]]> euroms48 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 18:05:59 GMT http://engagedpatrons.org/Blogs.cfm?SiteID=7590&BlogID=126&BlogPostID=9251 A Perfect Spy, dramatized back in 1987 by the BBC, and available on Netflix. I was reminded of the pure pleasure of reading the wonderful book from which it was adapted. LeCarre's creation, Magnus Pym, is indeed perfectly portrayed, along with his con-man father, Rick and the refugee friend whom he betrays, Axel. It may be getting old, but it is still worth a read, if you are missing those golden days of the British spy.

]]> euroms48 Mon, 27 Jun 2011 18:16:06 GMT http://engagedpatrons.org/Blogs.cfm?SiteID=7590&BlogID=126&BlogPostID=9159 Empire of the Sun by J.G. Ballard.  Some readers may be familiar with this title from the Steven Spielberg film, which I thought was excellent. When I saw this book show up in the collection (a very welcome donation), I was anxious to read it and see how it compared to the movie. Based on his own personal experiences during World War II, Ballard has created a very memorable novel of war. Jim is an eleven year old boy who is suddenly separated from his parents and  on his own in the great Chinese city of Shanghai. The Japanese have  taken over, and he is forced to live on sheer nerve, as he moves from the deserted neighborhoods around his home to being placed in the infamous Lunghua Detention Center.  The author captures the horror of Jim's situation, but makes us want to stay with him and hope for his survival. Look for this finely written and fascinating story on my shelf of staff recommendations at the library.

]]> euroms48 Mon, 13 Jun 2011 16:51:49 GMT http://engagedpatrons.org/Blogs.cfm?SiteID=7590&BlogID=126&BlogPostID=9104 Black Narcissus, one of the books on my shelf. Nuns in a remote Himalayan convent feel the effects of the local culture and the relative isolation of their mountain retreat. This beautifully written novel was made into a very successful film-noire Hollywood movie starring Deborah Kerr back in 1947. Although Godden's work may seem a little dated to some readers, I find her stories compelling and her writing some of the best. Check it out on my shelf.

]]> euroms48 Mon, 06 Jun 2011 15:46:13 GMT http://engagedpatrons.org/Blogs.cfm?SiteID=7590&BlogID=126&BlogPostID=9096 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 film hadn't generated much interest. However, in the last couple of months, a whole new generation of readers seems to have rediscovered the wizardly tale, and many of the volumes are now on reserve. Of course, there is a lot more hype recently with the upcoming release of the last film coming in July, but I think it's more significant than that. The series is a classic, and in many years to come, as young children reach the right age to begin, they will find it. If you are an adult, and you haven't read it, you might want to give it a try as well. It contains many of the elements that avid readers look for in a good novel-compelling characters, ingenius plot, and the ability to carry us away to another place.

]]> euroms48 Sat, 04 Jun 2011 12:56:46 GMT http://engagedpatrons.org/Blogs.cfm?SiteID=7590&BlogID=126&BlogPostID=8583 Cover Her Face was the first of her acclaimed Inspector Dalgliesh series, and it is detective fiction of the classic kind. A cozy country house, a tightly knit family group, a brazen interloper-this novel has all the elements of a good English mystery. The character of the detective is not yet quite developed-we are just getting to know Dalgliesh, and his backstory is only partially revealed. Once you get a taste of P. D. James, you will most probably want more.

]]> euroms48 Sun, 06 Mar 2011 10:10:12 GMT http://engagedpatrons.org/Blogs.cfm?SiteID=7590&BlogID=126&BlogPostID=8266 Angel's Flight by Michael Connelly. In my efforts to entice more people to try some of our audio books, I sampled one of America's most popular authors of police detective fiction to tell you about. Connelly's Detective Harry Bosch finds himself pulled from his regular Hollywood beat in order to investigate the murder of  influential civil rights attorney, Howard Elias. Almost at once, Bosch realizes that something isn't quite right, and that he and his team are being put into the middle of a tense situation pitting police against mobs of angry citizens. Harry is an irresistible guy-tough, rough around the edges, but loyal to his friends and capable of great depth of feeling. He is surround by a wealth of interesting characters, and placed into a plot which keeps you guessing to the end. This particular novel is available in hardcover as well as on tape, but Dick Hill's reading on the audio version is superb. Other Bosch adventures, some on CD, are also in the library's collection. 

]]> euroms48 Tue, 11 Jan 2011 17:00:17 GMT http://engagedpatrons.org/Blogs.cfm?SiteID=7590&BlogID=126&BlogPostID=8244 True Grit, I was reminded of a vivid literary memory. I read the 1968 novel, True Grit, by Charles Portis when it first came out, and have long considered it one of my favorites reading experiences, even though I am not a big fan of the western in general. I was encouraged to pick up this little gem again, and I was not disappointed. It definitely deserves to be considered a classic of its genre. The adventures of Mattie Ross and her protectors, Rooster Cogburn and Ranger LeBoef, serve as a delectable little tidbit of Americana, mixed with true originality on the part of Portis. If you prefer, try the 1969 film version with John Wayne, Kim Darby, and Glen Campbell. Both book and DVD are available for loan at the library. As for the new film just released, I for one can't wait to see it!   

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