Nonfiction

So, then, dear Poppets, I see that it is our special time again to discuss a few books and Life, in general, and what you might like, in particular. This finds me at my old, dear desk in Memorial Library with the special sights, sounds, and "book odors"  that I so miss when in Texas. Until you've been in a library that is, shall we say, not "properly run", you may not appreciate one that is--such as ours--and, believe an "old" library user--they're either one or the other--no middle ground.

What I do not--ever--miss, when not in Liberal--is the 30 to 40 m.p.h. wind. Gracious but this takes some getting acclimated to, again, once one is no longer in it anymore.  I am always so pleased to come back to where I spent 57 years and not much has changed--except I miss Bob's Diner and Dinah and if anyone knows where she is  (I assume Wichita where one of her daughters lives), could you please call the library, ask for Jill or Pauline, and tell them and they'll get it to me.  Sometimes, one can "go back" to an actual place and see former friends and sometimes, your early years were spent in another place and environment, different people, different experiences and a prime example of that, for me as for many people, are the years before marriage and what one remembers so vividly--people, pets, schools, events, likes and dislikes, etc.

Close friends are well aware that I had strong British undertones in my bringing up and that I absolutely adored my mother's mother whom I called "Foof" and I was always called "My Lamb" or "Foofner" in return, and I laughed and learned under her wise and funny tutelage, and, in thinking about her and some of her "sayings" that I grew up with i.e."Who do you think you are?" and "To whom do you think you're speaking in that tone?" and "Remember who you are" and, again, "Do your very best and angels can do no more." Both my mother, Foof's daughter, and I used to tell each other that, in response to the first Brit saying, we'd like to have had the courage to reply with our name (standing straight and tall and, at the moment, slightly belligerent!) but Mother and I both knew what would come next--"Then, act like her and stop this behavior!"

Okay, so having said all that, you can imagine my delight at seeing the book, "Elizabeth, the Queen; The Life of a Modern Monarch", by Sally Bedell Smith, author of several autobiographies of well-known names, and it tells all sorts of things about her--I listened on my little radio, in high school, in Virginia, as she was crowned Queen and, along with everyone else, read about her--apparently, she's an excellent mimic of other people's traits, loves her two months on the grounds of Balmoral, walking her Corgis and going out with hunting parties and, if not shooting the birds, is directing the hunting dogs where to go to pick up the game birds that very important people have shot and certainly cannot be expected to go and "fetch" for themselves. I mean to say, it just isn't done.

So, if the beaters (men with the party, employed by the Queen--she has 80 servants all the time at Balmoral Castle for her two months stay there--) anyway, if they're busy loading the guests' guns or whatever and unavailable when the bird or deer goes down, the Queen takes over and sees that the game is brought  to them.  I love it. There's Her Majesty, in rough gear, boots, scarf on her head, lined leather gloves, game warden's whistle over her neck, making the proper motions to the dogs, calling their names, and then using hand gestures to convey what they were to do. And whaddya bet the dogs knew what she meant?

Cold, rainy, trampling over old logs, leaves, the crashing of gun barrels, your sandwich and flask of whiskey in the leather bag over your shoulder (what? you thought they went to MickeyD's for a hamburger? we're talking deep forest for 130 miles all around here--and, for Heaven's sake, don't even think of complaining--that's one big, main thing you learn when being brought up in Brit tradition--no one cares to hear it so, fix it yourself, or "go somewhere and get ahold of yourself and come out when you can be pleasant!" Seriously.)

Anyway, life, for her, is not always wearing a diamond tiara, she became Queen at a very young age and had to balance those duties in both Motherhood and State areas, her sister wasn't allowed to marry the divorced Royal Air Force pilot she adored--Prince Phillip saw to that and he should object? On what grounds? Other than he was a divorced man whom Princess Margaret loved--it couldn't have been on moral grounds, alone, since Phillip had an affair for 23 years and everyone knew it--and the lady involved (a Royal, of course!) Sorry to take up this much space on one topic but let me finish on one note; "An undercurrent to the speculation about Charles as the next king is that he is destined to be a transitional figure with a short reign before the succession of his more popular son, Prince William, and Kate.

It is William that monarchists count on to keep the dynasty strong in the new millennium; the Palace is full aware that the monarchy's future depends not only on reaching young people by emphasizing its own next generation." William and Kate are very popular, they dress in khakis and sneakers to visit children's hospitals, he went to New Zealand to give comfort and a personal solace to victims of natural disasters, much as his beloved mother, Diana, had done and the paper there wrote--"He came, he saw, he charmed their bloody socks off!" William and his brother, Harry, are easing into "royalty", still being called "Prince" but not "Sir" and they won't hear of "Your Royal Highness." We'll see what the future holds but do get this book and you will enjoy all of its 560 pages--it's compulsively readable.

