Wednesday 28 February 2007

February 25th, 2007 Puppets

Puppet shows are great entertainment for children and all of us can remember seeing them at libraries and in schools. But puppet shows haven't always existed as we know them. They began as theatre for the general population and were entertainment for adults. Puppets were used to represent characters everyone could recognize as soon as each one appeared on stage. These characters have also been played by actors who would use masks to identify themselves. Punch and Judy are the two we still remember, but there were many more taken from the Italian Commedia dell'Arte. Punch and Judy also make a good example of puppets (and shows) that are more appropriate for adults than children. The violence in their shows is not what we generally associate with puppets. It may come as a surprise, but adult puppet shows are still alive and well. Modern puppet shows include black light shows, larger “Muppet” sized puppets, and puppet shows like “Terror”, a murder mystery based on “The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe.


So how long have puppets been around?
Puppets have been around since at least 500 BCE. Which means people have been enjoying puppet shows for over 2,500 years. The influence of Commedia dell'Arte was seen in the characters and the farcical plots. Punch was originally Pulcinella and was neither a hunchback nor fond of fighting. These characteristics were added to him as he became Polichinelle in France and finally the Punch we know.


What kinds of puppets are there?
The two most popular types of puppets are marionettes and glove puppets, both of which have been around for as long as we have had puppets. Marionettes are the stringed puppets moved from above, while glove (or hand puppets) are the ones we use at the library with the performer's hand in the puppet's cloth body. Often glove puppets were held over the performers' heads on high stages.


Does the Library still have puppet shows?
Yes, we do! Brodie, Waverley, and Mary J.L. Black locations regularly put on puppet shows. The next ones are: March 3rd Red Riding Hood a new fangled fairy tale at Brodie, March 12th Rumpelstiltskin at Brodie, March 13th Princess Stinky Toes and the Brave Frog Robert at Mary J.L. Black, March 14th Dora the Explorer at Waverley, all of these shows are at 2:30pm. Our puppet shows are free, but the ones at Brodie and Waverley require tickets because of space limits, these tickets can be picked up at the branch two weeks before the show.


At the Library we see how much children (and their families and friends) enjoy puppet shows and playing with the puppets we have available. The following books were selected to help you put on puppet shows at home. They have information on making puppets and stages. You can adapt a favourite story or make up your own. And most importantly have fun!


I Can Make Puppets by Mary Wallace
This book features simple puppets that can be made out of all different kinds of materials. There are sock puppets, finger puppets, sponge puppets, and even chin puppets! It's as much fun as a craft book as an instructional book on how to make your own puppets.


Make Your Own Puppets & Puppet Theaters by Carolyn Carreiro
More great ideas including an octopus puppet and a firefly. Theatres included are made with brooms, doorways, and cardboard boxes.


The Most Excellent Book of How to be a Puppeteer by Roger Lade
This excellent book has ideas for practice puppets and has instructions for basic and more advanced puppets. There are also directions to create a shadow screen for shadow puppets.


This week's Library Detective was written by Ruth Hamlin-Douglas, Children's and Youth Librarian

February 18th, 2007 Academy Awards

The 79th Academy Awards take place on February 25th, and one thing you can count on is that we will have differences of opinion on who should win. At the library, we have a yearly contest for Best Picture, and asking people's opinions on even this one category raises great discussion at the service desk. We all know films that we have loved, that haven't won any awards, and likewise know films that have won many awards that we just couldn't understand the appeal of. Controversy is part of the history of the Oscars, and has made them one of the most popular events of the entertainment world.

When was the Academy established?

The International Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the International was later dropped) first met on January 11, 1927. The prestigious originators were Louis B. Mayer, actor Conrad Nagel, director Fred Niblio, and producer Fred Beetson. Among the original thirty-six members, other prominent names included Mary Pickford, Gloria Swanson, Douglas Fairbanks, Darryl Zanuck and Lon Chaney. Membership to the Academy was by invitation only and it remains so to this day. The first Awards were given on May 16, 1929, at that time there were only twelve awards. 70 Years of the Oscars: The Official History of the Academy Awards by Robert Osborne is a wonderful source of information, pictures, quotations and statistics, for the Oscar's buff.

What fan of Charlie Chaplin's grew a mustache to match his hero's?

