Back by popular demand, local author and psychiatrist Dr. Gordon Livingston returns to Howard County Library to discuss his latest book How to Love.

Dr. Livingston opens with the astute observation that although everyone has relationships, we typically only receive on-the-job training in this area of our lives. Since there is no formal training process for relationships, he urges people to use pattern recognition: "The object is to recognize what traits and behaviors get us more of what we want in life – happiness – and less of what we seek to avoid – emotional pain, especially loneliness." With his characteristic straightforward and humorous style, Dr. Livingston explores the types of people we should avoid, the ten character traits we should look for in people, and ways to improve existing relationships.

The chapters are broken into short, easily digested sections, with themes such as: “When all is said and done, more is said than done,” “The trouble with parents is by the time they are experienced they are unemployed,” and (my favorite) “If it weren’t for marriage, men and women would have to fight with total strangers.”

Register online and join us on December 3, 7:00 pm at the Central Library to learn "how to love."

Andrea Misner – Administration Office

Joss Whedon’s Dr Horrible’s Sing Along Blog introduces us, via the medium of song, to Billy a.k.a. Dr Horrible (Neil Patrick Harris), a wannabe super-villain. Billy’s goal is to be admitted to the ultimate fraternity of criminals, the Evil League of Evil. Along with his henchman Moist, (Simon Helberg), Dr. Horrible is motivated to plan and perpetrate a large scale, newsworthy crime in order to gain the attention of the League and their leader Bad Horse.

Two things stand in Billy’s way. First, there’s his nemesis Captain Hammer (Nathan Fillion), an arrogant, pompous, and overblown superhero figure without even an ounce of modesty or tact. Secondly, Billy might not be quite as horrible as his title suggests, especially once he meets and falls for Penny (Felicia Day) –  the girl he’s seen around the neighborhood but has been too shy to approach. Of course, these two stories come together pretty quickly, as Hammer steps in to save Penny’s life, and turns her head in the process. Will Billy get into the Evil League of Evil? Is that what he really wants? Maybe, despite his protestations, he’s not as evil as we thought.

Look for trademark Whedon word play throughout the lyrics. “It’s not enough to bash in heads, you’ve got to bash in minds” sums up Hammer’s single-minded approach to crime fighting. The Hammer groupies (including co-writer Maurissa Tancharoen) pop up to steal the show with the best line in track 10, “So They Say.” I won’t spoil it for you.

While you have this DVD checked out, take a look at all the extras and easter eggs that are hidden on the disc. The musical takes a routine DVD extra to the next level and gives the cast an opportunity to sing about the making of the show. There are additional goodies to find and enjoy.

Based on his takeover of the Emmy telecast, we can assume that we haven’t heard the last of Dr Horrible, so acquaint yourself with his effort to gain admission to the Evil League of Evil today!

John Jewitt – Savage Branch

When author Katherine Howe was studying for her doctoral exams in American and New England Studies at Boston University, a teaching research seminar on New England witchcraft was required. Two of her ancestors included Elizabeth Proctor, who survived the Salem Witch Trials, and Elizabeth Howe, who was hanged on July 19, 1692. As writers are often advised to cover topics they know, Howe’s rich historical family background became the inspiration for her debut novel The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, a story about witches and witchcraft in the late 17th century.

The novel moves between contemporary times and the Salem Witch Trials. Harvard grad Connie Goodwin is spending the summer completing the research for her doctoral thesis. Connie’s studies are interrupted when she is asked to handle the sale of her grandmother’s house near Salem. She discovers a key containing a fragment of parchment with the name Deliverance Dane written upon it. Connie begins her quest to discover the identity of Deliverance Dane and in the process uncovers a rare and powerful artifact.

Toward the end of the book, I think the reader must suspend belief, but true devotees of psychic healing and Wicca may disagree with me. Transitioning well between 1692 and 1991, I thought the novel was well researched, and the blend of mystery, intrigue, romance and history kept me engrossed.

