The Library's Most Wanted Books

With over 185 holds and counting, J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is now by far the most requested book in our library catalog. Curious to see some more of the Library's popular titles? Here's a quick look at our most requested books this past month.

Click on the book cover images to find them in our library catalog. There you can read summaries and reviews, find other books by the same authors, or place a hold of your own!

"Authors, Artists & Friends" Series

Come hear John Ziegler discuss the death of free speech. It’s on Saturday, June 23, 10 am. It’s free, and it’s at the Glendale Public Library.

Radio talk-show host and TV commentator John Ziegler examines how the news media has created arbitrary, biased, and illogical rules for determining what can and cannot be said in the public arena. He details how in almost every major case of "speech and punishment" in modern America, the guilty verdict was wrong and unjust.

John Ziegler is a veteran of the radio and television industries who has been on the air in several major markets including Raleigh, Nashville, Philadelphia, Louisville, and Los Angeles, where he currently is the host of the evening show on KFI, the most listened to talk-radio station in the country. He has frequently served as a commentator on local and national television shows and as a columnist for numerous newspapers and prominent websites.

If you can’t make the event, or what to know more, check out his book, The Death of Free Speech: How Our Broken National Dialogue Has Killed the Truth and Divided America, an objective, credible, provocative, and entertaining look at one of the most important and underreported realities in American society. No one is in better position to tell this story than John Ziegler as he warns that this most cherished constitutional right is in grave jeopardy.

This Week in Reading June 17 - 23

The youngest author born this week surely sold more copies than any other writer born this week and the next youngest after that one put out works that sold in the millions, too. But several of the other authors who share the week had a much larger impact upon the world beyond reading, from theatre, film, and popular music to philosophy, religion and sociological research that affected many millions. Some the events affected many millions, too.

This Week's Question: One of this week's authors would have been a voluminous blogger of his day if the Internet had existed. He opined among his countless quotes "One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man." Who is it and what "message" is he associated with?

Answer to Last Week's Question: Sorry, this trick question tricked even me. None of last week's authors said it. I thought it was argued that Ben Jonson actually wrote it but it was penned by the little known Robert Greene, who wrote in 1592 "For there is an upstart crow, beautified with our feathers, that with a tiger's heart wrapped in a player's hide, supposes he is as well able to bombast out a blank verse as is the best of you; and being an absolute Johannes fac totum is in his own conceit the only Shake-scene in a country." Jonson, on the other hand, eulogized Shakepeare with "He was not of an age but for all time." I used Bartlett's Familiar Quotations to find these out.

Tempting Titles: Nonfiction 800 - 900 - Biographies

Finshing up this round of good reading, still in Dewey Decimal order (The Biographies are all numbered 92 [Name of person biography is about] because they used be 920 but that got used to signify biographies of groups of people so libraries went with 92 or B. And, by the way, certain biographies are not there. If it's a writer or an actor, a musician, or an athlete their biography is in the Dewey Decimal number for his or her activity. Never mind, just ask at the Reference Desk. We'll tell you where.)

To get to the online catalog record click on the image or the book title link. There you can place a hold request, see similar subjects or other books by the same author, read first chapters, reviews or summaries, and enlarge the image.

800 Literature

Dog Years a memoir by Doty, Mark.

This sad, sad book represents a curious blend of memoir, journal, literary criticism, and prose elegy, and it borrows some structural elements from drama and poetry. Its tone is plangent, its complex formal structure is like memory itself, and its exquisite pace reminds one of nothing so much as a stroll in the park with Fido. Poignant, intelligent, and quite simply superb; highly recommended for most collections, although the Emily Dickinson criticism may make it too literary for the Marley & Me crowd. Library Journal.

