abcreads

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Upcoming Book Releases in 2013

It is never too early to be aware of new books. Our favorite authors are hopefully plugging away at this very minute, working on their next novel. 2013 looks like it might be a great year for books fans, with several authors putting out intriguing looking titles. Here is a list of those you won't want to miss. Most of these have tentative publishing dates, so the release dates might change, and they do not appear in the library's catalog yet. Keep checking back to place holds on these titles:

A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan
The Wheel of Time series finally comes to a close after over twenty years on January 8. Click on the link to place your holds now!

And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini
The author of The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns is back with another book sure to be a bestseller when it's released on May 21.

Let's Explore Diabetes With Owls by David Sedaris
On April 23 the latest collection of essays from America's favorite satirical writer comes out.

Gulp: A Trip Down the Alimentary Canal by Mary Roach
The researcher and author of books like Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void, Stiff: The Curious Life of Human Cadavers, and Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex returns with this book about the science of eating on April 1.

The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult
A new novel by bestselling Jodi Picoult is set to be released on February 26.

The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout
Strout won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2009 for her book Olive Kitteridge. On March 26 her latest book about two brothers will be out.

Montaro Caine by Sidney Poitier
Actor Sidney Poitier has written two autobiographies, but on May 7 his first novel will be published!

Maya's Notebook by Isabel Allende
An American girl on a remote island, surrounded by a colorful cast of characters, writes the story of her life. This one should be in bookstores on April 23.

Insane City by Dave Barry
This is the first novel for adults Dave Barry has published in more than ten years. This one is already in the catalog, so place your holds now.

Fifth Grave Past the Light by Darynda Jones
The Albuquerque author unveils the latest in her vampire series in July.

See Now Then by Jamaica Kincaid
The author of Mr Potter and A Small Place returns with her first novel in a decade on February 5.

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
The author of Case Histories and Started Early, Took My Dog returns on April 2 with her latest novel.

Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris
On May 7 another adventure of Sookie Stackhouse will be released. This book is said to be the last in the series.

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
The award-winning author of Half a Yellow Sun and Purple Hibiscus is back with a novel of a Nigerian couple who fall in love. This one should be out on May 14.

Requiem by Lauren Oliver
The third book in the Delirium series will be released March 5. In the meantime, check out the ebook supplements, told through the point of view of minor characters.

The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier
Released on January 8, Chevalier's latest historical novel is about a Quaker in Ohio during the days of the Underground Railroad. This one is also in the catalog, so click the link to place a hold.

Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff
A new young adult novel from the author of The Replacement is also set for release on January 8.

Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
Gaiman returns to adult fantasy fiction when this little book is published in June.

Joyland by Stephen King
Stephen King is the author who never sleeps. In 2013 he is set to release two books. Joyland comes out in June and Dr. Sleep, the much anticipated sequel to The Shining, will be published in September.

Also keep an eye out for new books by Malcolm Gladwell (author of several bestselling books including Blink, Outliers, and The Tipping Point), Diane Setterfield (author of The Thirteenth Tale), and Lionel Shriver (author of We Need to Talk About Kevin) who have new books due to come out sometime in 2013.

Obviously, there are lots more books that will be published in the upcoming year. This is just a small sample of some major releases that are already generating some excitement in the book world. To keep up with more of the latest titles stop by the library to pick up a free copy of Bookpage, the magazine of new book releases.

Friday, December 28, 2012

Literary Links: Best Books of the Year

As the year winds to close, we are inundated with "best of 2012" lists. Here are a few of our favorite book lists so far!

Amazon's Omnivoracious blog has a series! 2012 Best Books of the Year: Recommendations by Authors

Best Art Books of 2012

Michiko Kakutani's 10 Favorite Books of 2012 (also check for fellow New York Times' reviewers Janet Maslin & Dwight Garner's lists)

Atlantic Wire: Books We Loved in 2012

Slate: Staff Picks of 2012

Brain Pickings: Best Science Books of 2012

Best Children's Books of 2012

O Magazine: Best Books of 2012

What were your favorite books of 2012? Do you have a go-to best-of list?

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Playaways

You may have already noticed a new format in ABC Library's audiobook collection - Playaway. If you haven't, you might want to check one out!

If you are a fan of audiobooks, but don't always have a CD player to hand (for instance, if you are exercising), Playaways are for you! Each Playaway is an entire audiobook contained in one small, portable, easy-to-use device, which you check out with your library card. Playaways in the catalog are denoted by this symbol to the left of the item record:

You can also look them up in the system using an author search of "Playaway Digital Audio". Try one out today and let us know what you think! The library does not provide headphones or batteries.

According to the Playaway website:

Playaway is the only format that makes audiobooks accessible for everyone—providing the portability of a digital audiobook with the grab-and-go convenience of a physical format. Unlike CDs, Audio Cassettes or downloads, Playaway does not need a separate player. Playaway comes preloaded and ready to use with High Definition Audio Content, earbuds, and a battery.

Holds up to 60 hours of audio content
Equipped with a universal jack; works with almost
any type of headphone or mobile accessory
5 narration speeds; listen at your own pace
Automatic bookmarking remembers where you stopped listening
Lockable keypad for on-the-go usability
Weighs only 2 ounces

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Winter Books

Robert Frost said "You can't get too much winter in the winter" (from "Snow"), & here at abcreads we couldn't agree more. The weather is chilly, it's getting dark early, you want to stay indoors by the fire - how about picking up one of these off-the-beaten-track winter reads for a quick browse or a little infotainment?

