Staff Recommendation #1: "Life" by Keith Richards

"Life" by Keith Richards, with James Fox



Staff Review by B. Kendig

Keith Richards's new autobiography does not disappoint. This 564-page tome, with 32 pages of photographs, is witty, self-deprecating, and, at times, poignant. There is, for instance, the phone call he receives when he's about to go on-stage, with the news that his 3-month-old son, Tara, had just died. Through such memories, we fans get a glimpse into the real Keith, who has always been my favorite Rolling Stone.

He writes a lot about his family and early years. One vignette depicts how he and his aunt would sing "When Will I Be Loved?" together (which also happens to be my favorite Everly Brothers song). Goodness, he and I would have so very much to talk about if ever we sat down for a chat! The book also tells of his first great romance with Ronnie Spector in Detroit, his mercurial relationships with group founder Brian Jones and Mick Jagger, and, of course, Anita Pallenberg, already a movie star in her own right when she met the band -- and his American wife Patti Hansen.

He is unapologetically still the quintessential "bad boy." For any scholar of the Sixties, "Life" is a must-read.

Request "Life" by Keith Richards, with James Fox

Request the Large Print version of "Life"

Request the Audiobook of "Life"

New & Improved @ MPL!

It's been awhile since our last update, but we're back to announce our returning, improved "New @ MPL" blog! Coming up are some great new features that we hope will make for a more engaging, informative, and enjoyable blog experience for our patrons and readers.

Now you'll be able to enjoy weekly updates not only about what's happening at our library, but also receive updates on upcoming book, film, movie, and game releases; read postings on current informational and entertainment trends; and check out staff reviews of our personal recommendations.

Looking forward to seeing you around the blog! And in the meantime, be sure to check out our other great features @ MPL online:

-- Articles, websites, and online resources about today's news and top stories.

-- Monroeville Public Library's very own monthly podcasts for teens and adults.

-- MPL on Facebook! Find out what's happening at our Library and leave comments and feedback for us.

And be sure to take our online survey to tell us what you love best about MPL before we join the eiNetwork this spring! (Find out more about our catalog migration when you take the survey.)

Interview with Pittsburgh Poet Samuel Hazo @ SoundWAVS

Check out our interview with Pittsburgh poet Samuel Hazoa in a new episode of SoundWAVs, Monroeville Public Library's official podcast!



Hear philosopher and psychologist Dr. Kipling Forbes interview Dr. Samuel Hazo, who is the author of poetry, fiction, essays, various works of translation and four plays. In his poetry, Samuel Hazo has explored themes of mortality and love, passion and art, courage and grace in a style that is unmistakably his own. As the founder and Director/President of the International Poetry Forum, Hazo has brought more than 800 poets and performers to Pittsburgh over the past forty years. In 1993 Governor Robert Casey named Hazo Pennsylvania’s first State Poet, a position in which he served until 2003. To listen, visit the SoundWAVs MPL Podcast page.

Celebrating Jane Austen

December 16th marks the 235th anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen. It is remarkable that a woman who published 6 novels in the early 19th century is still remembered and appreciated all of these years later. Her simple idea of writing about 5 or 6 families in an English village has lead to several made for television movies, major motion pictures and numerous spin-offs involving her characters as well as Jane herself!

In recognition of Jane Austen's birthday, take some time to check out some of the titles by and about Jane that are available at the Monroeville Public Library.

Holiday Edition of MPL's Podcast

Check out our special holiday edition of Sound WAVs, Monroeville Public Library's official podcast. (Podcasts are free, online audio files that you can download and listen to on your computer, iPod, mp3 player, or even burn to CD.)

This month's podcast features our teen volunteers reading a Hanukkah poem by Nicholas Gordon, a dramatic reading of Clement Moore's "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," and some information on the history and significance of Kwanzaa. There's also a "highly exclusive" interview with two of our best teen volunteers! Drop by our website to download the episode.

Happy Holidays!

Hanukkah

Last night at sundown marked the beginning of Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights. Here are a few titles from our collection regarding the celebration of Hanukkah. (Click on the title to reserve it.)

Books:

Celebrating the Jewish year: The Winter Holidays : Hanukkah Tu b'Shevat Purim

by Paul Steinberg

Hanukkah: The Family Guide To Spiritual Celebration

by Ron Wolfson

Hanukkah, Oh, Hanukkah!: A Treasury of Stories, Songs, and Games To Share

compiled by Wendy Wax

CDs:

Happy Joyous Hanukkah

by the Klezmatics

The Jewish Experience, Chanukkah

by Western Wind and Theodore Bikel



Oy Chanukah!
by the Klezmer Conservatory Band

Mystery vs. Thriller -- what's the difference?

In a true mystery novel, the murder or action has already taken place and the rest of the story is devoted to finding out who-done-it and why. Motivation is part of the puzzle; and most of the action takes place in the mind of the protagonist. Often, the villain remains unidentified until the very end, while characters are developed and the lead sleuth gains important psychological insights into all the suspects.



By contrast, a suspense novel is one in which the action or crime is yet to happen. The reader is led to the climax as tension rises continuously. Often the reader knows exactly who is going to perform the anticipated event -- without knowing exactly when, where, or how it will occur.



When in doubt as to how to classify a book -- Mystery or Suspense -- we take our cues from the author’s reputation or the publisher’s recommendation. For example, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson has elements of both mystery and suspense. By applying all the criteria, we have placed this entertaining novel in our Mystery Section. Check it out on your next visit!