The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf

You never know what goes on behind closed doors, what family dynamics exist that push people to do what they do. In this small town where everyone knows everyone, two families awake to find their little girls missing, seven-year-old Calli Clark who has not uttered a word since she was a toddler and her best friend Petra. Gone since early morning, the only clues are their small foot prints and what appears to be drag marks. Calli’s mother struggles with the knowledge that it appears she might have been taken into the woods by her father, Griff, a pipeline worker who is gone most of the time and who can be abusive especially when he drinks. Griff is supposedly out fishing with a buddy but when nobody can find him, he becomes the prime suspect.  Neighbors are set against neighbors, bringing divisive issues that were thought to be put to rest, to the forefront. Calli’s mother is forced to deal with her relationship with Griff once again as they search for their daughter.

Put aside some time to read this book because you will want to read it from cover to cover to find out what happens to the girls, who took them and why Calli refuses to speak.  The action cuts back and forth between their odyssey through the woods and the town’s search for them.  Gudenkauf does a good job of keeping secrets right up to the last chapter.    You’ll never guess the ending!

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Hellhound On His Trail by Hampton Sides

I stumbled across Hampton Sides while looking for a new audiobook. This is one of the best audiobooks I’ve ever listened to. He writes nonfiction in the most vivid, engaging style that makes this a page turner of a book, as good as the best novel with plenty of suspense.

This is the story of the hunt for Martin Luther King’s killer. The name James Earl Ray never comes up because Ray used many different aliases. Sides painstakingly depicts Ray as a habitual petty criminal and extreme racist from a family of the same kind whose motivation appeared to be to commit the perfect crime and prove to himself that he was a master of the game. Ray seemed to think that he could outsmart all the people who were looking for him.

The manhunt began immediately based on where the witnesses said the shot came from. There is a famous photo showing the men pointing toward the rooming house from which Ray fired the fatal shot.

All of King’s associates, J. Edgar Hoover, the other FBI agents, family and others are part of the story. Suspense mounts as Ray stays just ahead of efforts to apprehend him. Just as he was about to sail from England to Africa on a forged passport, he was captured and the brought to justice. It was a supreme achievement for the many law enforcement agencies that were on the hunt for him.

Ray eventually confessed, was sentenced to prison, managed to escape and was recaptured. He attempted to recant his original confession in order to gain a trial, but was not successful. Even if you have read the newspaper accounts, there is so much more to be learned from this book. I highly recommend it.

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Fresh air with Terry Gross Just for Laughs : interviews with 18 stars of comedy.

I really enjoy learning about the art of comedy. It has always been an admirable skill to make someone laugh especially when life is not so funny. When I found this audio download available through my library, I was very happy. This 3-hour audio contains 10-15 minute snippets of past Fresh Air interviews. There is a nice variety of comedians old and new, working in a variety of genres, giving the listener a wide variety of experiences. The compilation includes the following interviewees: Aziz Ansari, Mike Judge, Trey Parker & Matt Stone, Sarah Silverman, Will Ferrell, Denis Leary, Sacha Baron Cohen, Stephen Colbert, Mort Sahl, George Carlin, Don Rickles, Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Joan Rivers, Steve Martin, Billy West and Woody Allen.

Terry Gross, recipient of the 2003 Edward R. Murrow award, is a fantastic interviewer. The interviews are a very casual experience. I never get the impression that she crams for the interview but draws from her own knowledge as a fan and asks questions that are important and interesting to the listener. She is completely engaging and most importantly, not afraid to laugh.

Although there are many laughs, there are also things to ponder. I love to hear about all the work that goes into being a seemingly effortlessly funny and successful comedian in a chosen genre. Much of what makes people laugh can be controversial. This discussion of controversy was most intriguing and thought provoking. Comedy to me is very raw and sometimes not pretty whether the comedian is taking from his/her own life experiences or holding a mirror up to society.

Also, it is interesting to see comedians out of their element. Guess what? They are people just like you and me. They are not always a laugh-riot which is even more proof that comedy is an art requiring hard work. So if you need a laugh AND like to think, check out this downloable audio book.

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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

When Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, the first novel of the famous Harry Potter series, became wildly popular, I wondered what all the fuss was about.  Not usually one to hop on the popular bandwagon, I was skeptical at first, but J. K. Rowling grabbed me from the first paragraph.  I avidly followed the fortunes of “The Boy Who Lived” as the series stretched into seven novels.  My daughter and I were so thrilled when each new book came out that we had to get two copies, one for each of us; otherwise, we would sneak into the other’s room in the middle of the night and steal it off the bedside table!

