Saturday, January 16, 2016

Young Adult Book Trends: 2016


I've been thinking about what trends we can look forward to seeing this year in young adult fiction, and I thought I'd start by focusing on book covers. I did a similar post last year, and some of the trends I mentioned there are continuing, but I've noticed a few new things, as well.

Continuing trend: handwritten covers

The Art of Not Breathing by Sarah Alexander
Liars and Losers Like Us by Ami Allen-Vath
The Way Back to You by Michelle Andreani
Suffer Love by Ashley Herring Blake
The Distance From A to Z by Natalie Blitt
A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro
The Museum of Heartbreak by Meg Leder
How It Ends by Catherine Lo
Save Me, Kurt Cobain by Jenny Manzer
The Year We Fell Apart by Emily Martin
This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp
The Girl Who Fell by Shannon M. Parker
My Kind of Crazy by Robin Reul
Jerk Bait by Mia Siegert

Continuing trend: girls in dresses

I'm not sure if this trend faded out for a while, but it's back now.

The Great Hunt by Wendy Higgins
Banished by Kimberley Griffiths Little
Kingdom of Ashes by Rhiannon Thomas
The Forbidden Orchid by Sharon B. Waller






New trend: water

Whether it's an ocean, someone falling into water or already submerged underwater, someone near water, or water in a glass bottle, I've noticed a lot of covers feature water in some way.

Tell the Wind and Fire by Sarah Rees Brennan
Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman
Lessons in Falling by Diana Gallagher
The Girl From Everywhere by Heidi Heilig
The First Time She Drowned by Kerry Kletter
Fear the Drowning Deep by Sarah Glenn Marsh
The Mystery of Hollow Places by Rebecca Podos
Underwater by Marisa Reichardt
Summer of Sloane by Erin L. Schneider
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
The Abyss Surrounds Us by Emily Skrutskie
The Crown's Game by Evelyn Skye

New trend: falling


As mentioned at Stacked Books, people falling also seems to be a new trend.

The Accident Season by Moïra Fowley-Doyle
The Love the Split the World by Emily Henry
Ascending the Boneyard by C.G. Watson

Are there any book cover trends you've noticed for this year? Let me know in the comments!
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Thursday, January 14, 2016

Authors as Characters in Fiction

As for the most popular fictionalized writers? No surprise to see a ton of Shakespeares, Austens, Dickenses and Brontës scampering with pens through the pages of other peoples’ novels. But a...[c]ranky Robert Frost? Witty Alexander Pope? These are some of the delights we uncovered for your reading pleasure.
~Sarah Seltzer, "50 Novels Featuring Famous Authors as Characters"

With the recent success of books like The Paris Wife and movies like Midnight in Paris, nostalgia for times past - and the famous people who lived through those eras - continues to be popular. Why is imagining the lives of the famous from history so entertaining? People with romantic or tragic lives seem to be often chosen as subjects; also people of whom not too much is known. Trying to blend non-fiction and fiction seamlessly is always an interesting experiment. A good novel might bring a famous person or their era alive for you - instead of just the facts, the emotional truth can be evoked. When you try to imagine the real-life experiences of famous authors, the challenge seems to be writing about those whose words resonate with so many and making your own words live up to theirs. What novels with famous authors, or other famous historical figures, as characters have you enjoyed? Or do you eschew historical fiction of this type in favor of biography or history?

With some help from the folks at Flavorwire, we've compiled a lists of books with authors as characters that are available in the library catalog. Please note, we have touched upon fiction with Jane Austen as a character in a recent post, so we have not included any in this list.

Dorothy Parker Drank Here by Ellen Meister [Dorothy Parker]

Vanessa and Her Sister by Priya Parmar [Vanessa Bell & Virginia Woolf]

The Hours by Michael Cunningham [Virginia Woolf]

The Master by Colm Tóibín [Henry James]

The Scandal of the Season by Sophie Gee [Alexander Pope]

Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler [Zelda Fitzgerald]

Drood by Dan Simmons [Charles Dickens]

Under the Wide and Starry Sky by Nancy Horan [Robert Louis Stevenson]

The Book of Salt by Monique Truong [Gertude Stein & Alice B. Toklas]

Old School by Tobias Wolff [Robert Frost, Ayn Rand, & Ernest Hemingway]

The Poe Shadow by Matthew Pearl [Edgar Allan Poe] 

Angelmonster by Veronica Bennett [Mary Shelley; YA]

 Loving Will Shakespeare by Carolyn Meyer [William Shakespeare; YA]

Fall of Frost by Brian Hall [Robert Frost; eAudiobook]

The Blue Flower by Penelope Fitzgerald [Novalis]

Wintering: A Novel of Sylvia Plath by Kate Moses [Sylvia Plath]

Passion by Jude Morgan [Mary Shelley]

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Tuesday, January 12, 2016

The Dogist

My newest favorite book does not contain many words, but it is so great that it doesn't need to!  It is a coffee table style book of dog photographs.  Called The Dogist, it is The Sartorialist - a popular street fashion photography blog - for dogs.  Being a dog lover who cannot enjoy them because of allergies, I'm not sure whether the 1,000 photos in this delightful book make me happier or more heartsick.  Either way, this book is a good thing.  Adorable and fun are always a good thing.  And even if you aren't obsessed with dogs, don't they make you smile?  They are so care-free and so happy to just give affection no matter what - and if you'll forgive the corniness, I'll be darned if that doesn't come across in these photos.  

