Friday, October 30, 2009

Friday Fiction: Time Travel With an Arizona Author

--by Hanje Richards

Diana Jean Gabaldon Watkins (b 1952 in Arizona) is the author of the best-selling "Outlander" series. Her books are difficult to classify by genre, since they contain elements of romantic fiction, historical fiction, and science fiction (in the form of time travel). For your convience, we have shelved her books in our general adult fiction section; however, the newest title, An Echo in the Bone, is available on the New Fiction shelf on the main floor of the library.

Gabaldon grew up in Flagstaff, Arizona. She has received three degrees from two different institutions: B.S. in Zoology from Northern Arizona University (1970-1973); M.S. in Marine Biology from the University of California, San Diego, Scripps Institute of Oceanography (1973-1975); and a Ph.D. in Ecology from Northern Arizona University (1975-1978).

She also received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Northern Arizona University in 2007. In addition, Gabaldon Hall, a dormitory on the campus of Northern Arizona University, is named after her father, Tony Gabaldon. Gabaldon currently lives in Scottsdale, Arizona with her husband, Doug Watkins; they have three adult children.


There are presently seven novels in the main "Outlander" series, including An Echo In The Bone, released on Sept. 22, 2009. The stories center around a time-travelling 20th-century English nurse (Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser) and her 18th-century Scottish husband (James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser) and are located in Scotland, France, the West Indies, England, and America.

If you would like to take a trip through time and space look for these titles by Diana Gabaldon in the fiction section at the Copper Queen Library.

Outlander (1991) A 600-page time-travel romance, in which strong-willed and sensual Claire Randall leads a double life with a husband in one century, and a lover in another. Torn between fidelity and desire, she struggles to understand the pure intent of her heart. But don't let the number of pages and the Scottish dialect scare you. It's one of the fastest reads you'll have in your library.

While on her second honeymoon in the British Isles, Claire touches a boulder that hurls her back in time to the forbidden Castle Leoch with the MacKenzie clan. Not understanding the forces that brought her there, she becomes ensnared in life-threatening situations with a Scots warrior named James Fraser. But it isn't all spies and drudgery that she must endure. For amid her new surroundings and the terrors she faces, she is lured into love and passion like she's never known before.

Dragonfly in Amber (1992) The second book in the series takes readers along on Randall's quest, as she hopes to find a state or time (like that of the title's dragonfly suspended in a piece of amber) where Fraser still exists.

Voyager (1994) Sweeping us from the battlefields of eighteenth-century Scotland to the exotic West Indies, Diana Gabaldon weaves magic once again in an exhilarating and utterly unforgettable novel.


Drums of Autumn (1997) A Scottish couple travels back in time to Charleston on the eve of the American revolution and seeks peace and freedom in the mountain wilderness.

The Fiery Cross (2001) In this pre-Revolutionary War period, Claire Fraser and her husband, Jamie, have crossed oceans and centuries to build a life together in the bucolic beauty of North Carolina. But tensions both ancient and recent threaten not only Claire and James, but their daughter, Brianna, her new husband, Roger, and their infant son, Jemmy, as well as members of their clan.

A Breath of Snow and Ashes (2005) Set during the three years leading up to the American Revolution, this compulsively readable mix of authentically set historical fiction and completely satisfying romance maps both violent loss and strong family ties. On the eve of war much is changing on Fraser's Ridge, and Jamie and Claire encounter much harm. This vivid and haunting novel, therefore, brings an aching sadness, but it is balanced with sheer joy, revelation, and solace.


An Echo in the Bone (2009) While Jacobite Jamie Fraser reluctantly participates in the American rebellion with a foreknowledge of the fledgling country's victory, his time-traveling wife, Claire, worries about the ultimate price of the war while struggling to safeguard her family.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Scary Movies For Hallowe'en... or Anytime!

--by Hanje Richards

Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was a British filmmaker and producer who pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in his native United Kingdom, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood. In 1956, he became an American citizen while retaining his British citizenship.