Did anyone see some of the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on TV recently? For those of us who love and/or have dogs, it's the--spelled t-h-e--dog show to watch, here in the U.S. as it the Eukenuba show on Thanksgiving. Anyway, there's a delightful book, "Show Dog: The Charmed Life and Trying Times of a Near-Perfect Purebred", by Josh Dean, wrote about spending a year "alongside Jack, is champion Australian shepherd--and his canine and human friends--and presents a revealing look at our love affair with the world's most doted-upon and tinkered with animal species."  We certainly get to know this lovable dog and the people around him --his owner, handler, and his breeder--and we're given an up-close look at the dog show world, its traditions, its rules, along with the many people who inhabit it, taking part in judging, training, naming, promoting, hair-styling, RV-driving, hotel finding, and everything related to owning and showing a champion dog. There are over two thousand dog shows available every weekend, here in the U.S.

Breeding a champion dog--or horse--or cat sounds simple in that "you want to reinforce the good traits of specific animals while eliminating flaws and responsible owners of a certain breed work in concert to eliminate problematic traits--in Aussies, for example, the eye condition PRA."  On several personal notes, Jack jumped up on the judge as he walked by to put a 3rd place win behind Jack's name. Jack's chief rival for all of the judge's eyes was the beautiful moving Beyonce. She floated around the ring and went so fast you almost couldn't see her legs moving, and when Kimberly, who owned Jack, felt the time was right for him to become a father--that was a fine idea that drove Kimberly and Jack around the bend.  Westminster dog show is the pinnacle--lots of media coverage--two days of TV--obviously beautiful dogs--famous people milling around the prestige of the event.  This book is truly, honestly a great picture of a great dog, Jack, his mistress and handler, his mistakes, his heart, his triumphs, so go check it out and let me know what you think.

Is there anyone out there, in the continental U.S.that is, who has not heard of the Kardashians?  Anybody? I thought not, so here's a new book by Kris Jenner, "Kris Jenner and All Things Kardashian." You gotta give the girls credit, though, they're all very attractive--and ambitious--and not necessarily role models. She was married, at one time, to the Olympic champion, Bruce Jenner, then Robert Kardashin "and how it was Bruce who finally helped end the Kardashian's messy divorce so they could all move forward as a family."

It was Kris' brainstorm to make the family into an empire--an "international brand", actually--and has made it into a TV franchise that many millions of women watch and envy.  In this book, Kris also gives details/stories of her "intimate connection" with O.J.Simpson and Nicole Brown, the trial of O.J. and its aftermath. She and Robert had to deal with the important fact that they had each believed something different--Robert sat with O.J, at the trial, and honestly believed him innocent while Kris did not and kept remembering Nicole's words to her--"he's going to kill me and he's going to get away with it"--and so it came to pass. O.J. later failed a lie detector test --too late for his trial.  A really, interesting, pretty intelligent story and I very much enjoyed hearing Kris' voice in it all. I came out with a different point of view of the family--not completely, just somewhat--and certainly was admiring of what and how Kris handled all her decisions.

So, my dears, "the time has come, the walrus said, to speak of other things--"and there's always the weather, which, on the day I'm writing this, is cold and windy (so, you expected anything else the end of Feb.?)and, again, to say how great it has been to be back at my first "home", see dear friends, relax at Spencer Browne's over tea and a Hawaiian muffin (heated, of course), laugh at my son and daughter-in-law's dog and cat, and just "kick back".  I wish all of my readers a good Spring ahead, keep walking, smile at strangers, and try to not get too upset--"it won't matter on the back of a galloping horse" (another one of Foof's wonderful sayings!) Think of me in Kerrville, Tx. and if you're "in the neighborhood", call and stop by! Take care, Poppets, and good luck!

Children's Healthy Fun Fair Coming Soon

Greetings readers! Hopefully by now the logo which appears with this column has become familiar to many residents of this community. It means that the Children’s Healthy Fun Fair is coming up once again. On Saturday, March 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., lots of interested children, accompanied by their parents, will be making their way to the Ag Building on the Seward County Fairgrounds to join in the festivities. Each year the fair offers fun activities, healthy snacks, great giveaways, and helpful information to attendees, all free of charge.

A number of agencies will be in attendance this year including Southwest Medical Center, Southwest Guidance Center, PACT, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Head Start, Smart Start, UMMAM, USD 480 preschool, Liberal Police Department, Liberal and Seward County Fire Departments, Liberal Parks & Rec, and many, many more. A must-visit area at the fair includes fingerprinting by the police department with fingerprint kits for parents to take home and record pertinent information about each of their children. Another fun stop will be the Seward County Community College Respiratory Therapy area which will include a respiring pig lung. Come watch it ‘breathe’. Parks & Rec has a brand new X-box Connect which they will have at the fair. This is a game that does not require controls. It goes by the movement of the kids who are playing. Some of the games that go with it require a lot of physical movement, so it is good for kids to burn off excess energy. The library will invite kids to exercise as well with their Wii Fit. For the younger ones, there will be an opportunity to do a simple craft project connected to our upcoming Summer Reading Program. Seward County Health and USD 480 preschool always have lots of neat activities going on at their booths. It’s a good idea to just start at one end of the fair and work your way all the way around to everyone so that you don’t miss a thing!