Adolph Hitler had an 1880's type handle-bar mustache until he saw Chaplin's character in the Little Tramp. After that he trimmed it to match Chaplin's. Did you know that Chaplin won an Honorary Award in 1927, this despite the fact that his initial nominations for Best Actor, Best Director and Best Writer were nullified? He was always a controversial figure, know for his marriages to younger women. He once had blows with Louis B. Mayer over the studio chief's snide remarks about the star's divorce from ingenue Mildred Harris (Chaplin got in the first swing, but Mayer decked him). Don't miss all the detailed notes about films, actors and studios in The Academy Awards by Gail Kinn and Jim Piazza.

What other major film was not selected at Best Picture in 1939?

Of course, the winner that year was Gone with the Wind. It was the most publicized, anticipated and financially successful film of that year. The other major film that year was The Wizard of Oz. Both films were immensely popular and remain so to this day. Danny Peary in Alternate Oscars contends that Gone with the Wind has many more detractors than The Wizard of Oz, and so it should not have been the winner that year. Peary explains that Academy Awards are too often influenced by politics, sentiment, guilt, spite and an obsession with prestige. Take a look at some of his alternate choices and you might agree.

What politically motivated film won seven Academy Awards in 1990?

Dances with Wolves has the distinction that it is the only Western to win more than four awards, and the first picture to win Best Picture since Cimarron at the fourth Academy Awards banquet sixty years earlier. In Behind the Oscar: The Secret History of the Academy Awards, Anthony Holden describes the win as the most “politically correct” film of the year. The triumph over the more brutal Goodfellas, should have improved conditions for the Sioux Reservation at Pine Ridge. Alas, their fight for land claims continued, diabetes and suicide remained major problems, and unemployment exceeded eight-five percent after the film aired.

From what Oscar winning movie does the quote “ The truth, Helen, is always the right answer” come from?

The film is Schindler's List the winner for Best Picture in 1993. While you are in the mood for guessing, which film will win best picture this year? Will it be Babel, The Departed, Little Miss Sunshine, Letters from Iwo Jima or The Queen? Fill out a ballot at any branch of Thunder Bay Public Library, or send us your name, phone number and vote to adults@tbpl.ca Out contest closes on February 25th.

For more information on this years Academy Awards visit their official web site at http://www.oscar.com

This week’s Library Detective was written by Roberta Casella, Adult Services Librarian

February 11th, 2007 Black History Month

February is Black History Month

Every year in February, we celebrate the many achievements and contributions of Black Canadians, who have done so much to make Canada the culturally diverse nation that we know today. It is also an opportunity for the majority of Canadians to learn about the experiences of Black Canadians in our society. A great way to do this is by reading a book written by one of the may talented African-Canadian authors. Listed here is just a small sampling. Come into your local library branch and check one out.

Behind The Face of Winter by H. Nigel Thomas.
Pedro Moore leaves the nurturing yet destitute home of his grandmother on Isabella Island to join his mother Isis, who works as a domestic in Montreal. Pedro brings with him the memories of his island, the teachings of his beloved grandmother and Brother Solomon, and a desire to know the secret identity of his father. The world of the poor black youth he has to negotiate, without losing himself, is hopelessly desperate, cruel and violent, yet paradoxically caring. Behind the Face of Winter is a coming-of-age novel that takes place in Montreal in which immigrant youth totter on the edge of self-destruction and oblivion. This is a brilliantly evocative novel sure to leave its mark on the reader.

The Polished Hoe by Austin Clarke.
When Mary-Mathilda, one of the most respected women of the island of Bimshire (Barbados) calls the police to confess a crime, the result is a shattering all-night vigil that brings together elements of the island's African past and the tragic legacy of colonialism in one epic sweep. Set in the West Indies in the period following World War II, The Polished Hie , a Giller Prize Winner, unravels over the course of twenty-four hours but spans the collective experience of a society
characterized by slavery.

Childhood by Andre Alexis.
Uniquely imagined and vividly evoked, Andre Alexis's prize-winning novel chronicles the childhood of Thomas MacMillan who sets out to piece together the early years of this life. Raised in a Southern Ontario town in the '50s and'60s, Thomas is abandoned to the care of his eccentric Trinidadian grandmother. Then, at ten, his mother reclaims him, taking him to Ottawa and to the once-splendid Victorian home of Henry Wing, a gentle conjurer whose love of science and the
imagination become an important legacy. But, is he Thomas's father? Often humorous, Childhood tells the story of a man's quest for what is lost, bringing him closer to the truth about himself.

