Friday, November 20, 2009
Calling all readers!!!!
We want your opinions of all the books you are reading. Love it, hate it, indifferent... send an email message to the library (kittanninglibrary@hotmail.com) and we will add you to our list of contributors.
The Economic Naturalist's Field Guide
The Economic Naturalist's Field Guide: Common Sense Principles for Troubled Times by Robert H. Frank
"You're reading a book about economics. How boring!" How many of you thought that when you saw the title? Well, I found Mr. Frank's essays to be interesting to a point. The entire book is a collection of selected columns which the author states were originally in the New York Times (between 1999 and 2008). It is fascinating to see the relationship between cause and effect in the economy, how everyday decisions about spending and saving make a difference. Other topics include tax policy and financial investments.
"Why do Hockey Players feel they need Helmet Rules?" shows how unrestricted choices by rational individuals often yields results that no one favors by looking at hockey players. If hockey players were allowed to choose, most would not wear helmets because they could perform better and increase his team's chances of winning. But, if all of the players aren't wearing a helmet the advantage disappears. The playing field is the same either way.
Earlier I stated that I found the essays to be interesting to a point. That is because by the time I reached the second half of the book, many of the points being made were redundant. Maybe a different title and different situations but I felt like I was reading the same thing. Maybe, this is because we learn better by repetition and maybe it was so there was enough pages in the book. I would still recommend reading this book with an open mind about the subject. Frank's approach makes the subject relevant to life with current examples and a look at why we spend the way we do.
"You're reading a book about economics. How boring!" How many of you thought that when you saw the title? Well, I found Mr. Frank's essays to be interesting to a point. The entire book is a collection of selected columns which the author states were originally in the New York Times (between 1999 and 2008). It is fascinating to see the relationship between cause and effect in the economy, how everyday decisions about spending and saving make a difference. Other topics include tax policy and financial investments.
"Why do Hockey Players feel they need Helmet Rules?" shows how unrestricted choices by rational individuals often yields results that no one favors by looking at hockey players. If hockey players were allowed to choose, most would not wear helmets because they could perform better and increase his team's chances of winning. But, if all of the players aren't wearing a helmet the advantage disappears. The playing field is the same either way.
Earlier I stated that I found the essays to be interesting to a point. That is because by the time I reached the second half of the book, many of the points being made were redundant. Maybe a different title and different situations but I felt like I was reading the same thing. Maybe, this is because we learn better by repetition and maybe it was so there was enough pages in the book. I would still recommend reading this book with an open mind about the subject. Frank's approach makes the subject relevant to life with current examples and a look at why we spend the way we do.
Friday, September 18, 2009
The Golden City by John Twelve Hawks
The Golden City by John Twelve Hawks
My favorite kind of story to read, (the ones that suck me right in) are almost always full of action and are set in some sort of dystopic world - a society in which conditions of life are miserable and characterized by poverty, oppression, war and/or the abridgment of human rights, resulting in widespread unhappiness, suffering and other kinds of pain. I know, I know all happiness, rainbows and sunshine but somehow those are the stories I enjoy the most. The trilogy started with The Traveler, where the reader is introduced to the idea of alternate realms that a select few (Travelers) can get to while the everyday actions of all citizens are consistently monitored by The Brethern. This group seeks to control the world. They are involved in all aspects of life including business, research, health, and government. They also seek the Travelers so they can control the course of history. The Harlequins are individuals who protect the Travelers above all else. The books are set in what is a modern world where technology enables the Brethern to follow the transactions of anyone they choose. I have been impatiently waiting book three of The Fourth Realm Trilogy for some time now and sped through the novel in a few hours. The Golden City completes the story started in The Traveler and continued in The Dark River. One of the Travelers Michael Corrigan has joined with The Brethern. He travels to the realm of the half gods and obtains information for advanced technology and a plan to create a worldwide prison where no one is free. His brother, Gabriel is also a traveler and is leading the resistance to stop his brother. The story takes us on a journey all around the world and through other realms including secret, real-life ancient rivers flowing beneath the streets of London, Los Angeles, London, Japan, and the realm of Hell. In some aspects, the world shown in this trilogy is similar to the one portrayed in Corey Doctrow's Little Brother. If your a fan of action, secrecy, discovering hidden agendas, and resistance consider this trilogy.
From The Golden City
"Privacy is the ability to control access to information about one's Self. It's easy to see that this invisible, all-pervasive system will destroy any sort of privacy. Well lose the power to protect our Self from the scrutiny of unknown groups or individuals.
And some of you may ask: 'Is there any value to privacy?'
All new ideas are dependent on some kind of mental privacy - the potential for peace and reflection. The Vast Machine provides information about us and gives the authorities a wide variety of ways to manipulate our thoughts with a subtle power. Everything we hear and see can be shaped to create certain prejudices. Free will- that is, our ability to make real choices about significant issues- becomes an illusion. Gradually, we are surrounded by targeted messages that destroy the opportunity to make our own decisions."
