Rick Bayless @Aurora PL

Created on August 13, 2008

Greetings Fair Readers,

I’m a big fan of Chicago’s Mexican Culinary Chef and cookbook author Rick Bayless, and guess what?  The Aurora Public Library invited Rick Bayless to host a cooking show and a book signing at the Paramount Theatre on September 13.   One of my librarian friends informed me about this cool event. 

What a wonderful event to organize for the library and it’s community’s residents.  This is a great way to kick off National Hispanic Heritage Month which starts on September 15-October 15.

His shows are culturally informative and entertaining!  He makes awesome dishes!  In my book, the man is an amazing Mexican culinary chef!  Occasionally I catch his shows on WTTW Channel 11 on Friday evenings at 8:30 PM, it’s called One Plate at a Time.  Right after Check Please!

I know I’ve had my share of discussions with some of you about Rick’s cooking, and so when I discovered he was going to have a book signing and a food tasting in Aurora, I thought maybe some of you might find this piece of information enjoyable.  Heck!  It’s like having our own Emeril Lagasse or Rachel Ray in our backyard!  Enjoy!

Happy Readings, Tastings and Cheers!

The Mummies are coming….

Mummies from Guanajuato, Mexico

Created on July 23, 2008

Hello Fellow/Former Ciceronians and guests,

Finally, interesting news about the Town of Cicero has been covered in the Chicago Tribune Newspaper.  To read the article click on the Chicago Tribune’s hyperlink.

Sometime last year there was a big buzz about this subject around town, and after reading this article it looks like it might become a reality.  The state of Guanajuato in Mexico has approved the Town of Cicero in hosting their historical mummy exhibit.

Can you believe it!  This is ancient history and culture coming to a neighboring town of Chicagoland.  This should be interesting to see in the near future.  Just like dinosaurs, mummies are a popular subject at the Cicero Public Library’s adult and youth services desks.  So this subject would work great as a book display celebrating Halloween and Day of the Dead = Día de los Muertos.

Take a glimpse inside the museum in Guanajauto = Museo de las Momias de Guanajuato.  They look a little morbid, but still they are very intriguing!

Happy Exploring!

Esperanza Rising

Created on July 17, 2008

Calling all friends and family; art and theater lovers:

 

(adapted from Kool and the Gang’s Ladies Night Song)

 

Oh yes it’s children’s night, (or day if you prefer), and the feel is right, oh what a night (or day)!…..Sophisticated kiddies, come on you theater lovers……party here, party there….this is your night/day….everything is going to alright….  (just a little humor)

 

On a serious note, I want to share with all of you an entertaining and inexpensive event happening around our magnificent city.  I found out the Goodman Theater is presenting the play Esperanza Rising, based on the book by Pam Muñoz Ryan.  

 

Esperanza Rising is a compelling story, set in the turbulent 1930’s, about a wealthy Mexican girl whose privileged lifestyle is shattered when tragedy strikes, and she and her mother flee and migrate to California.   They embark on a new way of life and they are forced to work in a migrant labor camp.  Throughout the story young Esperanza learns to rise above her difficult circumstances and discover what she’s truly made of.    

 

I read this book in my children’s literature class, LIS721-01, last year and I simply loved the storyline because it’s a well written novel about a young girl’s triumph over adversity.  I think this would make a great book to introduce our tweens and teens in our family/circle of friends, that is if they haven’t read it already.  Also, maybe some of you might be interested in going to see it.  I think it would make a great summer outting!  Especially with the Latino Theatre Festival around the corner, August 08-24, 2008.

  

Your friendly and enthusiastic librarian relative/friend!

Annotation #5 – December 05, 2007

This is my last annotation for the readers’ advisory class I took this Fall 2007 semester at Dominican University. 

I waited a long time to take this class, and finally I’ve completed it, and feel really  enthusiastic in applying this service at my current job.  I really enjoyed reading, writing and discussing books with my instructors and classmates.  This class struck a new interest in me and I look forward in spreading this appreciation for reading.