Taz, the Blog Dog, suggests to look at the bookjacket to see what dogs are all about: "Why do dogs speak so profoundly to our inner lives? When poet Doty decides to adopt a dog as a companion for his dying partner, he finds himself bringing home Beau, a large golden retriever, malnourished and in need of loving care. Beau joins Arden, the black retriever, to complete their family. As Beau bounds back into life, the two dogs become Doty's intimate companions, his solace, and eventually the very life force that keeps him from abandoning all hope during the darkest days. Their tenacity, loyalty, and love inspire him when all else fails. This is a moving and intimate memoir interwoven with profound reflections on our feelings for animals and the lessons they teach us about life, love, and loss. Doty writes about the heart-wrenching vulnerability of dogs, the positive energy and joy they bring, and the gift they bear us of unconditional love."--Publisher bookjacket.

Thornton Wilder: Collected Plays and Writings on Theater by Wilder, Thornton / McClatchy, J.D. selected and wrote notes.

Starred Review. This latest Library of America collection is a doozy. This volume gathers a heap of Wilder's early one-acters with Our Town, The Skin of Our Teeth, and The Matchmaker, plus his writings on theater and a sweet bonus of his screenplay for Hitchcock's 1943 thriller Shadow of a Doubt. Overall, there are about three dozen plays and another dozen essays. Essential for theater collections. Library Journal

900 Geography, Travel, History, Biography

Empire of Blue Water: Captain Morgan’s Great Pirate Army, the Epic Battle for the Americas, and the Catastrophe that Ended the Outlaw’s Bloody Reign by Stephan Talty

A vivid portrait of pirate life, and even better as an analysis of why the ruthless outlaws were so peculiarly suited for success against hapless Spain. Kirkus


Necessary Sins: A Memoir by Lynn Darling

Anyone who is married will laugh with Darling as she describes the disappointment she felt when her new hubby gave her towels for Valentine’s Day, and underline her many insights into the “cycles [of] domestic life. “Unsettling and absorbing.” Kirkus


Too Close to the Sun: the Audacious Life and Times of Denys Finch Hatton by Wheeler, Sara

Beautifully rendered biography of the last of the great Victorian gentlemen-adventurers, by accomplished English author Wheeler (Cherry, 2002, etc.). A charismatic personality of the first order, and with impeccable lineage to boot, Denys Finch Hatton (1887–1931) gained importance as one of the first-rank white hunters in British East Africa during the 1920s, as well as the lover of authors Karen Blixen (aka Isak Dinesen) and Beryl Markham, among others. Kirkus

Tempting Titles: Nonfiction 600 - 700

Continuing Summer fun in Dewey Decimal order:


To get to the online catalog record click on the image or the book title link. There you can place a hold request, see similar subjects or other books by the same author, read first chapters, reviews or summaries, and enlarge the image.

600 - Health, Technology, Business

Into the Black: JPL and the American Space Program, 1976-2004 by Westwick, Peter J.

A well-written work showing how a preeminent US space laboratory has coped with change as a new era of international competitiveness has evolved from earlier national emphasis on military and political competition. Choice

Introduction to Dog Agility by Bonham, Margaret H. with illustrations by Michele Earle-Bridges.

Written especially for beginning canine Agility competition enthusiasts, this manual covers all aspects of the competitive sport. The author starts with instruction on evaluating a dog's physical fitness and overall readiness for Agility training... Glendale Public Library Catalog Summary

Taz, the Blog Dog, says: "Want to have more fun with your person than you can possibly imagine? Plan to have them take you to do agility! Those tunnels, jumps, and tires are way cooooollll!!! Go dog go!" See you at the next trial-- Hey, look! Ice cream! Can I have some? Huh? Hawrf!"

The perfect scoop : ice creams, sorbets, granitas, and sweet accompaniments by Lebovitz, David

Lebovitz, who was a pastry chef at Chez Panisse in Berkeley, CA, for 12 years, is the author of three other cookbooks, including Room for Dessert. Here, he offers dozens of recipes for delectable frozen treats, from Chocolate-Peanut Butter Ice Cream to Cherry Sorbet to Blood Orange Granita. All the classics are here, along with more innovative creations. Parsley Ice Cream, anyone? Library Journal

SEND : the essential guide to email for office and home by Shipley, David

From this essential guidebook's opening sentence—"Bad things can happen on email"—Shipley and Schwalbe make all too clear what can go wrong. Brisk, practical and witty, the book aims to improve the reader's skills as sender and recipient: devising effective subject lines and exploring "the politics of the cc"; how to steer clear of legal issues; and how to recognize different types of attachments. Publisher's Weekly

