Thursday, July 23, 2009

Two CDS by Two Different Bands

Music CDs

The other day I read an online comment by an author I follow, Anthony Neil Smith. His discussion on literary versus popular fiction touched on the similarity of Top 40 vs. "artist" music. Here we have two albums that fit that comparison. Wilco has a been a successful band but is more of a critics' darling than a stadium filler. Dave Matthews sells lots of records, gets airplay, and sells out concerts. I like a lot of Wilco's stuff but I do not consider feedback to be an instrument. Dave Matthews I couldn't give a rat's ass about - but I'll be fair and say I have not heard many songs.


Wilco (the album) by Wilco. This Wilco album is supposed to be more accessible; that means it probably doesn't have that artsy noise crap.

Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King by the Dave Matthews Band. Who was it from their band that died? Some horn player? All I know is that the fella was fairly young and it's a dang shame about that. (I'm not being sarcastic.)

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Two Adult, Thirteen Young Adult, One Sitting Library Director

Fiction

Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner. Heh, heh. Weiner.

Blade: playing dead by Tim Bowler. Hey...this is a young adult novel. It was mis-cataloged. That means the title to this post is wrong.

Young Adult

Killer Pizza by Greg Taylor. Toby dreams of being a chef. He takes a summer job at Killer Pizza and has some cool co-workers. Then he finds out that Killer Pizza is "a front for a monster-hunting organization!"

Bloodhound by Tamora Pierce. Book two in the Beka Cooper series. Beka is now a "Dog", a local cop in Corus. When counterfeit coins start disrupting the local economy Beka and another Dog go undercover in another city, Port Caynn, where the coins originate.

The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks. This is a good idea. But it should be a real-life guide for vampire book fans. (Charlie Huston fans excluded.)

Starclimber by Kenneth Oppel. Beginner pilot Matt is working on the Starclimber, "a vessel that literally climbs into the cosmos", on a voyage with scientist Kate. They end up surounded by strange lifeforms and the crew has to battle mechanical failures.

Just Another Hero by Sharon M. Draper. "Conclusion to the two-time Coretta Scott King honor trilogy," with HS students facing a mass murderer in their school.

Carbon Diaries, 2015 by Saci Lloyd. The environment "has gone completely mad" and the British government orders extreme cutbacks on carbon release. The weather still freaks out with frozen winters and vicious summer storms.

Hannah's Winter by Kierin Meehan. Hannah would rather be back in Australia than living in Japan. Hannah and her new friend Miki discover a riddle in a stationary shop.

Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart. I took Boy #! to swim lessons a few weeks ago and grabbed the wrong book when we left. I think the one I got was the Mysterious Benedict Society. It was pretty good but I still fell asleep at the lessons. The humidity and heat in there always makes me sleepy.

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness. Must be a Spyderco book.

Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry. Yech.

Secrets of Truth and Beauty by Megan Frazer. Another yech.

Funny How Things Change by Melissa Wyatt. Yech, again.

Hunger: a gone novel by Michael Grant. Preppies.

Library Director

What to Do at the Desk: tasks to keep you occupied at the circulation desk during slow foot traffic by Gerard Saylor.