few special moments. It will feel wonderful and you will be rewarded with incredible images.

The authors also provide ideas to overcome common problems. For example, if you are trying to capture a picture but the background is unattractive, try shooting from below the subject and using the sky as a backdrop instead. Also, one trick to making your photos more interesting is to move in extra close and capture small details the casual observer might have missed.

The information in Expressive Photography would be helpful for any photographer, no matter the level of experience. One of the main things I liked about this book: the photos take up more space than the text so you don’t have to wade through too much information to find useful points.

Another fantastic book, with more photos than text, is Capture the Moment by Sarah Wilkerson. This is billed as “the modern photographer’s guide to finding beauty in everyday life.” After reading it I felt the urge to slow down and take a second look at the simple objects around me. One photo featured an abandoned bowl of noodles, to illustrate the chaotic fun of a youngster eating pasta. It’s an object which I would never have thought to photograph, but the photo carried emotion and told a funny story.

While the book has advice for beginners, such as, “turn off the lights, disable the flash, and pose your subject by a window,” I believe the practical and artistic advice would be useful even for a seasoned professional. Be intentional in your approach, she says, and challenge your vision for the shot. Why not try photographing the edges of life? How about obscuring critical elements of the photo to create tension? Wilkerson also provides creativity exercises to develop your sense of composition. The section of black and white photography is very helpful and serves to scratch the surface of this complicated form.

If you would like to delve a little deeper into black and white photography, a new book by Harold Davis, The Photographer’s Black and White Handbook, will give you the tools you need. This text is geared toward the serious amateur who wants to take their work to the next level.

Without the “distraction” of color, principles of composition become even more important. Davis talks about “making the best use of internal and external boundaries, acknowledging and working with the underlying shape in the image; and constructing and depicting exciting and dynamic forms.” These are classic design principles and will help you transition from taking snapshots to creating art, no matter what type of photography interests you.

The next part of the process is working with software to alter the original image. Davis will step you through Photoshop to learn split-toning, selective and soft focus, and tinting a photograph, but actually learning Photoshop might take a little more than the advice he presents in his book.

Photoshop can be a daunting program. As the industry standard for photo editing, it’s what all of the pro’s use. It enables you to do everything from refining your photos to putting a gorilla head on your best friend’s body. It contains all of the tools you need to make almost any visual creation, but it takes some time to learn.

If you are new to Photoshop and would like to jump into the deep end, the library now has a Creation Station in the Tech Center computer lab. This station is equipped with the entire Adobe Creative Suite and has dual, high-quality monitors. You can watch tutorials from lynda.com on one screen and follow along with the practice files on the second. This is a great tool for anyone who wants to learn Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere, or any of the other fabulous programs offered by Adobe. It’s also a wonderful tool for professionals working on a project. The Creation Station, as well as the lynda.com tutorials, are available for use at no charge.

Visit the library at 629 Poyntz Avenue to check out any of the books mentioned above or to begin experimenting with the Creation Station.

Capturing Beautiful Moments

By Vivienne Uccello, Public Relations Coordinator

Photography is so important in modern society, that there are thousands of books on the subject. We can all admit that it’s not necessarily the camera that takes a good picture. You may be tempted to invest in expensive equipment, but you would be wise to invest time and effort in technique first. These are a few books which I’ve found useful and inspiring.

Expressive Photography: The Shutter Sisters’ Guide to Shooting from the Heart is full of gorgeous images with explanations of their elements. Learn about composition, find basic techniques for capturing beautiful shots, and enjoy a wealth of photo examples. After flipping through these pages, you will start noticing new things. One day, you will see the quality of light coming through the window and usher your children outside to capture a few special moments. It will feel wonderful and you will be rewarded with incredible images.

One great point the authors offer is to “imagine what the world might look like through the eyes of your subject.” For instance you might lie down in the grass to capture a photo of your puppy and create a story instead of a routine snapshot.

The authors also provide ideas to overcome common problems. If a background is unattractive, shoot from below the subject and use the sky as a backdrop. To make your photos more interesting, don’t forget to move in extra close to capture small details the casual observer might have missed.

The information in Expressive Photography would be helpful for any photographer, no matter the level of experience. One of the main things I liked about this book: the photos take up more space than the text so you don’t have to wade through too much information to find useful points.

Another fantastic book, with more photos than text, is Capture the Moment by Sarah Wilkerson. This is billed as “the modern photographer’s guide to finding beauty in everyday life.” After reading it I felt the urge to slow down and take a second look at the simple objects around me. One photo featured an abandoned bowl of noodles, to illustrate the chaotic fun of a youngster eating pasta. It’s an object which I would never have thought to photograph, but the photo carried emotion and told a funny story.

While the book has advice for beginners, such as, “turn off the lights, disable the flash, and pose your subject by a window,” I believe the practical and artistic advice would be useful even for a seasoned professional. Be intentional in your approach, she says, and challenge your vision for the shot. Why not try photographing the edges of life? How about obscuring critical elements of the photo to create tension? Wilkerson also provides creativity exercises to develop your sense of composition. The section of black and white photography is very helpful and serves to scratch the surface of this complicated form.