Title: A Thousand Splendid Suns -Audio Book
Author: Khaled Hosseini – Narrator: Atossa Leoni
Publication: 2007
Number of Pages:  book 384, 11 discs (12 hours)
Genre: Literary Fiction/Best Seller
Geographical Setting: Kabul, Afghanistan
Time Period: 1960’s-2003
Series: N/A

Plot Summary:  A Thousand Splendid Suns tells the heartbreaking stories about two young women, Mariam and Laila, growing up in Kabul, Afghanistan between the years 1974-2003.  The women are born a generation apart, and they both come from two different social classes. Mariam is the illegitimate daughter of a wealthy man, and Laila grows up in a well-educated family. Despite of their 20 year age difference, against a back-drop of war and hostility, they both struggle and survive the horrific turmoil of their country, and coincidently their lives intertwine after they are forced to marry an overbearing man thrice their age. This audio book consists of 11 discs, each one an hour long. The narration is in English, done in first person and the narrator’s voice is a pleasant female voice with original Afghan accent.

Subject Heading:  Kabul, Afghanistan, Middle East, Islam, Muslims, Afghan culture, misogyny, Afghani suffering/strength, Soviet invasion-1978, the Taliban, social classes, family relationships, miscarriages, poverty, coming-of-age stories, girls, young love, women, women’s lives, victimized women, arranged/forced marriages, self-sacrifice, love, intergenerational friendship, intergenerational, death, betrayal, political turmoil, war, abuse, torture, survival

Appeal:  striking second novel, searing epic, audio cd/audio book, unabridged, organized in four parts, women’s lives, one narrator, compassionate narration, compassionate storytelling, some foreign words used/Farsi, intense women’s point of view, descriptive, plot-centered, tone of book is sad, thought provoking emotional/powerful, violent beating, cruelty, torture, brutal, graphic, various characters, ambitious and spiritless characters, autobiographical, Afghan culture, historical details/chronicle, hopeful, heartbreaking, struggle/suffering, bittersweet, emotional triumph, unforgettable, best-seller

Similar Authors and Works (Fiction): Charlesworth, Monique—The Children’s War (A compelling story about two young children from two different social classes growing up in the midst of WWII, both seeking to survive extreme turmoil in their lives.), Marillier, Juliet—Daughter of the Forest (A fantasy tale about a young girl who self-sacrifices her life to save her brothers from an evil spell.), Umrigar, Thrity N.—Space between us, the novel (Story of two women from Bombay, India. Despite their social differences, they equally suffer similar heartaches.)

Similar Authors and Works (Nonfiction): Doubleday, Veronica—Three Women of Herat: A Memoir of Life, Love and Friendship in Afghanistan (An author and her husband move to Afghanistan to do research and write about their experience in Afghanistan.), Logan, Harriet—Unveiled: Voices of Women in Afghanistan (Award winning British photographer, documents the courageous lives of Afghan women.), Sulima and Hala, Swift, Batya—Behind the Burqa: Our Life in Afghanistan and How We Escaped to Freedom (The memoir of two sisters who fled from Afghanistan 20 years apart. They reveal the sacrifice and survival of their lives and the women of their country.)

Annotation #4 – November 28, 2007

Title:  Rubyfruit Jungle
Author:  Rita Mae Brown
Publication:  1973
Number of Pages:  246
Genre:  Aternative Lifestyle
Geographical Setting:  York, Pennsylvania, Gainesville, Florida and New York City
Time Period:  1950-1960’s
Series:  N/A

Plot Summary:  This is the story about Molly Bolt, a strong-willed young girl adopted by a poor Southern couple. Growing up in the 1950’s, in a small rural town of Pennsylvania, Molly is an excellent student, an attractive young lady, and she discovers her lesbianism at an early age. As she grows older she rebels and ventures out with her cousin Leroy, and gets into mischievous trouble. Her adopted mother cannot tolerate her behavior, and she continuously belittles her, and kicks her out of her house. Although, Molly is not afraid to speak her mind, she yearns to learn about her past, so she runs off alone and penniless to New York in search of herself.

