Reviews and Blog Posts: nonfiction

Lammy Finalists Announced Today

Submitted by Becker on March 16, 2011 - 8:02am
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Inseparable: Desire Between Women in Literature

The Lambda Literary Foundation announced the finalists for the 23rd annual Lambda Literary Awards today. Winners will be announced on May 26.The Lammys honor achievement in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) writing.

With 114 finalists in 24 categories of LGBT literature, there will be books of interest to many on this extensive list. Showing the evolution of LGBT publishing, this is the first year that the Transgender category has had enough nominations to be divided into fiction and nonfiction (the Bisexual category was first split just last year). Other categories include Anthology, Children's/Young Adult, Drama, Poetry, SF/Fantasy/Horror, Gay & Lesbian Debut Fiction, Memoir & Biography, Mystery, and Romance.

A Dandy Dozen of Hot New Titles!

Submitted by Tara on March 9, 2011 - 8:54pm
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The Time-Traveling Fashionista

Are you as excited to be placing holds again on hot new releases as I am? Check out this dandy dozen of great new titles, both fiction and nonfiction, that weren't available a few days ago but are now! What hot new releases are you most excited about?

Fiction

Colorado Authors Series: Carol Denker

Submitted by Becker on February 3, 2011 - 1:51pm
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Carol Denker

The Fresh City Life My Branch Colorado Authors Series presents Carol Denker, author of Autumn Romance: Stories and Portraits of Love After 50 on Saturday, February 5 at 2:00 p.m. at the Ross Cherry Creek Branch Library.

When Denver author Carol Denker fell deeply in love at age 62, she was startled to see how nothing in society reflected her experience. Not one image of an older couple in love! For almost three years, she traveled the U.S. seeking couples who had found true love in the second half of life--and photographers to take their pictures. The result is a paean to ordinary people who never gave up. Inside Autumn Romances' pages are beautiful black and white photos of mature couples and true tales of courage, coincidence, happiness, and healing.

Educations of Wandering Men

Submitted by Laurie. on January 25, 2011 - 8:27pm
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Education of a Wandering Man by Louis L'Amour

Encouraged by Louis L'Amour's call to become a "wandering reader," I discovered three titles that offer adventure and the kinship of wonderful storytellers.

At the age of 15, L'Amour left school and made the world his classroom. In Education of A Wandering Man, he shares, "The greatest gift anyone can give to another is the desire to know, to understand...Life is for delving, discovering, learning."

Popular Science

Submitted by Becker on January 19, 2011 - 7:47pm
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2010 was a great year for accessible science writing. If you want to learn something and be entertained at the same time, try out some of these recent popular science and natural history titles.

The Wave: In Pursuit of the Rogues, Freaks, and Giants of the Ocean, Susan Casey

The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer, Siddhartha Mukherjee

The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival, John Vaillant

For the Birds

Submitted by Becker on January 12, 2011 - 10:24am
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I just finished reading Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl by Stacey O'Brien, and it made me think of the other interesting stories of birds and bird watchers out there.

Wesley is a rescued wild bird who the author, a biologist, raises from when he is just days old. O'Brien's insights into owl behavior, along with this very personal story (and absolutely adorable pictures!), make this an interesting and thought-provoking read. If you're interested in finding out about the diversity of birds, try Sy Montgomery's Birdology: Lessons Learned from a Pack of Hens, a Peck of Pigeons, Cantankerous Crows, Fierce Falcons, Hip Hop Parrots, Baby Hummingbirds, and One Murderously Big Cassowary.

Celestial Happenings

Submitted by Becker on December 20, 2010 - 8:36am
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Tonight starting around 11:00 p.m. marks the start of a full lunar eclipse. Tomorrow is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year, celebrated by many earth-centered religions. Want to learn more about these phenomena and how people celebrate the Solstice?

Yet Another End of the Year List

Submitted by Becker on December 14, 2010 - 7:11am
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It seems like everyone from the New York Times to NPR is coming out with Best Books of the Year lists right now. As "best" is subjective,  I instead offer you some of my favorites in various categories. Most of these are 2010 books, but are some are older books that I first read or listened to this year.

Post-Apocalyptic Fiction (no zombies): The Passage, Justin Cronin

Post-Apocalyptic Fiction (with zombies): The Reapers are the Angels, Alden Bell, Feed, Mira Grant

O Magazine's Best Books of 2010

Submitted by Tara on December 4, 2010 - 5:08pm
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In addition to many other Best Books of 2010 lists out there, O Magazine came out with their own list featuring fiction and nonfiction published this year. 2010 must have been a great year for biographies as several of those made the list as well! What has been the best book you've read so far this year?

Top Ten Best Books of 2010 According to Publishers Weekly

Submitted by Tara on November 12, 2010 - 9:20am
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Publishers Weekly has announced their list of ten fiction and nonfiction titles that stood out as the very best of books published this year. As the year wraps up, these lists become more and more common, as Library Journal published their top 10 picks last week. What have been your favorite books of 2010?

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