Category Archives: Mercury Column

October Events at the Public Library

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by Susan Withee, Adult Services Manager

Along with our customarily full calendar of stellar activities for kids and youth, Manhattan Public Library and its co-sponsors will offer some unusual opportunities for fall fun to families and individuals of all ages this October.   The beauty of the season and the crisp, cool weather make it a great time to be out and about, so plan to join us for any or all of our events which, as always, are free and open to the public.

    Starting this week, the public will be unleashed on the streets of downtown Manhattan in search of gargoyles, Aesop’s fox, a relic of an historic flood, and the letter W.  A new and updated edition of our popular Architectural Scavenger Hunt, co-sponsored this fall by Downtown Manhattan, Inc., will be held during the entire month of October. To begin the hunt, pick up a brochure at the library at 629 Poyntz Avenue, or print one from the library’s website. Next, search for the architectural features pictured in the brochure and write down their locations.  Then, bring your results back to the library and enter the drawing for a chance to win prizes donated by Downtown Manhattan businesses including the Pathfinder, Brown’s Shoe Fit, Cary Company, AJ’s Pizzeria, and DMI.  Prize drawings will be held at the end of the month, and winners will be from among those who completed the hunt successfully.  This is a fun activity for all ages and a great way for you, your family, or visiting friends or relatives to explore Manhattan!  More information can be found by visiting the library at 629 Poyntz Avenue, at the website, or by calling 785-776-4741, extension 141.

Attend another blockbuster movie event at Manhattan Public Library on Saturday, October 13, when we’ll show the film that started it all on the big screen in the library auditorium at 2:00 p.m.  The festivities will include refreshments and special prizes and activities, and movie-goers are encouraged to come in costume if they wish!  Local sponsors include Varsity Donuts, Wal-Mart, and Hastings.  The celebration is part of Star Wars Reads Day, a national event created by LucasFilm, international publisher Dorling-Kindersley, and other publishing partners.  This film is rated PG.

If you enjoy a brain challenge along with your entertainment, come to Manhattan Public Library on Saturday, October 20, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. when the KSU Math Department and Math Circle Seminar will host a drop-in birthday celebration and math games event in honor of world-renowned mathematician Martin Gardner (1914-2010) in the library’s Groesbeck Room.  Gardner, a math and science writer who specialized in “recreational mathematics,” wrote a monthly column, “Mathematical Games,” which ran for over 25 years in Scientific American magazine.  His writing introduced a wide popular audience to math puzzles, games, and paradoxes, such as Soma cubes, Tangrams, the works of M.C. Escher, Penrose tiling, and the Golden Ratio.  Gardner authored books of brainteasers, puzzles, and logic problems for thinkers of all ages, and many of his books are available from Manhattan Public Library.  The program is appropriate for older children, youth, and adults, and will include opportunities for participants to work on a variety of math puzzles and games.

Books really are a metaphor for life’s adventures

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By Janene Hill, Young Adult Librarian

When starting a book, the anticipation can be tremendous.
Who will these characters be? Which ones will I like/love/despise? Where will the story take me? Will there be adventure? Tragedy? Laughter? Tears?
If we are lucky, a few chapters in we have settled in with good friends, in a familiar setting. We have become comfortable in this new world. We can’t wait to see what each turn of the page will bring.
We’ve settled in and become comfortable. Yes, twists and turns in the plot may make us anxious, but with luck, our heroes/heroines will come out of the situation without too much damage. Though they, and we, may not see it for some time, hopefully they have learned and grown from their ventures.
Then, many times before we know it, the story is coming to a close. We begin to realize we will soon have to let go of all of the people, places, and things to which we have become attached. We know the end our time with them is near.
Then, it is over. You put the book down and reflect on everything that just happened. Whether it took a few hours or a few weeks for us to get through the story, if it is one we enjoyed, it is a bittersweet moment. We hope for a sequel, but know that more often than not, this is the end.
Now we can only imagine what happens next. For our favorite characters, we imagine greatness in their future. Happiness, love, and all good things.
I’m sure I am not the first person to realize that books really do reflect life. Even if the adventures are way beyond anything we would actually experience in real life, the jest of the scenario is relatable.
Such is true for me this week.
After six and a half years as Young Adult Librarian at Manhattan Public Library, I say goodbye this week to head off to the next adventure in my career.
From my first day at MPL, I have always known this was a special position at a special library. In my time we have been able to take the Young Adult area from a single isle of books in a far corner, to a welcoming section with seating, displays, and a booming programming schedule.
While I am apprehensive about leaving MPL, I take comfort in knowing that staff and teens will work to keep the programs going and continue to build this crucial area.
So many people have worked alongside me over the past few years to encourage teen reading and get teens active at the library that I could never thank them all; but I hope the next YA Librarian at MPL will have the wonderful experiences that I did in meeting teens, community members, educators, parents, and all those involved in other community organizations.
The hardest thing for me this week will be to say farewell to some teens I have known for many years now. When I came some were just approaching middle school, and now those same kids are in their last year(s) of high school. I have seen so many of them grow into wonderful young men and ladies and can’t wait to hear about all of their accomplishments in the near future.
Looking back on the first time I ever wrote this column as a staff member at MPL, I was able to speak more about what a Young Adult Librarian is and what they do.
I pointed out that telling someone you work with teenagers causes one of three reactions:  fear, sympathy, or confusion. To this day, that is still true.
However, I am now able to add in the description of my job that “my” teens are so much fun and appreciate me for who I am and what I can do for them that every day is an adventure, and every time I get to be around the teens I learn more about teens, about my job, and about myself. Working with teenagers for more than nine years has given me a unique perspective on the world, one which I believe keeps me young.
The volume of my life that has taken place around Manhattan Public Library has been a good one. With lots of twists and turns, but ultimately with a happy ending that leaves us all looking forward to what happens next.
With all this in mind, I leave you with a quote I recently found by Terry Pratchett in his YA book Nation.
“No more words. We know them all, all the words that should not be said. But you have made my world more perfect.”

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage with Mystery

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by John Pecoraro, Assistant Director

Each year from September 15 to October 15 we recognize National Hispanic Heritage Month “by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.” What better time of year to explore mysteries written by Hispanic or Latino authors of many nationalities?

Mexican-American writer, Rudolfo Anaya, for example, features New Mexico private investigator Sonny Baca in a seasonal quartet whose titles include Zia Summer, Rio Grande Fall, Shaman Winter, and Jemez Spring.  Sonny Baca is not your average private investigator. A divorced former high school teacher, he’s the grandson of a legendary lawman, whose backup includes an extra-large sociopath, coyotes, and a curandera (folk healer).  Sonny routinely deals with drug dealers and medical experiments, as well as the mysticism and magic of Chicano culture.

