As You Like It has a new home

We’ve recently redesigned our website and all of our blogs will now be an integral part of our new site (if you haven’t checked out One Book, Two Books, Old Books, New Books or Notes From the Underground, please make sure that you do!)

We will maintain this wordpress site as an archive but future posts will appear here.

Thank you for reading along with us over the years!  We hope you’ll make the move with us.

 

 

There are few words

image via Syndetics

MacKinlay Kantor seems like he was a pretty great guy.  While growing up in Iowa, he added an “a” to his middle name, McKinlay, because he thought it made it more Scottish; during WWII, while riding along on some bombing missions on assignment for an L.A. newspaper, he asked to be trained and allowed to use the plane’s turret machine guns (you know, just in case); and then, there’s this picture.

Levity aside, Kantor seems to have found his experiences in WWII quite formative.  Present at the liberation of the  Buchenwald concentration camp he was convinced to try and tell the story of an American “concentration camp”, Camp Sumter, a.k.a. Andersonville, bane of Union troops during the American Civil War.  There are few words.  Andersonville the prison was a living nightmare.  Extant images of survivors defy imagination.  Simply put, the design, execution, and maintenance of the camp was an atrocity visited upon mankind that has few peers.  It cost one of the Confederate officers in charge, Henry Wirz, his life for war crimes.

Kantor’s writing about the subject has a simple outward structure, yet is entirely compelling.  His characters live and breathe and have a piquant amount of human sensuality.  He is generous to many, even Henry Wirz, giving the lie to easy answers about responsibility for the evil that was Andersonville.  He is able to bring stories he heard face-to-face with Civil War veterans during his boyhood into play within the narrative, humanizing all sides of the conflict.  And he knows when to provide his readers with a miracle.  Contrary to my title for this post, Kantor uses many words in his story of Andersonville.  Some of the details are so overwhelming and the breadth of the book so great, readers could easily begin to lose hope of ever reaching the end or having any reason to.  A miracle (or two!) in the narrative leaves us with a residue of hope by the end and a reason to bother reflecting upon the history that contains such a happening.

“Craig is reading all of the Pulitzer-prize winning novels in chronological order.  See the origins of this journey here.”

Cats vs Dogs? New books at ACPL

Here’s a quick look at some books we’ve recently added to the collection.  Something catch your eye?  Click on a book cover to check availability — it’s as easy as that!

If you’d like weekly updates on new additions to our collections, sign up for our New Arrivals newsletter by clicking here and following three easy steps.  Warning:  you may have to bring a couple of bookbags with you on your next visit!

What does Labor Day mean for you?

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s page on the history of Labor Day, we’ve been celebrating workers on the first Monday of September since 1894.  If you’re interested in taking a look at some of your fellow workers’ experiences, you might want to check out these titles.

	NPR refers to Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do by Studs Turkel as the quintessential book about Labor Day.  First published in 1974, this book is a collection of interviews of more than 130 people around the country about their jobs.  Men and women from every walk of life talked to the Chicago radio broadcaster about their likes & dislikes, fears, problems and happinesses on the job.
	Harlan County, U.S.A. is a documentary film about the Kentucky coal miners’ strike against the operators of the Brookside mine and the Duke Power Company in 1973.  The dvd focuses on the hostile conditions that the miners dealt with — the threats and bullying — as well as their everyday struggles with poverty and black lung disease.
	In Rivethead: Tales from the Assembly Line by Ben Hamper, the author recounts his experiences as riveter for General Motors during the ’70s and ’80s.
	Waiter Rant:  Thanks for the Tip — Confessions of a Cynical Waiter by Steve Dublanica.  Based on the award-winning blog, “Waiter Rant,” this book tells the story from the server’s point of view.
	Working Words: Punching the Clock and Kicking Out the Jams edited by M.L. Liebler.  From the folk anthems of Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie to the poems of Walt Whitman and Amiri Baraka, from the stories of Willa Cather and Bret Lott to the rabble-rousing work of Michael Moore, this transcendent volume touches upon all aspects of working-class life.

