Twenty Wishes by Debbie Macomber

From Patty:

I should inform you first that I am a little biased as far as Debbie Macomber is concerned. I love her books and wait breathlessly for the next one to come out. I am especially partial to her Cedar Cove series, the Blossom street series and her angel series. But this book, Twenty Wishes, probably hit home a little more than her others. It centers on a group of widowers who patronize the shops on Blossom Street, be it the bookstore or the kntting store. One Valentine's Day, this group of women get together and they are inspired to create lists of wishes, ultimately twenty, of things they have always wanted to do but have not done. Some of the wishes end up being very broad in translation and some are very specific. But once they start to make their wishes come true, they change. Their thinking and attitudes. Some even find romance and love. But mostly hope. I read the book in one sitting as I was drawn into the characters and what wishes they listed. I was interested in what they felt was important to put on their lists. And of course fascinated as to how they achieved their goals.

So I was motivated by this book to create my own list of Twenty wishes. Now, I will tell you it isn't easy. You start to question the reasons for things on your list. Whether they are conceivable financially or logically. Like putting "World Peace" on there is probably a waste of a wish. Nice but really unrealistic. I haven't completed my list yet, but I have ideas. At the least the list is opening up possibilities for things that were missing in my life and things that I quit enjoying for one reason or another. And experiences that I would really like to have before I am too old to enjoy them.

This was a very worthy and fun read , as most of her books are. And I highly recommend all her books to everyone. I just wish since she writes a lot of Dakota books, oh yeah, I liked that series too, she would come for book signings here.

Patricia Reed

Acquisitions Specialist
Chester Fritz Library
University of North Dakota
3051 University Ave Stop 9000
Grand Forks, ND 58202-9000

Don Quixote's Delusions: Travels in Castilian Spain

From Reanne:

Confession: even though I am an avid hispanophile, I have never read Cervantes's Don Quixote. I came across Miranda France's Don Quixote's Delusions: Travels in Castilian Spain by accident the other day in the library and it had me hooked from the first page. In her excellent narrative spanning two sojourns to Spain (the first in the late 1980s, the second a decade later) France effortlessly guides her readers through 400 years of Spanish history, plus Cervantes massive 1,000 page tome, all while relating both to real and fictive characters past and present. Don Quixote's Delusions: Travels in Castilian Spain is a masterfully crafted travelogue, book review, treatise on the Spanish character, and historical narrative all rolled into a one neat, highly readable and enjoyable book. From the description, one might be wary of the intense subject matter and density of both Cervantes's Don Quixote and Spanish history (hey, it is summer after all!) but France is a natural story-teller. This book is ideal for arm-chair historians, undergrads, and everyday people who appreciate fast-moving, informative books. A+ and highly recommended.

Reanne Eichele

Unaffiliated member of the library

Wondrous

In February I'd mentioned Junot Diaz and his incredible book The brief wondrous life of Oscar Wao. I said our book club chose to read it because he's a "hot" writer. He's gotten even hotter as the recent Pulitzer Prize Winner.

Funny thing is that I never finished the book, then I went to writer's conference and was blown away by him, and I said to my bookclub friends "Wow I have to finish reading that book. He's awesome!" Why didn't I finish the book in the first place? Partly because I didn't want to tie up the library's copy right before the conference but also because the characters and setting didn't quite "click" with me.

As an undergrad I studied in English Lit in a small private college. I was steeped in tales written by (white) men who lived in England hundreds of years ago. Even though I'd never circled London's stately parks in a horse and carriage, hiding my glances at eligible bachelors beneath a parasol, etc etc, I could certainly imagine it.

Thanks to my book club I've gotten a taste vastly different cultures -- India, China, Turkey, Afghanistan for example, but they've been portrayed by voices similar to my English Literature heroes. Not so with Diaz. Bam! Right from the start I'm steeped in the history and superstition of the Dominican Republic conveyed in a language and manner I don't quite recognize. He uses slang and Spanish words throughout--sometimes offering a translation in the footnotes and sometimes not.

