Recommended Read: Humans of New York: Stories by Brandon Stanton

This is the kind of book to read when you're looking for something sneakily soulful. Photographer Brandon Stanton has put together a fascinating book based on his blog. Stanton went around New York City and took portraits of people and includes a usually short, often very personal, quote from the subjects. He elicits some intimate information from these people. Although the book isn't laid out in a particular order, he often juxtapositions entries that are connected by theme of the subjects' statements or because the subjects have similarities in life circumstance.

The photos are lovely, but it is the quotes that ultimately resonate. Some statements are devastating ("I found my mom's meth stash when I was four." "What'd you do with it?" "I ate it."). Some statements are insightful ("My ex-girlfriend seemed to love me a lot more than I loved her, so I made the mistake of thinking I didn't love her." or "For the longest time, I was so focused on being deaf in my left ear that I almost forgot my other ear was perfectly fine."). Some statements are complicated and lengthy, others are simple and to the point (an older gentleman states "It takes a hell of a lot of pills to keep me going."). It doesn't matter that these people live in New York. These are lives and stories one could find in any city or town. It's good to be reminded of our humanity sometimes.

Humans of New York: Stories by Brandon Stanton
Find it in the catalog!

Podcast Obsession: The Planet Money Podcast

Lest you think I’m responsible citizen of the world, just saying the words “global economy” pretty much puts me to sleep.  I had one measly economics class in college, and it was the only course I took pass/ fail.  Usually thinking about the economy makes me a little confused and a lot scared.  So, I’m not exactly the target audience for this NPR podcast.  

However, after hearing a plug for the show on the Slate Culture Gabfest (another podcast favorite), I checked out Planet Money and it has since become one of my favorite podcasts.  The show has a unique perspective on the global economy, and always finds unique and quirky ways to highlight different economic issues. For instance, they recently had a show on cattle theft in Oklahoma and the special agent who tracks down the thieves (Episode 583: Cow Noir).  Another recent show (Episode 575: The Fondue Conspiracy) described how fondue’s popularity was actually caused by the dominance of the Swiss Cheese Union in Switzerland during the early part of 20th century.  

The show’s various hosts and reporters are good at explaining economic theories and principles while still being interesting and fun; so even economic neophytes like myself understand and remain entertained.  The podcasts are always enjoyable and are sometimes very funny.  While I certainly haven’t become an economic genius from listening to show, I do have a better grasp of world issues and can occasionally make smart chatter at dinner parties.  Fans of Freakonomics would probably enjoy the show. Although, I personally like Planet Money quite bit more than those books.  It’s worth a listen whether or not economic issues are something you are super interested in.  The show is a spin off the NPR juggernaut, This American Life, so fan of that show may enjoy it as well.

For more information on Planet Money check out their blog on NPR, or listen to the podcast.

Check out our new eNewsletter for fiction fans

Whether your a fan of sit on the edge of your seat thrillers or nice light romances, odds are you'll find something useful in our newest eNewsletter for Fiction Lovers.  The latest edition has some sound advice on judging a book by its cover.

Record Books

 Imagine if your favorite album was also a novel.  Graphic designer Christophe Gowans re-imagined several classic (or cult classic) albums as books.  He even includes fictional synopsizes of the books.  The albums converted into books include everything from the Pixies (Surfer Rosa) to Bruce Springtsteen (Born To Run) to Alanis Morissette (Jagged Little Pill).  Two of my favorites include Prince's Purple Rain, which is turned into a pulpy Sci-Fi novel, and Boston's self-titled album, which is a phone book.  Check out all of the books on Gowans's website. 