Time power : a proven system for getting more done in less time than you ever thought possible by Tracy, Brian

Assuming that readers don't have the time to camp in an armchair and mull over his advice, Tracy "chunks up" the book by using headings to subdivide chapters and peppering his prose with numbered lists, such as the "12 Proven Principles for Peak Performance" and the "16 Ways to Overcome Procrastination." On occasion, his motivational bent can be too bubbly, especially in the "action exercises" found at the end of each chapter: "Resolve today that you are going to work and practice until you become one of the most efficient, effective, and productive people in your field," or "Resolve today to dedicate yourself to lifelong learning; decide to pay any price, invest any amount of time required, to be the best at what you do." Publisher's Weekly

700 - Arts, Sports, Entertaiment

Why Classical Music Still Matters, by Kramer, Lawrence

By focusing on the themes of life, (love and death, memory, war, identity, suffering and longing, solitude and community) he provides readers with the essential vocabulary to understand, actively engage with, and give meaning and value to classical music in our contemporary popular culture. Library Journal

It's Good to Be the King: The Seriously Funny Life of Mel Brooks by Parish, James R.

Brooks's probing self-insights and clever quotes abound. While his sense of timing, delivery and charming goofiness may not always translate to the written page, readers will be satisfied with the details unearthed by Parish's exhaustive research. Publishers Weekly

Tempting Titles Nonfiction 300 - 400 - 500

Continuing Summer fun in Dewey Decimal order:

To get to the online catalog record click on the image or the book title link. There you can place a hold request, see similar subjects or other books by the same author, read first chapters, reviews or summaries, and enlarge the image.

300 Social Sciences


The Long Exile: A Tale of Inuit Betrayal and Survival in the High Artic by McGrath, Melanie

A compact history of northern life adds context to the story of horrific exile, which McGrath humanizes by focusing on Josephie Flaherty, the mixed-race son of an Inuit mother and of American director Robert Flaherty, who created the cinematic sensation Nanook of the North in the 1920s. McGrath's account of inhumane deprivation is based on contemporary documents and astonishing interviews with survivors, who after decades of pleading to be repatriated to their homeland finally forced public hearings in 1993 that shocked Canadians and culminated in the 1999 creation of Nunavut, the world's only self-governing territory for indigenous people. Publishers Weekly.



Antonio’s Gun and Delfino’s Dream: True Tales of Mexican Migration by Quinones, Sam

In this collection of "tales," freelance journalist Quinones (True Tales from Another Mexico) illustrates the astounding determination, resourcefulness, and entrepreneurial spirit of many Mexicans who seek a different way of life, whether within their country of birth or by moving to the United States. Library Journal.

Hyper-chondriac: One Man's Quest to Hurry Up and Calm Down by Frazer, Brian

"Hilarious and biting, Hyper-Chondriac recounts the author's lifelong battle with various ailments and maladies, ranging from minor instances of frostbite to rage-filled meltdowns." -- Entertainment Weekly

The Day the Earth Caved In: An American Mining Tragedy by Quigley, Joan

“...a real-life epic of brutally indifferent government, greedy corporations and the unlikely heroes who fight for their basic human rights. It's all here; made in America. You'll feel enraged to know the truth of what happened in our mountains and proud of your fellow Americans who took on Goliath." -- John Passacantando, Executive Director, Greenpeace USA

400 Language

Unfortunate English: the gloomy truth behind the words you use by Brohaugh, William

Previous meanings of words that would offend the sensitive, discomfit the squeamish, and irk the politically correct are uncovered in this entertaining compilation of word histories and etymologies. 10,000 first printing. Readers may think twice about using such seemingly innocuous words as "pretty," "gymnasium," and "goodbye" after perusing this volume. In it, Brohaugh reveals the original meanings of a number of commonly used words--meanings that might offend the more delicate sensibilities of modern hearers, were they made aware of them. Brohaugh is the editor or author of several books on writing. Book News, Inc.,