Subject Headings:  feminist fiction, Southern states, poor families, adoption, lesbianism, lesbians/gay, lesbian teenagers, gay/lesbian relationships, growing up/coming of age in America, sexuality, sexual exploration, homelessness, self acceptance, individuality, friendship, mothers and daughters, morality, filmmaking student, cinematography

Appeal:  early literary lesbian novel, strong-willed protagonist, feminist causes, early childhood, teenagers, humorous, inspiring, witty, feisty, boisterous, sarcastic, fast-paced reading, short chapters, anger tone, dysfunctional families, strong language, swearing, slang, gutsy, expressive, social customs, character-centered, adopted orphan, written in first person, middle school, high school and university setting, goals and education, realistic, sad, sympathetic, conversational, teenage-sex, explicit sex, courageous, survival, rural and small town, exploring big city

Simalar Authors and Works (Fiction):  Carla Trujillo—What Night Brings (Young Marci has an abusive father and at a young age she discovers she like girls. She dreams of becoming a boy so she could express her feelings freely.), Bett Williams—Girl Walking Backwards (Sixteen year old, Skye has complex issues, she feels out of place in school, alienated by her parents and suffers from self mutilation.), Shay Youngblood—Soul Kiss (Mariah is abandoned by her mother and raised by two women in rural Georgia.)

Similar Authors and Works (Nonfiction):  Terry Castle—The literature of lesbianism: a historical anthology from Ariosto to Stonewall (Literary works on the subject of female homosexuality.), Helen Eisenbach—Lesbianism Made Easy (A self help book on understanding lesbianism.), Jeanette Howard—Out of Egypt (One woman’s journey out of lesbianism.)

Annotation #3 – November 14, 2007

Title: The Kite Runner
Author: Khaled Hosseini
Publication:  2003
Number of Pages:  371
Genre: Literary Fiction
Geographical Setting: Kabul, Afghanistan and San Francisco, California
Time Period: mid-1960s-2001
Series: N/A

Plot Summary: The Kite Runner is a heartbreaking story about the friendship between two young boys, Amir and Hassan, growing up in Kabul. Although both were raised in the same household, they both come from two different social classes. Amir is the son of a wealthy man and Hassan comes from a servant family. They become inseparable friends and enjoy competing together in kite running tournaments. Until one unfortunate event changes their lives. Their friendship is intertwined with feelings of jealousy and betrayal, and their fates are separated by the tragedies surrounding them.

Subject Headings: Kabul, Afghanistan, Middle East, Islam, Muslims, Russian occupation, Soviet invasion-1978, social classes, coming-of-age stories, boys and friendship, father and son relationships, brothers, family and love, childhood choices, personal salvation, kite flying, tournaments, betrayal, child abuse, male rape, gang rape, bullying, The Seventies, immigrants, American Dream, exile communities, the Taliban, Taliban-ruled, political turmoil, war-torn countries, effects of war, writers/novelists.

Appeal: striking debut novel, passionate writing, fast-paced, page turner, first person narrator, tone of book thought provoking, memoir, autobiographical, war, death, flashbacks, foreshadowing, realistic, well developed characters, plot-centered, sad, eye-opening, sensitive, child abuse, loss, brutal, tragic, torture, scandalous, guilt and regret, intriguing, astonishing, cruelty, violent, graphic, historical details/chronicle, Afghan culture, descriptive (descriptions of San Francisco, California and Kabul, Afghanistan), occasional foreign words/Farsi, heartbreaking struggle, bittersweet, emotional triumph, hopeful.

Similar Authors and Works (Fiction): Masha Hamilton—Staircase of a thousand steps: a novel (Set in the time of the Arab/Israeli war, this is the story of the coming of age of a psychic, gifted young girl who has to walk the line between a world of tradition and a world of change.), Ian McEwan—Atonement (In the summer of 1935, three children lose their innocence and their lives change forever.), Camila Way—The Dead of Summer (Debut novel of a young thirteen year girl who witnesses three murders and seven years later she reveals her experience.)

Similar Authors and Works (Nonfiction): Steve Coll—Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001 (Research details of the CIA’s involvement during the beginnings of the Taliban and Al Qaeda before September 11.), Rory Stewart–The Places In Between (A journal about a Scottish writer’s traveling experience in Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban.), Stephen Tanner—Afghanistan: A Military History from Alexander the Great to the Fall of the Taliban (An overview history of Afghanistan’s empire and military building and collapsing.)