New York Public Library's "Mad Men" Reading List

If you are a dedicated fan of AMC's Mad Men (and I'm just going to assume that you are), you know that the characters frequently reference books and films specific to the show's 1960s milieu. One of the more notable examples would be Don Draper's  moving voice-over recitation of a poem by Frank O'Hara in the second season. But even the more casual glimpses of what books the characters are interested in can be revealing. Don's daughter, Sally, reads age-appropriate Nancy Drew mysteries. Bert Cooper, not surprisingly, extols the virtues of Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand's 1100-page love letter to the free market. The ladies of the secretarial pool whisper about Lady Chatterley's Lover, the genuinely racy D.H. Lawrence novel that was the subject of an influential obscenity trial in 1959. These are just a few of the many literary works that have been spotted on Mad Men. And, for that reason, we can thank the fine librarians at the New York Public Library for compiling a fairly extensive list of the books cited throughout the show's run. Needless to say, you can search our catalog for any of the titles that interest you.

The 'Mad Men' Reading List - New York Public Library

Beyond Egg Nog: Get in the Holiday Spirits

Egg Nog is probably the most dreaded of holiday drinks.  Heavy, difficult to make (who wants to separate eggs for a cockatil!), and high in calories, you can probably do better.  Thankfully we have a whole bunch of cocktail drinks to help you discover the perfect drink for your next holiday party!:

Craft of the Cocktail by Dale DeGroff (2002).
641.874 DEG
Find it in the Catalog!

Dale DeGroff is one of the most well-known bartenders in the world and is credited with creating the modern Cosmo.  This book is a great reference guide to all things cocktails.  There are primers on cocktail ingredients, bar tools, and creating garnishes.  If you are starting to become a cocktail nerd, this book is perfect for you.  But even seasoned mixologist will find something to admire in DeGroff's 500 recipes!

Crowd Pleasers:  The Bloody Mary Buffet (p. 88-9) screams winter brunch.  DeGroff is known in part for the Cosmo, so you might want to check out either the original or one of his variants (Cosmopolitan Delight, Strawberry Cosmo, all on p. 108). 

Heather Recommends:  The Absinthe no.2 (p.72) is one of the more palatable ways to partake in the green fairy, but it's only recommended if you are familiar with absinthe's acquired taste and can handle it's extremely high proof.  It's a drink best sipped.  The Aviation (p.78) is a nice smooth gin drink accented with lemon and maraschino cherry liqueur. 

The Essential Cocktail by Dale DeGroff (2008) .
641.874 DEG
Find it in the catalog!

While Craft of Cocktail has volume on it's side, Essential Cocktail goes into greater detail about the drinks included.  Also, almost all drinks are accompanied by a picture (for you visual drinkers).  This is a great book to learn about the history of a drink as well as the techniques of making a drink work.

Crowd Pleasers:  The Chai Toddy (p. 52) sound like a nice twist on a classic winter drink.  Kir (p.82) is always a nice brunch cocktail or aperitif.  I make a variation called Rose Royale which use Chicago-based Koval Distillery's Rose Hip Liqueur.  Port-Whiskey Punch (p. 204) sounds like a fine winter punch, as I'm for anything with whiskey in the colder months.


Heather Recommends:  The Manhattan (p. 32) is probably my favorite classic cocktail besides the Old Fashioned.  Simple, elegant, it never goes out of style.  But I garnish with three cherries instead of DeGroff's recommend one.  

Jellyshot Test Kitchen by Michelle Palm (2011).
641. 874 PAU
Find it in the catalog!

I'm more of a cocktail person, but these jelly shots look really cute and impressive.  They are sure to liven up any New Year's Eve party. The author gives lots of instructions on how to make different shapes and recipes are ranked by difficulty.  They have Shirley Temple shots too. 


Crowd Pleasers:  The Cucumber-Lime Saketini (p.80) looks so cute served in a soup spoon.  Grasshopper (p.100) is a minty holiday drink.  Peanut Butter and Jelly Martini (p. 144) and White Chocolate Martini (p.171) will probably appeal to drinkers who like sweet drinks.  The Pink Squirrel (p. 151) looks so adorable and has a great name.