Marcos McPeek Villatoro brings El Salvadoran policewoman Romilia Chacon to life in a series of novels that take her from the Nashville Police Department to the FBI in Los Angeles, as the Latina detective hunts for her sister’s killer. Titles in the series include Home Killing, Minos, A Venom Beneath the Skin, and Blood Daughters.

Inspector Espinosa is the protagonist in a series by Brazilian writer Luiz Alfredo Garcia-Roza. Lush in setting, these mysteries take place in steamy, exotic Rio de Janiero. Titles in this Rio-noir series include Silence of the Rain, December Heat and Pursuit. Inspector Espinosa is an everyman character, a public servant, a solitary individual, who does not consider himself a hero. Garcia-Roza has created an ethical policeman often out of his depth in the seedy world he serves.

Cuban-born writer Leonardo Padura is the author of a colorful series featuring Police Lieutenant Mario Conde. Havana Gold, Havana Red, Havana Blue, and Havana Black blend dark police procedurals with vivid images of contemporary Havana. Lieutenant Conde is a cop who would rather be a writer, feeling himself drawn to other writers, crazy people, and drunks.

For thrillers with a mystery twist, Spanish author Juan Gomez-Jurado offers several titles written with both energy and a sense of the cinematic. The Traitor’s Emblem involves a daring rescue at sea, a mysterious gold emblem, Nazis, Masons, and a son’s search for the truth behind his father’s death. Other titles by Gomez-Jurado in English include God’s Spy and The Moses Expedition.

Michele Martinez is a Puerto Rican-American attorney and former federal prosecutor in New York who shares many characteristics with her protagonist, Melanie Vargas. Martinez features Vargas and FBI agent Dan O’Reilly in several novels. In Most Wanted, the first book in the series, Melanie Vargas takes the case of a prominent New Yorker found tortured and murdered in his posh townhouse. Other titles in the series include The Finishing School, Cover-Up, and Notorious.

Cayetano Brule is the private investigator in a series of mysteries by Chilean author Roberto Ampuero. In The Neruda Case Cayetano meets the poet Pablo Neruda at a party in Chile in the 1970s. The dying Neruda recruits Cayetano to help him solve the last great mystery of his life. The novel is set against the dangerous political world of pre-Pinochet Chile, Castro’s Cuba, and perilous behind-the-Wall East Berlin.

Cuban expatriate Jose Latour delivers a suspenseful, atmospheric novel of intrigue set in contemporary Havana and Miami in Comrades in Miami. As Colonel Victoria Valiente, the Havana-based spymaster of greater Miami, her husband, and $2.7 million in stolen money set sail for Key West, little do they know that the FBI is on their trail. This novel gives an insider’s view of the Cuban regime’s darker corners.

Learn more about National Hispanic Heritage Month at hispanicheritagemonth.gov/.

September is also “Library Card Signup Month.” Visit the library to sign up for your card today, or click the Library Card button on our web page to register online. Your library card will open up a world of adventure, information, and knowledge, not to mention mysteries by Hispanic authors.

Reflections on The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

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By Marcia Allen, Technical Services & Collections Manager

Lately we’re hearing about a great deal of local interest in The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. In fact, this newspaper recently ran Chris Banner’s review of that 2010 title.  Readers who have read the book know that on one level, it can be approached as the personal account of a woman’s death as a result of cervical cancer.  On another level, there’s the phenomenal extent to which her cancer cells have been used in the last sixty years to combat other ailments like polio.  On yet another level, there are the inevitable ethical questions about the harvesting and the sharing of human tissue without patient consent.  Perhaps it’s the last concern, the ethical treatment of patients, which accounts for so many strong reader reactions about the book’s contents.
I just finished reading this book, and I found that I really struggled to finish it.  It’s not that it was badly written or that the content was dry; in fact, the book was fascinating in a gut-wrenchingly painful way.  I struggled with the revelation of the many awful situations it conveyed.  The appalling series of treatments to which Henrietta, a black woman from Baltimore, was subjected (the radium implants and the heavy doses of radiation that she suffered) were shocking. The fact that various tissue samples (designated as “HeLa cells”) were harvested without the family’s permission during her autopsy, let alone the manner in which the samples were shared and later sold commercially, was repugnant.  And the gradual awareness on the part of the Lacks family that Henrietta’s tissue had attained a state of “immortality” was truly disheartening.
Why the local attention some two years after initial publication?
The K-State Book Network, the all-university reading program, selected this title as the 2012-2013 school year common reader.  Committee members made this choice based on the book’s variety of discussion topics and its easy availability in different formats, among other criteria. The university kickoff ceremony was held early last spring, but there is ample time to attend one of several book-related events yet to occur.
One such event is scheduled for Thursday, September 20th, at 7:00 p.m., in the K-State Union Ballroom.  Attendees are invited to share a visit with the Lacks family.  Another event is scheduled for Wednesday, October 10th, at 7:00 p.m., in the K-State Union Forum Hall.  At that time, guest speaker Yvonne Reid, PhD, Manager and Scientist in Cell Culture Contracts, will address the aspects of biological research impacted by HeLa cells.  Her address is entitled “HeLa Cells and Biomedical Research: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.”  A third event will take place on Tuesday, October 30th, at 7:00 p.m., in the Hale Library Hemisphere Room.  The topic for the evening is “Speaking the Silences: Women and Race in Kansas.”  Each of these events is free and open to the public.
Manhattan Public Library is also hosting a related event.  The library auditorium has been reserved on Tuesday, September 18th, at 7:00 p.m., for a discussion of the book.  Dr. Irma O’Dell, Senior Associate Director for Administration/ Associate Professor of the School of Leadership Studies at Kansas State University, will be the facilitator for the evening.  This event is also free and open to the public.
If you have not yet read this worthy book, you still have time to do so.  Manhattan Public Library has multiple copies of the Skloot book in a variety of formats.  Beyond print copies, also available in large print format, there are books on cd and a loanable book kit available for book groups.  MPL also has website links that will allow cardholders to download both audiobooks and ebooks of the title.
Again, this is not enjoyable reading, but in an age of explosive medical advancements and ethical dilemmas about sharing information and tissue samples, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is a necessary reminder of human dignity and responsibility.  I would strongly encourage you to explore this book and to actively seek answers to your own questions about the contents.