Any Known Blood by Lawrence Hill.
Spanning five generations, sweeping across a century and a half of almost unknown history, this acclaimed and unexpectedly funny novel is the story of a man seeking himself in the mirror of his family's fast. Rich in historical detail and gracefully flowing from the slave trade of nineteenth-century Virginia to the present, Any Known Blood gives life to a story never before told, a story of five generations of a black Canadian family whose tragedies and victories merge with the American experience.

What We All Long For by Dionne Brand.
This novel follows the overlapping story of a close circle of second generation twenty-somethings living in downtown Toronto. The four characters try to make a life for themselves in the city, supporting one another through their family struggles.

Rhinos for Lunch and Elephants for Supper by Tololwa M. Mollel.
For children in kindergarten to grade 3, this is a lighthearted Maasai tale of a rabbit who returns to the mouth of her cave and hears a noise from within. "A monster, a monster. I eat rhinos for lunch and elephants for supper!" comes a voice from the cave. A variety ofanimals try to help her get rid of the mysterious intruder who has taken over her house. Only the frog is courageous enough to take on the bully.

Many sites, persons and events of national significance related to Black History have been formally recognized by the Government of Canada as defining important aspects of Canada's diverse heritage and identity. To learn more about African-Canadian authors and for more
information about Black History Month, visit www.edselect.com/black_history_month.htm.

Helen Cimone is a Public Service Assistant at the Thunder Bay Public Library.

February 4th, 2007 Winter Carnivals

Dark nights, thinsulate socks and the ever-present car starter signal that the days of winter are
still firmly upon us. As I grow older, winter sadly has lost much of it’s charm but the spark of
magic that happens when the sky opens and a dusting of perfect flakes descend, still remains .
Memories of afternoons bundled in pastel snowsuits, trussed up with homemade scarfs and
mittens on strings, playing in 10 foot snow banks or heading to Hillcrest park for hours of
sledding until we were so cold and wet through we trudged homeward to enjoy hot chocolate and
warm baths are definitely some of my happiest.

Canadians understand winter and love to talk about it, it’s the topic of choice at work, at coffee
shops and with strangers. It’s that area of commonality that we all share, our love or loathing of
winter coupled with that inner pride that we, as Canadians, can handle anything Mother Nature
may throw at us. It’s that pride that bursts out when all across the country, we celebrate winter in
a variety of festivals.

What is the largest winter carnival?

Carnaval de Quebec is the largest winter carnival in the world as well as one of the oldest.
Beginning with the first settlers in the area nearly 400 years ago, the beginning of February has
always been a time to celebrate winter. With it’s formal founding in 1894, the carnival which is
proceeded over by the jolly Bonhomme involves 17 days of activities in the old part of Quebec
City. The carnival devotes itself to the beauty of winter with lighted night parades, slide runs,
concerts, snow sculptures, races and it’s famous Ice Hotel, where guests can stay in rooms
constructed entirely of ice.

Does Canada have a national winter festival?

Winterlude/Bal de Neige in the Ottawa/Hull region is Canada’s official festival of winter.
Founded in 1979 by the National Capital Commission, the festival is designed to celebrate all
things that say winter in Canada. Winterlude/Bal de Neige are represented by the Ice Hog Family;
Mama, Papa and their children Noumi and Nouma. The festival features skating on the Rideau
Canal, extreme trampoline, ski and snowboarding shows, competitive ice craving and a huge
snow cinema where the films are shown on walls of snow.

Doesn’t Toronto have a winter festival?

Wintercity which runs between January 26 and February 8, 2007 is Toronto’s celebration. Not
being known for it’s snow and cold, Toronto’s festival concentrates on the indoor delights of
winter. This year there are special performances of children’s theatre, a big band concert at Casa
Loma, a winter themed opera, an inflatable play village and nightly free concerts throughout the
city. Even the city’s restaurants have joined in by offering Winterlicious, a special menu of foods
available only during the festival.

Isn’t Thunder Bay having it’s own winter carnival?

Yes, Fort William Historical Park will be hosting the Voyageur Winter Carnival from February
22 to February 25, 2007. The carnival will feature a pond hockey tournament, a classic rock
concert with Harlequin, Prism and Streetheart, as well as the premiere of the docudrama
“Morning in the Northwest”. There will be lots of family fun with races, a snow maze, a sugar
shack as well of lots of contests, tours and games and activities.