Eve Olsen – Central Library

I’ve always liked the Dave Matthews Band, particularly their older material. It’s never been a must-buy, obsessive sort of fan-girl thing though. That changed with their new album: Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King. This one made my (very short) list of "listen to all weekend, memorize the lyrics, and play it until I dream about it" albums. Dave Matthews Band hit gold — it rocks, it swings, it soothes, and it shakes things up.

First and foremost: this work is a moving tribute to a dead friend. "GrooGrux King" refers to longtime DMB saxophonist Leroi Moor who died in an ATV accident about the same time the band started recording this CD. There’s an honesty about this album that I love — many of the tracks sound like a bunch of friends, who happen to be star musicians, just improvising and having a great time.

Second: this is a real, complete album…not just one or two single releases and a bunch of filler. I like it best in its entirety — spiritual and profane, joyous and grieving, big and blatant, quiet and profound.

That said: I do still have favorite songs.

Shake Me Like a Monkey: I defy you to sit still for this song. The rhythms just drive you to get up and DANCE!

Lying in the Hands of God: A quieter ballad, I kind of passed this one over the first few times through the album. It’s sneaky, though, and has become a favorite.

Alligator Pie:  A funny, jazzy answer to Dave’s daughter asking him (according to the lyrics), "Daddy, when you gonna put me in a song?" This track just sings of zydeco and New Orleans.

Time Bomb: This song’s power came along gradually, and is very timely for all those men and women who have served in harm’s way.

You and Me: A hymn to family and marriage — "You and me can do anything, baby."

Kristen Blount – Administration Office

I was initially bored with the descriptions of stylish clothing worn by the "beautiful girl" sisters — 21-year-old Pearl and 18-year-old May. However, as I persisted listening to the CD of Shanghai Girls by Lisa See, I became totally immersed in the imagery of the sights and sounds of 1930s Shanghai. The sisters were somewhat "modern" Chinese girls, living with traditional parents, while hiding their modeling job for a local commercial artist. The two also enjoyed late night dining and entertainment.

Here is what Pearl said about her relationship with her younger sister May: "Whenever you have two sisters – or siblings of any number or either sex – comparisons are made. May and I were born in Yin Bo Village, less than a half day’s walk from Canton. We’re only three years apart, but we couldn’t be more different. She’s funny; I’m criticized for being too somber. She’s tiny and has an adorable fleshiness to her; I’m tall and thin. May, who just graduated from high school, has no interest in reading anything beyond the gossip columns; I graduated from college five weeks ago. "

When their father’s financial circumstances decline, Pearl and May are shocked and dismayed to learn that he has arranged marriages for them in exchange for monetary assistance. 

With the onslaught of war, the family is torn apart and nothing is ever the same again. Pearl and May discover troubling family secrets, lies, and betrayals as they face the harsh realities of coming-of-age in a war-torn world.  Eventually they both endure the often tedious, humiliating immigration process into the United States via Angel Island — only to face even more difficult challenges in a new country.

The bonds of love, friendship, and sibling rivalry were brilliantly exposed in Shanghai Girls. Share this gem with your sisters! Chock-full of universal themes worth discussing, I would recommend See’s engaging, thought-provoking novel for most book clubs. 

Elaine Johnson – Central Library

In 2004 at age 36, Kathleen Flinn sets out to fulfill her dream of attending Le Cordon Bleu, the famous cooking school in Paris. Having been fired from an executive position, Flinn is free to travel to Paris, the epicenter of the cooking world, and enroll in the Basic Cuisine class. In a few months, her boyfriend quits his own job and joins in the adventure. Together, in their small flat, they mount a map of Paris to plot their excursions around the city.

The aromas seem to waft off the page, as she prepares succulent chicken dishes, sea bass with coconut milk, or French onion soup (all recipes detailed at the end of chapters). Equally enticing are the visits to food venues around the city, such as the supermarket inside the Bon Marche department store — with its “81 brands of olive oil” and “214 types of cheese” or an outdoor market near the Eiffel Tower — where Flinn learns the art of selecting the freshest fish and meat.

