books

books

Graphic Novels

Graphic Novels

One type of literature I’ve always been fascinated with is comic art.  In fact, I even considered becoming a comic book artist before I decided to become a librarian.  IU East has a modest collection of graphic novels – some famous, like Persepolis and Barefoot Gen.  Some aren’t, and I’d like to tell you a bit about a few of them. We3 by Grant Morrison (PN6727.M677 2005), describes a trio of animals – a dog, a cat, and a rabbit – that have been converted by the army into efficient living weapons for combat situations too dangerous for humans.  But a visit by a bureaucrat unnerved by their rudimentary language and sentience orders them destroyed.  A scientist, unwilling to see … Continued
Summer Read

Summer Read

Some years ago the library had a book in the Leisure section about Vikings, written by Don Coldsmith.  I had just finished a summer class “Heroes, Monsters and Crusaders” taught by Dr. Eleanor Turk.  One of the topics we talked about was Beowulf, who was a Viking.  This caught my interest and I wanted to read more about Vikings.  As it turned out Dr. Coldsmith’s book, “Runestone,” was so well written that I wanted to read more of his works.  He didn’t write anymore Viking stories but had written about 12 other books about the Indians of the Great Plains set between 1540-1700.  And IU Kokomo owned the books.  So I started borrowing them through interlibrary loan.  I showed the … Continued
Summer Reading

Summer Reading

Recently, I’ve been re-reading some of my favorite author, Ira Levin’s, novels.  I just completed “A Kiss Before Dying” and found it every bit as satisfying a thriller as the first read-through.  Which got me thinking about what to read this summer. Summer is often a time of book lists and beach reading that we don’t have time for the rest of the year.  A good time to catch up on the things friends have recommended, things that sound good, or things we think we ought to read.  And a library is an excellent source for these books. A lot of times these are flash-in-the-pan books of no substance, which we forget about immediately.  But they don’t have to be.  … Continued
Hot time for reading – even Fahrenheit 451*

Hot time for reading – even Fahrenheit 451*

It’s 89 degrees Fahrenheit today and Spring has suddenly become Summer, despite the calendar indicating otherwise. Even though it seems this season isn’t as leisurely as in bygone years, I hope all of you will make time to read for pleasure in the next few weeks. I’m tempted to catch up on my professional reading, especially the e-newsletters that flood my Inbox in a never-ending deluge of timely information (that obviously becomes less urgent as time goes by). But just as I am determined to complete more steps each week as an enthusiastic member of the new IU East Walking Club, I am resolved to read one book for pleasure each week. I’m starting this week with The Frozen Rabbi … Continued
Snowbound

Snowbound

Snowbound, what to do now?  Read an actual, physical book! Imagine there is a snowstorm and electricity is out…but you have one of those “snuggles” blankies so you’re not worried about the cold.  Also, you were prepared enough to have batteries in a big flashlight, so you’re all set to ….read a book! As library director, I am surrounded daily by books, and I teach a course at IU East focused on children’s books, and I really DO read books…but sometimes it takes a weather-enforced break to do the proverbial curling up with a good book (and in my case, also with a good cat).  Norah the cat actually appreciated this book because it featured a very clever cat like … Continued