500 Sciences



The Canon: A Whirligig Tour of the Beautiful Basics of Scienceby Angier, Natalie


Natalie Angier loves science, and she wants everyone else to love it, too. Bookpage


She writes with such verve, humor, and warmth that even readers who may have flunked any of those subjects in high school will still be willing to give them a second chance. Library Journal

Tempting Titles: Nonfiction 000 - 100 - 200

We're back with more Tempting Titles of recent books chosen by the nonfiction selectors, (the librarians who buy books for the library shelves.) If these titles are not yet on our shelves, records are in the catalog and will be flying off shelves soon. They are listed in Dewey Decimal order because that's where you'll find them, and how we order them.

To get to the online catalog record click on the image or the book title link. There you can place a hold request, see similar subjects or other books by the same author, read first chapters, reviews or summaries, and enlarge the image.

000 Computers, Generalities

Photoshop finishing touches
by Cross, Dave

This guide to Adobe Photoshop focuses on adding finishing touches such as frames and artistic and lighting effects to images so that readers can learn how to experiment with the program. Although meant for readers with some knowledge of Photoshop, the first section is a reference that explains key concepts. Others of the 59 techniques shown are borders and edge effects, applying filters, color tint, blurring, and techniques for presentation such as slide shows. (Glendale Public Library Catalog Summary)


Totally wired: what teens and tweens are really doing online
by Goodstein, Anastasia

Today's teens are developmentally identical to teens who listened to Elvis and wore poodle skirts, Goodstein argues, but they have a new venue—the Internet—for exploring their hopes, desires and voices. Goodstein urges parents to take the plunge into cyberspace not only in order to keep their children safe but also to build closer relationships. "Ask them about their digital lives," she advises, "and they'll start talking about the rest of their lives." Focusing on the pros rather than the risks, Goldstein presents a solid and accessible guide to help understand the wired generation. (Publisher's Weekly)

100 Philosophy, Psychology

Have You Got What It Takes?: Successful People Reveal How They Made It to the Top by Boggs, Bill

This lessons-in-life career guide from successful stars at the top of their game delves into what factors, beyond talent, have determined and defined the lives of well-known individuals, including Joe Torre, Anna Quindlen, Matt Lauer, and others. (Glendale Public Library Catalog Summary)

200 Religion

Religious Liberty: what every American needs to know and doesn't by Prothero, Stephen

"a must-read not only for educators, clergy and government officials, but for all adults in a culture where, as Prothero puts it, "faith without understanding is the standard" and "religious ignorance is bliss." Publishers' Weekly

Peace Be Upon You: the story of Muslim, Christian, and Jewish coexistence by Karabell, Zachary.

If this reviewer were God, Allah, or master of the universe, and if he were inclined to remind Muslims, Jews, and Christians that they've lived most of the last 1400 years in peaceful coexistence and cooperation rather than violence and intolerance, this is the book he would write for them. Karabell shows that this nearly forgotten heritage can help us envision (and act upon) a more stable and secure 21st century—one in which the shared watchword is peace, not conflict. Library Journal.

Street Art and Graffiti

Love it or hate it, Street Art and Graffiti are part of the urban experience, especially in Los Angeles!

Graffiti Women: Street Art from Five Continents (New York, Abrams, 2006) by Nicholas Ganz highlights the often overlooked contingent of female street artists. It is the first comprehensive survey of the work of women graffiti and street artists, featuring the work of over 125 artists from around the world with more 1,000 full-color illustrations. This book is important proof that the exciting and ever-evolving realm of street art is not male dominated as it is often thought to be.

We also recommend Ganz’ 2004 book Graffiti World: Street Art from Five Continents and Banksy: Wall and Piece, (London, Century/Random House, 2005). This is the best book to-date documenting the artistic exploits of London’s now-legendary “guerilla” street artist. Banksy has painted the walls, streets, and bridges of towns and cities throughout the world and gained international notoriety after surreptitiously hanging his own artworks alongside the great masters in museums like London’s Tate Gallery, the Louvre in Paris, and New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.

