The island of Nollop is named for its most famous citizen: Nevin Nollop, creator of the pangram, "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog." Nollopians love language and take great pride in the creative use of their large vocabularies. Indeed, Nollop is a wordy paradise until an ordinary event triggers a fanatical response by the governing council. The council's actions snowball until the Nollopians are robbed of their beloved language, resulting in mayhem, mass exodus, and even a few deaths. These tragic events are documented in the letters of the titular Ella, her family and friends, who are at first horrified witnesses, then determined resistance fighters seeking to restore order through an act of linguistic heroics.
This book is a humorous bit of stunt writing as the calamity removes letters from usage with nearly every chapter, challenging the author to perform grammatical acrobatics to present a readable story. Dunn achieves this feat and some others that will delight language enthusiasts. He also emphasizes the importance of free communication to the well-being of society. Crossword puzzle lovers should enjoy this quick read while picking up several new words along the way.
Check out our e-book copies of this book through Library on the Go (Libby/Overdrive) or eReadIllinois (Axis360)!
The Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie is equal parts a biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder and a memoir of author Wendy McClure as she goes on a journey into Wilder's history to uncover how her life and her books overlapped.
Growing up in the 1970s, I wanted to live with Laura Ingalls Wilder. I could envision myself listening to Pa play his fiddle while I did the daily chores, with hopes that Almanzo would come past the Homestead. I loved the television series as well as the books, but as with all adaptions onto television or the big screen, things are often lost or added. For instance, Laura Ingalls Wilder did not really have a step brother named Adam, and they did not have bread at every meal, but there indeed was a Nellie Olson.
Wendy McClure writes as if I, too, am taking the adventure with her and bringing my favorite childhood book characters to life-- right down to her trip to Mansfield, Missouri and stopping off at an American Girl Place. It reminded me so much of those stories that now that I have finished The Wilder Life, I want to read about Kirsten and Felicity's adventures in the American Girl books. And someday, when the time comes for travel, I, too, want to be one of the Laura Ingalls Wilder tourists in Pepin, Wisconsin collecting lake pebbles.
Check out one of our e-book copies of this book through Axis360!
In the last several years, Alexander Hamilton has reentered our popular culture thanks in large part to Ron Chernow’s biography of the man as well as Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical. A great deal is known about Alexander, but what about his wife? Susan Holloway Scott has written a fictional account of the life and times of the Hamiltons, but in this case, it is all from the perspective of Eliza, his wife. Readers are taken through the Revolutionary War to post-war times and beyond. Eliza is the central figure in the story, and it is through her that the reader is shown the ups and downs of her life but also her strength of character.
Right from the very beginning, the story truly draws the reader in with this fresh perspective, and the momentum to want to read more never wavers as the reader becomes more and more invested in the characters. I, Eliza Hamilton is a highly recommended historical fiction novel. Check out one of our e-book or e-audiobook copies through Overdrive or Hoopla!
If you're a feminist true crime fan with a sense of humor, then do yourself a favor and give a listen to your new pals, Karen and Georgia. These hosts of the popular My Favorite Murder podcast have written a book and narrate the audiobook version themselves. While they dish about the sordid details of various murders on their podcast, their book is more autobiographical in nature.
Kilgariff and Hardstark open up about their battles with personal demons many women face, such as alcoholism and eating disorders, as well as the influences that may have caused them. They also offer commentary on why so many crime victims are women and how cultural attitudes need to change so that we can all live safely. They encourage women to reject societal pressure to put politeness and conformity above personal safety, while demanding authorities deal more seriously with violence against women.
Though the subject matter is rather heavy, the ladies inject their trademark humor into the narrative, making this both a thought-provoking and enjoyable listen. Check out our e-book or e-audiobook copies through Axis360!
The Only Girl in the World is Maude Julien's story of her upbringing in a large estate where her parents raised her to be "Super Human," forcing her into hard, physical labor and studies beyond her comprehension. Her mother and father used force and manipulation to mold Maude into a hardened and stoic person. Keeping her isolated from the rest of the world, they found her weaknesses and brought her pain to make her stronger. But by reading books about how children are treated in the real world, and because she is paired up with an intelligent music teacher, she is able to escape this world where she is the only girl.
I listened to this audiobook, read by the author, and it was dark and emotional, sometimes hard to listen to. Hearing Ms. Julien's story of how she herself became a strong and diligent young woman who eventually grew confident enough to rebel and stand against her father's wishes made this story heroic. Thankfully her music teacher persistently worked for years to convince her father to send her to his music school in the city, where Maude was eventually able to break away from his grasp and lead the normal, fulfilled life she had longed for since her youth. This memoir was gripping and emotional, a recommended read (or listen) to those who appreciate memoirs about unconventional upbringings (like Educated or The Glass Castle).
Set in the 11th century, The Physician follows the life of Rob J. Cole from his impoverished childhood as an English orphan to becoming the titular physician. After his parents' death, Rob joins a performing troupe and becomes quite an accomplished juggler. This dexterity will serve him well in his future occupation. He later apprentices with a traveling barber/surgeon and realizes that medicine is his true calling. Thus begins his quest to gain true medical knowledge, something beyond leeches and tooth-pulling. To do so he travels to Persia and then must disguise himself as a Jew in order to attend the Muslim medical school. The tale of his journey there, his studies, and his return home is full of adventure and interesting characters.
The Physician is lengthy, but the story is a good one. Fans of epic historical fiction like Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth should enjoy it. It is the first in a multi-generational trilogy following certain Cole family descendants. The next title, Shaman, takes place during the American Civil War, while Matters of the Heart, the final book, is set in the present day. Themes of medicine and the Jewish faith run throughout the series.
The year is 1602 in the court of Queen Elizabeth I, and turbulent and violent weather all across Europe is convincing many of an oncoming apocalypse. Queen Elizabeth, hoping to ensure England’s survival, turns to the help of court magician Dr. Stephen Strange, and intelligence officer Sir Nicholas Fury, both of whom are to help England secure a treasure of the Knights Templar long thought lost. To do so, however, they will have to contend with assassins, foreign powers, and the Inquisition.
Neil Gaiman’s reputation as a master writer shines in this work. Each and every Marvel character, slotted brilliantly into their role in this pre-colonial version of the Marvel universe, feels similar enough to recognize but unique enough to stand out as their own interpretations. The same goes for the character designs; similar, but different enough to delight fans. The art style, while nothing terribly unique, does include fantastic covers for each issue, rendered like 17th century paintings. The story itself is riveting, and though it starts slow with its world-building, is deeply engrossing with plenty of twists and turns. Some twists are easier to guess with knowledge of the characters, but others will keep even the most well-versed readers wondering until the very end.