The dogs' name, breed and sometimes their age are listed next to their photo, along with occasional tidbits and funny captions.  This is how I learned that service dogs frequently have a "street name" that is different from their real name so that they can still be introduced to anyone who asks without being distracted while they do their job.  My favorite sections were entitled: Costumes, Doodles, Sassy, Snow, and of course, the many Puppies selections.  To sum it up, some coffee table types of dog books are a bit too sappy for me, but The Dogist is really not.  It's fun, funny, and fascinating.  If you check it out, let me know what you think!

 More Dog Photography Books


Tails From the Booth by Lynne Terry 

Underwater Puppies by Seth Casteel

 Underwater Dogs: Kids Edition by Seth Casteel

Dogs in Cars by Lara Jo Regan

Find Momo: My Dog is Hiding In This Book. Can You Find Him? by Andrew Knapp

 I Am Puppy, Hear Me Yap: Ages of a Dog by Valerie Schaff

 Dog Photography for Dummies by Kim Rodgers   

 Maddie on Things: A Super Serious Project About Dogs and Physics by Theron Humphrey
Websites & Articles


The Dogist  

Canines of New York: A Day Behind the Lens with The Dogist

 The Man Behind the Famed 'The Dogist' Is Looking to Give Back

The Catist

The Sartorialist
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Saturday, January 9, 2016

New Year, New You: Personal Finance

Personal finance stock. Photography. Encyclopædia Britannica ImageQuest. Web. 8 Dec 2015.
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It's that time of year--the season when we reflect on the last 12 months and make resolutions to better ourselves in the new year. But whether you're taking on a new fitness routine, a more positive outlook, or a commitment to strengthening your finances, the key to success is baby steps. Incremental change makes a large goal more manageable.
~Jonathan Sparling, "5 Easy-to-Achieve Personal Finance Resolutions for the New Year"

Personal finance is a big concern for everyone these days. Whether you want to buy a house, save to travel or for some other big goal, learn about investing, or you are about to retire, it can be helpful to learn the ropes before you get started. The library catalog has many books that can help you wrangle with your personal finances if you are an adult; also, learning about money can start in childhood, and it's good to start sound financial planning at a young age - and the library has some reads for you and your offspring on that topic as well.

You probably already know the big names in personal finance - Suze Orman, Robert Kiyosaki of Rich Dad, Poor Dad fame, Dave Ramsey, Ric Edelman, Tony Robbins. So, our booklist below concentrates on some newer library acquisitions that might serve as useful coaching tools for you to gain control of your financial future.


Personal Finance for Adults

The Thin Green Line: The Money Secrets of the Super Wealthy by Paul Sullivan

The One-Page Financial Plan: A Simple Way to Be Smart About Your Money by Carl Richards 

Living a Beautiful Life On Less: The Blissful and Domestic Guide to Food, Fun, and Finances by Danielle Wagasky 



Picture Your Prosperity: Smart Money Moves to Turn Your Vision Into Reality by Ellen Rogin, CPA, CFP & Lisa Kueng

The Decade Series by Peter Dunn





Personal Finance  for Youth 

Show Me the Money by Alvin Hall




Real World Math: Personal Finance

Living on a Budget

Saving For the Future 

Smart Shopping

Giving Back

Blastoff Readers: Money Matters

Saving Money

Spending Money

Talking to Your Children About Money


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Thursday, January 7, 2016

New Year, New You: Creativity

Creativity, conceptual image. Photography. Encyclopædia Britannica ImageQuest. Web. 8 Dec 2015.
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Making an annual list of New Year's resolutions is a venerable tradition. By some accounts, it dates back to the ancient Romans, who customarily made a show of promising the god Janus that they would behave better over the next 12 months than they had in the past 12 [source: Huchison]. But while Janus was the patron deity of new beginnings, he also provided a convenient excuse. If a citizen of Rome didn't actually follow through with his various self-improvement vows, he could always shrug it off by explaining that it was Janus' will [source: Chicago Institute]. Then, presumably, he could just go on gorging himself at banquets or betting excessively on gladiator fights.
~Patrick J. Kiger, "10 New Year's Resolutions You Might Actually Keep"

Happy New Year! We hope your plans for 2016 include embracing creativity! "You can be creative in math, science, music, dance, cuisine, teaching, running a family, or engineering. Because creativity is a process of having original ideas that have value. A big part of being creative is looking for new ways of doing things within whatever activity you're involved in," creativity expert and author of The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything, Sir Ken Robinson, reminds us. He stresses that we need creativity more than ever - because of the challenges facing the world right now; because of the unpredictability we face; and "to promote and teach—collaborating and benefiting from diversity rather than promoting homogeneity". If you are not convinced, try watching some of the TED talks from Steve Jobs, Frank Gehry, and others about the importance of creativity. Or, embrace the theory of some scientists who say international travel and living abroad can enhance creativity! We like that theory.