Now my desire to finish the book is renewed because of the recent publicity. Check out the transcript of an interview with him on the CBS Sunday Morning Show and you'll get a taste for the book and why Diaz wrote it.

And please, make sure to venture out of your "comfort zone" from time to time -- you'll be glad you did!
Kristen

June Bug

Last night I was sitting in my living room, engrossed in a mystery, when something kept running into the screen behind me, buzzing madly. I had to smile, since it was quite appropriate--yes, it was a June bug, and what was I reading? That's right--Jess Lourey's June Bug.

There's lots of regional interest in this book. When I think of summer, I think of fishing, for example. Not that I fish, mind you. It's something I like in theory but not in practice. But I'm happy to sit in the boat, getting sunburned and eating Nut Goodies. And since I'm a librarian, I'm partial to Mira, the main character.

Here's the really cool thing: Jess is going to be in Fargo at the B&N there on June 11 from 5-7, and in Moorhead at the public library on June 12 at 6:30. Kristen and I are planning to head down to Fargo on the 11th or to Moorhead on the 12th to say hi to Jess.

So if you're planning a road trip in the next couple of weeks either to Fargo or points east, you might want to check out Jess's website with her Appearances list. And maybe we'll see you in Fargo or Moorhead!

Janet

Summer Reading List

It's summer, and you know what that means. Lolling in the sun. Baking at the lake. Swigging lemonade from frosty glasses.

And summer reading lists.

Kristen, did you have those when you were in school? They were usually classic novels--not that there's anything wrong with classic novels!--but the perfect summer reading list will have more than that.

I always wanted a teacher to say, Janet, go out and read every mystery you can get ahold of. They'll sharpen your logic skills, make you an involved reader, and teach characterization. Plus, nothing beats a good mystery when you're out in the sun with a lemonade, or stuck inside while a good North Dakota storm thunders its way across the plains.

Here's my reading list--Jess Lourey's Murder by Month series. We'll go through the summer, reading the appropriate month's novel. Obviously, we'll start with May Day and go from there.

I'm off to get some lemonade....


Janet

Reading the Covers?

Janet,

On our trips to Barnes & Noble I notice that you have strong opinions about book cover designs. I hear a lot of eewww from you. I stay away from the Mystery section so I am not as bothered by it ;-) This Spring I learned in my Visual Persuasion class about the controversy surrounding the cover of Reading Lolita in Tehran. A stock AP photo was cropped to make two Arab women look as though they were reading racy novel Lolita rather than the political newspaper actually held in their hands.

Why am I talking about covers? Because currently we have a display of sheet music covers right outside the Reading Room (where the popular reading collection is kept). These covers are just some of the recipients of the Music Publisher Association’s Revere Award – examples of “outstanding examples of graphic design.” Art, Music, or Graphic Design students may be especially interested in the display—come to the library soon though because we’ll pack them up at the end of the month. The images of this year and previous years’ winner are available online.

Looking forward to our lunch date and Barnes and Noble this week when we nail down our exciting plans for the summer! Kristen

Review: A Clockwork Orange

Book: A Clockwork Orange
Author: Anthony Burgess

Fiction/Dystopian Fiction

This novel is a must read and exposes the fragility of the human condition within the strict dichotomy of good and evil. Burgess’ linguistic exploration is beautiful in his utilization of cadence and rhythm. Through this specified rhythm he dissects and creates a fantastic and jarring portrait of violence. In the end, Burgess leaves me to wonder how far we each have placated ourselves in order for any one of us to transform into a clockwork orange. The Chester Fritz Library has a few publications of A Clockwork Orange and each one offers a glimpse into the alterations that occur when an author’s work is published. I would suggest reading the most recent publication because it is fully restored whereas the early versions have a missing chapter and may include a glossary of terms; both of which I believe reduces the integrity of the novel in its entirety.

Stephanie Clark
Sophomore