If you’re interested in more titles, we have plenty!  Search our catalog using the keywords “working class United States” or “labor unions” and take your pick!

While I’m grateful to have a full-time job that I love, I’m also grateful for Labor Day.  Weather permitting, I plan to spend the day with family.  Maybe I’ll ask my dad to tell me stories about his time working for the railroad.  What are your plans?

What we’re reading . . .

Ever wonder what library staff like to read?  Wonder no more!  Here’s a quick look at some books we’ve enjoyed this month.  Just click on a book cover to check availability; if you’d like to read a short description of the book, just scroll down below the availability listings.

Al Sharpton Visit

You might have heard that civil rights activist Al Sharpton will be visiting Fort Wayne. He will be speaking at Come as You Are Community Church on September 21st, 2015, at 7:00 p.m. It’s no secret that Sharpton is pretty polarizing. Whatever your views of the man, if you’d like to read more about the issues he will likely address, try one of these books.

 

John A. Rich is a doctor who interviewed dozens of African American men affected by urban violence. In Wrong Place, Wrong Time: Trauma and Violence in the Lives of Young Black Men, Rich laments the fact that we as a society have come to see urban black violence as “normal” – even inevitable. He reminds us that these young men – even the ones that many people think “deserve” their injuries – are scarred by the violence and trauma they see on a daily basis. Like any of us, these young men and boys feel fear, loss, abandonment, and sorrow. If we just listen, we can learn so much from their stories.

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander argues that mass incarceration in America has taken over the role of Jim Crow laws designed to control and hinder the progress of young black men. Alexander cites statistics to show that African American men living in poverty are discriminated against in all phases of the legal process – policing, prosecuting, conviction, and sentencing.

Ta-Nehisi Coates’ beautifully written Between the World and Me is a letter to his teenage son – a letter filled with rage over what it means to be a black man in America. This book is on the bestseller list, so the library’s copies are probably all checked out. While waiting for a copy, you might start with The Beautiful Struggle, a fascinating look at Coates’ youth in urban Baltimore. Flirting with street life and ignoring school work, Coates found himself moving in another, more positive direction after becoming “Conscious” by discovering his African roots.

Jason Riley believes that well-intentioned social welfare programs actually hold black Americans back. In Please Stop Helping Us: How Liberals Make It Harder for Blacks to Succeed, Riley claims that social welfare programs have destroyed the black nuclear family and discouraged blacks’ financial self-sufficiency. He argues that liberal policies have only encouraged African Americans to embrace victimhood and entitlement – and that the solution is for white liberals to step away and allow black Americans to take responsibility for their future.

In Shame: How America’s Past Sins Have Polarized Our Country, Shelby Steele makes the case that liberal politicians exaggerate claims of racial inequality in order to justify overreaching public welfare programs. Steele argues that affirmative action and other programs have fostered a sense of victimization among black Americans and that it’s only through a return to personal freedom and merit-based competition that our society will achieve equality.

Ben Shapiro’s Bullies: How the Left’s Culture of Fear and Intimidation Silences Americans criticizes Sharpton, calling him a “race bully” and blaming him for inciting hatred and riots. Shapiro accuses Sharpton and other liberals of using bullying in the form of false accusations of sexism and racism in order to demonize conservatives and claim the moral high ground.

 

 

Jingle Book, Jingle Book, Jingle all the Way…

I know, I know, it’s still warm out. But publishing companies want to make sure you have those books you need to get you through those cold winter nights that are just around the corner. Here is the list of upcoming books for the period of September 15 to October 14, 2015. Those are the publishing dates, not the dates they will appear at a library near you.

Historical romances take place before 1945. A heavy emphasis is placed on the development of a romantic relationship. Subgenres include medievals, American West and regencies.