Talking about the carnivals, has put me in the mood for a little outdoor fun. Now I wonder where
I put that pastel snowsuit?

Lori Kauzlarick, Public Services Assistant, Thunder Bay Public Library

Tuesday 27 February 2007

January 28th, 2007 Biography

Everyone’s got a story to tell. It’s truly fascinating to read or hear about someone’s life story or an event that’s happened in their life. Some stories are a testament to the human spirit and can be a source of inspiration to us all. They can also introduce us to people we have never met but would like to get to know (or not!) Biographies and autobiographies are always very popular; in fact, according to Publisher’s Weekly, Bill Clinton’s My Life was the third highest bestseller of 2004 in the U.S. Let’s have a look at some biographically-related questions and what the library has to offer.

Where can I find biographies in the library?

We don’t have a separate section for these. They are found in the subject area that applies to that particular person, so a biography or autobiography on a baseball player would be found in the sports section. You can tell at a glance if a book is a biography or autobiography since it will have a bright yellow spine label withe a book symbol and the word “biography” under they symbol. You can distinguish a biography from an autobiography since the biography has a double set of letters in the call number, for both the writer and his or her subject. For example, a book on Barbra Streisand written by Christopher Andersen is labelled 782.42164 STR AND. To locate titles in the catalogue, do a keyword search for “biography” or “autobiography.

Who is the most written about person?

This is the best response as chosen by voters at Yahoo Answers: “It depends on the language and country. In the US, Abraham Lincoln has to be right up there in book count and overall coverage. Jesus has got to be right there but so much of that is myth that it's hard to sort the facts from the myth. If you're willing to consider a group, I suggest the Beatles. There are more books, magazines, movies and Web sites/blogs about the Beatles than any other individual or group that I can think of. There are hundreds -- maybe more than 1,000 -- of books about the Beatles. There are at least 15 full-length films either by or about the Beatles, in addition to several documentaries.”

Can you recommend some recent biographies?

I like amazon.ca’s editor’s list of the best biographies of 2006. Since the url is too long to include here I’m giving you the titles (with apologies for their length), in order from 1 to 10. The library has all of these books, so place your hold today! Citizen of the world: the life of Pierre Elliott Trudeau, vol. one: 1919-1968, by John English. Heat: an amateur’s adventures as a kitchen slave, line cook, pasta-maker, and apprentice to a Dante-quoting butcher in Tuscany, by Bill Buford. Places in between, by Rory Stewart. Book of longing, by Leonard Cohen. Caesar: life of a colossus by Adrian Goldsworthy. Searching for Bobby Orr, by Stephen Brunt. David Suzuki: the autobiography, by David Suzuki. James Tiptree Jr.: the double life of Alice B. Sheldon by Julie Phillips. Fun home: a family tragicomic by Alison Bechdel. The Rookie: a season with Sidney Crosby and the new NHL, by Shawna Richer.

Check out Biography Resource Center, one of the latest additions to the Virtual Collection at the library. Here’s what it has: “ This database integrates award-winning biographies from respected Gale Group sources with related full-text articles from hundreds of periodicals, as well as tens of thousands of images and links to hand-picked web sites. Search for people---both current and historic from all eras and fields of endeavor---based on name, occupation, nationality, ethnicity, birth/death dates and places, or gender, as well as keyword and full text. Or, combine search criteria to create a highly-targeted custom search.” You're sure to be impressed with this easy-to-use online resource.

Sylvia Renaud, Head of Reference Services

January 21st, 2007 Best of the Web 2006

I spent a good portion of 2006 re-examining the Internet. Reference staff revised our roster and content for public internet classes and a number of curious resources came to my attention - enough to rejuvenate my interest in the online world. Here, in a completely unscientific manner, is my personal best of the web list. Though not necessarily new, these are the services that got me thinking and playing in 2006.

Best website in a musical genre.

My favourite site of the year is Pandora, the music genome project (www.pandora.com). Pandora is not a download site, nor does it infringe copyright for musicians included in the service, but if you love music and want to find more music that you like, register for an account. Once registered, create your own radio station by entering a favourite artist or song. Taking the musical blueprints of your selected music, Pandora reviews data for other works and plays new songs for you to review. Instantly, you become a music critic, refining the station by giving songs a thumbs up or thumbs down. While not suited for examining classical forms, Pandora is as interactive as you want it to be and can be full of surprises. Easily the most regularly accessed site on my PC. Thumbs up!