This year’s fair will feature the Sure Sight Vision Screener, which will be manned by a trained Lions Club International member from the eastern side of the state. This is a valuable vision screening tool which provides non-invasive screening to check preschoolers for early visual problems. It allows for vision screening without feedback from the child who is being screened, meaning it can be used even with smaller children. Make sure that you stop by and check it out. In addition to this machine being available at the Children’s Healthy Fun Fair, the library will host a special storytime beginning at 3:45 on Friday, March 2. Following the storytime, parents will have an opportunity to have their screened. This is a really good opportunity for families who might not be able to attend the fair.

There is truly a lot of excitement about the fun fair and the potential it has to inform and educate the public in a really fun way. Since the Home Show will be going on in the Event Center, families can easily take in both events since they are in such close proximity to one another.

In closing, mention should be made about the library’s Valentine promotion which took place from February 1 to February 14. Patrons were asked to share what book they loved by writing it on a heart. They were then entered into a drawing for some sweet prizes. Winners of those prizes included:

Boxes of chocolate: Carolyn L. and Lynn S.; Plush Puppy: Wendy D.; Plush Monkey: Micayla L.; and Plush Penguin: Angelica M. Winners, be sure to stop by and pick up your prizes, if you have not already done so. National Library Week is coming up in April. Come on in check out the exciting things that will be going on then. See you at Memorial Library!

Fiction

“Allo Poppets!  How goes it? Getting a little tired of Winter’s wet and windy blasts? Well, here in Kerrville, we’ve had some rain, some cool weather, and some lovely sunshine and temps. between 70 and 77 degrees, which is actually a little warmer in mid-Jan. than usual but I love it, being a hot weather fan.  We desperately need more rain, although our aquifer is back up to normal, but if you’ve ever endured a drought, you’re a little skeptical for the next late Spring through mid-Fall. Didja watch the Super Bowl? My team won!  What happened to yours?  Ah, well, there’s always another year and I think it’s nice that Eli Manning lived to tell a tale that came out great in the end—at least for him, it did. 

You know how children love being told stories and, as they get older, reading them for the excitement, thoughts, facts that are all new to them?  I always loved the beginning of Rudyard Kipling’s “Just So Stories” ‘cause he often began them “Once Upon a Time, O Best Beloved---“and to this day, I think the very good—really good—authors maybe silently think that as they begin to write—yes, the more I think about it, the more I’m convinced they do, if only in their own minds. Good stories, well told, “take you away to another place and time” and you hate to put them down, and maybe one or two of the titles I’m about to review will do it for you.

Let’s go back to London, Oct. 1839, in “When the Devil Drives” by Cara Peacock, London’s Liberty Lane, female private investigator (at 25), struggling to do all right so as to pay her bills, looked hopeful (and, she hoped, capable and businesslike) when a young, “poetic young man begs her to find his missing fiancee, she accepts”. She feels the girl probably just ran off with someone else and “meanwhile, back at the ranch,” the country’s young Queen Victoria is falling in love with Prince Albert, her German cousin and “another client hires her to help prevent a royal scandal”, involving Albert’s brother Prince Ernest, who is more “worldly and likes to have a good time.” 

So, now she has two cases and then a young woman is found dead and “with a strange bull-headed ring on her finger.”  The one constant around all these crime is the description of a black or dark carriage, drawn by two dark horses, that picks up the girls and disappears before it can be stopped. Those who have heard or seen this conveyance, seen or heard the horses, call it The Devil’s Chariot. This book truly is charming and written in a “deliberate” manner, in describing atmosphere, people involved, countryside—I only regretted that the horses weren’t given more book space!  For those of you who like “old-fashioned” murder mysteries, minus a lot of blood and gore, will enjoy this one—go to the library and check it out.  

This next book, “The Best Bad Dream”, by Robert Ward, is much like the “hard-boiled” private eye stories we’ve all read and, for its realistic violence and the hard, experienced personalities in here are very believable—not lovable, but, at times, understandable and pitiful while being extremely dangerous.  A major point is the Blue Wolf, “a suspicious and exclusive spa for the elderly—at least on the surface.”  The two main characters are Jack Harper and Oscar Hidalgo, “who are burned out from chasing criminals, so a long vacations seems like just the ticket.”  But Jack received a call from an ex-girlfriend Michelle,  who asks for help in finding her sister, Jennifer, who has been kidnapped.  

How can the two points of the case be related?  And how does a huge pet razorback hog, Old Big, feature in finding Jennifer?  What did the kidnappers want with Jennifer?  I got started reading this story and 40 minutes passed quickly. If you like mysteries with a touch of the ghastly, this is your choice. 

Apropos of nothing I’ve been discussing, did you see the interview (there was more than one, actually) of Mimi Alford who’s written about her 18 month affair with J.F.K. that is out now, entitled “Once Upon a Secret”?  That will be a blockbuster and it brings out, as she said, “his dark side.”  