But, in addition to relating the sensory pleasures of her experience, Flinn describes the fear of failure driving the Cordon Bleu students. She is instructed, upon arrival, to cut onions without crying, a skill which, according to one chef, requires a “coutreau tres pointu” (a very sharp knife). And it’s clear that all students must balance on a knife-like edge as they cope with complex menus and demanding chefs. Meanwhile, she suffers the distraction of moving to another apartment, the arrival of unexpected guests, and, later, more serious disruptions to her personal life.

In recounting her training in Paris, Kathleen Flinn serves up an appetizing, focused narrative of life at Le Cordon Bleu. No dilettante masquerading as chef in training, Flinn unveils the behind-the-scenes rigor in the classroom kitchens. And what I liked best? Her desire to become the best student without sacrificing her sense of humor or good nature. The Sharper Your Knife, The Less You Cry is a fresh, contemporary look at this time-honored school and profession.

Ginny Leslie – Miller Branch

Everyone should listen to The Graveyard Book because Neil Gaiman reads it himself. Should that matter? Aside from Gaiman’s amazing voice and entertaining delivery, he wrote the darn thing, so it’s a safe bet that his portrayals are close to the author’s intentions. I’m not advocating that only authors record their works; that’s a horrific thought, since many writers write because they’re socially impaired in some way (too harsh?). But Gaiman has genuine acting talent, and the gleefully wicked humor in the book is as apparent in his voice as a wink.

As for the actual work…darkly delightful! I’m amazed it’s for younger readers — not because kids can’t handle it, but because it is so dark and clever. Believe me, I think kids are entitled to the dark and clever in this world, but publishers seem more interested in adult approval ($$$$).

It’s probably labeled "children’s" because the protagonist is young. Nobody "Bod" Owens is just a toddler when he wanders into a graveyard, unaware that his entire family has been murdered and the killer is looking for him. The graveyard’s residents (noncorporeal) decide to care for Bod. As Bod grows, he wishes he could connect more with his ghostly family since he doesn’t really fit in with the living. In other words, he feels like other adolescents except, with a smattering of supernatural.

Please don’t assume that it’s a typical coming-of-age story, though. Not only did Mr. Gaiman model Bod’s tale on Kipling’s Jungle Book; despite the surreal, the characters are so palpable, you WANT to know them (even the scary ones). I have a small crush on Silas, Bod’s neither living nor dead "godfather" figure. I’m even intrigued by the creepy society of "Every Man Jack" (it has to exist because it’s too wonderfully sinister not to).

I had The Graveyard Book slated for discussion at the Nosy Grown-Ups (formerly Nosy Parents) Book Club meeting in October, but no one attended. I may schedule it again because it is just that good.  Please note that Nosy Grown-Ups books are available at the Central Library Fiction Desk, and the discussions are held in Central’s meeting room at 7:00 pm on the second Thursday of each month.

Sorry for the commercial interruption — now please go read (wonderful illustrations in the book) and/or listen to The Graveyard Book. Or, better yet, do both…I did!

Joanne Sobieck-Lingg – Central Library

Once upon a time she was “The Angel of the World” to her family, but since the tragic death of her beautiful, albeit troubled-to-the-max older sister, Mathilda Savitch, in her hilariously skewed take on life, has become to both her grieving parents, the horrific “Vampire of Questions."

And there are no answers to be found – because nothing is as it was in the little blue house where Mathilda’s happiest memories were born. Her beautiful father can no longer look at her, and Ma has taken to drinking and moving with the speed of a “wooly mammoth trying to pull itself out of a tar pit.”

The whole purpose, Mathilda realizes with acute pain masked in prickly cynicism, is to obliterate her existence right along with the memory of her sister. That’s when fight or flight kicks in, and 14-year-old guerilla warfare, complete with shaved head and jack boots, becomes the order of the day. Mathilda morphs into Lufwa (that’s awful spelled backwards). Her mission: Do every conceivable awful, terrible, horrible thing in her terrorist’s repertoire to wake up her parents.