If you would like to delve a little deeper into black and white photography, a new book by Harold Davis, The Photographer’s Black and White Handbook, will give you the tools you need. This text is geared toward the serious amateur who wants to take their work to the next level.

Without the “distraction” of color, principles of composition become even more important. Davis talks about “making the best use of internal and external boundaries, acknowledging and working with the underlying shape in the image; and constructing and depicting exciting and dynamic forms.” These are classic design principles and will help you transition from taking snapshots to creating art, no matter what type of photography interests you.

The next part of the process is working with software to alter the original image. Davis will step you through Photoshop to learn split-toning, selective and soft focus, and tinting a photograph, but actually learning Photoshop might take a little more than the advice he presents in his book.

Photoshop can be a daunting program. As the industry standard for photo editing, it’s what all of the pro’s use. It enables you to do everything from refining your photos to putting a gorilla head on your best friend’s body. It contains all of the tools you need to make almost any visual creation, but it takes some time to learn.

If you are new to Photoshop and would like to jump into the deep end, the library now has a Creation Station in the Tech Center computer lab. This station is equipped with the entire Adobe Creative Suite and has dual, high-quality monitors. You can watch tutorials from lynda.com on one screen and follow along with the practice files on the second. This is a great tool for anyone who wants to learn Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere, or any of the other fabulous programs offered by Adobe. It’s also a wonderful tool for professionals working on a project. The Creation Station, as well as the lynda.com tutorials, are available for use at no charge.

Visit the library at 629 Poyntz Avenue to check out any of the books mentioned above or to begin experimenting with the Creation Station.

2017 Kansas Book Festival and Kansas Notable Books

By Diedre Lemon, Adult Services Librarian

This past weekend, the State Library of Kansas hosted its annual book festival at the capitol building in Topeka, Kansas. Authors around the area and those authors who have books about Kansas were invited to read and discuss their work. Also, it is during this event that the Kansas Notable Books are honored. Kansas Notable Book Awards go to authors who are from Kansas or whose books were about Kansas. Over a dozen titles were honored this year.

While at the festival, I heard several of these authors read and discuss their books. One that is on my to-read list is Dodge City by Tom Clavin. Clavin tells the story of Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson as young men learning to be lawmen in the west. The book rounds out their friendship by telling about their arrival in Dodge City and their return to the town years later. What appeals to me about this book is not just Earp’s and Masterson’s stories, but also the fascinating characters and adventures they encounter along the way in Dodge City. Clavin painted a vivid picture of all that was happening in western Kansas in the mid-1870s.

Julianne Couch examines small towns in Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, and Kansas in her book The Small-Town Midwest. Norton and Sedan, Kansas fill two chapters in her book. What drew her to write about these towns? Hope and resiliency are the characteristics each of these small towns possesses. Couch herself lives in a small town where she appreciates people who want to keep small towns alive and resist the pull to urban life. Couch explores–with genuine curiosity– how these small towns keep thriving and are going to survive once the older generations pass on or retire. She raises questions about the towns’ futures and reflects on their solutions.

Never Enough Flamingos, by Janelle Diller, tells the fictional story of the Peters family during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl in Kansas. Cat Peters’ family must accept a loan from a wealthy man, Simon Yoder. Cat must work at Yoder’s house to help pay off the loan where she discovers he is more sinister than she expected because Yoder wants to steal the souls of young women. Diller has also written a sequel entitled Never Enough Sisters.

Two poetry collections made the Kansas Notable Book list: Fast-Food Sonnets: Poems by Dennis Etzel Jr. and Ghost Sign: Poems from White Buffalo by Al Ortolani, Melissa Fite Johnson, Adam Jameson, and J.T. Knoll. Etzel’s collection sparked my interest at the festival. Hearing the author read poems about the fast-food industry brought to life mundane work tasks and revealed that one can truly write about anything. His sonnets were humorous and relatable even if you have not worked in food service. Etzel’s poems are in the sonnet form while experimenting with subjects in fast-food; consequently, the second collection of poems—which was written by four poets—keeps with tradition in subject. Conversely, Ghost Sign reflects on southeast Kansas, Pittsburg, Kansas. This collection would appeal to those who like history about Kansas.

The Kansas Book Festival, a free event, also offered activities for children. An area on the front lawn of the state capitol building had crafts, balloon animals and face painting for children. Famous storybook characters, like Clifford the Big Red Dog and Curious George, attend this event, too. Children’s authors showcased their work at the festival for children, parents and educators. Andrea Davis Pinkney kept children entertained with her books and stories.

Book vendors and the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library had booths for visitors to shop during the day. A food truck provided snacks and lunch for spending the day at the event too. Author signings took place after the authors spoke to audiences. Save the date for next year’s festival: Saturday, September 8, 2018. Of course, you do not have to wait until next year to read the Kansas Notable Books, as you can come check them out at Manhattan Public Library.