Okay, back to my column and another “dead body book” as Ida called them, and this one is “Shedding Light on Murder”, by Patricia Driscoll, and it’s her debut novel, “set on Cape Cod, in Christmas season during a blizzard.” Grace Tolliver is an ex-probation officer in Barnstable Village.  She’s the owner of Pearl’s Antique Lamps and Shades and has hired Duane Kerby as “holiday help’ but when a well-known citizen if murdered, Duane is arrested for it and Grace feels responsible because she sent him to the man’s home on an errand.  She is busy “readying the shop for the annual Barnstable Village Stroll while keeping an eye on her frisky 84-year-old father” and she finds herself attracted to the detective on the case (you could see that comin’ ‘round the bend, right?) 

Then, a second murder hits and here come the blizzard’s winds, snow, and ice.  Lots of conversation, some (some!) action, bringing out of the people’s thoughts and character—this, my dears, is what we in the trade call “a cozy” and it’s an excellent representative of its genre. It’s not going to be one of the “top” books, such as “Heft”, or “Defending Jacob” or “Taken” by Crais or “Phantom” by Ted Bell, but, then again, it isn’t trying to be. It’s a book to “curl up with” , won’t tax the brain too much and it’s enjoyable. So, check it out. 

Now, our last book fits into the last, or “top” category because the author, Val McDermid, is an author with a  capital “A”, and her newest is “The Retribution”, a Tony Hill and Carol Jordan, who’ve appeared in other stories.  Tony is a clinical psychologist and Carol is police detective. And, between them, they’ve put away a lot of criminals but all that success has bred resentment in Carol’s department and so the “powers that be” decide to break the team up. So, there’s a serial killer to catch “and it seems that this may well be their farewell waltz.”  But Jacko Vance, an ex-celebrity and sociopath has spent a dozen years behind bars, having killed teenage girls with no remorse “and with a twisted and cunning mind long honed by years of planning, Jacko has pulled off the perfect escape”—and guess who he’s after?  

The “Times” of London paper said that “her work is taut, psychologically complex and so gripping that it puts your life on hold”—which, I think, is Brit for “good show!” The best  police procedural put you in the middle of the conversations, theories and action and after 24 novels and short story collection (doesn’t she ever sleep?), McDermid’s got it down pat. The conversations carry you along, the moods and thoughts and theories are well developed—I’m telling you, find this book and enjoy a master (sorry, mistress) at her best.  She ain’t young and won’t be around for the next 20 years—but her stories will.  Enjoy!  You’re welcome.

It has been, as always, a pleasure to “ visit” with you and I hope all is well in your world and should you see me, on the streets or in Spencer Browne’s coffee house or in the library, come up and “chat” a minute. I will be in Liberal from the 20^th until mid-afternoon of the 27^th and I really look forward to being in the library and seeing the staff—don’t you think it would be nice to have “a library cat”, say a big black one with green eyes?  Please let my director know and urge her to check the animal shelter—it won’t be necessary to tell her that I sent you or that it was my idea!  Make sure that your animals have freshwater and a warn place to sleep at night—you do!  See ya soon—Bye!  PS—think about a purring pussycat on the front desk! I’m jus’ sayin’----

Book Awards & Pre-literacy Kits

Library folks all across the country this past week eagerly awaited announcement of the American Library Association's annual book awards for children's and young adult books. A column written this time of year would not be complete without mention of the winners of those awards. Drum roll please…For the Caldecott award (outstanding picture book illustrations) went to A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka; the Newbery award (for outstanding chapter book) was presented to Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos; the Theodore Geisel award (outstanding easy reader book) went to Tales for Very Picky Eaters by Josh Schneider. Other categories include the Coretta Scott King Award which recognizes both an African American author and illustrator. The author award went to Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans by Kadir Nelson, with Underground: Finding the Light to Freedom by Shane Evans capturing the illustrator award.

The Michael Printz, which is awarded to a young adult novel found a winner in Where Things Come Back by Corey Whaley. Pura Belpre' awards for both a Latino author and illustrator whose children's books best portray, affirm, and celebrate the Latino cultural experience were given to Diego Rivera: His World and Ours, illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh. Author accolades went to Guadalupe Garcia McCall for Under the Mesquite. These are just some of the award categories. Each category also recognized honorable mention books. What an honor to even be in contention for one of these prestigious awards!

This week's column will feature a highlight of a few of items that are beneficial to preschool-aged children. Several years ago, a special populations grant made possible the creation of 28 pre-literacy kits. Clear plastic backpacks were secured and items focusing on specific themes were gathered for each kit. The purpose of the kits was to assist parents in acquiring or reinforcing skills in their little ones which are necessary for success in school. An added bonus is that these kits contain some really fun things!

From your home computer, you can find out what each kit is by going to our website at www.lmlibrary.org. Across the top bar, click on 'Youth Pages' and select 'kids' corner'. Once you have that page open, scroll down the left side and select 'pre-literacy kits'. That page yields a brief description of each of the kits, but clicking on any title will bring up a full description, including the contents of the kit.

If you select the Insect kit, here is what you will find:

• The Insect kit features fact-based books and fun books which include The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Waiting for Wings, In the Tall, Tall Grass, Bugs for Lunch, and There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly.