Heather recommends:  I don't do Jelly Shots, but curiosity would make me try the Old Fashioned (p.143) or the Side Car (p.16).   The Lemon Drop sounds okay too (p. 115).

Mix Shake Stir by Danny Meyer (2009).
 641.874 MEY
 Find it in the catalog!

This book is for do-it-yourselfers who don't mind infusing their own liquor or making their own lavender syrup.  I'm a little too lazy to make most of the cocktails in this book.  However, I appreciate the author's selection seasonal cocktails.  Also, these drinks are definitely show stoppers.  So if you want to impress your friends and family, highly recommended.

Crowd Pleasers:  There are a whole bunch of winter drinks here that look delicious: Winter Vacation (p.113) which combines scotch, creme de violette, and lavender, Winter Solstice (p.136) a combo of rosemary pear nectar and brandy, and Winter Mojito (p. 166) which is accented with dark rum and drunken cranberries.  The Kentucky Cream (p.173) sounds like a classy version of egg nog.  Also, I love that it is served in a mason jar.

Heather Recommends:  Their version of the Old Fashioned (p.26) sounds like the dressed up version of my everyday version.

Speakeasy by Jason Kosmas and Dushan Zaric (2010).
641.874 KOS
Find it in the catalog!

This is by my far my favorite book on the list.  Written by the guys behind Employees Only, a hot NYC cocktail bar, this book is full of interesting twists on classic drinks.  They do have some syrups and bitters you have to DIY, but many of the drinks can be made with relative ease.  Best of all, Kosmas and Zaric are huge cocktail nerds, you get lots of cocktail history here!

Crowd Pleasers: Amelia (p.61) is a blackberry martini with hints of elderberry- fruity but not too sweet.  I haven't got around to making Fraise Sauvage yet, a which combines champagne, gin and strawberries, but it sounds like a winning combo.  It's on the shortlist for my own holiday party menu.

Heather recommends:  The Negroni (p.42) has steadily become my go-to-drink.  It's a smoky and complex combination of Campari, gin, and vermouth.  I use Old Tom gin, which helps eliminate any bitter aftertaste.  I'm also a big fan its sister drink, the Boulevardier, which has whiskey instead of gin. 

Web resource:  Cocktalia is my number one resource for drink recipes.  There is a big selection of both mainstream and more obscure drinks.  The site's blogger honestly appraises recipes: how they turned out and what he would change.  I've found many winners.

Crowd Pleasers:  The Calvados Cocktail is an appletini done right: it's not green, it isn't too sweet, and it doesn't have vodka in it.  However, it's accessible to pretty much anyone.  The Dingbat is a pleasant, sweet whiskey drink made with orange juice and Lillet Blanc.  The Gin-Gin-Gin Mule is a nice summer drink that would probably hold up in the winter.  Instead of ginger syrup, I use Koval's ginger liqueur. 

Heather Recommends:  I've linked to some of my favorites all ready.  Additionally, I love the French Gimlet, a combo of gin, St. Germain Elderflower liqueur and lime.  I use Ransom Old Tom gin which makes the cocktail look gold and cuts the bitterness.  Corpse Reviver #2 dates back to pre-prohibition times and is truly delicious.  This could be a crowd pleaser, but it's hard to make en masse.  Also, I serve mine with a maraschino cherry in the bottom and use 1 oz. of everything (instead of 3/4 oz.).  Finally, the Improved Whiskey Cocktail is a good lazy night cocktail. I skip the simple syrup and put in a maraschino cherry (no surprise there).

Happy holidays and drink responsibly!

What's up with that? Romance novel character names

Let me clarify from the outset that I'm not dissing romance novels (I have read some, but it's not my usual fare)... I'm just pointing out an observation on their oftentimes ridiculous character names. I realize that romance novels are escapist, so the setting, time period and names will inherently be more unusual, but some are actually laughable. Where's Matt? Or Maggie? I know, not different enough. Try Cerynise Kendall and Beauregard Birmingham (who find love in Kathleen Woodiwiss' The Elusive Flame; I think it's the alliteration of his name that gets me on that one).