Annotation #2 – October 17, 2007

Title:  Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia
Author: Elizabeth Gilbert
Publication Date:  2006
Number of Pages:  334
Genre:  Nonfiction
Geographical Setting:  New York, Italy, India and Indonesia
Time Period:  2003
Series:  N/A

Plot Summary:  Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia is written by author Elizabeth Gilbert. This is a cinematic memoir about Gilbert’s one year journey away from home in search of her inner self. Around the age of thirty, Elizabeth had what many think is the perfect life. She had a successful career, recently married a loving husband, and had two new homes. Her life was content and she believed it was time to add another chapter to her life, and begin a family. Suddenly, one day she woke up and realized she felt differently about every thing she had and realized she was unhappy. Gilbert decides to make a drastic decision and leaves everything behind and set out to explore the world in seeks of her true destiny.

Subject Headings:  travel, traveling writer, women, American women, adventure, memoir, personal journeys, self-help, self-discovery, self-actualization, personal transformation, philosophy, spirituality, divorce, depression, and happiness.

Appeal:  realistic, cinematic, inspirational autobiography, first person narrated, memoir, chatty, intimate, self indulgent, emotional, candid, eloquent, easy read, leisurely and slow paced, impressive, courageous and gutsy, intriguing, down to earth, tenderness, humorous, witty, stylish, smart, adventurous, entertaining, love story, expressive, descriptive (descriptions of New York, Italy, India and Indonesia), and geographical details.

Similar Authors and Works (Fiction):  Niffenegger, Audrey—The Time Traveler’s Wife: a novel (Compelling love story of a married couple, husband suffers from a genetic disorder, CDP, causes him to unpredictably blank out and travels to his past and present life, his wife unfortunately has to cope with his constant absence.), Lipman, Victoria—Leaving Alva (Chole, a young woman, leaves her unhappy marriage to go on a journey across the country to find herself.), Nair, Anita—Ladies Coupe (After her father’s death, Akhila, a single woman who has sacrificed her life for many years, takes a long journey on a train to be alone in search of self-discovery.)

Similar Authors and Works (Nonfiction):  Rhonda Byrne—The Secret (A motivational, self-help about attracting the positive things in life and fulfilling them.), Ruiz, Don Miguel—The Four Agreements: a practical guide to personal freedom (An ancient Toltec cosmography, a wisdom book about personal conduct code), Tolle, Eckhart—The Power of Now: a guide to spiritual enlightenment (An analytical guide and inspirational ideas about finding happiness and enlightenment.)

Annotation #1 – October 10, 2007

Title:  Water for Elephants
Author:  Gruen, Sara
Publication:  2006
Number of Pages:  335
Genre:  Historical Fiction
Geographical Setting:  New York, Chicago, and Travels through other American cities
Time Period:  1931 – Depression-era
Series:  N/A 

Plot Summary:  Jacob Jankowski is a retired veterinarian, who lives in a nursing home and finds himself drifting in and out of his memories as a young man in the circus during the Great Depression.  At the age of 23, days before graduating from Cornell University, he finds out his parents are killed in an auto accident.  He is left penniless and distraught and wanders out into the middle of nowhere and encounters a train.  Overwhelmed with is grief he jumps into the train and discovers it’s a traveling circus train.  His journey begins and life in the Circus isn’t as fun and magical as one may believe.  Jacob is hired to work for the circus; he cares for the animals; struggles with various crewmembers and performers; and falls in love with Marlena, a circus performer and Rosie the elephant who brings self-fulfillment and hope to their lives. 

Subject Headings:  20^th Century/the thirties; The Depression; Historical Fiction; Young Men; Parent’s Death; Love; Interpersonal Relationships/Triangle Love; Men/Women Relationships; Circuses; Train Traveling Circuses; Circus Animals; Elephants; Circus Performers; Human and Animal Relationships; Manic Depression, Veterinarians, and Gerontology 

Appeal:  easy read, narrative, romantic, fast-paced, page turner, character centered, adventurous, amusing, mesmerizing, emotional, tender, thoughtful, sad, melancholy, flashbacks, mournful depressed, historical detailed/chronicle, bittersweet, dramatic, somber tone, sensual, racy, sadistic, cruel, violent, fearful, intriguing, suspenseful, daring, hopeful   