You can also check out DVDs on the topic of Graffiti, including the great series Graffiti Verite.

MORE FROM THE BEACH BAG

Louise Erdrich has written two very poetic novels guaranteed to transport the reader (all without the aid of a travel agent) to another place and time. These two titles, while neither could be considered a sequel, do follow the twists and turns of a group of Ojibwe Indians and their lives on and off the reservation at a time right before and after the First World War. The author tells stories of passion, revenge, redemption, compassion and of the tenacity to survive difficult times in alternating voices, sometimes from a male perspective and at others a feminine one. The Library owns copies of this author’s books including her critically acclaimed Love Medicine, Beet Queen and her recent The Master Butchers Singing Club any of which would also be a great way to while away a summer day.

This Week in Reading June 10 -16

Along with a trio of Nobel Prizewinners this week, (Saul Bellow, Yasunari Kawabata, William Butler Yeats), there may be some other very fine writers who may yet win one. And if there ever was a Nobel Prize for mystery writers Dorothy Sayers would surely have won one. Certainly, if there was one for quotations year after year, before Nobel even lived, John Bartlett would have deserved one too.

However, the week that includes Flag Day is as significant for the democratic milestones that happened as well as the literary ones. Just as the author list has lawyers, businessmen and presidential candidates, and Nat Hentoff, one of the most outspoken and reasonable free speech advocates of his time, the event list includes the birthday of Anne Frank who reminds us what freedom is, and the signing of the Magna Carta which still informs our concepts of freedom.

This Week's Question: Which of this week's authors called William Shakespeare "an upstart crow?"

Answer to Last Week's Question: The first guest Bill Moyers interviewed on his new weekly program, Bill Moyers Journal, was Jon Stewart of the Daily Show. If you can get yourself away from that night's Daily Show, the next gathering of people at the Glendale Central Library to discuss issues raised as Moyers Talkers is Thursday, June 21, 2007 at 7:00 PM in the upstairs Computer Learning Center.

Oprah Picks "Middlesex" As Her Summer Book

Middlesex, Jeffrey Eugenides’s 2003 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, is Oprah Winfrey’s selection for her summer book club. The story of a Greek-American girl who becomes a teenage boy in 1970s Detroit, Middlesex has already sold more than one million copies, according to Nielsen Bookscan, making the title considerably more popular than most books chosen for Oprah’s club. The Library has many copies available. Click on the photo to place your hold now.

Which Books Do You Have?

What books do you have in your home library? Wish you had a better record of what you've read and enjoyed? Do you have lists of books to read at some point and want to get organized? Why not keep all that information in one convenient place?

Take a look at a cool online tool called "goodreads" (www.goodreads.com). According to the site, "you can add and review books that you are currently reading, going to read, or already read. You can also read reviews..."

Basically you make lists of the books you own, books you've read, books you're currently reading and books you want to read in the future. Plus you can see what other people have enjoyed and recommend. All in one place!

It's a neat tool and very handy--check it out.

This Week in Reading June 3 - 9

There are some absolutely fine writers this week, the poet Allen Ginsberg, the poetic playwright Federico Lorca and storywriter Margarite Yourcenar, as well as Thomas Mann and Margaret Drabble. There are also popular contemporaries like Larry McMurty and Louise Erdrich, and the very popular mystery thriller writers, Sara Paretsky, and Patricia Cornwell. But two authors born this week consistenly help us figure out how to keep true to our values amidst all the upheavals and willful ignorances of current politics and commerce, intelligent television's Bill Moyers and Dilbert's creator, Scott Adams.

This Week's question: (Two parts) Whom did Moyers interview as his first guest on his new Friday night series on PBS called Bill Moyers Journal and when is the next meeting of the local Moyers Talkers, who re-view, discuss and blog about his issues, in the Central Library Learning Center computer room?

Answer to Last Week's question: Lillian Hellman became a well-known and respected playwright in her own right but her career developed from associations generated by her long affair with Dashiell Hammett who had divorced his first wife with whom there were two daughters. However, at his death Hellman, rather than they, obtained the rights to Hammett's novels and screenwork.