Finding YA book recommendations through a flow chart

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By Janene Hill, Young Adult Librarian

More and more I talk to adults who are reading Young Adult literature. A phenomenon which delights me to no end! It is great to see those beyond their teen years read materials aimed at teens. I believe it is a testament to the quality, variety, and pure number of materials now being produced for teen readers. Many times, with teen and adult readers alike, the problem is finding that next title that will truly interest them and keep them coming back.

Earlier this summer, I was sent a link by a colleague for a graphic titled “Are You New to YA?” It was a flow chart plotting recommended books, series, and authors for those who have dipped their toe into the endless pool that is YA fiction but don’t know where to go now. I was so excited to see all of the great recommendations it contained and the possibilities it would open up for readers looking for something new. The chart was posted on the book review blog stackedbooks.org. The site states that it reviews “books for readers while simultaneously enticing non-readers to think about reading in fun and interesting ways.” Founders of the blog include: Kimberly Francisco – “a public librarian with a weakness for genre fiction”; Kelly Jensen – “a compulsive consumer of all things books and blogs”; and Jen Petro-Roy – “a voracious reader and 17 at heart.” The three review a wide variety of genres, styles, and formats, including audio and digital books, videos, music, zines, graphic novels, and more. The “Are You New to YA” chart was featured in a column that runs a few times a month, called “So You Want to Read YA” which is written by guest authors to the blog. This particular post was contributed by the creators of another book blog, www.thereadventurer.com. Below is the introduction to the chart by “The Readventurers,” Catie, Flannery and Tatiana.

The three of us have only been blogging together for a short time and we’ve never actually met in real life, but all of us are around the same age (in the adult years…other than that we’re not commenting) and we all love to read young adult literature. 　In fact, that’s pretty much what brought us together – that and an obsessive love of Goodreads.com.

They came to the conclusion, that most adults enter the YA arena through one of three avenues:

a) Harry Potter

b) Twilight

c) The Hunger Games


I also find this to be true. Most often it is because of the pop-culture popularity of these series. All have been among the best-selling books for weeks and even years, they all have movies based on the books, and they all seem to appeal to a wide variety of ages and interests. These three series have helped to break down whatever barriers or stereotypes may have been in place in regards to teen fiction. Catie, Flannery and Tatiana say they wanted to use these three entry points to help readers be able to explore further into YA.

The journey through the chart begins with one simple question – Are You New to YA?

Where you go from there is based on one of three answers:  Yes; I’ve tried one or two but I want to try more!; and No, it’s old hat to me.

From there it is a matter of deciding on what genres, themes, and quirks of books appeal most to the reader. With lots of stand-alone titles, series, and authors on the chart, almost anyone should be able to find something that would appeal to them. More often than not, there are two or more recommendations along the way.

This is a sample of a pathway search I did:

Are You New to YA?
I’ve tried one or two but I want to try more!

Was the one you tried The Hunger Games, Twilight, or Harry Potter?
It was HG.

Do you want to read more dystopian?
No.

Fine, we wanted to work harder anyway! Which of these genres do you prefer?
Historical Fiction

We’re assuming you’ve read The Book Thief?
Yep!

A little sci-fi, romance, mystery, or none of those?
Romance – read authors Eva Ibbotson & Susan Dunlap

Interestingly, I don’t believe I’ve ever read either of these authors! So, even for someone who has read many, many YA books, there is something new to be found.

Click here to see the complete flow-chart. This is such a great tool, I know I will be using it to get recommendation ideas in the future.

Light and Quirky Reading for the Dog Days

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by Susan Withee, Adult Services Manager

The long hot days from late July through August have been known as the Dog Days of summer since ancient times, when the proximity of Sirius, the Dog Star, to the sun at that time of year was believed to cause of the hottest days of the year and all the evil thereof.  This year our Dog Days have set new records for high temperatures and duration, causing us grave discomfort and occasionally short tempers, so this August especially is a good time to pour a tall, cold drink and read something short, light, and quirky.  Try something from this list of books that take unexpected subjects and make them delightfully entertaining.

Just My Type: A Book About Fonts by Simon Garfield.  For over 500 years the printed word has surrounded us, usually without our appreciating the artistry and graphic nuances of the typefaces we see.  With the arrival of the IBM Selectric typewriter and its revolutionary changeable typeballs in 1961, this began to change.  Suddenly, an ordinary individual was able to change the typeface on a document at will and creative sensibilities were piqued, although at the time our choices were limited to such sober typefaces as Courier or Prestige Elite.  Just over 20 years later, Steve Jobs marketed the first MacIntosh computer with a selection of typeface choices and suddenly “font” became a household word and the creation of new and more evocative typefaces exploded.  Now there are fonts for every emotion and message.  We all have our favorite classic fonts – Helvetica, Goudy Old Style, Albertus – and some fonts have acquired the stature of pop cultural icons.  There are even a few fonts – Papyrus, Brush Script, Comic Sans – that have caused the occasional online “font war” or have been reviled for misuse or overuse.  This amusing and enlightening book will introduce you to the social history of type design and the words we see all around us.

In Praise of Chickens: A Compendium of Wisdom Fair and Fowl by Pulitzer-prize nominee Jane S. Smith offers a sublime escape into poultry lore galore. A bright and sunny book of chicken history and trivia with excerpts and quotations from Aristotle to Twain, filled with antique illustrations and handsome portraits of chicken breeds, this small book is a summer delight.

In London Under: The Secret History Beneath the Streets, Peter Ackroyd, prolific author, historian, and biographer, tells tales of the thousands of years of history buried beneath the streets of London.  Underground rivers, forgotten prisons, buried monasteries, ancient sewers and canals, Roman galleys, Anglo-Saxon graves, hideouts, tunnels and shelters, creatures of the underworld real and surreal – all appear in their own time and context in this absorbing and atmospheric book.

Sister Bernadette’s Barking Dog: The Quirky History and Lost Art of Diagramming Sentences by Kitty Burns Florey.  If you’re a Person of a Certain Age like me, you may remember diagramming sentences on the blackboard for your sixth or seventh grade teacher (requiescat in pace, Miss Johnston of MJHS).  Diagramming was introduced to American schools in 1877 as a standard technique for teaching grammar and it endured through most of the 20th Century before being largely abandoned.  Sentence diagramming was a way to visually depict the structure of sentences, a cross between puzzle-solving and graphic design.  It was an illuminating and effective way to learn grammar and an oddly satisfying mental exercise.  In this charming and humorous book, author Florey revisits her own memories of sentence diagramming and the challenges, elegance, and clarity offered by this forgotten skill.