The Golden Globe award.

When the U.S. government hosted the terra server years ago, satellite photographs of geological and man made features were among my favourite finds. Today, Google Earth enables users to download and explore the planet in all its blue and green glory. Anyone with an itch to fly over the Eiffel tower, Central Park, or the Great Wall of China can do so from their own PC. Alternatively, you can mark your own point of interest. Google Earth is available for download from http://earth.google.com/ but don’t pay. Get the free version.

Best web service in a Library role.

Book discussion groups, take note. The best web service in a traditional Library role is Library Thing! (www.librarything.org). Registered users post their favourite books and define them with terms that explain the content like; romance, Spain, murder etc. Using the collective reading experience of all library thing users, the main use of an account would be to find more to read based on your interests. The collective titles and tags that accumulate in the library thing database make for a fairly deep pool of information from which you can use to choose your next read. It does take some time to truly learn library thing but avid readers will use it regularly.

Best employment resource.

In June our department created an internet class on employment resources. While investigating job sites I developed an appreciation for Monster.ca. While best suited for those willing to relocate for work, Monster enables the job searcher to mange several resumes, create job search profiles, get e-mails when a relevant posting comes available and it also offers excellent privacy options. The biggest drawback to a monster account is that resumes posted to the database are only available to employers registered with the service.

Self publishing and social sites.

Web services for posting and hosting your own exploits are springing up all over. This year, I investigated blogger (www.blogger.com) and Flickr (www.flickr.com). In the manner of an online journal, Blogger allows the user to easily post updates to a website. Flickr is a site that allows virtual shutterbugs to archive, view and make slide-shows of personal photographs. Both sites make it relatively easy to publish and share information. Do you have something to write about? Post your regular musings to Blogger. Is your picture worth a thousand words? Register for a Flickr account using an existing yahoo e-mail address. Flickr also scores big for its ease of use, privacy options and for the collection of interesting photographs posted by its users. Browsing Flickr images is both humbling and inspirational for the amateur photographer.

Feeling lost? Don’t be! TBPL’s reference department continues to offer internet classes at the Waverley Resource Library where you can learn basic mousing and internet skills. Those who are already experienced, explore a web service that offers a change from passive point and click surfdom to a more customized, interactive experience. All of these services are free but require user accounts. If you decide to check them out, your real measure of success will be your ability to memorize a multitude of personas and passwords. Happy clicking!

Tracey Zurich
Reference Librarian.

January 14th, 2007 Flickr.com

Did you get a digital camera for Christmas? Have you been busy emailing photos to your friends and family, only to hear you have clogged up their accounts with your huge files? Well, it sounds like you could use Flickr.

Flickr is an online photo sharing community which allows anyone to create a free account, and upload, organize and share photos. After creating a Flickr account, you can invite friends and family to view your photos using a simple form. Photos can be viewed on Flickr as a “slide show” or individually. You can also easily create a “badge” of photos to post on your website. You can see one on the Library’s site at www.tbpl.ca, under “What’s On” and “Definition Quest”.

Flickr was created in 2004 by a husband and wife team from Vancouver, and currently has over 2.5 million users, including your Public Library! Go to Flickr.com and search for “TBPL” and you’ll see photos from the Friends of the Library annual fundraiser, Definition Quest for Literacy. You can also go directly to our Flickr photos here: Flickr.com/photos/tbpl

The philosophy behind Flickr focusses on building community. You can mark any photo you upload as “private”, which means it can only be seen by those you invite, or “public”, which means anyone in the world can see it. Flickr also uses “tags” which are short, usually one or two word, descriptions of your photos. The tags are searchable, so if you’re interested to see photos of the Sleeping Giant, or the Terry Fox lookout, they are easy to find. You can also leave a “comment” on any public photo on Flickr. So, if you find someone who shares your interest in stained glass, or old barns, you can leave a comment and make a connection. A “profile” for a Flickr account allows you to share a little, or a lot, about yourself.

