Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me by Chelsea Handler, et. al

Taryn's comments: 

I’m a big fan of the E! network show Chelsea Lately, and I have read and enjoyed all of comedian Chelsea Handler’s books so far.  Her latest book is a little different from the others in that her friends, family, and co-workers are given a chance to tell their side of the story for a change. Chelsea enjoys playing tricks on those closest to her, and sooner or later they all fall prey to her shenanigans. Her elaborate practical jokes are described in this book by the embarrassed “victims”. Each chapter is written by a different friend, family member, or co-worker, and Chelsea adds a short commentary at the end of each person’s story. Despite all the pranks, they still love Chelsea.

As a fan of the show and a reader of Chelsea’s other books, most of the people who contributed to this book were familiar names to me already. It was interesting to learn more about their lives and experience each person’s unique brand of humor. In the audiobook version, each person narrates their own chapter, but surprisingly, Chelsea does not narrate her own comments. That disappointed me a little bit because I would have loved to hear her deliver some of those lines. Nevertheless, I found the audiobook to be laugh-out-loud funny and would recommend it to any fans of Chelsea Lately looking for an entertaining read. Fair warning – there is quite a bit of crass humor, so if that bothers you, this may not be the best choice. Otherwise, enjoy!

New Adult Nonfiction, 814.6 HAN

Also available as a downloadable audiobook

Audiobooks That Inspire: The Last Lecture and The Council of Dads

Taryn's comments: 

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

Randy Pausch, a professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon was asked to share his wisdom in a “last lecture.” While it’s a common practice for professors to give such talks as if they were their last, Pausch had recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer, so he knew that the talk would literally be his final lecture. Deciding to focus on the theme of “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams,” Pausch wrote and delivered a talk that would inspire millions when a video of the lecture spread on the internet.  This is the story of the man behind the lecture as he lives out his last days and leaves a legacy for his family.

AV Books on CD, 204 PAU

The Council of Dads by Bruce Feiler

When bestselling author Bruce Feiler was diagnosed with cancer, he was devastated to think that his young twin daughters might grow up without a father. He decided to reach out to six different men and ask them to join a group that he named “The Council of Dads.” These six men represented different parts of Feiler’s life, and he asked them to be there for his daughters as they grew older and needed guidance from a father figure. He chose the men carefully based on which life lessons he would hope his daughters could learn from them. This is the story about the way one man faced one of life’s greatest challenges, and it inspires readers to ponder what is most important in their lives. 

AV Books on CD, BKCD BIO FEILER

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

Kendra's comments: 


This was a terrific audiobook. The story captivated and held my attention the whole time. It was pretty fun how I would get lulled into the story and I would find myself in a certain mood and drawn into the "normal" aspects of the relationships discussed in the book and then all of a sudden the "fantasy" elements would just pop up, often in abrupt ways. It was funny and not awkward, just caught me off guard with the audiobook version.

This is a great read for someone wanting a mix of chick lit and romance with a little magic thrown in. It reminded me a little of Chocolat (which is a book I love!). 

Print book: Adult Fiction, ALL

Audiobook available through Evergreen

eBook available for download

Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde

Kendra's comments: 

I knew Jasper Fforde was an extremely gifted fantasy writer when I read several books in the Thursday Next series several months ago.  I just finished listening to the audio version of Shades of Grey, a new series for Fforde, and have only positive feedback to offer about his writing.

I appreciated the witty, fast pace of this novel.  In Fforde’s fantasy world, Eddie Russett is living in a world with a skewed vision of color.  The classes are determined by the color each individual is able to see naturally, without the use of artificial additives.  Eddie can only red, for instance.  Purple is the highest color class of all.  Marriages are designed to create the best color combinations, and the leaders of this world force everyone to operate by a very strict set of rules that provides no opportunities for creativity, individual thought, or innovation. 

This creative novel forces one to think about humanity and the power of individual choice.  Greenwood Public Library owns the audio version of this book and it is available for checkout.  The British reader for this title, John Lee, is very talented and is entertaining to listen to.

When Fish Fly: Lessons for Creating a Vital and Energized Workplace by John Yokoyama

Kendra's comments:

Through various news stories over the years, I have heard about the throwing fish mongers at Pike Place Fish Market in Seattle.  As a food lover, this is a place that I am eager to visit one day.  I did not realize what an amazing business model the market is, and that a number of small businesses, large corporations, and school districts have used the lessons the market has adapted over the years to positively shift the way every employee, supervisor, and owner sees themselves and the impact of their work on the world. 

Pike Place Fish Market has been around for over forty years.  They were doing okay and getting by, but the owner, John Yokoyama, wanted to try to expand the business into the wholesale fish business about twenty years ago.  This failed miserably, and the business was in danger of going under.  Instead of giving up, however, he sought the advice of a coach who helped him to reframe his thinking.  He re-evaluated how he viewed his management style, his employees, and the future of his business.  Yokoyama explored what his business would look like if he was able to create a new vision for his business along with his employees, and that there might be a greater purpose to his business than just selling fish.      