Good to Go: A Guide to Preparing for the End of Life by Jo Myers. What?!  A book about dying that’s quirky and light?  Yes, and it’s fun to read as well.  Myers offers practical advice and a basic template for preparing for the end of life, your own or another’s, with acceptance and love.  With chapter headings like “Making an Ash of Yourself” and “Let’s Put the Fun Back in Funeral,” this book offers reassurance and encouragement with tenderness and humor.

Some Humor for the End of Summer

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It is the quietest time of year in Manhattan.  Most of the summer activities have come to an end and we still have some time before the energy of returning students and school starting up.  The recent heat has caused us all to be a bit wilted.  A good laugh can help you through the end-of-summer doldrums so you can be cheerful when all our new residents come pouring in.

You might have heard of Lisa Scottoline’s suspense novels.  What is less well known is that she partners with her daughter to write nonfiction that will crack you up.  Her latest, Best Friends, Occasional Enemies: the Lighter Side of Life as a Mother and Daughter talks about the close and challenging relationships in families, while making sure to see the humor in life.  Another nonfiction favorite is Bill Bryson, known best for his travel memoirs.  Whether he’s on a trip across the pond in Notes from a Small Island or traveling back in time with The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid Bryson’s work is known for causing annoyance to those near readers because of the constant chuckling and the repeated phrase “You’ve got to hear this.”

Romance is a genre ripe with scenarios of people making idiots of themselves for our reading enjoyment.  In Summer at Seaside Cove by Jacquie D’Alessandro, Jamie Newman escapes New York for the beach in an attempt to regroup after a failed relationship, only to face a run-down shack, an ever-present family, and a difficult (but of course attractive) neighbor/landlord.  The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig takes us back to the French Revolution with the story of Amy Balcourt.  Amy heads out to France with hopes to become a spy with the league of the Purple Gentian.  Secrets, misunderstandings, and clumsy spying attempts don’t bode well for her career, but the Purple Gentian finds that he wants her close by anyway.

If you like your romance heavy on the humor but light on spice, you might like these Christian authors.  A Bride in the Bargain by Deeanne Gist tells the story of Washington settler Joe Denton who needs a wife to keep his land and Ana Ivey who unknowingly signs off as a bride when she just hopes to escape to the west to find a job cooking.  Full of witty dialogue and likeable characters, Gist’s books are a treat.  In Fancy Pants by Cathy Marie Hake, Lady Syndey Hathwell escapes to her long lost uncle’s ranch disguised as a man.  Ranch manager Tim Creighton is disgusted by his new ranch hand’s hardworking but inept and weak attempts to live up to his expectations.

For humor with a more mysterious turn, you might try The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde.  Thursday Next, renowned Special Operative in literary detection, takes up the case when characters suddenly begin to disappear from great works of literature.  A mix of fantasy and mystery is delightfully witty.  Alan Bradley takes you into the world of the engaging Flavia de Luce, eleven year old chemist in The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie.  When she discovers a dying man in the garden, she revels in the joy of investigation.

Some of us like our humor to be a little otherworldly.  In A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore, neurotic hypochondriac and recent widower, Charlie Asher, is faced with the challenges of a new baby and a new and unwanted job as a merchant of death.  Scott Rockwell has adapted Terry Pratchett’s Discworld into Graphic Novel format, maintaining the bizarrely humorous feel from the original novels about a parallel world that rests on the backs of four elephants balanced on a giant turtle hurtling through space.

When the hot, slow days start to get you down, just remember the words of MarkTwain, “Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand.”

The Second War of Independence is 200 This Year

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by John Pecoraro, Assistant Director

Here it is more than halfway through 2012, and we haven’t heard much about the War of 1812 bicentennial. Perhaps it’s not surprising. The War of 1812 has always been overshadowed by the American Revolution, the Civil War, and nearly every other American conflict. In terms of Americans engaged in the fighting, and lives lost, it ranks only 7th among all American wars. In terms of those killed or wounded, however, its approximately 20,000 casualties represent a larger percentage of casualties than the American forces experienced in World War II (8.7% versus 6.7%).

In this nearly forgotten war, the emerging American nation took on the greatest naval power in the world. We endured the capture and burning of our nation’s capital. We earned a national anthem from Francis Scott Key’s immortal words penned during the bombardment of Fort McHenry. We invaded our Canadian neighbors to the north and were repulsed. We defeated the pride of the British army at New Orleans. The War of 1812 was a war of heroes, including Zebulon Montgomery Pike, Oliver Hazard Perry, future presidents Andrew Jackson and William Henry Harrison, Shawnee Chief Tecumseh, and the pirate Jean Laffite.

To learn more about the War of 1812, all you have to do is visit the Manhattan Public Library and check out one of the several titles available on the subject.

In Mr. and Mrs. Madison’s War, President James Madison mourns the nation’s loss as smoke rises from the ruins of the capital. Historian Hugh Howard presents a wide-screen epic of one of America’s least remembered wars. Drawing on countless primary sources, he presents a gripping account of the War of 1812 as James and Dolley Madison experienced it.

At the outbreak of hostilities the U.S. Navy consisted of seventeen oceangoing ships against the Royal Navy’s seven hundred. A. J. Langguth brings to life many of the individuals who faced such odds in Union 1812: The Americans Who Fought the Second War of Independence. Among the colorful personalities he presents are many of the most enduring characters in American history: Dolley Madison, Sam Houston, Davy Crockett, Oliver Hazard Perry, and Stephen Decatur.

Every time we sing the national anthem, we recall events from the War of 1812. In The Flag, The Poet & The Song, author Irvin Molotsky tells the story behind the story of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” In addition to recounting the British bombardment of Fort McHenry, Molotsky uncovers facts and fallacies surrounding the song and the flag.

Winston Groom recounts one of the greatest battles fought in North America in Patriotic Fire: Andrew Jackson and Jean Laffite at the Battle of New Orleans. As its subtitle promises, this book tells the story of two men, one an American general and future President, the other a French pirate, who join forces to defeat a superior British force and save the city of New Orleans.

For a short narrative history, check out The War of 1812: Conflict for a Continent by J.C.A. Stagg. Professor Stagg focuses on the war as a continental event, portraying the war in the context of the larger issue of emerging American interests vying to contend with the effects of rival European nationalisms.