Fortunately for us, as the series came to its breathtaking conclusion, we discovered the audio version narrated by Jim Dale.  Now we could not only enjoy rereading the Harry Potter books, but also hear them read aloud to us on audio.  These fast-paced novels—full of brilliantly envisioned characters, and packed with suspense, pathos, and humor—are a treat to listen to, especially as narrated by Jim Dale.  He has a perfect voice and delivery for this story.  His smooth British accent is clear and easy to understand, with just enough of a clipped, wry expressiveness to it so that you appreciate Rowling’s humor.  These days, whenever I reread a Harry Potter book I hear Jim Dale in my head, because he has done such a good job portraying the characters exactly the way they are described in the books.

My ten-year-old son has become as big a fan as the rest of us, so he and I listen to Harry Potter books while we do chores around the house.  Our family loves to listen to the series while we are stuck in the car on long trips.  How many times have we listened to the whole series?  I’ve lost count.  The satisfying complexity of the story means that we are always figuring out new connections and discussing new insights.

You can get all seven of the Harry Potter books, narrated by Jim Dale, as audio books and also as downloadable audio, so you can listen to it on your home computer or portable device.  When you check out Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, be sure you put the rest of the series on hold.  You’ll definitely want to hear them all!

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Best ‘New to Us’ Books in 2012: Lynn W.’s Picks

Today’s blog talks about five audio books I’ve enjoyed during 2012. I listen to fiction and memoirs, and if read by the author, all the better. Each year, I stumble onto a children’s book title and find juvenile fiction altogether as engaging as adult fiction, so one is included here. — Lynn W.

This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection by Carol Burnett
Carol presents a series of short vignettes from her private and performing life. Some feature her grandmother, Nanny, a real character, who loved show business and the contacts she made through Carol and capitalized on them. There are funny stories, like how her adoration of Jimmy Stewart panned out the first time they met on a set when she got her foot stuck in a pail of whitewash and walked out with it still attached, too tongue-tied to say a word. The author reads this collection, adding to the emotional depth and also the comic moments.

The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels – a Love Story by Ree Drummond
If ever there was a mismatch, it was Ree and Marlboro Man. Ree, a native Oklahoman, went to southern California for college and never looked back towards Tulsa except for holidays. Now in her mid-twenties, home is a pit stop on her way to the big time in Chicago. While there she hits a bar with friends and meets Marlboro Man, a tall, strong, real-life cowboy. Their story, read by the author in her authentic and charming Oklahoma voice, is a true love story. We never learn Marlboro Man’s name, but we sure feel the heat develop between them.

The Forgotten Affairs of Youth by Alexander McCall Smith
This eighth Isabel Dalhousie mystery set in Edinburgh, Scotland pleases the ear with soft Scottish accents and descriptions of the gray city and green countryside. Isabel Dalhousie, a philosopher, is approached by a visiting Australian philosopher seeking her biological father’s identity. This is the “mystery.” Isabel and her fiancé Jamie are planning their wedding, all the while watching their beautiful son grow from day to day. This series is a leisurely walk through Scotland’s capital, meeting along the way fascinating people and places and everyday concerns.

The Night Train by Clyde Edgerton
Two teenage boys in 1960s small town North Carolina form a friendship over their love of jazz, a relationship not exactly accepted in this segregated community. Dwayne absolutely loves James Brown’s Live at the Apollo album, while Larry Lime is a pianist wanting to learn Thelonious Monk’s style from a jazz musician called the Bleeder. Their story and shenanigans will entertain while showing music is truly one of the ways humans unite and move beyond their differences. This audio is well-read, giving voice to accents and origins with accuracy.

Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath
If your parents disappeared one stormy night and your fishing village neighbors were forced to take you in, how would you feel? Especially if almost everyone is sure your parents were drowned at sea and you are absolutely certain they are merely delayed returning? Primrose Squarp tells her own story; her twelve-year-old point of view of friends (does she have any left?) and neighbors (including Miss Perfidy, who is paid by the town to care for Primrose) is fresh and rings true. Over the months, Primrose rediscovers her uncle, goes into foster care, and begins work on a cookbook while she awaits her parents’ return. This is a delightful mood lifter.

Best ‘New to Us’ Books in 2012: Amy W.’s Picks

Look, I have the world’s longest “to read” list and lately it has become very unwieldy. Every time I finally get around to reading one of these older titles I kick myself — what took me so long?! There is something for everyone read by me this year! There is history, inspiration and excitement all at your finger tips. These books don’t really have any of my favorite literary elements but they did knock my socks off! Here are my 5 favorite “new to me” books for 2012. — Amy W.

The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan
I have always been interested in the Great Depression including the Dust Bowl. Egan, winner the National Book award for this book in 2006, and Pulitzer Prize  winning journalist for the New York Times, elegantly crafts a narrative of the Dust Bowl using the words of those who lived through it. Hard economic times, plowing up the sod and a nation-wide drought created a perfect storm of dust as perseverance gave way to despair.

