To continue our monthly series of book lists, the staff of the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library would like to share with you some of their favorite reads.
September, 2008 -- Recommended Reads by Library Staff
Ashley Baird, Shipping Department
My Year of Meats by Ruth L. Ozeki. In her first work of fiction, Ruth L. Ozeki follows American filmmaker Jane Takagi-Little as she produces a TV series marketing American meat to Japanese housewives. As she travels the US to film, Jane becomes increasingly alarmed by the realities of industrial meat production, and she learns that the “authentic American family” she has been told to portray is very difficult to define. In addition to crafting great characters, Ozeki uses her own background as a documentarian to fill the novel with provocative and well-researched details. Cassette book RC 49685.
Alan Bentson, Readers' Advisor
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. Henry is a man who suffers from Chrono-Displacement Impairment, a condition which causes him to involuntarily travel to different parts of his life. When Clare, the title character, first meets Henry she is six and he is 28 and traveling back from the future. When he meets Clare for the first time, he is 20 years old and doesn’t know that he’s actually been friends with her for a long, long time. An intriguing first novel which combines elements of fantasy, romance, and literary fiction to tell a story that is both challenging to read and emotionally powerful. Cassette book RC 57102. Large Print book LP 20355.
Theresa Connolly, Book Recording Department
Language of the Geckos and Other Stories by Gary Pak. In his thought-provoking short stories, Gary Pak blasts the image of serene Hawaii into smithereens. He presents people driven by rage, worn down by isolation, and toppled by the obstacles of poverty, biases and fear. His characters turn to unlikely, sometimes magical, solutions for infertility, companionship, and basic survival. It comes as a blessed relief when someone acts as a true friend or triumphs because these are not heartless people, but characters run ragged by a harsh world. Cassette book CBA 7962 Braille book BRW 1134.
David Junius, Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator
Miles: The Autobiography by Miles Davis. A modern jazz pioneer whose anger at life propelled him to constantly reinvent himself over a 40 year career, Miles Davis’ autobiography is told in a straightforward and unsentimental way. As one of the most famous musicians of the 20th century, his story crosses over into many areas of history and culture. Cassette book RC 33198.
Beneath the Underdog: His World as Composed by Mingus by Charles Mingus. A contemporary of Davis and equally as angry, jazz bassist and composer Charles Mingus shows a different kind of genius both through his life and in his presentation of it. As surreal as Davis is gritty, Mingus’ humor, references, and writing style command extra attention. Cassette book RC 63336.
Danielle King, Program Manager
A Game of Thrones: Book One of A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin. High fantasy and intricately woven narratives create a rich world where seasons last for decades and nothing is certain. Knights and warriors battle for power across the Seven Kingdoms, and dangerous men and women will stop at nothing in their quest for the throne. Meanwhile, the Others are preparing to invade from the North as winter approaches. Cassette book RC 45742.
Kathryn Pierce, Children's Librarian
Surely You’re Joking Mr. Feynman: Adventures of a Curious Character by Richard P. Feynman. In this autobiographical work, the Nobel-winning physicist Richard P. Feynman tells stories of his early career. His focus on human foibles and his own penchant for practical jokes make this a fascinating and amusing read. Cassette book RC 21503.
Rick Slama, Shipping Department
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke. When Mr. Norrell reveals his ability to perform spells, English magic is reborn. In addition to chronicling Norrell’s relationship with his protégé, Jonathan Strange, the novel looks at their supernatural involvement with the Napoleonic Wars, evil faeries, and the Raven King, England’s original magician. Cassette book RC 58885.
Frankenstein: Or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley. Nearly 200 years after its publication, the story of scientist Victor Frankenstein harried by his monstrous creation still stands as one of fiction’s most thoughtful and frightening considerations of man’s relationship with the natural world and what can go wrong when ambition outstrips understanding. Cassette book RC 25835. Spanish language cassette book RC 25706. Braille book BR 12173. Large Print LP 6845.
Joyce Van Tuyl, Braille Coordinator
Plainsong by Kent Haruf. Two crusty bachelor brothers caring for a pregnant teenager? These are just two of the unforgettable residents of Holt, Colorado. You won’t believe it’s fiction! Cassette book RC 49056. Braille book BRW 1043. Large print book LP 16813.
Lara Weigand, Adult Librarian
Little Green Men by Christopher Buckley. A secret government agency has been staging alien abductions for decades to scare foreign enemies into thinking that the US has obtained alien technologies and to keep the defense budget high. A bored agent grows tired of “abducting” semi-credible Midwestern farm wives and instead arranges for a famous TV pundit to be kidnapped, causing a hilarious chain of events. Cassette book RC050073.
Link to previous Recommended Reads.