David Hanna brings to vivid life the lost era of naval battles under sail in Knights of the Sea: The True Story of the Boxer and the Enterprise and the War of 1812. The battle between the HMS Boxer and the USS Enterprise occurred off the coast of Pemaquid Point, Maine, and was witnessed by civilians on shore. The battle lasted less than one hour but was brutal and bloody, and cost the lives of the young commanders on both sides.

In addition to these titles, you can find more information on the Web. Start with the History Channel website, for an introduction to the war, videos, and photo galleries.

The companion website to the PBS program The War of 1812 is another excellent source. This program is also available from the library on DVD.

Learn about the flag that inspired the national anthem at the Smithsonian website.

Finally, visit the Library of Congress for a guide to the War of 1812. The guide includes a chronology, links to some primary documents, and a list of other websites to search.

Bring Up the Bodies: Part II of a Superb Tudor Trilogy

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By Marcia Allen
Technical Services & Collections Manager
Those who devour historical fiction will well remember one of 2009’s best books, Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel.  To no one’s surprise, the book was destined for prestigious awards, among them the Man Booker Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction.  The reasons for praise were many:  Mantel’s writing manages to bring to life a distant time period and to enliven characters long gone except in history books.  Reading her prose is a lively immersion into the drama and customs of 16th century royal England.
Wolf Hall is the first of a trilogy that follows the life and career of Thomas Cromwell.  The story begins with a grim look at his brutal childhood and works its way to his role as successor to Cardinal Wolsey during the reign of Henry VIII.  As the story is told from Cromwell’s point of view, readers get both a compelling story and an intimate character study of a complex individual.  All of this occurs against the backdrop of Henry VIII’s romance with Anne Boleyn.
But history shows us that Anne’s reign was doomed early on.  Much as Henry was quick to fall for her, he quickly lost interest, and Anne’s failure to deliver a living son was a catalyst.  That’s the focus of author Mantel’s new book, and second part of the trilogy, Bring up the Bodies.
The story begins shortly after the execution of Thomas More.  First queen Katherine of Aragon languishes in exile.  Cromwell is a favored confidante for King Henry, but he walks an uncertain path, as do others who counsel such a volatile leader.  Henry is disappointed in Anne’s aborted pregnancies and has recently noticed the shy manners of Jane Seymour.  He has already begun to weigh variables in dissolving his second marriage.
What makes this second volume just as compelling as the first is partly a matter of the author’s expertise in conveying the richness of the time period and partly a matter of her gorgeous use of language.  Consider, for example, Cromwell’s thoughts when he visits the ailing Queen Katherine:
“If she (the queen) is ill in the night, perhaps she dreams of the gardens of Alhambra, where she grew up: the marble pavements, the bubbling of crystal water into basins, the drag of a white peacock’s tail and the scent of lemons.  I could have brought her a lemon in my saddlebag, he thinks.”

Another equally compelling feature of Mantel’s writing is her uncanny ability to make the reader a silent witness to dramatic historical events.  Toward the end of this book, Mantel recounts the boasting of musician to the queen, Mark Smeaton, who claimed to know the queen in intimate terms.  The reader can feel the tension, as Smeaton’s questioners, Cromwell among them, realize that they have found the loophole that will free Henry from his burdensome marriage.  The reader also senses the horror that this idle boast will bring upon Anne and her court.
The concluding passages of the book speed through the hurried trials of those convicted of treason.  Mantel’s handling of those details immerses the reader in the brutality of the times, of the fate that awaited those who dared offend Henry.  And the retelling of the actual executions is so vivid, so realistic, that readers can but cringe.
I have to confess that I read this book in only a day or two, which would seem to indicate that it’s fairly short and fairly simple to read.  This is not the case.  This is a complicated tale with multiple layers of nuance, a story that dedicates five opening pages alone to its list of characters.  My haste to read the book is due to its hypnotic nature: it is just that well written.  I am eagerly awaiting the third volume of this outstanding trilogy, which promises to put Cromwell into dangerous conflict with his unpredictable monarch.  I urge you to get lost in the pages of Bring up the Bodies.

Encouraging Teen reading through the Teens’ Top Ten

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By Janene Hill, Young Adult Librarian

Since 2003, the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) has released an annual list of nominees for the Teens’ Top Ten (TTT) List. The TTT is a “teen choice” honor list as chosen by teens throughout the country.
This year’s list contains 24 nominated titles, chosen by teen book groups from school and public libraries around the country, which nominate their favorite books of the previous year. Nominations are posted in April during National Library Week.
Teens are encouraged to read these titles throughout the summer, then vote for them during late August and early September. Winning titles will be announced via webcast during Teen Read Week, the third week of October.
Encouraging teens to read these books and take part in the voting not only is an easy way to find recommended titles, but gives teens a sense of inclusion in choosing the “best of the best” as chosen by their peers.
Using the TTT nominees as a catalyst, parents and caregivers can help get teens excited about reading and make time for their teens to read at home.
Studies show a regular reading habit makes teens better readers. YALSA president, Sarah Flowers, recently stated that “today’s teens seem to have less and less free time, and there are increasingly more activities for them to take part in during what little leisure time they have. That is why it’s important to encourage teens to set aside some time to read.”
YALSA has created a list of many ways parents or caregivers can encourage teen reading. Some ideas include:
·    Set aside a regular weekly or daily time for the family to read.
·    Make reading aloud a family activity. Read to your kids as long as they’ll let you.
·    Read the same books as a family. Talk about them afterward. Allow each person in the family to have a chance to choose the reading material.
·    Share your favorite book with your teen.
·    Model reading for pleasure. Talk with your children about what you’re reading; make your enthusiasm for reading obvious to them. Explain how reading gives you pleasure while helping you learn about life and the world.
·    When a movie based on a book is released, read the book first. Then go to the movie together or rent the video. Afterward, talk about how the two compare.
·    If some kids don’t like to read or have difficulty reading, let them listen to audiobooks.
·    Visit the public or school library with your teen to attend a program or to check out materials.
Manhattan Public Library has copies of all of the TTT nominees, there are multiple copies of several, and some are also available in an audiobook version.
This year’s TTT finalists include:
All Good Children by Catherine Austen; Ashes by Ilsa Bick; Abandon by Meg Cabot; Tempest by Julie Cross; What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen; Wither by Lauren DStefano; Where She Went by Gayle Forman; Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen; Eona: The Last Dragoneye by Alison Goodman; The Fault in Our Stars by John Green; Page by Paige by Laura Lee Gulledge;  Legend by Marie Lu; Hourglass by Myra McEntire; Cinder by Marissa Meyer; Shine by Lauren Myracle; A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness; This Dark Endeavor: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein by Kenneth Oppel; Across the Universe by Beth Revis; Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs; Divergent by Veronica Roth; Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys; The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater; How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr; All These Things I’ve Done by Gabrielle Zevin

SUMMER GRILLING

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by Janet Ulrey, Adult Services Librarian

One of my favorite summer aromas is that of beef, chicken, or pork cooking on the grill.  With the 4th of July coming up, you may be looking for that perfect holiday menu. Maybe you have a special occasion to plan and want to prepare a scrumptious feast from the grill.  You will find a jackpot of grilling cookbook options on the shelf at Manhattan Public Library.  Whether you want hamburgers, hotdogs, steak, or something gourmet, there is a book that will get you started.