My favorite kind of story to read, (the ones that suck me right in) are almost always full of action and are set in some sort of dystopic world - a society in which conditions of life are miserable and characterized by poverty, oppression, war and/or the abridgment of human rights, resulting in widespread unhappiness, suffering and other kinds of pain. I know, I know all happiness, rainbows and sunshine but somehow those are the stories I enjoy the most. The trilogy started with The Traveler, where the reader is introduced to the idea of alternate realms that a select few (Travelers) can get to while the everyday actions of all citizens are consistently monitored by The Brethern. This group seeks to control the world. They are involved in all aspects of life including business, research, health, and government. They also seek the Travelers so they can control the course of history. The Harlequins are individuals who protect the Travelers above all else. The books are set in what is a modern world where technology enables the Brethern to follow the transactions of anyone they choose. I have been impatiently waiting book three of The Fourth Realm Trilogy for some time now and sped through the novel in a few hours. The Golden City completes the story started in The Traveler and continued in The Dark River. One of the Travelers Michael Corrigan has joined with The Brethern. He travels to the realm of the half gods and obtains information for advanced technology and a plan to create a worldwide prison where no one is free. His brother, Gabriel is also a traveler and is leading the resistance to stop his brother. The story takes us on a journey all around the world and through other realms including secret, real-life ancient rivers flowing beneath the streets of London, Los Angeles, London, Japan, and the realm of Hell. In some aspects, the world shown in this trilogy is similar to the one portrayed in Corey Doctrow's Little Brother. If your a fan of action, secrecy, discovering hidden agendas, and resistance consider this trilogy.
From The Golden City
"Privacy is the ability to control access to information about one's Self. It's easy to see that this invisible, all-pervasive system will destroy any sort of privacy. Well lose the power to protect our Self from the scrutiny of unknown groups or individuals.
And some of you may ask: 'Is there any value to privacy?'
All new ideas are dependent on some kind of mental privacy - the potential for peace and reflection. The Vast Machine provides information about us and gives the authorities a wide variety of ways to manipulate our thoughts with a subtle power. Everything we hear and see can be shaped to create certain prejudices. Free will- that is, our ability to make real choices about significant issues- becomes an illusion. Gradually, we are surrounded by targeted messages that destroy the opportunity to make our own decisions."
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Song Yet Sung by James McBride
This is about slavery before the Civil War. It takes you on an adventure through the swamps of Maryland's Eastern shore. How one runaway slave, Liz, stirred up ideas of freedom in other slaves. Slaves were sometimes stolen and resold for profit. Liz and nine others were held captive in a thief's attic. One old woman tried to teach Liz the "code". The "code" was the language of the slaves on the run. It told them when it was safe to travel and which way to go, how to make a friend, and more. No one gave up the code. They would die first. Once I started reading this I couldn't put it down.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
The Higher Power of Lucky
In Dead Pan, (population 43), the members of the smokers' anonymous, drinkers' anonymous, and gamblers' anonymous all seem to have found their higher power. Ten year old Lucky listens through a hole in the wall at every meeting that takes place at Hard Pan's Found Object Wind Chime Museum and Visitor Center in the hopes of discovering how to find her Higher Power. Most of the stories involve hitting "rock bottom" and then discovering this elusive higher power. Lucky hopes that finding her higher power will help her figure out a way to keep Brigitte, her guardian from wanting to go back to France. Lucky is afraid that since her father doesn't want her and her mother died in an accident that she will be sent to live in an orphanage in LA.
Author Susan Patron has brought to life this sandy colored little girl whose curiosity about science (in particular bugs) and occasional mean streak in a way that children and adults can relate too. Winner of the 2007 Newbery Medal, The Higher Power of Lucky is a poignant story with a happy ending.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Little Heathens
Little Heathens: Hard times and high spirits on an Iowa farm during the Great Depression by Mildred Armstrong Kalish
Little Heathens is the term used by the author's grandmother to show her disapproval of the behavior of the children in this book. In a time where hard work and respect for elders was paramount, Kalish grew up on a farm during the Great Depression. While the time frame is significant to history, the author's childhood brings back fond memories of preparing meals, farm work, pets, and making due with what is available. I found this quick read to be a gentle reminder of how technology, money, and the speed of life now can take us further from living simply and enjoying what is around us. This is a "those were the days" kind of book in the sense that the reader is taken to a time where families were self sufficient and children respected their elders. On the other hand, Kalish shows the hard work involved in just making sure there was enough food on the table. If you're looking for some old fashioned recipes and cures, she has also included this information as well like the recipe for pheasants (disjoint four ring-neck pheasants...) and how to start a neverfail fire. A nice book for nostalgia as well as a peek into a world that today's children will never see.
Little Heathens is the term used by the author's grandmother to show her disapproval of the behavior of the children in this book. In a time where hard work and respect for elders was paramount, Kalish grew up on a farm during the Great Depression. While the time frame is significant to history, the author's childhood brings back fond memories of preparing meals, farm work, pets, and making due with what is available. I found this quick read to be a gentle reminder of how technology, money, and the speed of life now can take us further from living simply and enjoying what is around us. This is a "those were the days" kind of book in the sense that the reader is taken to a time where families were self sufficient and children respected their elders. On the other hand, Kalish shows the hard work involved in just making sure there was enough food on the table. If you're looking for some old fashioned recipes and cures, she has also included this information as well like the recipe for pheasants (disjoint four ring-neck pheasants...) and how to start a neverfail fire. A nice book for nostalgia as well as a peek into a world that today's children will never see.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Heir Apparent
For Giannine's 14th birthday, her father gets her a gift certificate for Rasmussem Gaming Center Virtual Reality Arcade. She's happy with the gift that she told her dad's secretary that she wanted. She'd be happier if her dad would have called and asked what she wanted but he didn't so she's off to enjoy her virtual half hour. Giannine decides to try out the new game Heir Apparent where there are way too many ways to get killed. Unless she can get the magic ring, find the stolen treasure, answer the dwarf's dumb riddles, impress the head-chopping statue, charm the army of ghosts, fend off the barbarians, and defeat the man-eating dragon, she'll never win. The problem is that the equipment has been damaged and if she doesn't win, she will die -- for real this time. Anybody who has repeatedly lost a video game will be able to relate to the Giannine's frustration with trying to make the right moves. Is the game fun any more when your life is at stake? Can she make the right decisions to become the king of the virtual world?
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