Similar Authors and Works (Fiction):  Iain Lawerence—Ghost Boy (A lonely young man runs away from home and joins a circus, works with elephants and searches for self acceptance), Cathy Day – Circus in the Winter (A collection of interconnected short-stories of the lives of circus descendants from Lima, Indiana.  Recounts of sideshow adventures, family stories and historical research set between the years if 1884-1939), Robert Hough – The Final Confessions of Mabel Stark: a novel (A story based on the life of Mabel Stark, first female tiger trainer in Ringling Brothers Circus in the 1920s, she flees from her life tribulations and finds skillful connection and communication with tigers)

Similar Authors and Works (Nonfiction):  Bruce Feiler –Under the Big Top:  a Season with the Circus (A memoir of Feiler’s life after joining a circus to fulfill his dream and study American Circus life.), Nell Stroud – Josser: Days and Life of a Circus Girl (an autobiography of Nell Stroud, at the age of 18 she runs away and joins a series of circuses in American and Europe, she writes about her experiences and her efforts to come to terms with her mother’s unfortunate accident), Janet M. Davis—The Circus Ages: Culture & Society Under the American Big Top (American studies professor, Davis captures the historical and cultural process of the oldest entertainment show, the fascinating circus, research and illustrations)

LIS763-Reader’s Profile Response

September 26, 2007

I’ve been introduced to a reader who enjoys reading a variety of genres which include humorous stories, historical and literary fiction, a little adventure and some fantasy and science fiction. Such titles include, The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley, an Arthurian legend told through the eyes of a young woman who is coming of age; Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding, a funny story written in a journal/diary format about a thirty-something year old woman on a quest for self-improvement and Mr. Right; The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul by Douglas Adams, an up-beat novel about a mad, Holistic detective working on another mystery.

I carefully reviewed the titles and authors, and discovered the reader enjoys books with immeasurable humor, which include realistic or fictional protagonists written in a candid and colorful style and a touch of British slang. Besides humor, the reader also enjoys fiction novels with engrossing storylines that are leisurely paced; and that are character centered, and found in a historical or imaginative setting. The reader also enjoys a brainteaser tale with a mystical or suspenseful tone which could include closed endings or sequels.

 

After reviewing the reader’s titles of preference, I have carefully searched for books with similar storylines and plots in three different online databases and websites such as Novelist, Amazon and AllReaders.com. I first searched Novelist to read a synopsis about the books and the book reviews written by credible journals. Furthermore, I reviewed the available facts about the author’s biography and style of writing, and switched over to the readers’ advisory tab and skimmed through the lists of authors found in the specific genre’s I selected to evaluate.

 

After reading about each book, I used the database to search for similar characters, plots and settings. Then I looked at Amazon to get a glimpse of the customer’s reviews and the public’s read-a-like titles. Here, I got a sense of what the public thought was interesting and entertaining. I later, looked over the website AllReaders.com and compared the titles and authors that came up in Novelist and Amazon.  AllReaders.com was a quick and straight forward site which selects titles that are very close in storyline and mood.  The website hooked the themes together and found other stories available by different authors.

 

I selected titles and authors that complimented my reader’s profile choice of descriptive characters and lasting storylines. For more Arthurian fantasy and adventure, I suggest – Guardian of the Balance by Irene Radford, this is volume one of a series of three books. This is a fast-paced fantasy novel about a young magical heir who falls in love and fights to maintain balance in England.  Like Bradley’s dark over Arthurian stories, Radford’s story is narrated by the voice of a young girl and includes significant key characters surrounding King Arthur.  Although the frame and setting are dark and misty, they have an episodic and historical appeal; her characters are strong and intriguing and they grow into their fate which gives the storyline a resolved ending or open-ended for another sequel.

 

The ever so popular “chick-lit” is captured in Boy Meets Girl, a contemporary novel by Meg Cabot, young Kate finds herself in a rut in her love department, when suddenly she’s involved in a legal arbitration and love finds her. This is a witty novel written in a modern and creative format which is told in a series of journal entries, E-mails, phone and instant messages, mostly in first person. I n comparison to Helen Fielding’s light and humorous writing, Meg Cabot is also a gentle and prolific author who writes fantasy, humor and “chick-lit” geared for females, both adult and teen.

