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

Newton Starker feels cursed because everyone in the Starker family bloodline has been struck dead…by lightning. They simply attract lightning!  The family has rules, but even his own mother had mistakenly looked at the wrong day on the calendar and had gotten caught in a storm. Newton is the last of the line, except for his great-grandmother, Enid, “a woman as friendly as a pickled wolverine."

Determined to survive, he decides to try something new. He enrolls at the Jerry Potts Academy of Higher Learning and Survival, a boarding school in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, where the motto is survival through fierce intelligence. Newton finds that making friends is as challenging as staying alive, especially when he vies for top marks with a girl named Violet Quon.

NEWTON STARKER’S RULES FOR SURVIVAL
• Do not take a bath during a thunderstorm.
• When thunder roars, go indoors. Fast!
• Beware of cumulonimbus clouds.
• Check the weather before exiting any building.
• Remember not to get angry. Anger has been the downfall of many a Starker.
• If your hair stands on end, you are about to be struck by lightning.
• Lightning travels down telephone wires. Use only cordless phones.
• Check the weather. Recheck the weather. Check it again.

With Jolted, Arthur Slade has written a wonderfully entertaining, brisk and funny read. In spite of his intensity, dogged determination and quirky nature, Newton is a likeable character and his pet Josephine, a truffle-sniffing pig, is a hoot.

Eve Olsen – Central Library

Congratulations, you’re getting married! The clock is now ticking for you to plan while spending an ungodly amount of money on a one-day event that you and your beloved will remember for the rest of your lives. All family members will weigh in with their opinions, you will suddenly become obsessed with things like "pin lighting," and, as the day approaches, you’ll find yourself having little panic attacks when, at 3:00 am, you realize you forgot to specify you wanted cotton napkins, not satin. Before this wave of insanity hits you (and I fervently hope that it never does), I suggest you pick up a copy of Bridal Bargains: Secrets to Throwing a Fantastic Wedding on a Realistic Budget. The information out there for engaged couples is overwhelming, and so much of it is geared towards making you spend as much as possible. This book was written to give you choices and to let you know that you can have a beautiful wedding without having to take out a bank loan.

One criticism of the book is that the authors tend to hammer home just how much the industry is trying to dupe or scam you out of your money. It can be pretty pessimistic, but I took it as a grounding rod to the fluffy bridal magazines I’ve read. As the book points out, it is so difficult to comparison shop for something like a wedding. This will (hopefully) be the only wedding you’ll ever have, so you can’t really compare it to anything else, as you would a house or a car. You can do research on the best deal for your car, so why shouldn’t you research for the best deal for your wedding? A bargain does not mean a bad wedding!

Hopefully, you’ll read this book, save some money, and have a gorgeous event!

Jennifer Johnson – Glenwood Branch

Lately, it seems more and more books are being published that are based on blogs. Take for example, Julie and Julia, the book detailing Julie Powell’s blog about her attempt to "cook through" Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking — which also went on to become the first movie based on a blog. Or, consider I Can Has Cheezburger? An LOL Cat Collekshun by Eric Nakagawa, and its sequel "How to Take Over teh Wurld : A LOLcat Guide 2 Winning," both based on the hilarious LOL Cat blog.

The blog book that I’d like to introduce today, however, is called Cake Wrecks: When Professional Cakes Go Hilariously Wrong by Jen Yates.  I can’t remember who first brought www.cakewrecks.com into my realm, but whoever you are, thank you. I haven’t laughed this hard in my entire life.

The concept is simple: sometimes the cake you order from the bakery isn’t quite the cake you end up with. For example, when the baker asks what you’d like written on the cake, and you reply, "Nothing," you might be dismayed to find the word "NOTHING" written on your otherwise beautiful cake. Or when you ask for a cake that looks like Curious George, and it turns out looking like Teen Wolf, something doesn’t add up. Blogger Jen Yates began bringing photographs of these confectionery conundrums to our attention back in May 2008, and finally has a book out to commemorate the hilarity. The book doesn’t disappoint even the most faithful follower of the blog, with the majority of cakes being never-before-seen wreckage.

Jen’s running commentary throughout is brilliant. Sometimes, to appreciate a "wreck" in it’s fullness, you need a bit of a back story, which Jen doesn’t hesitate to provide when helpful. Some of the humor is off-color (no pun intended) at times, but the book mostly relies on wholesome human error.

I laughed (a lot), I cried (a little), and, more than once, I performed a facepalm. But, in the end, I found myself with a contented smile and a greater appreciation for the little things in life that go right, but could have gone horribly, horribly wrong.

Dan Curry – Savage Branch

"The more Henry thought about the shabby old knickknacks, forgotten treasures, the more it seemed as if his own broken heart might be found in there, hidden among the unclaimed possessions of another time."

Henry, a widower in his late 50’s, stood outside the Panama Hotel in Seattle as the new owners carted out boxes containing personal items of Japanese families who were evacuated to internment camps during WW II. A beautiful parasol evoked memories of the past he struggled to forget.