Hitchcock directed more than fifty feature films in a career spanning six decades. He remains one of the most popular and most recognized filmmakers, and his works are still popular today. Often regarded as the greatest British filmmaker of all time, in 2007 Hitchcock was ranked #1 by film critics in The Telegraph's list of 21 greatest British directors, which writes:

"Unquestionably the greatest filmmaker to emerge from these islands, Hitchcock did more than any director to shape modern cinema, which would be utterly different without him. His flair was for narrative, cruelly withholding crucial information (from his characters and from us) and engaging the emotions of the audience like no one else." (With thanks and apologies to Wikipedia)

The Copper Queen Library has a large selection of Hitchcock favorites. We invite you to check them out during this Hallowe’en season... or any time at all. Here is a list of some of the movies we have in DVD format. (Hint: Check under "Hitchcock" and then under the title in our alphabetical files of movie slips.)

The Birds Thousands of birds descend upon the town, attacking and terrorizing its residents.

Dial M For Murder A man devises a plan to murder his wife, not only because he wants her money, but because she is in love with another man.

Family Plot In his final picture, Hitchcock weaves together suspense and humor in this tongue-in-cheek thriller about a wealthy woman who innocently hires a phony psychic to find her missing heir.

Foreign Correspondent A reporter sent to Europe to cover a peace conference falls in love with a diplomat's daughter, but discovers that her father is the head of a Nazi spy ring.

Frenzy The Necktie Murderer has the London police on red alert and an innocent man is on a desperate quest to find the real sex criminal and clear his name.

I Confess A priest hears a murderer's confession and then becomes the murder suspect himself.

Jamaica Inn An undercover officer joins a band of smugglers and cutthroats with hopes of thwarting them, but they soon discover his real identity.

Lady Vanishes A young woman on a train, to England from Switzerland, meets a charming older lady who promptly disappears.

Man Who Knew Too Much A thrilling tale of international espionage, assassinations and terror.

Marnie Marnie is a compulsive thief who attempts to rob her boss, Mark Rutland, but instead ends up marrying him.

Psycho Norman Bates is a troubled son who believes "a boy's best friend is his mother." Marion Crane is an ill-fated traveler who checks into the eerie Bates Motel wanting only a hot shower and a warm bed. Her journey ends sooner than she planned in the shocking scene that has haunted generations of movie-watchers.

Rear Window It only takes one witness to spoil the perfect crime in one of the most acclaimed suspense films of all time. Professional photographer L.B. "Jeff" Jeffries becomes obsessed with watching the private dramas of his neighbors while confined to a wheelchair with a broken leg.

Rope Two thrill-seeking friends strangle a classmate and then hold a party for their victim's family and friends, serving refreshments on a buffet table fashioned from a trunk containing the lifeless body.

Saboteur Barry Kane is a Los Angeles aircraft factory worker who witnesses a Nazi agent firebombing his plant. However, it is Barry who is accused of the fiery sabotage, and to clear his name he sets off on a desperate, action-packed cross-country chase.

Shadow of a Doubt Uncle Charlie is a seemingly charming man visiting his relatives in their small and peaceful hometown. But his niece suspects that he may in fact be the psychopathic Merry Widow killer and Uncle Charlie must plot the death of his favorite relation in order to remain one step ahead of the law.

39 Steps Follows the escapades of Richard Hanney, who stumbles into a conspiracy that involves him in a hectic chase across the Scottish moors.

Topaz An American CIA agent hires a French operative to travel to Cuba and investigate rumors of Russian missiles and Topaz, a NATO spy. The inquiry soon spins into a life-threatening escapade of espionage, betrayal and murder.

Torn Curtain An edge-of-your-seat Cold War thriller set behind the Iron Curtain.

Trouble With Harry The trouble with Harry is that he's dead, and while no one really minds, everyone feels responsible. Shirley Maclaine makes her screen debut in this New England romp.

Vertigo When tragedy strikes, Scottie must overcome the vertigo that haunts his dreams in order to unravel the secrets of the past and find the key to his future.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Friday Fiction

--by Hanje Richards

The Copper Queen Library collects all kinds of materials in all kinds of genres and formats. We have movies and children’s books and books of art, photography, and biography. We have board books and pop-up books and some really big “oversize” books. We have books on tape and books on disc.