 

To continue with another crazy adventure in an imaginary place read, The Colour of Magic by Terry Practchett is a story about a wacky interplanetary tourist who meets a wizard and embarks on a chaotic voyage and meets bizarre characters.  Terry Pratchett is a British fantasy and science fiction author who has won numerous awards for his satirical novels. In his writings he incorporates a major source of humor and imagination.  In his novels he includes numerous characters and some are parody of historical figures or well-known characters; for example Leonardo de Vinci or Conan the Barbarian.  Pratchett’s style is similar to Douglas Adams’, who is also a British author with an eccentric and bizarre writing style. Both authors also incorporate sequels to their stories.

 

This concludes my response to my reader’s profile.  My selections of titles were carefully chosen to please my reader’s taste in humor and engaging storylines.

LIS763-My Reader’s Profile

September 19, 2007

I don’t consider myself a disciplined fiction reader, because I mostly pick up non-fiction books pertaining to self-improvement, medical or history subjects. When I decide to read fiction my appeal primarily leans towards historical/literary fiction with a romance appeal. I enjoy inspiring stories with vibrant, detailed settings. I especially enjoy when authors vividly write about familiar family experiences and broad multi-cultural themes from around the world. I love a story that surrounds itself around art and history, the extra details makes the story flow faster, Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier. I also enjoy reading storylines about iconic/historical individuals. Great examples of this genre are, Sor Juana’s Second Dream: A Novel by Alicia Gaspar de Alba or Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk. I like to recognize the main character in the storyline and I find the time-frames are informative and the characters are evocative.

I especially, enjoy translated literary fiction with a touch of international flavor and integrated foreign words, such as Laura Esquivel’s, Like Water for Chocolate and Isabel Allende’s, House of Spirits. It fascinates me, to see recognizable literary work translated and shared in the English language. It’s important that the grammar in these stories be translated correctly. It’s not always easy to translate literary work. It’s a plus when some of the books include a brief glossary or include literary notes. I also appreciate first debut novels which include evolving characters, which explore and are in search of their personal identity, Amy Tan’s, Joy Luck Club or Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden. The main character or characters have to interest me first. I like to identify with the main character and the plot has to intrigue me. I like to follow a good story with characters that struggle and confront obstacles and later improve themselves as strong people. Some examples of stories are Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love by Oscar Hijuelos or Eat, Pray and Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything by Elizabeth Gilbert. A common detail I recognize with all of these novels that I have read is that they are all written in first person and they involve family immigrant themes or personal struggles.

I like well crafted themes about women or men who share strong bonds between family and friends, Sandra Cisneros, Caramelo. I like to relate or identify with the characters, whether they are serious or humorous. I don’t mind reading about opposing traditions or powerful social issues between society or family generations. How the Garcia Sisters Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez, is a good storyline to use as an example to explore and understand the common social troubles.

A genre I don’t particularly read is fantasy or science fiction. I have read a few young adult stories, and I find, that I don’t enjoy the made up frame settings taken place in unknown planets or make-believe places. I don’t mind humor, it always make a story entertaining, but I don’t like silliness or excessive swear words. I don’t like extreme violence or torture, especially towards children or animals. Some excitement is good. I don’t mind a good spook here and there. Which means I don’t enjoy too many of Stephen King’s books. I don’t like gory violence, it seems to lurk in my mind and it makes me uncomfortable.

******Novels I Liked******

Laura Esquivel, Like Water for Chocolate: debut and translated novel, turn of the century Mexico setting, romantic tale/enjoyable love story, interpersonal relations and sensual, emotional and hopeful, culinary descriptions, family and folkloric tradition, mother and daughter relationships. First person narrative.Amy Tan, Joy Luck Club: rich exploration of Chinese and American culture, celebrates life, fast moving narration, female friendships, mother and daughter relationships, family values and tradition, personal reflection of growing up, writing is poetic, funny and heartwarming,

Kahled Hosseini, The Kite Runner: debut novel set in the mid-70’s in Kabul, historical setting, gripping coming of age story, good storytelling novel, relationship between father and son, family, culture traditions, emotional writing, first person narrative.

******Novels I Disliked******

Isabel Allende, Law of Love: science fiction and romance combined, magic hectic writing, too many settings, unpleasant deaths, distracting accompanying musical CD.

Stephen King, Misery: psychological terror story, too much torture detail, violent language and dark humor, paperback had very small print and minimal open space.

Toni Morrison, Beloved: complex storyline about slavery, disturbing violence, death of a child and animals, creepy haunting story, multiple narrated stories, too many flash backs, racial hatred.