Some New (and Cool) Additions to the Collection

Just an eclectic mix of some new non-fiction additions to the collection:

Japanese Sword Fighting: Secrets of the Samurai by Masaaki Hatsumi - on a cart full of books, THIS is the first one I picked up to look at. It's full of photos. Find it in the catalog

Surgeon in Blue: Jonathan Letterman, the Civil War Doctor Who Pioneered Battlefield Care by Scott McGaugh. Seems like an interesting angle on one more aspect of the Civil War. Might fit the bill for history and medical buffs alike. Find it in the catalog

iPad for Artists by Dani Jones. Mainly tutorials for different creative techniques, like drawing and painting, using art apps. Color photos/illustrations. Find it in the catalog

Asperger's Syndrome Workplace Survival Guide: A Neurotypical's Secrets for Success by Barbara Bissonnette. Excerpt from the book description: "It covers everything from choosing the right career to deciding whether disclosure is the right option. It features realistic strategies for meeting employer expectations and effectively resolving problems." Find it in the catalog

Quick Changes: Fresh Looks for Every Room (from House Beautiful). Little, but packed, with ideas to spruce up your home. Color photos. Find it in the catalog

Today is the Last Day of the Rest of Your Life by Ulli Lust. A massive graphic novel. From the description: "Two teenaged punk-rock girls hitchhike their way across Italy without a penny in their pockets..." Find it in the library catalog

The Universe: An Illustrated History of Astronomy by Tom Jackson. Lists 100 astronomical discoveries that changed history; includes a section in the
back of famous astronomers. Lots of Photos. Find it in the catalog

Detroit Rock City: The Uncensored History of Rock 'N' Roll in America's Loudest City by Steve Miller. I think the title says it all. Find it in the catalog

American Epic: Reading the U.S. Constitution by Garrett Epps. You must be dedicated for this one ... according to the book jacket, legal scholar Epps goes through the entire Constitution. Find it in the catalog

Abominable Science! Origins of the Yeti, Nessie, and Other Famous Cryptids by Daniel Loxton and Donald Prothero. Another one that has a descriptive enough title. Photos! Find it in the catalog

Recommended read: The Alternative Hero

The Alternative Hero by Tim Thornton
NEW FICTION THORNTON
Find it in the catalog!

Thirty-something Clive Beresford lives in London and works at a boring insurance job. One day Clive discovers that Lance Webster, former lead singer of his favorite band The Thieving Magpipes, lives on the same block as him. The Thieving Magpipes were popular during the late '80s and early '90s and broke up after a drunk Webster lost control on stage at the Aylesbury Festival in August 1995. Webster released a solo album in 1997 but nothing from the Thieving Magpipes has been released since then. Clive hopes to interview Webster about what happened at that festival gig in 1995 so he will not only let Thieving Magpipes fans know what happened that fateful day, but to redeem Webster. Clive feels that The Thieving Magpipes haven't gotten the respect that other bands have, and can't fathom the idea that Webster now goes by Geoff, his given name, and is living out of the spotlight. Clive's devotion to Webster leads to some funny situations as Clive embarks on his plan to meet Webster and win his trust to do an interview.

In addition to the status of his mission to meet Webster, Clive recounts moments from his youth when he and his friend Alan bonded over obsessing over The Thieving Magpipes and creating their own fanzines. Alan still has his scrapbook/journal filled with concert reviews, ticket stubs, and photos from the gigs he attended, but he gave up on The Thieving Magpipes at that Ayesbury Festival gig in '95.

The Thieving Magpipes is a fictional band made real by the author. Through album reviews and the fanzine reviews of Clive and Alan, Thornton gives the reader an in-depth history of the band, quoting their songs and expanding on gigs, and explaining how their music fit alongside other popular bands of the day. Thornton also includes a discography of the band at the end of the book.

I really like the character of Clive. Any music fan who at some point lived each day having a fixation with a particular band or singer will identify with Clive’s obsessive fan-following for The Thieving Magpipes. I enjoyed the way fiction and fact mixed together in this novel and I thought it was clever how the author told the stories of both Clive and The Thieving Magpipes through multiple viewpoints: gig reviews, fanzine excerpts, lyrics, emails, and even scribbled notes. I highly recommend The Alternative Hero, and I think music fans especially will enjoy the characters and stories in this book. Thornton not only demonstrates how music and song lyrics become an important part of our memories of the past, but how the support of devoted fans affects musicians in the bands themselves.