 We have compiled a list of some books that encourage creativity and creative thinking for your perusal. Hope these stimulate you to get innovative! Remember, 

A creative process may begin with a flash of a new idea or with a hunch. It may just start as noodling around with a problem, getting some fresh ideas along the way. It's a process, not a single event, and genuine creative processes involve critical thinking as well as imaginative insights and fresh ideas. But creativity isn't just about coming up with new ideas; some ideas might be completely crazy and impractical. So an essential bit of every creative process is evaluation.

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert

What We Ache For: Creativity and the Unfolding of Your Soul by Oriah Mountain Dreamer






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Tuesday, January 5, 2016

New Year, New You: Self Help

Self-help books. Photography. Encyclopædia Britannica ImageQuest. Web. 8 Dec 2015.
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What would you like to change in your life? The new year is traditionally the time to stop, take inventory and set positive goals for life change. And you don't have to focus only on diets or exercise. Improving the quality of your life is broader and more comprehensive and ultimately more important than your waistline. Remember: today is the start of the rest of your life. There's no good reason to dwell on the problems of the past unless you want to make yourself feel bad! You can only change the present and then the future. It's never too late.
~Betty W. Phillips, Ph.D.
 
Happy New Year! We can still say that four days later, right? Do you have any New Year's resolutions? According to some sources, the top resolutions include: spend more time with family and friends; get fit; lose weight; quit smoking; enjoy life more; quit drinking; get out of debt; learn something new; and help others. Today we'd like to recommend some books that might help you enjoy life more. The advice varies - from staying curious, to ending procrastination, to embracing the power of vulnerability - and so does the approach - from "a spiritual book written for--and by--someone who would otherwise never read a spiritual book" to a "personal story [interwoven] with groundbreaking research in the neurosciences" to one "packed with stimulating questions to uncover what’s true for you, [and] powerful techniques to change old habits that sabotage your dreams", we hope you'll find something to kick-start the change you'd like to see in your life.

Is there a self-help book you'd like to recommend? Let us know in the comments! If you have any resolutions you'd like to share, feel free to add those to the comments too.

Willpower:The Rediscovery of Humans' Greatest Strength by Roy F. Baumeister and John Tierney




Zero Limits: The Secret Hawaiian System for Wealth, Health, Peace, and More by Joe Vitale and Ihaleakala Hew Len [eAudiobook]





 
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Saturday, January 2, 2016

Best Young Adult Books of 2015


For the past two years, I've talked about my top picks for 2013 and 2014, so why should this year be any different? In this post, I'm talking about the books that were released this year and that I rated as five stars on Goodreads. There weren't as many this year, because I'm being more selective about what I'll give five stars to and why. Here are my picks, in no particular order.*



Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke by Anna Blankman

Conspiracy of Blood and Smoke is one of the best historical fiction books I've read. It was just as suspenseful as the first book in this duology, Prisoner of Night and Fog. I adored the characters, and I'm sad this isn't a trilogy because I wanted so much more of everything this book had to offer.

I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

I adore Sarah Dessen, and I was thrilled when she decided, in Saint Anything, to explore darker subjects than what she normally writes about. Everything about this book was perfect, which really, is to be expected when it comes to Sarah Dessen. She is a master storyteller.

None of the Above by I.W. Gregorio

What I Tweeted after reading this book: Blown away by None of the Above. Words can't describe how amazing this book is. And important.

And later, I Tweeted: A few days after finishing None of the Above, I'm still thinking about it.


The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand

A lot books about suicide were released this year, and The Last Time We Say Goodbye was one of the best. When I finished it, I closed the book and just sobbed. This doesn't usually happen when I read books, but it happened a couple of times this year.

Ensnared by A.G. Howard

I've never been a fan of Alice in Wonderland, but this series (Splintered, Unhinged, Ensnared, and Untamed) was amazing. After I finished Ensnared, all I wanted to do was read anything and everything about Alice in Wonderland.



Things We Know by Heart by Jessi Kirby

The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord

What I Tweeted after finishing this book: Read The Start of You and Me last night. It's amazing. For so many reasons. First, I loved the friendships among the four girls. They were authentic and strong. Second, loved the adults in the book. It wasn't just the main character trying to figure things out on her own. YA books need more adults who are actively involved with the teen characters' lives. Last, loved the diversity. There's a multiethnic character who's not a stereotype. Yay! Thank you, @emerylord for the amazing book.

The Summer of Chasing Mermaids by Sarah Ockler
Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver
Extraordinary Means by Robyn Schneider

Here's what I Tweeted before I started the book: Bought Extraordinary Means today which means I'm dropping everything else I was going to read.

Here's what I Tweeted after I finished this book: Extraordinary Means: Just another book that has turned me into a sobbing mess this year.

The Lies About Truth by Courtney C. Stevens

What were your favorite books you read this year? Let me know in the comments!

*For books where I wrote what I Tweeted, I edited the Tweets to make them more readable.

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