However, romance novels' cousin, chick lit, does find balance between naming characters uniquely without entering ridiculous territory. For example, in Emily Giffin's Something Borrowed (the movie based on this book will be in theaters May 6), the characters are Rachel, Darcy and Dex. Overused, everyday names? No, but you actually might know someone in real life named Rachel. Maybe it's the time periods that determine the names more so than the genre ...

For a little fun, check out this amusing Regency name generator.

So, have any funny character names to share?

Me Want Books!

I came across this hilarious Sesame Street clip today, featuring the one and only Cookie Monster (my favorite Sesame Street-er).  Personally, I think the librarian is being far to stuffy and dramatic.  Who doesn't want books with a side of cookies?!



Via LIS News.

Have you mastered the Dewey Decimal System?

Mental Floss created a belated National Library Week lunchtime quiz about the much beloved (and frequently misunderstood) Dewey Decimal System. While I always knew that non-fiction books were arranged by numbers starting with 000 and ending at 999, I didn't have all 10 major classes memorized (let alone the divisions under each class).  I pretty much only knew the numbers I visited frequently (641= cookbooks, 741= graphic novels, 810s= American Literature, 780s= Music, and so forth). This is probably the way most library users understand Dewey.

However, now as a librarian, I am almost fully fluent in Dewey. You can give me a call number (613.25 for instance) and I can tell you what the subject of the book is going to be (dieting) and where it is in the stacks.  It's a nerdy and specific science, but useful. Naturally, I scored a (perfect) 10 on the quiz, not that I'm the bragging type...

Well, whadda you know!

Spotted this fabulous library ad on Boing Boing, originally published courtesy of the National Social Welfare Assembly. Ed is kind of a know-it-all, but he's got the right idea.

Read chapter 1 of the next Sookie Stackhouse book

The next installment in the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris, Dead Reckoning, is due to be released in May. Fans who are looking for their Sookie fix can read the first chapter, all nineteen pages of it, on Charlaine Harris' official site. Are you all caught up with reading this series? If you're working your way through the books or are a newcomer to the series, here are the books (not including short stories featuring Sookie), listed in order:

• Dead Until Dark
• Living Dead in Dallas
• Club Dead
• Dead to the World
• Dead as a Doornail
• Definitely Dead
• All Together Dead
• From Dead to Worse
• Dead and Gone
• Dead in the Family
• Dead Reckoning (coming in May 2011)

Since we already have Dead Reckoning listed in the catalog as being "on order" you are now able to put yourself on hold for the book! If you do a title search for Dead Reckoning or a words or phrase search for "charlaine harris and sookie stackhouse" the book will appear in your results list.

Amazon's Best of 2010

As we approach the end of the year, we'll see more and more best of 2010 lists. One I find especially valuable is Amazon's best of the year. I'll extol its virtues with a list of my own:

1) There are 100 titles, which allows for quite a bit of variety.

2) I like to see if I have read any of them (no), so I can see if I'm more in-the-know than I thought (no).

3) Decide, then, which ones I would like to read. Amazon does a good job of giving you a lot of information up front about titles. Not only the synopsis, but reviews from professionals and customers, author information, and some books you're able to "look inside."

4) Compare the customers' ratings and how they align with the editors' choices. I have found that customers are harsher. Controversy can be good.

5) Ideas for holiday gift giving. There's something for everyone.

Check our catalog before you buy. We might have what you're looking for.

Cool Stuff on the Web: Hop Cast

 Check out the Hop Cast. 

This video podcast by Chicagoans Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder should be appreciated by beer enthusiasts of all varieties. New fans of craft beer will find Brad and Ken's beer reviews very useful. Hardcore beer geeks will love the interviews with commercial and home-brewers. Chmielewski and Hunnemeder have traveled around the country visiting different breweries, but Chicago breweries really take the spotlight on the Hopcast. And why not? Chicagoland has some of the best breweries in the country. My favorite episode is an interview with Gabriel Magliaro and Matt Gallagher from Half Acre (my current favorite brewery).

