Review: The Bear and the Nightingale

The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

This book was amazing! I actually don't know a lot of Russian fairy tales, although I am familiar with "East of the Sun, West of the moon". I wasn't sure exactly how this book was going to go because as the story progressed, it was entirely possible for the story to have used different tales at several points. It wasn't until the very end that the story took on a form with which I am familiar.
The story tells stories within the story. It is also interesting to learn about the different Russian fairy-tale helpers. The demovoi seems similar to a Brownie from other folklore. This is also interesting as it is a fairy-tale set in a historical real-world setting instead of a fantastical setting.
Although anyone who likes fairy-tales will enjoy this story, I believe that readers of Mercedes Lackey and Jane Yolen will especially like the writing style.

PS
Sorry about the late post as I seem to have contracted a cold or form of the flu.

March Break Vacay!

So, yes, this past March Break I lived up to the name on this blog.  My husband and I went on a road trip around Lake Michigan.  We made two major stops in terms of exploration.  I've always enjoyed architecture, so much so that while doing my MLIS, I took a class on Library Planning and Design.  It is interesting to see what current libraries are doing and if there are any historical precedents.

The first place we stopped over for a few days was Traverse City, Michigan.  It is a great foodie place and a fun place to explore by foot.  Since it is mostly a summer touristy town, we got a great price on the hotel.  However, while we were exploring on foot, we found a building that had a giant plaque on it that said "Ladies Library".  It is a beautiful red-brick building with gigantic windows!  Here is a picture of the front:

The original library was a wood-frame building bought by The Ladies Library Association in 1878 and was located on Front Street.  The current building was built in 1909 and used as a library until 1949.  After that it was used by the city until 1983 until it was renovated into offices in 1986.

Sources:
http://www.record-eagle.com/news/local_news/women-helped-build-traverse-city/article_917e7162-4e57-5b3c-ac73-888d0ed8e686.html
http://www.michmarkers.com/startup.asp?startpage=L1309.htm

I also had a look around the newer Traverse City library.  It is part of a community center.  I really liked the way that things were sorted.  For example, the AV collection was housed under a section titled "Sight and Sound".  They also had a poster up with Coming Soon for newer releases that the library would be receiving or are on order.

After staying a night in Kalamazoo due to lake effects hitting Chicago, we went to Chicago.  I have to say that the central branch of the Chicago Public Library is amazing!  I probably could have spent all day exploring and poking my nose into everything, but it was enough for me to simply go into the lobby.  It is gorgeous!  It takes up an entire city block.  Here is a picture of the exterior:

                                          

We actually drove by it and I couldn't believe it when my phone said that the gorgeous building was a library!

As nice as this building is, it has nothing on the beautiful former Chicago Public Library, which is now the Chicago Cultural Center.  The materials used were marble, mosaics and inlaid mother-of-pearl.  It is hard to believe that this was a library as the effect creates an incredibly fancy atmosphere.  Even I wanted to bolt out of there for feeling not worthy.  It also has a Tiffany glass dome, which is incredibly gorgeous!  Basically, beneath the Tiffany glass dome was the reception desk where you would ask the librarian for the book.  If you don't know anything about libraries, in ye olde days, the stacks were closed and the only people who had access to them were the librarians.  The patron would go to the librarian with the card from the catalogue, looking for a particular book and the librarian would go and get it from the stacks.

Tiffany Glass Dome in Preston Bradley Hall

View of the Tiffany Dome from the stairs

Stairs inlaid with mosaics

Are your libraries undergoing renovations or changes?  What are you hoping to see in your new facility?  Let me know in the comments below!

Review: India Black

India Black by Carol K. Carr








I really enjoyed this book! The characters are well written. The plot is very interesting and fast-paced, more of an intrigue or spy novel than a mystery. I also like how the author uses the Victorian setting. The language takes a bit getting used to, especially the Victorian slang, but it is interesting to read a book written in what is essentially another dialect of English.

The book starts off rather innocently with a regular patron, Bowser, of the brothel passing away of a heart attack and the girl he was with doing a runner. However, soon the madam, India Black, finds herself in a web of intrigue where nothing is as it seems and to save the British Empire, she needs to get the case Bowser was carrying with him back.

Review: Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography

Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography by Neil Patrick Harris

I love Neil Patrick Harris!  I first watched him in Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, then in How I Met Your Mother.  I was so happy to find out that he published his own autobiography because although I love to watch him (I just started watching A Series of Unfortunate Events on Netflix), I don't really know all that much about his life.
I read the ebook version. In the grand tradition of choose your own adventure, I died more than once.  I found that the links didn't work very well at first, but I figured it out eventually.  There are also pictures at the end which didn't show well on my Kobo because it is black and white.

I actually really enjoyed reading about him.  Even when I died, I found it entertaining because it was written in such a hilarious manner.  I would actually suggest reading a physical copy of the book if possible.  There is also an audiobook available read by NPH and although I love his voice, I'm not sure how the listener would choose the next chapter of the book.