My Life in France by Julia Child
I listened to this as an audio book and it was delightful! I cannot think of many people who are as beloved – or as full of passion and life – as Julia Child. It was wonderful to hear in her own words about her life as a bored housewife, who moved with her husband to a foreign country where she didn’t know the language,  seized by the art of French cooking to find her true calling.

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
John Irving is an excellent storyteller. His characters are colorful without being garish. His tangents are whimsical and insightful. The title character, Owen, an unusual boy to begin with, hits a baseball during little league that strikes his best friend’s mother dead. This one event greatly impacts the lives of both boys, and incredibly brings them closer together. A Prayer for Owen Meany is destined to be a heartwarming modern classic.

Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth
This is the memoir that spawned the BBC series of the same name (shown on PBS earlier in the year). More than a memoir, Call the Midwife, documents the poverty and challenges of 1950’s East End London and the changes in women’s health through the years. Sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes hilarious, this book is an unforgettable story of compassion.

Fun and Games by Duane Swierczynski
This book takes place in La La Land, the land of perpetual summer: Los Angeles. If you like Tarantino, unstoppable assassins or seedy underground networks, this book is for you. It is excitement ripped from the pages of your favorite tabloid or comic book as told by this talented author.

How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous by Georgia Bragg

Are you interested in the lives and deaths of major historical figures? Did you used to be a big fan of MAD Magazine? If you answered “yes” to both these questions, then How They Croaked is the book for you.

Each person discussed in the book, from King Tut through Albert Einstein, either died in some horrific way, or their bodies were treated in some horrific way—sometimes both.  For instance, Beethoven had dropsy, a disease that caused his body to become bloated with rotting fluid. Doctors treated it by drilling a hole in his stomach to drain the fluid. They used this hole to drain fluid four times and each time plugged the hole with a piece of cloth afterwards. (There were no stitches back then, no anesthesia, and no pain killers.) Of course, the hole became infected. And that was just the beginning.  After the poor guy finally died, an autopsy was performed and pieces of his skull were stolen. His body has been dug up multiple times over the years in order to try to figure out what killed him. (It was lead poisoning.)

It’s time to point out that How They Croaked was written for young people. Thus, the emphasis on gore and the snarky style of writing. Here’s a sample from the chapter on Edgar Allen Poe:

Poe attended a lot of funerals. When he wasn’t going to funerals, he wrote stories about dead people (or soon-to-be-dead people) living in torture chambers, haunted houses, and other creepy locales with zero chance of escape. His stories start out with lines like “I was sick—sick unto death with that long agony,” and that’s the cheery part. Misery, loneliness, and death are the grim themes of this work … and of his life. Lots of bad stuff happened to him, and then he died.

I have to admit I was highly entertained. I listened to the audio of this book and the narrator, L.J. Ganser, injected even more snark into the narrative.  Maybe this means my sense of humor never matured past the MAD Magazine stage. That’s okay. What, me worry?

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Munich 1938: Appeasement and World War II by David Faber

On May 15th 2008 Chris Matthews asked conservative pundit Mr. Kevin James, a fairly simple question. What did he do? Mr. James had no idea. Several times he replied “He was an appeaser!” He did not know the answer at all. It is a painful exchange to watch. Near the end Mr. Mathews said “When you make a historical reference you better know what you’re talking about.” Matthews added “Gee you guys are really blank slates.” It is my sincere hope that Mr. James has read David Faber’s Munich 1938 since that embarrassing moment.

So what did happen in Munich in 1938? Faber’s tome illustrates this diplomatic catastrophe in beautiful detail and earnest tone. What happened that was so fateful that Mr. James had no idea about? In 1938 the then Prime Minister of England, Neville Chamberlain signed an agreement with Adolf Hitler that would concede the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia to Germany. This was an area that had a large population of German ethnicity and that spoke German. When Chamberlain returned to England he was greeted by throngs of happy people. They believed that by appeasing Hitler he had avoided war. Some, including Winston Churchill, disagreed they thought this would only make Hitler think he could do whatever he desired with impunity. Ever quotable, Churchill said “England has been offered a choice between war and shame. She has chosen shame, and will get war.” Chamberlain did however continue a re-armament program. The logic was that it would be ridiculous to hope that other countries would disarm.

The public opinion of the Munich agreement started to erode after the madness of Kristallnacht on November 9th and 10th, 1938. Chamberlain still hoped for peace but when Germany invaded Poland in September of 1939. England declared war on Germany. James was comparing Obama to Chamberlain trying to make him look weak. His unbelievable ignorance was upsetting because not only was he not aware of the basic facts but more importantly he was not aware of the nuances of the situation. In 1938 England and France were still building monuments to the millions of soldiers who died in World War one. No one, save Hitler and his administration, wanted a conflict on that level again.