• Manipulatives found in the kit are Bugs Floor Puzzle, Old lady with all the things your child can help her swallow, Child figure with fly attached to yarn, Insect lacing set, and more.
  


• The two CDs in this kit are Four Baby Bumblebees and The Old Lady Who Swallowed the Fly. Also included are poems, rhymes, fingerplays, and songs. Each kit addresses certain skills.

The kits vary in the items they contain, but each has narrative guidelines for using the kit. This is just a starting off point to get adults going. Lots of other ideas will occur to parents as they use the kits. Each kit contains a number of items in Spanish, including the narrative guidelines. Ask at the circulation desk to see the notebook containing the list of pre-literacy kits. The kits may be checked out, one per patron, for a two-week period.

When the kits were created, the library formed a partnership with the Family Resource Center at Washington Elementary School. Ten of the kits may be accessed at their facility and are traded off with those at the library periodically.

As you look at the options in the left column of Kids' Corner, below pre-literacy kits is 'puppets'. The circulation desk also maintains a notebook showing all the puppets that are available for check out. Letting your child use his or her imagination through the puppets is a wonderful way to build narrative skills as he or she makes up stories with the puppet and stages presentations for family members. If your child makes a beeline for the in-house puppet collection every time you come to the library, why not check out one to take home? Even if your child hasn't expressed interest, why not give one a try? One more thing, be sure to mark your calendar for March 3 and the Children's Healthy Fun Fair. This will be the ninth year for the event which will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ag Building on the Seward County Fairgrounds. See you at the Children's Healthy Fun Fair and at Memorial Library!

Nonfiction

Several years ago, I called a friend/attorney/great-sense-of-humor guy's office-yes, Virginia, there are attorneys who are all of these things--and when his secretary asked who was calling, I answered, "Catherine the Great"--not a snicker out of her--and, I learned later, she walked all the way back to the attorney's office (at the end of a long hall, naturally) and told him he had a phone call--was asked who it was--and she calmly and matter-of-factly said, "Catherine the Great." Whereupon, my amused friend waved a hand and said, "Oh, that's Connie Yoxall--put her on hold." Priceless! I wonder if I'm still on hold as we speak?

I thought of that when I looked at the prized book that the Liberal Library sent me, amongst three others, for this column and it's "Catherine the Great; Portrait of a Woman", by the world's best (at least IN TOP 3) biographers, Robert Massie. To answer a question sometimes asked of me--"NO, I do not read all the books that I write about " and, in this case, it would be a 2 week project as it is 530 pages long, but I think she was such a fascinating monarch in such a backward--truly uncivilized--world and Massie is so conscientious a researcher that I will probably add it to my personal library.
Catharine came from a minor noble family and "transformed herself into Empress of Russia by sheer determination." She apparently possessed a brilliant mind and, with a strong sense of curiosity, read heavily into philosophers and, upon gaining the throne, "attempted to use their principles to guide her rule of the back and backward Russian empire." She corresponded with great figures of her time; Voltaire, Marie Antoinette "and, surprisingly, the American naval hero John Paul Jones."

Of course, ascending a throne doesn't mean everything's peaches and cream and butterflies (that's principally why I've refused to take over several thrones!) as she found out, "always contending with the deeply ingrained realities of Russian life, including serfdom." For many years she dealt with domestic rebellion, foreign wars, and the recurring problems of inner discontent and uncertain future "and her reputation depended entirely on the perspective of the speaker and could be both vilified and praised. Her "favorites" meant the constant stream of young, handsome men to continually make her feel young and attractive in a sexual way but her "most significant lover and possible husband was with her for 17 years of unparalleled mutual achievement".

It's almost like the "yellow journalism" papers that are for sale near the grocery store's cash registers as you check out of the grocery store or Walgreen's--except that the book is Non-fiction and faithfully tells a story of a life, great deeds and selfish motives of one of History's great figures. So, give yourself a treat and go to the library and check this one out!

This next book, or at least its title, reflects some of my feeling about the idiots in Washington the last few years--"Throw Them All Out; How Politicians and Their Friends Get Rich Off Insider Stock Tips, Land Deals, and Cronyism That Would Send the Rest of Us to Prison!", by PeterSchweizer--Yes! They should all go home--soon--don't bother leaving a forwarding address--you won't be contacted.

The suggestion of Rick Perry, Texas' gov., resonated with a lot of people i.e. Congress meets half of every year and gets half their present salary and the rest of the time they go home and work in the private sector and pay the bills and live like other people. Seriously! There are a lot of people who agree with that proposal.

Anyway, this gentleman/author has written on Washington before and is a contributor to NBC News and makes, unfortunately, good points that may or may not sit well with some people. His principal point is that money is made by Congressmen, "who come into office with relatively modest assets--then as investors, they regularly beat the market with or without trading stocks, they retire rich." He says the answer to how they do it is crony capitalism, not so much as outright bribery (visions of suitcases full of money exchanging hands in a back alley are not what we're talking here, friends) but "members of Congress trade stocks based on privileged information."