Even beginner outdoor cooks will find help for grilling up a great meal.  Steven Raichlen’s How to Grill, or The Cook’s Illustrated Guide to Grilling and Barbecue are perfect matches for those of you who are new to grilling. Weber’s Way to Grill gives step-by-step instruction, great visuals, and mouthwatering photos to help you move up to more complicated cooking in no time.   A few of the most popular barbecuing books for grilling are Wicked Good Barbecue by Andy Husbands, Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill Cookbook, Better Homes and Gardens Grill It!: Secrets to Delicious Flame-Kissed Food, and the Kansas City Barbeque Society Cookbook: Barbeque…it’s not just for breakfast anymore.  You will find just the right book for your taste and occasion.

Grilling isn’t only for meat; you can have fun cooking the whole meal on the grill. You may just want to veg out with some scrumptious vegetable recipes, especially now that gardens are overflowing with fresh produce.  Look for specialty grilling techniques in The Gardener & the Grill: The Bounty of the Garden Meets the Sizzle of the Grill by Karen Adler & Judith Fertig.  In this gardener’s delight, you’ll find seasoning mixes and sauces to enhance the flavor of the fresh garden veggies you choose to grill, recipes to try, plus helpful hints and advice.  Adler & Fertig say, “Sometimes, to get a certain flavor and texture from foods, you’ll want to go beyond basic grilling.  Your grill can perform many of the same cooking functions as your indoor stovetop and oven, such as searing, stir-frying, planking, and roasting. The grill just gives the food you cook outdoors more flavor.”   Try Cookouts Veggie Style! by Jolinda Hackett for “225 backyard favorites—full of flavor, free of meat!”  Those garden vegetables are just begging to be grilled to bring out their full flavor and tantalize your taste buds.

Cooking meat, vegetables and even fruit on the grill is a common practice, but pizza?  Why not!  Craig Priebe’s book, Grilled Pizzas & Piadinas, and Pizza on the Grill by Elizabeth Karmel are in the library’s collection.  Elizabeth says, “If you have a grill and the will, you can master grilled pizza.  The essence of grilled pizza is unquestionably its crispy, slightly smoky crust.”  Both books have delectable illustrations that are sure to persuade you to try pizza grilled to perfection.

If you haven’t jumped out of your chair and headed for the library to get your favorite recipes for the grill, maybe this added tidbit will do the trick.  Let your taste buds do the traveling by cooking up grilled dishes with the taste of Italy, Japan, the Mediterranean, Australia, the Caribbean, Latin, or the American Southwest. Books like Jerk from Jamaica or Latin Grilling can help your taste buds get on the international by-way.

For calorie counters and dollar pinchers, you’ll want to place a request on this soon-to-be available book Grill This, Not That: Backyard Survival Guide by David Zinczenko.  He tells you how to cut calories and save money, while at the same time leaving all the flavors intact.

To find other books on grilling, go to library web site and search the catalog with a keyword search using the terms: grill; grilling; barbecue; or barbecuing.  You should get about a hundred hits on each one of them.  Grab a few of the many grilling books from the shelf, and find the recipes that will have your neighbors hanging over the fence wishing for an invite!

Go Outside and Play!

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by Susan Withee, Adult Services Manager

Looking for affordable summer fun with benefits to last a lifetime? Go outside and connect with nature!  Exploring nature offers you healthy exercise and fresh air, and can strengthen your spiritual, intellectual, and family life.  Getting started as an amateur naturalist is easy with help from Manhattan Public Library.
Start with inspiration from The Practical Naturalist, an easy-to-browse beginner’s guide with stunning illustrations from publisher Dorling Kindersley, or The Nature Handbook: A Guide to Observing the Great Outdoors from Oxford University Press.  If you’re making this a family project, plan your summer activities using The National Wildlife Federation Book of Family Nature Activities: 50 Simple Projects and Activities in the Natural World by Page Chichester.  Another great nature study guide and activity planner is The Bumper Book of Nature: A User’s Guide to the Great Outdoors by Stephen Moss, a year-round guide that includes seasonal nature activities that appeal to all the senses, identification tips for everything from birdsong to lichens, and simple encouragements like, “Lie in the tall grass and look at the sky.”
While you’re looking at the sky, take time to study the clouds as they change and move and then learn what they tell us about the weather.  Find guidance and inspiration in The Cloudspotter’s Guide: The Science, History, and Culture of Clouds by Gavin Pretor-Pinney, a delightful cloud identification guide and a surprise best-seller in Britain that offers plenty of helpful illustrations and surprising humor.  Another good read for cloudgazers is The Book of Clouds by John A. Day, which includes spectacular photographs, a cloud chart and weather forecasting information, and the author’s inspiring list of Ten Reasons to Look Up.  The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Weather by David Ludlum can help you interpret what you see.
Closer down to earth, learn to recognize trees and appreciate their beauty and strength with The Urban Tree Book: An Uncommon Field Guide for City and Town by Arthur Plotnik or the masterful Sibley Guide to Trees by David Allen Sibley.  For gorgeous and inspiring nature photography, treat yourself to Seeing Trees: Discover the Extraordinary Secrets of Everyday Trees by Nancy Hugo and Robert Llewellyn.  Use your new-found knowledge on a self-guided tree walk in Manhattan City Park or on the KSU campus.  Guides for both the City Park Tree Walk and the Campus Tree Walk can be found online by going to www.riley.ksu.edu, then entering City Park Tree Walk or Campus Tree Walk in the search box.
Study the creatures that creep, crawl, run, and fly with a wide selection of guidebooks at the library.  Go pond-watching with Amphibians, Reptiles, and Turtles in Kansas by Joseph T. Collins.  Identify mammals by their tracks and learn about their behavior from Mammal Tracks and Sign by Mark Elbroch or Behavior of North American Mammals by Mark Elbroch and Kurt Rinehart.  Learn more about birds in What the Robin Knows: How Birds Reveal the Secrets of the Natural World by Jon Young, then go birding with the Guide to Kansas Birds and Birding Hot Spots by Bob Gress.
When you’re ready to go further afield and into the Flint Hills, check out the Field Guide to the North American Prairie by Stephen R. Jones or Kansas Geology: An Introduction to Landscapes, Rocks, Minerals, and Fossils to help you understand the ecology and terrain.  Then head out to Konza Prairie or beyond and take along Wildflowers and Grasses of Kansas by Michael Haddock or Kansas Prairie Wildflowers by K-State’s own Clenton Owensby to help you identify plants and grasses.
At the end of the long summer day, stargaze under the dark night sky.  The Backyard Astronomer’s Guide and Summer Stargazing: A Practical Guide for Recreational Astronomers, both by Terence Dickinson, can guide you to celestial wonders.  Kids can discover more from Night Sky and Planets, both from Scholastic Books and available in the library’s Children’s Room. To learn the mythology behind the constellations, check out A Walk through the Heavens: A Guide to Stars and Constellations and Their Legends by Milton D. Heifetz.  For more stargazing fun, go to Stellarium.org and have your own planetarium show on your home computer.  Type in coordinates to watch the night sky and see stars, planets, and satellites move as the night and day progress.  On June 30 at 2:00 p.m., join us at Manhattan Public Library for a fun program, Dream Big: Follow the Stars with cool games, stories, and activities for parents and kids K-6th grade.  Have a wonderful summer, Manhattan.