It is absurd when people try to reduce history to sound bites and talking points. It’s dangerous when the aforementioned are completely hollow.

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Greatest Hits: A Dog’s Life: the Autobiography of a Stray by Ann M. Martin

This week we’re featuring some of our “greatest hits” – the most popular Book-a-Day blog posts since we started this almost three years ago. Today’s is A Dog’s Life: the Autobiography of a Stray by Ann M. Martin, reviewed by Bob M.

Every now and then I like to take a break from “serious” reading and check out a Juvenile fiction book. I especially enjoy listening to Juvenile Audio books. One that I listened to recently and enjoyed very much was A Dogs Life: the Autobiography of a Stray by Ann M. Martin, who is best known for the Babysitters Club books. I’m a huge dog lover and had to check with a Youth Librarian (Thanks Kathleen!) to make sure the dog did not die in the end, because Marley & Me just about did me in.

A Dog’s Life is about Squirrel who was born a stray along with her brother Bone in a shed by their mother, Stream at a family’s summer house. As Squirrel gets older she befriends the residents in the shed, a cat named Yellow Man as well as all the mice living in the barn. Mother teaches her puppies everything they need to know to survive and instills in them to be leery of humans. But one morning after mother vanishes Bone and Squirrel decide to leave. The shed was the only place Squirrel ever knew, but she would leave if Bone left, he was her brother and was now in charge.

Bone and Squirrel face many challenges on their new adventure, learning about the world very quickly and are soon found on the side of a highway where a couple stop and  take them home. They don’t live there very long. After one bad night, with garbage ransacking, barking and going to the bathroom in the house, the husband takes the two puppies to a parking lot and throws them out. Two women come along and take Bone, and now Squirrel is on her own.

Alone Squirrel faces new challenges, the cold of winter, starving dogs that will kill to eat, roads, and of course humans. One night Squirrel finds a dog, who she says resembles Bone. Her name is Moon. Squirrel is happy to have a companion. They live together for some time, until a speeding car takes Moons life. Squirrel gets a home but only for the summer, her owners adopt a “summer” dog every year but quickly tire of it, forgetting to feed or walk her. So Squirrel heads out on her own again. Squirrel lives on through the cold winters and hot summers, being careful to stay away from humans, till she is an old dog. An old dog with black fur beginning to turn white, a filmy eye, bad hearing in one ear, and very achy bones in the shoulder and leg that were broken when she was young.

Squirrel finally finds a home with an old woman who names her Addie. Together they form a relationship, each needing the other and Squirrel finally finds contentment with a human.

Prepare to shed some tears as you listen to Squirrel’s story. This heart-touching tale really brings to light the serious problem of homeless animals. By giving listeners a firsthand look through a stray’s eyes and heart, A Dog’s Life will inspire all of us to work together to eliminate this desperately tragic way of life that so many animals suffer. Ann M. Martin herself volunteers for an animal rescue, and she has successfully brought her true-life observations onto the pages of this amazing book. A must-read or listen for everyone.

For information about adopting a local stray check out these websites:

Wake County Animal Shelter

S.P.C.A of Wake County

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All There Is: Love Stories from StoryCorps edited by Dave Isay

Remember those how-we-met vignettes that punctuated the 1989 classic When Harry Met Sally? The two who were born days apart in the same hospital and grew up in the same apartment building but never met until, as a young adult, he rode up nine extra floors just to keep talking to her? The man who married his high school sweetheart, then divorced her, then fell in love with her all over again and re-married her thirty-five years (and several wives) later?

If you were charmed by those, you will probably also enjoy All There Is : Love Stories From StoryCorps, edited and with an introduction by Dave Isay. Unlike most of Wake County Library’s audiobooks, there are no readers or actors in All There Is — just real people telling their own love stories in their own words to their children and families. The stories were recorded through Storycorps, an oral history project that allows regular people 40 minutes to interview a loved one about any topic in a recording booth. The best interviews are edited and then broadcast and podcast on National Public Radio. The one-disc, one-hour audiobook retains the documentary-style sound and the feel of a radio interview or podcast. Each 40-minute session is edited down to three or four minutes and most contain the voices of both interviewer and storyteller.

Some stories are stranger-than-fiction fun, like the pair who meet only because their email addresses are separated by just one character, though their physical addresses are oceans apart. And some are tear-jerking and poignant, like the Army widower who dispatched his own wife to the war zone where she died. All of them end with several seconds of mood music to guarantee that listeners experience the emotional after-effects they’d expect from any expertly-crafted short story.

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