This is a powerful little book about the power of positive thinking.  I hope my coworkers will take a few hours and listen to this message, and I believe it would serve anyone working in any kind of organization well.  GPL owns the audio version of this book, and it is available for checkout.  If you prefer to read the print version of the book and have an Evergreen card, you may place it on hold through our catalog. 

The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia Wrede

Emily's comments:

Book One: Dealing with Dragons


Cimorene is not your average princess. Tired of etiquette and embroidery, she runs away from home and elects to be a dragon's princess. Normally a dragon's princess must be captured and held hostage until the day a prince comes to challenge the beast for her safe return. But not Cimorene. After convincing the dragon Kazul to "capture" her, Cimorene spends most of her days cleaning caves and organizing her new friend's library. She also spends a great deal of time avoiding the advances of each and every prince that comes to "rescue" her from "danger." When Cimorene uncovers a wizard plot against the kingdom of the dragons, she will do whatever it takes to save her new scaly friends and the life she has created for herself.


Check status at GPL / place book on hold. (Also available as an audiobook).


Book Two: Searching for Dragons


In the second installment of the Enchanted Forest Chronicles, Zemenar, Head Wizard of the Society of Wizards, is causing more trouble for Cimorene and the dragons. After discovering that part of the Enchanted Forest has been destroyed and Kazul has been captured, King Mendenbar teams up with Cimorene to rescue the beast and save the kingdom. This exciting adventure is filled with unruly magic carpets, dissatisfied giants, and Herman, a descendant of Rumplestiltskin.

Check status at GPL / place book on hold. (Also available as an audiobook). 

Book Three: Calling on Dragons


Morwen, a witch living in the Enchanted Forest, discovers that the Society of Wizards have stolen King Mendenbar's magical sword, and the power of the Enchanted Forest is in grave danger. With the help of Cimorene, Kazul, and the magician Telemain, Morwen sets out on a journey that takes her beyond the borders of the forest to retrieve the sword and stop the Society of Wizards from destroying the Enchanted Forest.

Check status at GPL / place book on hold. (Also available as an audiobook). 

The Enchanted Forest Chronicles are filled to the brim with adventure, friendship, and magic. Author Patricia Wrede cleverly mixes common fairy tales and mythical stereotypes into each story. Cimorene is a welcomed strong, independent protagonist that fits well into the fantastical genre. If you want a quick, fun read, definitely consider Wrede's series. Or you can pick up the audiobooks. Most of them are only five discs long and are read by a full cast which is a lot of fun. I've really enjoyed listening to each title on my way to work in the morning, and I can't wait to start Book Four, Talking to Dragons! 

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (2009 Newbery Medal winner)

Taryn's comments: 

When Bod was a tiny child, his entire family was murdered one gruesome night. Miraculously, Bod escaped and wandered into a graveyard. It was then that the ghosts of the graveyard promised to raise Bod as one of their own, giving him the name "Nobody Owens" (Bod for short).

This book has a really great opening line – “There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife.” This statement grabs your interest and makes you want to know what will happen next. It also sets the tone for the book. Immediately you know that someone is in danger.

This was an engaging reading experience for me. I felt wonder, amusement, sadness, fear, and anger along with Bod as he grew up. I loved the twist in this ghost story. Usually ghosts are not desirable companions, but these ghosts are Bod’s family and friends. They protect him from the danger of the world outside the graveyard. They say it takes a village to raise a child. In Bod’s case, it takes a graveyard.

I’ve heard that Neil Gaiman drew inspiration from The Jungle Book. Both books tell a coming-of-age tale about an orphaned boy raised in a strange environment. It would be interesting to read the books together. 

I listened to the audiobook version, which was read by the author. The print version of the book has some fantastically creepy illustrations that are not to be missed out on, though. I recommend reading both!

Check status at GPL or place the book on hold. (Also available as an audiobook.)

Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd (audiobook)

Taryn's comments:
This book is set in 1981 in Northern Ireland near the north/south border. In some ways, Fergus is just a typical 17-year-old boy preparing for his A-level exams and his driver's exam. However, his family is caught up in the "Troubles," and his parents have contrasting ideas about their son Joe's involvement with the IRA (Irish Republican Army). Joe is imprisoned an on hunger strike. Meanwhile, Fergus makes a startling discovery in a local peat bog: a dead body. It appears to him that it is the body of a little girl. Who was this bog child? Why was her body in the bog? These are just a few of the questions Fergus is determined to answer.

Listening to the audiobook was a wonderful experience, as it was narrated by an Irish woman (Sile Bermingham). Hearing the story with her Irish accent really helped me feel connected to the setting and the characters. She created different voices for all the characters and stayed true to the dialects of the various geographical areas in the novel.

I loved this author's writing style, and I thought it was interesting that she wove the story of the bog child into Fergus's story. Dowd created interesting and believable characters. This is an excellent piece of historical fiction, and it gave me a good sense of what it was like to live in Ireland in the early 1980s. I did have to look up a few words or phrases, though, since I am not very familiar with that time period.

Check status at GPL.