READ @ MPL

At the age of twenty, Patti Smith fled her New Jersey hometown and took the bus into New York City, hoping to find friends to stay with. One of the first people she sees is a sleeping boy, "pale and slim with masses of dark curls, lying bare-chested with strands of beads around his neck." A chance re-encounter weeks later with "Bob" Mapplethorpe leads to the passionate partnership - artistic, creative, spiritual and sexual - that spans the tumultuous 60's and 70's as they make art, poetry and music together. Smith's memoir, "Just Kids", promised to Mapplethorpe before his death in 1989, bursts with insight and vigor. Her well written story is filled with funny and poignant vignettes of two visionaries struggling to get by on sporadic minimum wage jobs and 'a little help from their friends' while remaining true to each other and their art.

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Submitted by Christine @ Central

Chickenhawk by Robert Mason (c1983)

Chickenhawk is Robert Mason's firsthand account of his time spent as a U.S. Army helicopter pilot, serving in the Vietnam War from August of 1965 to August of 1966. During that time, Mason flew over 1000 combat missions and found himself "in the thick of it" on many occasions. He depicts the day-to-day life of a soldier, riveting edge-of-your-seat helicopter action and the grim horrors of war all with an even keel and an easygoing sense of humor. Mason's writing style is simple, straightforward and entirely engaging. And while I'm certainly not a war buff, I found this to be one of the best books I've ever read. Highly recommended. Check catalog for availability.

- submitted by Tom @ MPL Central

Please feel welcome to join the Milwaukee Public Library in celebrating The Big Read in 2010 by reading the Klondike classic Call of the Wild by author/adventurer Jack London.
The Call of the Wild, published in 1903, was based on London's personal experiences as a gold prospector during the winter of 1897 on the frozen expanses of the Yukon. Though the novel is often considered to be a children's story, it contains depictions of brutality that may be more suitable for older readers.
The story follows Buck, a kidnapped domesticated dog, as he lives and learns while a sled dog in the harsh Yukon wilderness. While Buck survives many hardships from multiple owners, some crueler than others, he slowly loses his domesticated sensibilities and begins to regress to the way of his ancestors, the wolves, after a beloved master is killed and he unleashes brutal retribution upon the attackers.
Join other readers in discussing this important work of American fiction at numerous discussions at Milwaukee Public Libraries throughout the City of Milwaukee.
For more information regarding the Big Read please click here: Milwaukee Public Museum.

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Submitted by Dan@Central

A Fine and Private Place by Peter S. Beagle

I enjoy reading Beagle's calm and comforting manner of writing. In this story he entwines earthly lives with "ghostly" lives in a timeless story that will forever entertain readers. Check the catalog for availability.

Although written for children, a similar plot can be found in the recently published book by Neil Gaiman, another favorite author of mine, The Graveyard Book.

Submitted by Paula @ Central

David Martín writes crime stories for the local newspaper. He is a good writer and his talents are well lost in the writings he does for the paper. His talents have not gone unnoticed however. One day a stranger comes into his life and offers him a large sum of money to write the book of a lifetime. Hard up for the money and at the same time cavalier of his talents, he takes the money and sets forth to write this book that the stranger has requested of him. His acceptance sets into motion a chain of events that careen wildly out of control and forever changes his life.

The Angel's Game is a translation of the original novel. It is part fantasy, part mystery, part crime noir. Being the bibliophile that I am, I was head over heels enamored with this book within a few pages. As I got further into the book, I felt that I too was being held captive by its spell. It is the most beautiful, haunting, and terrifying book I have ever read. David Martín will live within me for some time to come. Check catalog for availability.

- Submitted by Mary S. @ MPL Central

Mark Mills new novel is a thriller set on Malta during World War II. Its summer, 1942 and the Maltese are being constantly bombed by Axis air raids. Malta is the last thing standing in the Germans way between Europe and North Africa. (During the war, Malta was the property of the British Empire.)

Max Chadwick is a British officer in charge of distributing "approved" war information on the island's citizens. He faces quite the predicament when it comes out that a British soldier is murdering the local women and Max sets out to pursue the killer himself. This is suggested for readers who like WWII thrillers or historical fiction like that of Ken Follett. Check catalog for availability.

- Submitted by Jacki @ MPL Central

Set in Friendship, Wisconsin shortly after the end of the Civil War, this haunting story of a diphtheria epidemic is a shocking exercise in literary brutality. Jacob Hansen is the constable, deacon and undertaker of a small Wisconsin town who desperately tries to perform his civic duties while trying to protect his family from the terrifying disease that is ravaging his beloved town. As the world collapses around Jacob, so does his sanity, humanity and reasoning.

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Submitted by Dan@Central

The author of This Book is Overdue: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All, appeared on the NPR program On the Media this weekend to strike up some interest in her new book. She said:

"More & more people are not only using the library, they need the services of the librarian to help them weave their way around the bureaucracy ...it's a tragedy that the economic stimulus package doesn't put more money into libraries...librarians are really economical, they're not expensive resources and they're helping put this country back to work."

Ms. Johnson entertainingly tackles not only stereotypes of librarians, but of libraries too. Yet, she also includes very sobering stories like the chapter detailing a Connecticut's confrontation with the government regarding the Patriot Act. Check catalog for availability.

- Submitted by Jacki @ MPL Central

The Overlook by Michael Connelly

Originally published as a serial in the New York Times Sunday Magazine, the 13th novel in this mystery series will satisfy fans of unconventional homicide detective Harry Bosch. This time around, Harry investigates the murder of a nuclear physicist and the theft of a large amount of radioactive cesium. With the potential for a nuclear disaster on the horizon, Harry races against time, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security to thwart a plot against national security. Can Harry figure out the caper and bring the guilty to justice before it's too late?

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Submitted by Dan @ Central

This absorbing collection of stories from the prolific author of The Women and The Road to Wellville is an uneven, but worthwhile read. With story topics ranging from California mudslides to a boy who cannot feel pain, this collection covers a lot of subject territory! What doesn't vary, however, is the consistently good writing and solid tone that joins this assortment of stories together. My favorite story was one titled "The Lie" that tells the tale of a man who tells his co-workers that his baby died to get out of going to work!

Check catalog availability for Wild Child here.

Submitted by Dan@Central