For Kansas Travelers: 8 Wonders of Kansas! Guidebook

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By Marcia Allen, Technical Services & Collections Manager

While some Kansans will have no idea of the location of the town of Inman, and more may have never heard of the Kansas Sampler Foundation, there’s always time to discover a regional treasure.  Inman author Marci Penner published the first of her Kansas guides in 2005, entitled The Kansas Guidebook for Explorers.  That lovely first effort was a guide to towns, restaurants, and local details grouped by region throughout the state.  It remains a perennial favorite, and interested travelers are quick to search its pages for undiscovered locales.
With hot summer days and dreams of vacations yet to be taken, I can think of no better way to pass a little time than by exploring Penner’s gorgeous second book, 8 Wonders of Kansas! Guidebook.   Like her first title, Penner’s latest is a guide to Kansas attractions, but the book is so much more.
The groundwork for this book began as a contest.  From June 2007 to October 2010, participants were invited to nominate Kansas attractions that fit into one or more of eight select categories (architecture, art, commerce, cuisine, customs, geography, history, and people).  In all, more than 100,000 people from around the world voted, and an amazing 1000 stories, articles, blogs, etc. were generated.  The result?  A compiled display of 216 of the best of what Kansas offers, a terrific book that is a delight to read as well as an excellent travel companion.
Photographer Harland J. Schuster is to be complimented on the breadth of his work.  His introductory remarks allude to the early morning shots, aerial panoramas, and late afternoon vistas that were part of the typical day’s work.  He also notes the generous help that he received from the many local citizens eager to be a part of the project.  And the photography is excellent.  A double-page spread for Konza Prairie, for example, boasts shadowed photos of a distant hillside.  A display of Pillsbury Crossing features a sun-sparkled view of pooled water, as well as a sidebar feature of the falls. And the other 214 wonders are just as appealing as those from the Manhattan area.
Among the overall winners is Greensburg’s Big Well.  Penner supplies us with the history of the project, a 109-foot-deep venture that took a year to finish. Until 1932, the well served not only the town but also the steam locomotives that regularly made stops in the town.  The photo of the well, taken from the depths of the excavation, awes the reader with its focus on obviously hand-tooled walls.
Treated as one top selection are Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge.  At 41,000 acres in size, Cheyenne Bottoms is the largest fresh-water marsh in the interior of the United States, says Penner.  She tells us it is also considered the most important migration point in the Western Hemisphere.  And nearby Quivira National Wildlife refuge hosts an amazing 500,000 birds.  If we’re not already convinced these two refuges are to be included, the breathtaking photos of water birds in flight should do the trick.
You can probably guess a few of the other top winners (think of former presidents, salt reserves, and space exploration for starters), but plan to check out the individual category winners as well.  You’ll be surprised how many you recognize.
For architectural honors, for example, one can’t omit the dramatic Chase County Courthouse in Cottonwood Falls.  For art recognition, the Stan Herd Earthwork located in Atchison was selected for its exceptional utilization of earth as a medium and farm equipment as a means of application.  Among winners for customs is the old farming habit of using post rock for fencing, particularly in LaCrosse and the Smoky Hills region.
Each selection also includes location, contact information and hours of operation.  And the fold-out cover lists tips on how to use the guidebook and a state map that sports each winner’s exact location in relation to all the others.
Looking for a fun way to spend lazy summer days?  If so, this book is right for you.  It’s perfect for family exploration as well as individual ventures.  Take a little time to explore the many riches of Kansas.

Dreaming, Owning, Waking – Summer at MPL

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By Janene Hill, Young Adult Librarian

Where do I begin? So many great things are happening this summer at Manhattan Public Library, it is hard to decide what to share first.

I guess we start with the themes. Inspired by the nighttime, this year’s children’s theme is “Dream Big-Read,” the teen theme is “Own the Night,” and the adult theme is “Wake Up and Read.”

Readers of all ages can sign up for Summer Reading at MPL online or by coming to the library where a staff member will help get you registered. Online sign-up has begun and registration at the library can be done beginning this Friday.

Once registered, participants track their reading time (adults can choose to track number of books instead). This time can be tracked online or with a paper record provided by the library. All readers can have a chance to earn prizes by turning in their reading time.

Adults (ages 18 and up) are entered for weekly drawings with each book or for every 4 hours they read. Additional credit can be earned by doing any of 10 bonus challenges. A complete list is available at the library. Seven prizes will be awarded each week in random drawings from sponsors such as The Chef, Hy-Vee, Starbucks, and Panera Bread.

Teens (those entering 7th grade through high school) have a 15 hour goal at which time they can get a free book and a gift certificate to Quiznos. After that, teens can continue to track time and turn those hours in for additional prizes (like tickets at an arcade). All teens who record time will also be entered into drawings for Prize Baskets to be awarded at the end of the summer.