They make sure that bills contain "earmarks" to improve their real estate holdings and, according to this book and my morning paper, no one knows exactly how much money is given to campaign funds, for example, until after an election and a lot of it is shrouded in secrecy. Former speaker Nancy Pelosi received insider shares and bought millions more in Visa stock and shortly thereafter she blocked 4 bills that would have harmed the company.

All of this has been known to quite a few--this ain't done under bushes at midnight--it's a scandal that happens in bright light. Ah well, what else is new? That doesn't make it right, it just is something we need to know, even if it's accompanied by a feeling of helplessness as to what any citizen can do. Basta! (Italian for "enough") but--but--before we leave this book, I do urge you to check it out and learn what you may not want to know but need to be made aware of, particularly as we approach an election. Review the title.

One of the writers of "The Simpsons" TV show said, of the next book, "Alarming and reassuring---Wait, that's impossible" and the title of Ms. Merrill Markoe's book "Cool, Calm, and Contentious" already lets you know this is a "different kind of book' and I wondered what is was. Well--this is a collection of personal essays with a secret formula for comedy--i.e." start out with a difficult mother, develop some classic teenage insecurities, add a few relationships with equally narcissistic men, toss in an unruly pack of selfish dogs finish it off with the kind of crystalline perspective that only comes from navigating a roiling sea of unpleasant and unappeasable people ---and you're funny."

She's apparently written several other titles (you might have guessed, by now, that I'm not familiar with the lady--but I love humor and personality in anyone, so I'm willing to learn) but "this is by far her most personal, affecting collection yet--candid, unapologetic, often painful, but always shot through with the bracing, wicked sense of humor that has made her such a beloved and incisive observer of life, both human and canine." (Canine? How interesting!)

There's her mother, apparently out of sorts most of the time, "who took pleasure in being unpleasant to waiters and spent most of her life in varying degrees of being pissed off". She finally came to the realization that she found dogs more appealing and honest than people. (actually, she wrote two books whose titles refer to dogs--"Nose Down, Eyes Up" and "Walking in Circles Before Lying Down"--it's important to turn around 3 or 4 times before finally settling down--and a lot of the times I'll bet I"d agree with her!) This book is good for fans who have mothers who are so difficult and demanding that they actually make you feel grateful and pleased with whatever life you have!
One of the funniest--to me--true stories she reports is when she's about to address a group of 8 girls who, amidst 400 white slip-covered chairs in the auditorium, had gathered to hear her talk and inspire them about becoming writers.

"I would zero in on what each of these potential authors had in mind. By giving each of them special attention, I would light a fire under all of them that they would never forget. By the time this was over, they would race back to their college dorms, crazed with the need to write something that mattered to them--maybe they would dedicate a future literary work to me! I would make sure we'd all stay in touch."

"Okay,"I began in an encouraging talk-to-me tone--I wanted to address them in an earnest manner--"what would you guys like to talk about first?" A heavyset girl raised her hand and I nodded in her direction, encouragingly--"When is the drawing for the Avon basket", she asked." Your dear reviewer fell on the floor, laughing, and the second girl, for her question asked Ms. Markoe, "I'd like more information on cleansers and moisturizers for dry skin." By that time, I laughed so hard I had tears starting--see, sometime, in my seminars, years ago, I'd think that I, too, had a lot of wonderful, solid gold thoughts and opinions to hand out to people--maybe so, maybe not. Anyway, the book is funny and a blast to read, so go check it out and enjoy!

I'm always a little leery of books giving advice on marriage--actually on books of advice of any kind short of the Episcopal church service and Book of Common prayer and Mark Twain--but this one might work, "The Meaning of Marriage; Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God." I did smile at something the author said--"Much of what I've heard on the subject has as much depth as a Hallmark greeting card and while marriage if many things, it is anything but sentimental--it's glorious but hard and no marriage I know of more than a few weeks old could be described as a fairy tale come true."

Keller, married to his wife, Kathy, for 36 years, believes, has learned and shows that God created marriage to bring us closer to Him and to bring more joy into our lives--but it is the one most misunderstood and mysterious." I have always loved the billboard, in Arizona on the highway going into Phoenix, that you suddenly come upon and it says, "Nice wedding--now invite me to the marriage and it's signed "God" and I have always remembered it and pondered it, thinking, at that time and from then on--"Gotcha".
Anyway, this is an excellent book with genuine common sense and good points, and I particularly liked what he said about "head of the house" and if there is a stalemate on a subject, who gets the final vote?

His voice or tone in writing about this subject is loving and clear, and one statement is, "A wife is not to give her husband unconditional obedience" and it's explained and the one below this one is "Assuming the role of leadership is only done for the purpose of ministering to your wife and family." His points are made clearly and compassionately, and, on pg. 207, he discusses Paul calling "singleness" a gift from God. During times of healing or regrouping, "you probably need deep Christian friendship more than dates and ideas of marriage", says the author, and "to experience the gift of singleness is to experience no emotional struggle or wish to be married." Keller reminds us that when Paul uses the word "gift", it is to mean an ability "God gives to build others up." The thoughts and ideas for this book came from 9 sermons he preached in New York at Redeemer Presbyterian Church, and I have to admit there really are some wonderful, thoughtful, and joyous/funny words in here, so I do recommend it to you.