In Mathilda Savitch, poet Victor Lodato has eloquently created a tender young being in search of a painless universe. Lovely.

Aimee Zuccarini – East Columbia

Rushmore presents a comedic slice of the life of protagonist Max Fischer (Jason Schwartzman) as he learns to leave the world of private school behind and stand on his own two feet. At Rushmore, Fischer is the king of the extracurricular activity. Among his many commitments, he is Debate Team Captain, Lacrosse Team Manager, Calligraphy Club President and Astronomy Society Founder. Because Rushmore benefits from his organizational skills, Max is tolerated, but no one at school particularly likes him. More significantly, with all his time spent on clubs and societies, Fischer is not what you could call an academic success.

In spite of these difficulties, Fischer forges a friendship with local businessman Herman Blume (Bill Murray), who sees some potential in Max’s drive. Blume becomes Max’s friend, mentor, and ultimately competitor for the affections of elementary school teacher Rosemary Cross (Olivia Williams). Cross is a likely candidate for Max’s first serious crush. She’s beautiful, sophisticated, educated, and compassionate. Of course, he falls in love. Complications arise when Max introduces Miss Cross to Blume, and finds that he may have sabotaged his own (non-existent) prospects for a relationship. To cope and keep hold of what is important to him, he must come to grips with reality outside the ivy-covered walls of Rushmore.

Director Wes Anderson and co-writer Owen Wilson blend the real and the surreal seamlessly, creating a movie that is both ridiculously exaggerated and completely universal. You’ll laugh as soon as you see Fischer’s yearbook, and the war between Blume and Fischer over Miss Cross is a comedy highlight. Settle in for a good laugh, and watch Rushmore today!

John Jewitt – Savage Branch

Are we really defined by the music of our youth? No matter how much we mature, both as adults and listeners of pop music, it sometimes feels like we return to our whirlwind teen years….at least in that magical instant when we’re caught off guard and hear an old and all-too-familiar song on the radio.

In the mid 80s I didn’t listen much to Madonna, with the exception of two of my favorite songs — "Into the Grove" and "Live to Tell." But around the time of "Like A Prayer," I started appreciating her brassiness, her unwillingness to bend to "normal behavior" and, yes, her emotional depth.

Madonna’s latest release Celebration, a collection of her biggest and best hits, has just about everything you could ever want. There’s the feel good "Holiday" (years later still putting a smile on our faces, every note crystal clear, defying us not to celebrate); the very bouncy and contagious "Like A Virgin" (it doesn’t sound so wild now, when we’ve got the Black Eyed Peas singing about their humps); and the haunting "Live to Tell" (as delightfully fresh as ever).

What IS missing (and it’s a shame!) is the endearing and sweet "Angel," the wicked "Hanky Panky" (from the sometimes overlooked I’m Breathless) and the autobiographical "Keep It Together" (a 1990 success usually left off lists when people recall Madonna’s top 40 hits.)

Lucy O’Brien’s intriguing book Madonna: Like an Icon takes a look at the Material Girl in a way that’s more pop culture 101 than biography. O’Brien reviews the singer’s work up to and including the 2006 non-stop dance sensation Confessions on a Dance Floor. Hard Candy, released two years after O’Brien’s book, doesn’t make an appearance, but is hardly a loss, especially when you consider that many critics (and even serious fans) consider it one of her weaker albums and no match for the powerhouse Confessions or chillaxin’ Ray of Light.

After listening to Celebration AND reading O’Brien and THEN discovering underrated albums like Bedtime Stories and Music (the former a surprisingly strong foray into R&B, and the latter a nice blend of techno pop and vulnerable love songs), you might come away with a completely different take on a singer who’s anything but immaterial. She’s caused many a commotion in her lifetime, but she’s still around and thriving because she’s never willing to compromise or break her stride when it comes to reinventing herself and her music.

Angie Engles – Central Library