In this blog, we try to talk about all different kinds of materials and collections, but with so many things to cover, sometimes it is a bit daunting. In an effort to highlight one area of interest, I will be writing a "Friday Fiction" blog post on Fridays, in which I will highlight one author and cover both the new titles and backlist from this author.

Check back on Friday to see who I have chosen for my first "Friday Fiction" post!

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Update: Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series

--by Hanje Richards
If you or your kids have been following this fun series that I blogged about a few weeks ago, then you will be happy to know that the latest title in the series has arrived on our shelves. Dog Days follows the earlier titles: the original Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Roderick Rules, and The Last Straw.

In this latest addition to the line-up, it’s summer vacation, the weather’s great, and all the kids are having fun outside. So where’s Greg Heffley? Inside his house, playing video game with the shades drawn. Greg, a self-confessed “indoor person,” is living out his ultimate summer fantasy: no responsibilities and no rules. But Greg’s mom has a different vision for an ideal summer . . . one packed with outdoor activities and “family togetherness.” Whose vision will win out? Or will a new addition to the Heffley family change everything?


Find out now! Borrow Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days at the Copper Queen Library today!

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Caldecott Medal Winners

--by Hanje Richards


The Caldecott Medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children published that year. It was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. Together with the Newbery Medal, it is the most prestigious American children's book award.


Criteria for the award:

--The book must be published in English in the United States during the preceding year.

--The illustrations must be original work.

--The artist must be a citizen or resident of the United States.

--The book must be considered for the artistic technique employed; pictorial interpretation of story; appropriateness of style of illustration to the story; delineation of plot, theme, characters, setting mood or information through the pictures; and recognition of a child audience.


--The book must display respect for children's understandings, abilities, and appreciations.

--The book must be a self-contained entity, not dependent on other media for its enjoyment.

The Copper Queen Library now has a section comprised of the Caldecott Medal Winners we own. Any library employee will be happy to show you where it is.



Some of the titles that we have in our Caldecott Medal Winners Collection include Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey, Madeline’s Rescue by Ludwig Bmelmans, Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, and The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats.



These and many other beautifully illustrated children’s books can be found by browsing the Caldecott Medal Winners section at the Copper Queen Library or by doing a search for "Caldecott" under “words or phrase” in the Copper Queen Library database.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Newbery Award Winners At the Library

--by Hanje Richards

The John Newbery Medal is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA). The award is given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.

The award, given since 1922, is named for John Newbery, an 18th century English publisher of juvenile books. Together with the Caldecott Medal, the Newbery is considered one of the two most prestigious awards for children's literature in the United States. The winner is announced each January.

The criteria for the award:

--The book must be published in English in the United States the previous year.
--The author must be a citizen or resident of the United States.
--The book must be considered for its theme, presentation (clarity, accuracy and organization), plot, characters, setting, and style.
--The book must relate to a child audience.
--The book must contribute to literature.
--The book must stand alone and not as a part of a multimedia presentation.

The Copper Queen Library now features a section comprised of the Newbery Medal Winners. Any library employee will be happy to show you where it is.

Some of our Newbery titles include Holes by Louis Sachar, King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry, Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson, and Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien, as well as the 2009 winner, Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book.

We invite you to come browse the section or do an online catalog search under “words or phrase” for “Newbery” in the Copper Queen Library.

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Calling All Wimpy Kids!

--by Hanje Richards

If you are between ages 8 and 13 and haven’t discovered Greg Heffley and his diaries yet, you are in for a treat! Author and illustrator Jeff Kinney does a masterful job of making the mundane life of boys on the brink of adolescence hilarious. Greg is a conflicted soul (and what middle-schooler isn’t): he wants to do the right thing, but the constant quest for status and girls seems to undermine his every effort.


