Bones of Paris--Book Review

The Stewart Memorial Library has much to offer to people with all types of interests. For example, if someone is just looking for something to read for leisure and have an interest in suspenseful fiction and like France, and more specifically Paris, they may be interested in The Bones of Paris by Laurie King. This book involves a little bit of history, especially about the lives of those famous writers and artists that made up the infamous Jazz Age of the 1920's. In this book you will be following an investigator from the United States who was hired by an American family from Boston who's daughter moved to Paris to pursue her dreams of being an actor/model, but then suddenly lost all contact with her family who began to worry. The investigator, Harris Struyvesant, was more than happy to take the job and have the opportunity to walk the streets of Paris and sit in all the wonderful cafes and bars. He saw this as more of a vacation because he felt that he would find the young woman in the arms of some up and coming artist, which happens to many. But as his search continues it takes a turn he wasn't expecting because now the trail leads him in search of a....murderer.

If this book sounds interesting to you then don't hesitate to come check it out, it'll be waiting just for you! It is located in the Browsing Area on the first floor of the library. The call # is PS3561 I4813 B66 2013.

If you have any questions don't be afraid to ask, anyone from the Circulation or Reference desk would more than willing to assist you! Rachel S.

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

As the library main floor has stated it is National Honey month! The month of September also pays homage to something else, Hispanic heritage.

What does this have to do with the library? The library has a plethora of Hispanic authors for you to read as well as their biographies! Read authors like Sandra Cisneros, who graduated from the Iowa Writer's Workshop and was taught by Gordon Mennega himself! Read Gary Soto a poet and writer focused in Chicano youth fiction. Prefer classic? How about the ever famous Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Carlos Fuentes (I recommend The Death of Artemio Cruz), and Isabel Allende!

Not really into books? The AV department has a wide variety of Hispanic subject movies that are both in Spanish and English. There's Selena, about a great Tejana singer and the tragic result of her fame, starring Jenifer Lopez. Or try Vicky Christina Barcelona to see Penelope Cruz do her thing! For practice with Spanish watch Volver or Biutiful.

As always keep reading and stay classy, Coe College!~~~~Paulina

Unbroken by Hillenbrand

One of the best books that I have ever read is Unbroken. The story of an Olympic level sprinter, he was in the 1936 Games in Berlin, who was drafted into the Army Air Force during World War II. The book details Louis Zamperini’s incredible story of being shot down during a mission, spending over two months floating in a small rubber raft in the Pacific and being rescued by a Japanese boat. He then spends the remainder of World War II stuck in a variety of prison camps. Written by the same woman as Seabiscuit, also a really good book and movie, this tale runs the full gamut of emotions. ~Andrew, Reference student

The library owns a copy of this book.  The call number is D805 J3 Z364 2010 and is located on the 2nd floor.  I agree with Andrew.  This book was an amazing testament to human suffering, loss of dreams and the ability to forgive. ~Sandy

One Second After

One day last week Tyler came into work tired because he stayed up too late reading a book.  When I asked him about this book and why he found it so captivating we had a short discussion about how we would react to an emergency situation and how Cedar Rapids reacted to the flood.  I asked him to write a review so maybe others would have an interest.  Currently the Coe Library does not have the book on the shelves but it is a current topic about our society.  Here's his review......Sandy

Imagine living in a world where there was no electricity.  Imagine not being able to take a normal shower or going to get food at the nearest grocery market.  In the book, One Second After, written by William R. Forstchen, a father and his family must learn to adapt and survive after an electromagnetic pulse has disabled all electronics around him.  He has to do things no one in their lifetime should have to do, all for the safety and survival of those he loves.  This riveting book does not hold back as it throws countless obstacles and problems at the main character, John.  If you have ever wondered what the significance of learning the history of our nation or why you had to read Animal Farm in high school, this book can show the value of such information.  Once this book starts, it is a slippery slope down to the end as you read about how morality and civilization can change only one second after an EMP strike.   T. Gunderson

 

Interesting web site

Just read a positive review of this website in the College and Research Libraries News (yes, another one of those boring journals we continuously read for current happenings in the library world.  Boring to those outside of the library).  "Business and Human Rights Resource Centre"  http://www.business-humanrights.org/Home can be used for many disciplines; business, politics, sociology, and health for starters.  This site, updated hourly, reports about the positive and negative impacts that businesses around the world have on human rights.  I did a search for Keystone and was disappointed that only 2 articles came up about the current debate over that pipeline and both backed the environmentalist attitude toward it.   Then I did a search for Coca-cola and was pleased at the number of hits there.  The first article told of how the Century bottling company in Uganda had their employees tested for HIV and then those that were positive received treatment.   A good thing as Martha would say.  It was the hope of the reviewer, Maureen James, University of Arkansas-Little Rock, that "this site may also motivate companies to be accountable in their dealings with humans and the environment."