Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Plan B by Jonathan Tropper

Five college friends are turning thirty and taking stock of their lives.  None of them are where they thought they would be.  One of them is Jack Shaw, famous movie star with a cocaine habit that is about to derail his life and career.  After a failed intervention his friends decide to kidnap and take him to upstate New York where they plan to help him through detox.  This turns out to be no simple matter and as they deal with the consequences each of their lives changes as they forge bonds platonic and otherwise.  Check out Plan B @ the library!

Friday, December 14, 2012

One for the Books by Joe Queenan

If you are inclined to read to friends within earshot funny or insightful or even maddening statements from the book you are reading, I suggest you read One for the Books only when you are alone. Otherwise, you may read the entire book twice, once silently and once out loud. Joe Queenan has been a passionate reader since childhood and he has passionate opinions about books: the books he has read, the books he plans to read, the books he refuses to read, the books his friends have read, the books his friends recommend to him, why people read, where people read, bookstores, libraries, book clubs and summer reading lists. And he uses his sharp wit to comment on these subjects. You are bound to be insulted by his opinion of one or more of your favorite books. You might bristle at his opinions of book clubs. You will be shocked by his views of libraries. But you will always be amused and entertained, and you will always be engaged. You may agree when he defines hagiography as books “written by dopes in the service of doofuses.” In fact, you may want to say, “That’s exactly what I was thinking,” Don’t! The author has definite opinions on that phrase. You may disagree and want to scream, “My Friend Flicka is not a cheerful book!” or, “But I love The Kite Runner!” In fact, you will either agree or disagree with virtually everything he writes. After all, you are also a passionate reader or you wouldn’t be reading a book about reading books. In the end, the author writes movingly about why people read, explaining how avid readers use books to both connect with and escape from the world. This book will make you proud to be bookish.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

America Again: Re-Becoming the Greatness We Never Weren't by Stephen Colbert

If you are a member of the Colbert Nation, this book is for you! And really, who is not a member? Perish the thought. What does Colbert think about elections, Wall Street, energy, etc? Read this book and find out in way too much detail. In fact, this book is so relentlessly Stephen Colbert I could only read a chapter at a time. It took awhile to finish. Only for the truly committed (and I mean that in every sense of “the word”) Stephen Colbert fan. “The word” - is that trademarked? If you want more laughs from Stephen Colbert after watching The Colbert Report, put America Again on your list!  In the words of the author himself - "If there's a better book than this, I haven't written it!"

Friday, December 7, 2012

Freading

Are you an eBook reader? Are you bogged down by wait lists, and getting books in right when you don't have time to read? Then check out the West Allis Public Library's newest eReading resource: Freading!

Open to West Allis resident library card holders, Freading gives you a chance to check out eBooks when you have time to read. Everything on the site is available for immediate download to your eReader. Apps are available for most wireless devices, as well as a traditional USB cord transfer.

West Allis residents are given 10 tokens a week to check out current and past titles. The newest titles are 4 tokens, while slightly older titles are 2 and the oldest are 1. Books go out for 2 weeks, and most can be renewed token free once. Tokens roll over for up to four weeks.

Check out titles in categories like romance, history, non-Fiction, juvenile and more. New titles are being added every week and the best part is instant downloads!

Two quick catches: this is only avaiable to West Allis residents with vaild West Allis library cards. Not a West Allis resident? Contact the library where you live to see if they subscribe to Freading. Also, currently the only Kindle that works with Freading is the Kindle Fire.

Check out our library website for more information, give us a call or stop in the library!

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

The Magicians by Lev Grossman

Quentin, a high school senior, enjoys  reading a series of fantasy novels taking place in a magical land called Fillory.  He’s miserable because his life doesn’t measure up to the excitement in the books.  Then he’s invited to attend a secret, private magician’s college and learns sorcery and other life lessons.  He graduates but feels something is still missing.  Then he learns his friends have discovered that Fillory is real.  Now Quentin has a purpose and a mission.  First check out The Magicians, then continue to follow Quentin’s adventures in the sequel, The Magician King.