Jeff Kinney recalls the growing pains of school life and introduces a new kind of hero who epitomizes the challenges of being a kid. As Greg says in his diary, “Just don’t expect me to be all ‘Dear Diary’ this and ‘Dear Diary' that.” Greg also wants to make one thing clear: this is NOT a diary—it’s a journal. And it’s his mother’s idea for him to chronicle his life as a tortured sixth-grader, not his.

The pages look like they were written and drawn by a middle school student and the angst with which our hero approaches his life and his daily adventures is all part of the charm of this series.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Greg Heffley’s Journal (J FIC KINNEY DIARY GREG) - It’s a new school year, and Greg Heffley finds himself thrust into middle school, where undersized weaklings share the hallways with kids who are taller, meaner, and already shaving. The hazards of growing up before you’re ready are uniquely revealed through words and drawings as Greg records them in his diary.


Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (J FIC KINNEY DIARY RODRICK) - Secrets have a way of getting out, especially when a diary is involved. As Greg enters the new school year, he’s eager to put the past three months behind him . . . and one event in particular. Unfortunately for Greg, his older brother, Rodrick, knows all about the incident Greg wants to keep under wraps.



Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw (J FIC KINNEY LAST) - This time, Greg starts off on New Year's Day (he resolves to "help other people improve," telling his mother, "I think you should work on chewing your potato chips more quietly") and ends with summer vacation.



Friday, October 02, 2009

I Just Read…

Homer & Langley by E.L. Doctorow. This is a fictionalized account of the very real lives of the infamous Collyer brothers. The novel details the lives of the Collyer brothers, notorious for their eccentricities as well as for their habit of compulsively hoarding a plethora of various bric-a-brac.

Doctorow very gently leads us through not only the rooms of the Fifth Avenue home that became first a prison of, and then the tomb for, these brothers – but also through the minds that created this havoc. According to all accounts, Doctorow has taken liberties with many things, including the birth dates and birth order of Homer and Langely, but it appears that he remains true to the essence of what was discovered at the end of their lives in April 1947. (Doctorow has in fact extended their lives so that that they live into the late 1970s.)

If you are interested in more about hoarding, you may find the documentary film Grey Gardens (DVD BIO GREY) of interest. This documentary is a portrait of the relationship between Edith Bouvier Beale and her grown daughter, Little Edie, once an aspiring actress in New York who left her career to care for her aging mother in their East Hampton home and never left again. The aunt and cousin of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis feed their cats and raccoons and rehash their pasts behind the walls of their decaying mansion, Grey Gardens.

If you are interested in more by E.L.Doctorow, the Copper Queen Library owns the following titles:

Loon Lake – It is the Great Depression of the 1930s, and a passionate young man from Paterson, New Jersey, leaves home to find his fortune. What he finds, on a cold and lonely night in the Adirondack Mountains, is a vision of life so different from his own that it changes his destiny, leading him from the side of a railroad track to a magical place called Loon Lake.

World’s Fair – The novel of a young boy's life in the New York City of the 1930s, a stunning recreation of the sights, sounds, aromas and emotions of a time when the streets were safe, families stuck together through thick and thin, and all the promises of a generation culminate in a single great World's Fair.

Billy Bathgate – Doctorow's mesmerizing odyssey about a teenage, fatherless street kid adopted by mobsters.

Waterworks – A newspaper editor investigates the disappearance of freelance journalist Martin Pemberton and uncovers a macabre scientific experiment that involves Pemberton's supposedly dead father and several other wealthy old men. Doctorow's presentation of New York in 1871 as impacted by the Industrial Revolution and the corruption of Boss Tweed's government is the true story behind the story.

City of God – New York at the end of the 20th century – hardly St. Augustine's City of God – is the canvas on which Doctorow paints an impressionistic portrait of man's frail moral nature and the possibilities of redemption.

The March – As the Civil War was moving toward its inevitable conclusion, General William Tecumseh Sherman marched 60,000 Union troops through Georgia and the Carolinas, leaving a 60-mile-wide trail of death, destruction, looting, thievery, and chaos. Doctorow has put his unique stamp on these events by staying close to historical fact, naming real people and places and then imagining the rest.

--by Hanje Richards