I truly wish you a good year ahead, lessons to be reviewed and re-learned, family and friends to be appreciated, animals to hug and be grateful for, and, always, for most of the time, at least, a strong sense of who you are and respect for your achievements and-- for those goals not yet reached?--Well, maybe God has you still on "hold" in his plans for you. Okay, go fix "a cuppa" hot chocolate or tea or coffee, sit down in your favorite chair, and enjoy the simple yet profound act of relaxing--you can hear your nerve endings uncurl! Bye!

Roll into the library in the New Year

Happy New Year! The library has exciting programs in the works this year.

During the week of Valentine's Day, the library will be having a heart promotion similar to last year's. Patrons will be asked to share what book they love. Last February, we had hearts on display as you walked through the entrance to the adult area with what patrons loved about their library.

The next Library and Lunch will be held on Tuesday, February 14 at 12 p.m. Given the holiday, the theme will be "For the Love of Chocolate". Participants are encouraged to come prepared to discuss their favorite book. Last week's session had a jolly time discussing January's pick, the Man Booker Prize winning "The Sense of An Ending". There was great contention over the work.

Following the heart theme, Book and Movie will meet on Thursday, February 16 at 5:30 p.m. for Jane Austen's "Sense and Sensibility" the first novel that she published. The group will be meeting this Thursday at 6 p.m. for the January pick, Ben Mezrich's "The Accidental Billionaires".

While you're at the library this year, make sure to go on a blind date with a book. Grab a title that you wouldn't normally take off the shelf whether it be non-fiction, fantasy, science fiction, or mystery. Try something new. Someone ahem has pledged to read more non-fiction.

The Teen Advisory Committee is meeting every two weeks on Thursdays. The next session will be on Thursday, January 26 at 4 p.m. for a viewing of an adventure film directed by Robert Rodriguez and the fourth in a kid series. Basic Chess Instruction will be held during a regular Teen Gaming night on Thursday, February 9 and "A Night at the Oscars" will be held on Thursday, February 23 with the viewing of an Academy award winning film from 2009.

The Dream Rocket Art Exhibit will be on display at the library the first of the month. The project is part of the International Fiber Collaborative founded by Jennifer Marsh in response for a growing need for supplemental art education in public schools, community arts, and as an outlet for individuals around the world. This particular project was launched in 2009 with up to 8,000 pieces of artwork created by individuals from various parts of the world. It challenged participants to expand beyond their present state of the world and to imagine the future. Some of these panels will be on display at the library.

If you come to a book discussion group this year, don't forget about the statewide reading and discussion project sponsored by the Kansas Center for the Book. The book "Our Boys: A Perfect Season on the Plains with the Smith Center Redmen" by Joe Drape is the Kansas Reads 2012 pick. There will be an evening session in the latter part of February.

The library has acquired dozens of books in the last two weeks if you happen to check the recent items in our catalog. Some of this week's arrivals include

• "All my patients kick and bite: more favorite stories from a vet's practice" by Jeff Wells,


• "American dervish" by Ayad Akhtar,


• "Believing the lie" by Elizabeth George,


• "Confessions of a surgeon: the good, the bad, and the complicated" by Paul Ruggieri,


• "The demon lover" by Juliet Dark,


• "Elizabeth the Queen: the life of a modern monarch" by Sally Bedell Smith, and


• "I got this" by Jennifer Hudson.
  

For the latest library programming take a peek at the library website or grab a newsletter from the circulation desk. Stay tuned and connected through our social media pages. If you have any questions or suggestions about books or programs don't hesitate to ask. Make a resolution to visit your library this year!

Fiction

Okay, everyone who liked all of their Christmas gifts and does not--not--want to "re-gift" much less send back to the company it came from--go into the utility room, sit up on the dryer and stay there! The rest of you are either lying or scared to admit to such a thinking or are being stoically brave and making mental notes to not even bother next Christmas trying to make your wishes known or picking out things in the store where you know the staff and telling them what to tell family members who wander in! You know, seriously, even with the over-done turkey and watery gravy and store-bought pies (vs. the ones that your mother used to make and your sisters won't), there's something special about the holidays--and there should be!

Himself gave me some lovely gifts and Rufus Cooper gave me a gift also--via Himself. One of my friends, who lives across the street, got a passport holder with a note in it saying it was for going to Paris and London this April, while another friend (who lives across the street also) grabbed my arm at the same party and said, "But guess what I got from my dear husband, Connie?" I professed ignorance and she said "An automatic card shuffler--and it even is battery operated!" Well, that did it! I let out a yell and we three laughed until tears came to our eyes! I mean to say, do we have a little gulf here between a trip to Paris and London--all expenses paid--and a battery-operated card-shuffler? I went up to the lady's husband of the card-shuffler and said, "Steve, you have the most exquisite taste in gifts to please a wife " (I was smiling evilly and dripping with sarcasm) and he said, with a modest aw-shucks smile--"Well, it's just a gift I have!" and we both stood there and laughed until I was in danger of spilling my wine--so, we stopped. Priceless anecdote--so, I repeat, how was your gift haul? Anyone going to Paris and London? On second thought, don't tell me!