Flickr also encourages its users to connect in “groups”. Flickr groups share a common theme (like “libraries and librarians”) or location (like “Thunder Bay”), and make it easier to find, share and discuss related photos. If you’re attending a large event, like a conference or reunion, you might be asked to “tag” your photos from that event with a common tag, in order to share the experience. The possibilities of Flickr are amazing. Do you remember trying to assemble pictures from your wedding, taken by guests? With Flickr you could set up a “Suzy and Bob’s Wedding” site, and ask you friends to upload their photos with the tag “SuzyandBobsWedding”. You’ll have an instant online album, which your aunt in Scotland and cousin in Australia can view at their leisure.

A new feature that Flickr has recently introduced is a map, which lets you “geo-locate” your photos. On the main page (flicrk.com), choose “Explore Flickr”, then “World Map” under “Explore”. The map may be viewed as a regular map, satellite image (like GoogleEarth), or a combo.

Since Definition Quest was held at the Valhalla Inn, I was able to geo-locate our set of pictures right on the hotel building. So you can zoom in on Thunder Bay, and view all the photos taken in our city. This would be a neat thing to look at if you’re planning a vacation. You could look at photos from the resort you’re going to stay at, or places you’re going to visit.

Another new feature of Flickr is a “Camera Finder” which shows you the most popular types of cameras used by Flickr members. The camera finder includes links to the manufacturers’ websites, and links to Flickr photos taken with that type of camera.

A neat way to explore Flickr is to go to the link “Browse interesting photos shared over the last 7 days” at Flickr.com Here’s how Flickr.com describes this feature:

There are lots of things that make a photo 'interesting' (or not) in the Flickr. Where the clickthroughs are coming from; who comments on it and when; who marks it as a favourite; its tags and many more things which are constantly changing. Interestingness changes over time, as more and more fantastic photos and stories are added to Flickr.

Find a comfy chair, curl up with your computer, and explore Flickr today. You’ll be transported all over the world, and maybe even make a new friend. Don’t forget to check out the pictures from Definition Quest!

Joanna Aegard is Head of Virtual Library Services at the Thunder Bay Public Library

January 7th, 2007 First Lines of Novels

Written by Angela Meady, Head of Children's and Youth Services

The feeling of cracking open a new book is something akin to the feeling of facing the first calendar page of a new year - everything is still ahead of you, you are filled with hope that you
are in for a good adventure and you feel a frisson of excitement as you realize that you don't know what is about to happen next.

For this reason, the first line of a novel needs to be strong and evocative. It can either spur you
on to further reading or disappoint by failing to ignite your imagination. I'd like to share some of the interesting first lines from various Canadian fiction books written for children, teens and adults. I hope that you may peruse these offerings and perhaps be tempted to read a little further and discover a new book to begin your new year.

Lifetimes ago, under a banyan tree in the village of Hasnapur, an astrologer cupped his
ears - his satellite dish to the stars - and foretold my widowhood and exile.

Jasmine by Bharati Mukherjee

A field of grain like an amber stiletto in the afternoon sun; she had to half close her eyes.
Dvorak in Love by Josef Skvorecky

It's midnight and I'm at a pay phone at a highway rest stop with a greasy receiver in my
ear, smelling hot fat from the burger place down the hall and waiting for my mom to stop
dumping on me.

The Boy From Earth by Richard Scrimger

Sometimes, something as small as an ad in the daily newspaper can change your whole
life.

No Small Thing by Natale Ghent

Like broken fingers reaching through the earth, the tombstones begged for something.
Grave Secrets by Sylvia McNicoll

Two years after my mother died my father fell in love with a glamorous blond Ukrainian
divorcee.

A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka

The storm boiled above the Indian ocean, a dark, bristling wall of cloud, blocking our
passage west.

Skybreaker by Kenneth Oppel

Time is not a line but a dimension, like the dimensions of space.
Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood

All day there are glaring omens that go undetected.
The White Bone by Barbara Gowdy

So far as Larry could remember, Janice started hiding the bombs the same week as the
Plymouth died.

A Short History of Indians in Canada: Stories by Thomas King

The land is so long, and the people travelling in it so few, the curious animals barely
notice them from one lifetime to the next.

A Discovery of Strangers by Rudy Wiebe

I hated secrets - the thought of hiding the truth just made my stomach turn.
The Mystery of the Frozen Brains by Marty Chan

I feel like a refugee from a Douglas Coupland novel.
JPOD by Douglas Coupland.

Happy reading in 2007.