Years earlier, Chinese-American Henry was "scholarshipping" — as his father would proudly announce to anyone — in an all-white school when he met Keiko, a Japanese-American girl, who was also helping out in the cafeteria serving lunches. Their friendship, forged in defiance against school bullies and parental pressures, withstood the passing of the years.

Jamie Ford’s first book of fiction The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet is the story of Henry and Keiko, both 12, who fall in love against their family wishes at a time when prejudice toward Japanese-Americans was so divisive. It was a dark period in America, full of fears and paranoia.

Ford writes so poignantly not only of the innocence, the purity, the intensity of first love, but of the layers of "bitter and sweet" in our lives.

Cristina Lozare – Central Library

Burn Notice is the story of an ex-spy now private eye and his quest to find the people who turned his life upside down. Michael Weston (Jeffrey Donovan) was in the middle of Africa, trying to negotiate with a gang member when he was given a burn notice (a spy term for "your services are no longer required"). After escaping from Africa, he finds himself in Miami with no money and no job. He’s able to make a living using his spy skills to assist others, while trying to figure out who issued the burn notice. Michael enlists the help of Sam (Bruce Campbell), an FBI agent who used to work with him, and Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar), Michael’s gun-toting Irish ex-girlfriend.

Watching Burn Notice is a little like attending espionage school. As Michael explains the situation to the viewer, he lets us in on the trade secrets that make him a good spy. Using his knowledge and a few common items, Michael repeatedly saves the day. Each episode is action-packed, as he attempts to outsmart the bad guys.

Conversely, Chuck is the story of computer geek turned spy, but not of his own free will. On his birthday Chuck Bartowski (Zachary Levi) opens an email from his college nemesis, and all government secrets are uploaded to his brain. Trying to go about his mundane life, he suddenly finds himself involved in harrowing situations, as a sinister organization attempts to obtain the secrets. The resulting activity causes the CIA and NSA to send agents to monitor Chuck. CIA agent Sarah (Yvonne Strahovski) poses as his girlfriend. And Casey (Adam Baldwin), from the NSA, joins Chuck to work at the Buy More (think Best Buy) much to the stress of Morgan, Chuck’s best friend.

As opposed to Michael Weston, Chuck skips espionage school and is thrown right into the mix. He finds himself equipped with all of the spy secrets, but none of the technical know-how necessary to perform the job. He tries to go about his normal life, while hiding his new skills from friends and family. Complicating matters even further is that although Sarah is not really Chuck’s girlfriend, he begins to wish for a real relationship with her. In each episode we watch Chuck try to extricate himself from dangerous situations, armed only with limited knowledge and a lot of luck.

Robert Bates – Glenwood Branch

And they lived happily ever after.

That’s how all fairy tales end, but is it really the end of the story? Not according to Jim Hines in The Stepsister Scheme. This novel recounts the adventures a bunch of strong-willed, smart-mouthed princesses have, while rescuing Prince Charming (aka Armand).

Meet Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella as you’ve never seen them before. These are not Disney heroines who burst into song at a moment’s notice; these are real life girls with histories and minds of their own. Snow knows mirror magic and uses it to keep her friends safe. She also is an unapologetic flirt. Talia (who detests her fairy tale name of Sleeping Beauty) is a martial arts expert and has some well-earned anger management issues. She hates fairies and everything to do with them. Think about that one!

Then there’s Danielle Whiteshore…our heroine…who was a maid, but recently married the crown prince of Lorindar. Upon returning from their honeymoon, Danielle is visited — and attacked — by one of her wicked (and strangely magical) stepsisters. Apparently, the steps still think they can have the prince for themselves and have abducted him. Danielle and her friends go after him, encountering trolls, drunken pixies, flying horses, evil queens, and their own worst fears. As they move from one hair-raising escapade to the next, you’re never quite sure how the princesses are going to survive…let alone win.

But, after all, it is a fairy tale and the adventure (and the series) must continue. A second installment furthers these strong women’s friendships and tales of derring-do in The Mermaid’s Madness.  Apparently, Hans Christian Andersen didn’t write the entire story of what happened to the young mermaid who fell in love with a human prince.

By the way: These books actually live up to their fun cover art! If you notice a similarity to a certain set of three girls who worked for someone named Charlie, you might be on to something.

Kristen Blount – Administration Office

Tart-tongued, sassy and smart, 18-year-old Adair Colley may take no prisoners when it comes to dealing with fools and Yankees; but in 1863, the brutal Union Militia certainly does – that is after executing, raping, and beheading countless Missouri civilians including women and children – often for nothing more than sending cookies and warm socks in “care boxes” to their Confederate sons.