	Jennifer Ashley The Stolen Mackenzie Bride Mackenzies series September 29
	Suzanne Enoch Some Like it Scot Scandalous Highlanders series October 6
	Madeline Hunter Tall, Dark and Wicked Wicked series October 6
	Eva Leigh aka Zoe Archer Forever Your Earl Wicked Quills of London series September 29
	Julie Anne Long The Legend of Lyon Redmond Pennyroyal Green series September 29

Historical Fiction normally takes place before 1945. Focus is on the lives, scandals and issues facing the characters, light emphasis on romance. A large percentage of these stories are fictionalized stories of real people. Phillipa Gregory is a HF author.

	Jane Thynne The Scent of Secrets September 15
	Adriana Trigiani All the Stars in the Heavens October 13

Contemporary Romance is in modern times; these stories place an emphasis on the development of a romantic relationship. Vary in tone, sensuality and content – may contain light suspense. Settings vary, but most take place in North America.
Mainstream Fiction are usually set in the present day, though occasionally will be set at any time after WWII, and the development of a romantic relationship is not a main focus of the plot. Subgenres include women’s fiction, chick lit, lad lit and literary fiction.

	Corban Addison The Tears of Dark Water Mainstream October 13
	Diane Chamberlain Pretending to Dance Mainstream October 6
	Sonali Dev The Bollywood Bride Contemporary Romance September 29
	Susan Fox Love Somebody Like You Caribou Crossing series Contemporary Romance September 29
	Elin Hilderbrand Winter Stroll sequel to Winter Street Mainstream October 13
	Debbie Mason Snowbound at Christmas Christmas, Colorado series Contemporary September 29
	Kate Meader Playing with Fire Hot in Chicago series Contemporary September 29
	Jeanette Murray Against the Ropes First to Fight series Contemporary Romance October 6
	Carla Neggers A Knights Bridge Christmas Swift River Valley series Contemporary Romance September 29
	Jill Shalvis All I Want Animal Magnetism series Contemporary Romance October 6
	Fiona Sussman Another Woman’s Daughter Mainstream October 6
	Sherryl Woods Willow Brook Road Chesapeake Shores series Contemporary Romance September 29

Mysteries take place in different settings and time periods, but solving a mystery (often, but not always, a murder) is the main focus of the plot.
Thrillers take place in all different locations and time periods. The primary focus of the plot revolves around a major threat. Usually there is a time limit in which lives must be saved. These books may include a romantic subplot, but it does not drive the main story.
Suspense takes place in all different settings and time periods. Like mysteries, there is a truth to uncover or a criminal to find, but the why is emphasized as opposed to the who. Romance may be included, but is not the focus.
Romantic Suspense places a heavy emphasis on the development of a romantic relationship as jeopardy, lies, deceit and killers often stalk the hero or heroine. The sensuality and violence varies from book to book depending on the author.

	Tasha Alexander The Adventuress Lady Emily series Mystery October 13
	Laurien Berenson The Bark Before Christmas Melanie Travis series Mystery September 29
	Heather Blake Ghost of a Potion Magic Potion Mystery series Mystery October 6
	Jessica Clare Jen Frederick Last Hope Hitman series Romantic Suspense September 29
	Catherine Coulter J.T. Ellison The End Game A Brit in the FBI series Suspense September 15
	John Fortunato Dark Reservations Debut Mystery October 13
	Peter James Your are Dead Roy Grace series Mystery October 6
	Iris Johansen Shadow Play Eve Duncan series Suspense September 29
	Jon Land Strong Light of Day Caitlin Strong series Thriller October 13
	Anne Perry Corridors of the Night William Monk series Mystery September 15
	Julie Rowe Lethal Game Biological Response Team series ebook Romantic Suspense October 12
	Karin Slaughter Pretty Girls Thrillers September 29