Children (birth through 6th grade) can earn prizes at 250 minutes (ice cream from Vista and toy choice), 500 minutes (book and choice of Applebee’s or Quiznos kids’ meal), and 1000 minutes (Super Reader bookmark and choice Chili’s kids’ meal or Papa Murphy’s cookie dough).

Reading logs can be recorded for all reading done for June 1 through July 31.

In addition to the reading part of Summer Reading, several programs and events have been scheduled for kids and teens throughout June and July.

These events kick off this Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon as MPL hosts the annual Summer Reading Kick-Off On the Lawn.

Once again there will be games, prize drawings, activities and live entertainment. This includes carnival games for kids, activity and display tables from the Beach Museum, the NCK Astrological Society, and Pathfinder

Taking the stage at 10:20 will be the K-State Tap Dance Ensemble. Between songs, the group will teach tap steps to any interested children. At 11:00, Mr. Steve will use his acoustic guitar to present his sing-along program for kids.

In the case of inclement weather, the event will be moved to the library auditorium.

Several events will take place each week throughout the summer. Storytimes and clubs for elementary school children begin the week of June 4 and go through the week of July 23.
Children can also participate in special events such as the “Lucky Stars Juggling” show, After Hours Pajama Party, programs by the Beach Museum and the Milford Nature Center, ZOOfari Tales, movies, and more.
Teen-focused events are held at least once a week. Many of these events include a variety of nighttime themes such as dreams, astrology, stargazing, relaxation, and more. Events for teens culminate in the End-of-Summer Teen After Hours.
A detailed list of all events, clubs, and storytimes is available on the MPL website or at the library.
Groups visits are encouraged to visit the library during the summer. By calling the Children’s Department, groups can schedule one storytime per month presented by a Children’s Librarian. Large groups are also encouraged to let the Children’s Department know when they would like to visit so overcrowding in the Children’s Room can be avoided. Contact the department at 776-4741 ext. 125.
All events and activities at the library are free and open to the public.
More information can be found by visiting the library at 629 Poyntz Avenue, online, or by calling 785-776-4741.

More International Mysteries

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by Susan Withee, Adult Services Manager
Last year I wrote about how the bestselling novel, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, had fueled an explosion of interest in Scandinavian crime novels and in international mysteries in general. They continue to be in high demand with readers, and publishers have responded with more and more hot titles from around the world.  Mysteries with an international setting combine exposure to unfamiliar cultures, the atmospherics of an exotic locale, and the intellectual challenges of a crime story into an absorbing and satisfying reading experience.  Here’s a list of more great international mysteries at Manhattan Public Library.
Greece:  Murder in Mykonos by Jeffrey Siger.  Newly promoted to police chief of the island paradise of Mykonos, Andreas Kaldis must catch a killer while navigating the island’s convoluted local politics and religious orthodoxy, and without risking the island’s tourism.
Turkey:  The Kiss Murder by Mehmet Murat Somer.  Called “a delightfully over-the-top drag queen campfest” by one reviewer, this unexpected and entertaining mystery set in Istanbul features a transvestite sleuth, a quirky and refreshingly human cast of characters, and delicious dialogue.
Denmark:  The Boy in the Suitcase by Lene Kaaberbol.  A noir mystery investigating criminal mistreatment of women and children, written by two women and starring female characters.  The New York Times called this “another winning entry in the emotionally lacerating Scandinavian mystery sweepstakes.”
Mongolia:   The Shadow Walker by Michael Walters.  It’s winter in post-Soviet Mongolia, and Minister Negrui, Harvard MBA and head of the Serious Crimes Unit, is working with a visiting British police inspector to find a serial killer. Booklist recommends this series for readers “who like plots filled with global political complexity.”
Canada:  Still Life by Louise Penny.  Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Quebec investigates a murder in the tiny village of Three Pines, south of Montreal.  This is a traditional procedural mystery, full of clues hidden in plain sight, red herrings, engaging characters, and complex relationships.  Author Penny has been compared to P. D. James, Ruth Rendell, Martha Grimes – and even Agatha Christie.
Ghana:  Wife of the Gods by Kwei Quartey.  Darko Dawson, police inspector in Ghana’s Criminal Investigation Division, has been sent to investigate the murder of a young female medical student and AIDS worker in a village outside the city of Accra. There he confronts powerful traditional beliefs, brutal local authority, and a long-standing mystery in his own life.
France:  Bruno, Chief of Police by Martin Walker.  One reviewer wrote, “If you can’t afford that vacation in the south of France this year, Bruno may be the next best thing.”  In the quiet, friendly village of St. Denis, chief of police Bruno Courrèges, formerly with UN forces in Bosnia, hopes to find a peaceful life, but crime and the problems of contemporary French life inevitably intrude.
Israel:  The Collaborator of Bethlehem by Matt Rees.  For many years, Omar Yussef, a good man in a tragic and difficult place, has taught history to the children of Bethlehem.  When Israeli snipers kill a PLO soldier, one of Omar’s former students, a Palestinian Christian, is accused of being an Israeli collaborator and faces almost-certain retribution. Omar determines to save his friend, and his investigations take him deep into the complicated, violent, and corrupt world of the occupied West Bank.
Botswana: A Carrion Death by Michael Stanley.  Game park rangers in the Kalahari come across a hyena feasting on a human corpse, and Detective Kubu (“Hippopotamus”) Bengu is called in to investigate.  Kubu, like his namesake, is huge, amiable, determined, and ferocious.  Publishers Weekly said, “The intricate plotting, a grisly sense of realism, and numerous topical motifs (the plight of the Kalahari Bushmen, diamond smuggling, poaching, the homogenization of African culture, etc.) make this a compulsively readable novel.”
Saudi Arabia:  Finding Nouf by Zoe Ferraris. In this literary mystery-thriller set in contemporary Jeddah, the teenaged daughter of a wealthy family disappears days before her marriage and is soon found dead – and pregnant.  Her family turns to conservative Muslim Palestinian Nayir al-Sharqi to investigate the death, and he turns to Katya Hijazi, medical examiner and highly-educated modern woman, for assistance.  An engrossing look into the complexities and cultural struggles of modern Saudi society.
India:  The Case of the Missing Servant by Tarquin Hall. Vish Puri is India’s Most Private Investigator and the Indian answer to Rumpole or Precious Ramotswe in this series full of humor, food, and delightful dialogue.  Nicknamed “Chubby,” Vish is “portly, persistent, and unmistakably Punjabi,” and he draws on up-to-date investigative techniques as well as ancient Indian principles in order to solve mysteries in modern Delhi.