The Hop Cast definitely have a laid back and casual vibe to it.  Brad and Ken aren't such huge snobs that they would throw away a bottle of beer just because it's a couple of years old.  The hosts have a wacky sense of humor and their podcasts often feature friends and family members.  However, they have also had Chicago food royalty like Rick Bayless and Paul Kahan of Publican on the show too.  The Hop Cast will definitely deepen your appreciation for the fine craft beer produced in this area.  Drink well and responsibly!

For even more information on beer, check out one of these awesome titles:

Great Beers: 700 of the Best from Around the World (2010).  
641.23 GRE (New Non-Fiction)
Find it in the catalog!

1001 Beers You Must Taste Before You Die (2010).  
641.23 ONE (New Non-Fiction)
Find it in the catalog!

Tasting Beer: An Insider's Guide to the World's Greatest Drink (2009).
Mosher, Randy.
641.23 MOS
Find it in the catalog!
Check out my earlier review.

Extreme Brewing: An Enthusiast's Guide to Brewing Craft Beer at Home (2006).
Calagione, Sam.
641.873 CAL
Find it in the catalog!

Chicago Craft Beer Week: Cool Beer Websites

This week is Chicago Craft Beer Week, so now is as good a time as ever to go out and have a cold one.  Here are some websites to help you decide what to drink, where to drink it, and even how to describe what you're drinking so you can impress your friends. 

Beer Advocate: 

This website has beer news and information as well as an online community dedicated to beer.  Some features (including searching) require you to register with this site; registration is free, however. The Best of BA lists the highest rated beers on the site.  Beer 101 is a "ready reference" section for beer; you find out about different styles of beer, how to pour beer, how to taste beer, what glass to use for what beer, and more.  Beerfly is a great place to locate places to drink and buy beer when you're on vacation.  

Site Tip: One good way to work around registration is to type the name of the beer manufacturer  and the style (ex. Miller's Genuine Draft, Founder's Double Trouble, Goose Island's Sofie) into a search engine like Google , usually the Beer Advocate profile of the beer will be in the first two hits (example here).

Rate Beer:  

You've probably seen Rate Beer ratings if you've ever shopped at Binny's.  This is another site similar to Beer Advocate where you can review beers.  Rate Beer has a lot of contributors from Denmark, which has one of the hottest craft beer scenes right now.  This is a good place to find out about all the up and coming Scandinavian brews; two of the most widely distributed in this country (besides macrobrew Carlsberg) include Mikkeller and Nøgne Ø.

All About Beer Magazine: 

This is my favorite beer magazine and the online website is jammed pack with features.  Beer Talk has experts like Garrett Oliver of Brooklyn Brewery discuss and rate beer.  Don't know what to drink next? Check out the Beer of The Week or the Buyer's Guide for Beer Lovers.  If you want to try new and different types of beer, check out stylistically speaking.  If you still want to read more, check out their blogs Bradford on Beer and Beer Soup. This is probably the best sight for people who really want to learn about beer, its history, how it's made, and how to appreciate it. 

Library budget cuts: Who you gonna call?

Improv Everywhere comedy troupe as Ghostbusters at the New York Public Library:

Like many libraries around the country, the New York Public Library is facing budget cuts; potentially $37 million may be cut. NYPL hopes that this video will draw attention to its Don't Close the Book campaign.

Help to save funding for Illinois libraries

Bill Murray reads poetry

The ever-amazing Bill Murray reads poetry (including Emily Dickinson and Lorine Niedecker) to the construction workers building the new Poets House in NYC.  Poets House is a national poetry library and literacy center where poets and poetry fans can go to read, write, and enjoy poetry. 

Source: Shelf Life (Entertainment Weekly).