Paranormal Romance takes place in all different settings and time periods. The focus of the plot is on the effect of supernatural or paranormal elements on the characters’ lives as they pursue a romantic relationship. Usually vampire, werewolf, shapeshifters, ghosts involved in romance.
Fantasy takes place in all different settings and time periods. The focus of the plot is primarily on the effect of magical elements on the characters’ lives, often while the characters are on a quest. Some popular themes are historical fantasy, mythical creatures and magical abilities.
Science Fiction takes place in all different settings and time periods. The focus of the plot is primarily on the effect of science innovations, or imagined scientific principles, on the characters lives.
Urban Fantasy are most often told in first-person narration. This person has to deal with supernatural and paranormal elements that are incorporated into our own world. The tales usually continue throughout a series rather than being finished in a single book. These novels are most frequently set in contemporary times, often in large urban areas. Strong women are a feature in this genre.

	Jim Butcher The Aeronaut’s Windlass The Cinder Spires series Fantasy September 29
	Jan DeLima Autumn Moon Celtic Wolves series Paranormal September 29
	Jacquelyn Frank Bound by Sin Immortal Brothers series Paranormal September 29
	Laura Anne Gilman Silver on the Road The Devils West series Fantasy October 6
	Heather Graham The Hidden Krewe of Hunters series Paranormal September 29
	Ann Leckie Ancillary Mercy Imperial Radch trilogy Science Fiction October 6
	Erin Lindsey The Bloodforged Bloodbound series Fantasy September 29
	Ilana C. Myer Last Song Before Night Fantasy September 29
	Diana Rowland White Trash Zombie Gone Wild White Trash Zombie series Urban Fantasy October 6
	Greg Van Eekhout Dragon Coast Sequel to  California Bonesand Pacific Fire Fantasy September 15
	Rachel Vincent Menagerie Menagerie series Fantasy September 29

Young Adult books generally focus on teenage heroes and heroines and can be part of any subgenre.

	Kelley Armstrong The Masked Truth Suspense October 13
	Leigh Bardugo Six of Crows Grisha trilogy spinoff Fantasy September 29
	Kendare Blake Ungodly Fantasy September 22
	Sarah Crossan One September 15
	Alex Flinn Mirrored Paranormal September 15
	Aaron Hartzler What We Saw Debut September 22
	Julie Murphy Dumplin’ September 15
	Sarah Prineas Ash & Bramble September 15
	Ransom Riggs Library of Souls Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children series Paranormal September 22
	Sherry Thomas The Immortal Heights Elemental trilogy Fantasy October 13

Erotica takes place in different settings and time periods. The focus of the story is evolves around a variety of sexual exploits and not always is there a “happily ever after.”

	Jackie Ashenden You Are Mine Circle Nine series October 6
	Shayla Black Wicked for You Wicked Lovers series October 6
	Sarah Castille Sinner’s Steel Sinner’s Tribe Motorcycle Club series October 6
	HelenKay Dimon Mine Holton Woods series October 6
	Christina Lauren Dark Wild Night Wild seasons series September 15
	M. O’Keefe Everything I Left Unsaid Everything I Left Unsaid series October 13
	Meredith Wild Hard Love Hacker series September 15

Inspirational Fiction take place across many different time periods and genres. Most contain strong religious themes and are predominantly Christian. Rarely are sex scenes included in these stories. However, some novels in the subcategories of suspense and thriller may contain some scenes of violence.

	Ted Dekker A.D. 33 Historical October 6
	Lynne Gentry Valley of Decision The Carthage Chronicles series Historical September 15
	Shelley Shepherd Gray A Wedding at Orange Blossom Inn Amish Brides of Pinecraft series September 15
	Lisa Harris Vendetta Nikki Boyd Files series Suspense September 29
	Dorothy Love A Respectable Actress Historical October 13
	Kim Vogel Sawyer When Love Returns Old Order Mennonites of Arborville series September 22
	Lauraine Snelling Streams of Mercy Songs of Blessing series Historical October 6