When following the savage beating of her father, Adair questions the statutes of martial law, she is banished to an infamous federal detention center in St. Louis for enemy women. There, conflicted Union Major William Neumann, demands Colley’s written confession as a Confederate spy. Adair would rather die of the consumption, already seeping into her lungs. Instead, she chooses to write a fable of her short happy life before General William T. Sherman’s implementation of “total war” and devastation upon innocent Missouri citizens. Neumann is enchanted beyond reason with the provoking, backtalking country girl, and orchestrates her escape.

And still, this is only half of poet-historian Paulette Jiles’ absorbing Civil War narrative. The adrenalin-pumping rest – Adair’s harrowing recovery of her beloved dun gelding Whiskey, her intrepid journey homeward through war-devastated valleys, and Neumann’s parallel quest to find her, despite his own attempt at escape (in this case the surgeon’s saw for a potentially gangrenous bullet wound) — all converge like a thousand violins playing at once.

Writing with grit, gumption, and at times, startling humor, Jiles illuminates readers with some shocking truths about the Civil War — in particular the cultural annihilation of American citizens at the hands of a sometimes less than noble Union force.

Aimee Zuccarini – East Columbia Branch

Anyone know what’s going on with Jon & Kate this week? Or where Megan Fox ate dinner last night? How’s Mischa Barton doing after, you know, the thing? How was your sister’s date with that guy? Did she text you from the restaurant? Have you uploaded those pictures of the kids to Flickr yet? Have you pulled up the real time traffic for your commute?

Moving beyond “how to” guides, Hal Niedzviecki’s provocative new book The Peep Diaries is one of the first efforts (that I’m aware of) to marshal the latest evidence and ask a deeper question about this surfeit of information. If technology and the “instant update” have radically changed both our information appetite and our information diet, what are the social consequences?

Starting at the point where pop culture and technology intersect, Niedzviecki catalogs the emergence of what he calls “peep culture” and argues that “we’re all learning to love watching ourselves and our neighbors…. You need to know. You need to be known.” Niedzviecki cites blogging, reality television, celebrity gossip, and social networking as the pillars of peep. He argues that this “perfect storm” of new media developments and new technology has radically changed both the rules and possibilities for the exchange of personal information in society. In aggregating our fractured pop culture this way, Niedzviecki holds a mirror up to our appetites and concerns. “Suddenly, all things once sacred and private… are to be observed and consumed.” As we indulge the impulse both to watch and be watched, Niedzviecki argues that our identities and values are challenged and transformed.

Niedzviecki’s investigation is a must-read. He uses a range of examples (some of which, by way of warning, are mature in theme and content) to suggest that recent changes in our attitudes toward celebrity, privacy, media, and technology are pervasive and transformative. Ultimately his is a thesis about our voracity for information and knowledge in the twenty-first century, and about our changing perception of what constitutes valid or essential knowledge. Take a look at The Peep Diaries, then come back and share your comments about peep culture.

John Jewitt – Savage Branch

When the nights get long and chilly, my family loves to huddle together in the dark and watch a scary movie. Finding one that we can all watch together can be tricky, but we recently discovered a gem in Disney’s Escape to Witch Mountain (G), which has just the right mix of mystery and adventure. In it, two orphans possessing extraordinary powers find a home with the wealthy Aristotle Bolt (Ray Milland). Bolt doesn’t have their best interests at heart, however, resulting in a game of cat and mouse as the children flee to Witch Mountain. You’ll be on the edge of your seat as the kids try to find their way home. The DVD is a re-release of the 1975 original, and has bonus features including pop-up fun facts, commentary by director John Hough, and information about the making of the movie.

With the children safely tucked in bed, I recently watched Pan’s Labyrinth (R), directed by Guillermo del Torro. Pan’s Labyrinth is a dark adult fairy tale, in which 12 year-old Ofelia begins a new chapter of life with a pregnant mother, a brutal stepfather, and a nurturing housekeeper. At her "new" home (a creaky abandoned mill), an insect/fairy leads Ofelia to an overgrown labyrinth. The labyrinth is the gateway to an underworld inhabited by a faun who gives Ofelia a mysterious book instructing her to complete three arduous tasks. As she begins to act in defiance to the adults around her, the viewer wonders whether Ofelia is actually experiencing her mystical world or if she has created an incredibly detailed fantasy paralleling the atrocities of her daily life. Only you can decide, which makes this movie so memorable. The dialogue is in Spanish with English subtitles, but you become so engrossed in the story that you won’t even notice.

And saving the best for last, my all-time favorite scary movie is The Shining (R) — a film based on the Stephen King novel — directed by Stanley Kubrick and starring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall. The other star of the movie is the stately Overlook Hotel, which becomes home to caretaker Jack Torrence and his family during the off-season. However, this hotel is not the place most families would want to spend a long snowy winter, especially after discovering that the former caretaker murdered his family there. Add a son with strange communication abilities and a creepy imaginary friend, Jack’s decent into madness, and an eerie soundtrack, and you have a psychological thriller that makes you wish you left the lights on when you started the DVD.

So, which movies make you jump when things go bump in the night?

Andrea Misner – Administration Office