Winter: Five Windows on the Season by Adam Gopnik

Mrs. Adams in Winter: A Journey in the Last Days of Napoleon by Michael O'Brien

Cherries in Winter: My Family's Recipe for Hope in Hard Times by Suzan Colón

Winter World: The Ingenuity of Animal Survival by Bernd Heinrich

Impressionists in Winter: Effets de neige by Charles S. Moffett ... [et al.].

The Winter of Our Disconnect: How Three Totally Wired Teenagers (And a Mother who Slept with Her iPhone) Pulled the Plug on Their Technology and Lived to Tell the Tale by Susan Maushart

Scarpetta's Winter Table by Patricia Cornwell

Delia Smith's Winter Collection

New Mexicana, anyone?

Winter Poems Along the Rio Grande by Jimmy Santiago Baca

The River in Winter: New and Selected Essays by Stanley Crawford

Surviving the Winter: The Evolution of Quiltmaking in New Mexico by Dorothy R. Zopf

Ski Pioneers: Ernie Blake, His Friends, and the Making of Taos Ski Valley as told to Rick Richards

How about a bilingual book to share with the kids?

Winter Afternoon = Tarde de invierno by Jorge Luján

And if reading's not your bag, how about lifting your voice in song?

Sing the Cold Winter Away: Family Songs for Wintertime by Kathy Reid-Naiman [music CD]

Bonjour, l'hiver by Charlotte Diamond [music CD]

Maybe you'd like to while away the hours checking out some really chilly climes?

Frozen Planet [DVD]

Friday, December 21, 2012

Your Ideal Bookshelf

"The books that we choose to keep-let alone read-can say a lot about who we are and how we see ourselves. In The Ideal Bookshelf, dozens of leading cultural figures share the books that matter to them most-books that define their dreams and ambitions and in many cases helped them find their way in the world." ~ from the publisher

David Sedaris' ideal bookshelf

Sometimes, it's not enough to just read books - you also may find yourself reading about them! This fun new book allows you to see the virtual shelves of books that have meant the most to a variety of famous folks including author Michael Chabon, actor James Franco, chef Alice Waters, filmmaker Judd Apatow, and more! Each contributor includes a one page explanation of their choices. If anything, you will wish that the explications of most of these shelves went into more detail. You can also make your own ideal bookshelf using their template (available in the book & on their website).

If you're at a gathering this season & stuck for a discussion topic, why not talk about what would be on your ideal bookshelf? Or just let us know in the comments - what's your favorite book? What book changed your life? What book do you read again & again?

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Monday, December 17, 2012

eReader Holiday Gift Guide

It's that time of year again, where you might find yourself scratching your head trying to come up with good gift ideas. Judging by the number of questions I get asked, eReaders are going to be a big hit again this year. Since there are a wide variety of devices available that are compatible with the library system, a little guidance might be handy for those looking for a gift (or a gift for oneself!)

eReaders can be broken down into two basic types: Tablet-style and E-Ink. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages, so continue reading to figure out what kind best matches what you had in mind.

Tablet-style eReaders are actually tablets that also function as eReaders. Beyond reading eBooks on them, you can also listen to audiobooks and music, play videos and movies, connect to the internet, access apps, and play a variety of games. These have color backlit screens, like a computer or smart phone screen. So while color is nice, even necessary for some functions, battery life can be short with long use, requiring frequent charging. These screens may also be difficult to see in sunlight or cause eye fatigue. One of the nicest things about tablet-style eReaders is that you can load library apps on them, so borrowing eBooks and eAudiobooks is easy and doesn't require any other devices. While tablet-style eReaders are a little larger and heaver than E-Ink ones, if you find yourself ferrying a bag full of devices around, these tablets may allow you to leave more of them at home.

Tablet-style Recommendations: Many are quite nice, so I can't point to one particular one as a must-have. However, I recommend ones running either iOS (Apple iPads) or Android (Kindle Fire, Nook HD, and any number of other tablets from electronic manufacturers). Tablets come in multiple sizes, ranging from about 7" tall to 11" tall, so seeing a variety in person can be helpful. Along with a variety of choices, there are a variety of prices, from less than $100 to upwards of $500.

E-Ink eReaders are meant for one purpose: to read eBooks. These have black and white E-Ink screens, which look very similar to a printed page. Battery life can last a very long time between charges, as very little power is needed for turning pages. E-Ink is easy to read in bright sunlight and shouldn't tire eyes any more than reading print books. However, borrowing eBooks from the library requires a few more steps and possibly the use of a computer, depending on your eReader. E-Ink eReaders are generally, small, thin, and lightweight and don't take up much room in a handbag or briefcase, but they don't have all the extra features that Tablet-style ones do. There are even ones that have a built in light so that you can read in the dark without a separate light source.

E-Ink Recommendations: Again, there are many nice ones, so I can't pick one as the best. However, I can make some broad recommendations. If you plan to buy most of the books you read, Amazon and Barnes & Noble have the largest and most established book stores for eBooks. If you want to read in the dark without a light, try the Barnes & Noble Simple Touch with Glowlight, the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, or the KoboGlo. If you want the easiest access to library books, try the Sony Reader Wi-Fi (no computer required to check out). Most E-Ink eReaders have 7" screens and most are under $200, with many less than $100.

Consumer Reports has recently tested many brands of both Tablets and E-Ink eReaders (look for Tablet and eReader reviews). You'll need your library card number and PIN to access reviews through the link. If you'd like to learn how to use any of these devices with the library, look for a Gizmo Garage at a library branch near you.