What stories my friend will have to tell of that trip--and speaking of stories, it's Fiction column time (Patrice, how was that segue to start off 2012?) "The Dovekeepers", by the really talented Alice Hoffman is ready to be checked out, and you'd do well to get it, curl up in your baggy workout outfit or a blankie and prepare to be stunned as well as entertained by the story of the extreme heroism of four resourceful women in the year 70 CE as they joined 900 Jews standing off the armies of Rome, "each of whom has come to Masada by a different path.

The lives, hopes, and dreams of these four women all intersect in the last desperate weeks and days and final hours of the terrible, inevitable consequences of the Jewish rebellion. At one point, one morning, a grandson, who was mute, woke his grandmother up and she says, "Levi led me to the wall that overlooked the white cliffs which stretched on as far as we could see. We watched the doves fly. Let loose at this hour so they might stretch their wings, they turned the entire sky white. They rose and disappeared, then returned again, drawn back to their nests, They were devoted to their mates. My mute grandson was telling me that it was an honor to work with creatures who lived in the sky, so close to Adonai (God). I whispered a prayer of gratitude for all I still had."

And, again, a moving description--"We all felt the constraints of the mountains, the lack of food, the petty jealousies--many of the sheep and goats that we valued for their milk were being butchered out of need. Cucumbers on the vine shriveled in the last busts of heat, turning to ash, as the fruit was said to do in the blighted city of Sodom. Women in the nomads, as they too had been driven off by the Romans, the women who had been violated by soldiers cut deep gashes into the palms of their hands and soles of their feet to allow the sorrow to rise out of their bodies." Not an "easy peasy" book to read but praised by every critic and impossible to put down.

The Witch of Moab is fascinating to read: "By the age of 8, I had learned that the leaf of a DATE palm boiled in water was a sure cure for a scorpion bite, the nectar of the spiky blue flower of the HYSSOP dabbed on the wrist would ward off evil. I had the tooth of a black dog strung around my neck as a protection against wild beasts." Each woman had a history--but no future--except the two women and five children who, indeed and against terrible odds, were the survivors as the Romans finally made the summit of Masada. Was it a victory or a defeat? Is an enemy worth more alive or dead? READ THIS BOOK!

Neal Baer and Jonathan Greene have a good mystery/suspense one out call "Kill Switch", involving a dedicated forensic psychiatrist, Claire Waters, heading into facing a deranged inmate, Quimby, "whose boyish good looks hide a terrible, sordid history of dysfunction and abuse." Claire believes there are no such things as incurable psychopaths and Society can learn to ask the right questions and spot the tendencies, if done early enough, and the head of this unit believes the same thing, so he gives her a chance to "practice her theories and education" on this particular patient. A dangerous step as "Quimby triggers something in Claire she'd rather not face." A great read and one that I will, especially, enjoy in discovering the ins and outs of a criminal mentality and one other thing--this case makes Claire examine the mind of another homicidal killer "it could only end in madness or murder or both." Check it out--oh, and the authors are the former executive producers of "Law and Order" and I loved that show!

I am having to leave at the end of the afternoon to go into San Antonio to catch a plane, tomorrow a.m., for Webster, N. C. to attend the funeral of a much-loved friend, Bill McCue, who used to be a pediatrician here in Liberal before going to live in Amarillo, Tx. then Webster, so I will have to cut this column a little short this time. I know you will all understand and thank you--it's never easy losing a good friend, is it?

Charles Finch is, absolutely, one of my best and favorite authors, and his new book is "A Burial at Sea". It's a Brit cast--which I love for their humor and particular way of looking at things. Charles Lenox is, in this book, a new Member of Parliament, as was his brother, and is now on the high seas on a secret mission for the government." An officer is savagely murdered, however, and Lenox is drawn towards his old profession as a detective, determined to catch a killer before he can strike again." Good Heavens, it's even worded in a Brit manner--which isn't all that surprising, seeing that Lenox lives in Oxford!

The year is 1873 "and it's a perilous time in the relationship between England and France." It seems some English spies have been caught dead on French soil and government officials have concerns "surrounding the newly dug Panama Canal." (The French always seem to "have some concerns" about one thing or another, n'cest pas?) It's not his sailing skills that Charles will have to use but his detecting ones and of course one only has so much room on board a ship, either for sleuthing or attending to the King's business, so Charles has to keep in mind that he could be the next victim.

The language and setting is beautifully done depicting Victorian England and I, as I've said, am a Charles Finch fan. You'll like Charles Lenox's butler and wife, Jane, also and it's never easy solving Finch's puzzles i.e. just when you think you know who the bad guy is--you're wrong! I wish all of you a Happy New Year, again, and I look forward to seeing any and all of you when I return to Liberal mid-Feb. Keep reading and use your library! Bye!