Ebooks from Overdrive are here!

On February 28, 2012 at 9am Mississippi Valley Library District members can access Overdrive ebooks and audiobooks from the library and from their home computers.

This will add thousands of new selections to the existing ebooks offered through EBSCO
and
this will be a new addition to those of you who own Kindles. 

There are more bestsellers!
There is more versatility!
There are more additions per month for your enjoyment!

Go to our homepage at Collinsville Library Center or the Fairmont City Library Center and select the Overdrive button or look under the Online Databases.

Book Review - Ameritopia: The Unmaking of America by Mark R. Levin

          It is hardly a surprise that conservative constitutional scholar and advisor to former President Ronald Reagan would take a swipe at President Obama and his administration. What did surprise this reader was the historical and philosophical background to the criticism. Levin writes, “Concisely put, this is the heritage and lineage of the American people, which dates hundreds of years before the American Revolution and transcends all else. From the earliest settlers escaping persecution or seeking opportunities in the New World, to the original colonies asserting self-rule through popular sovereignty and numerous local governing bodies; from the demand for independence, the assertion of inalienable individual rights, and the Revolutionary War, to the founding of the constitutional republic to secure individual liberty and the civil society, the American people engaged in the most widely considered and far-reaching exploration of humanity – its meaning, cultivation, and application – in world history. Even half a century after the adoption of the Constitution, the character and psychology of the American people were apparent to Alex de Tocqueville, who wrote, ‘They have been allowed by their circumstances, their origin, their intelligence, and especially by their morals to establish and maintain the sovereignty of the people’ (Democracy in America, I, 54)” (P. 184)
          The book is divided into three main sections – Part 1 ‘On Utopianism,’ Part 2 ‘On Americanism,’ and Part 3 ‘On Utopianism and Americanism.’ As these titles indicate Levin describes the “utopian mind-set and its application to modern-day utopian thinking and conduct in America.”(P. xi) He then traces the great philosophical influences incorporated in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Finally, he contrasts the two political models and the dangers inherent in each warning that “America is no longer strictly a constitutional republic, because the Constitution has been and continues to be easily altered by a judicial oligarchy that mostly enforces, if not expands, federal power.” (P. 187)
           Levin quotes the original philosophers at length and their language as well as Levin’s own scholarly analysis of these writings can make for some heavy reading. Nevertheless, it is well worth the effort. Especially as this nation undergoes another Presidential election, it is easy to tire of the political rhetoric and the nasty name-calling. Behind the rhetoric, beyond the name-calling, Levin has demonstrated that the America of the past has already been lead down the path to Ameritopia, and he asks “whether the ongoing transformation can be restrained and then reversed, or whether it will continue with increasing zeal, passing from a soft tyranny to something more oppressive.” (P. 245)
          The book concludes with the inspiring words of President Reagan, “We’re not, as some would have us believe, doomed to an inevitable decline. I do not believe in a fate that will fall on us no matter what we do. I do believe in a fate that will fall on us if we do nothing.” (P. 248) What Levin would have us to do when faced with the choice of passively allowing the statists to turn this nation into a utopian tyranny or acting to preserve and protect the liberty and sovereignty of the individual endowed by our Creator and insured in the Constitution, he would have us fight for America.

Posted by Jim Ritter

International Book Club Meeting of January 18, 2012

          The International Fiction Book club met on January 18th to discuss The Quiet Girl by the Danish author, Peter Høeg.  There were a few puzzled yet curious faces, somewhat apprehensive but also engaged readers seeking answers to try and unravel the various levels of the interwoven plot structure to this unique book.

          The first line of this 408 page novel is narrated by the omniscient voice sounded through the senses of the main character.  “SheAlmighty had tuned each person in a musical key, and Kasper could hear it.”  Obviously omniscient, as it mentions his name, but as the work (for work is necessary) evolves, the narrator and main character, Kasper, overlap in both time and circumstance.  The novel concludes with:

                   What he could hear sounded lovely.  Certainly like a great

                   gala performance.  And certainly very, very difficult.

What comes between these bookend sensations can be a difficult read if one expects to find a “thriller” in the traditional sense of the genre.  In some instances it has been billed as such.  But The Quiet Girl is not a linear, traditional story but more of a postmodern pastiche of sound interpretations as seen and felt through the eyes and ears of a clown. The mood and feel of Copenhagen as seen through a fogged up mirror so that one must listen in order to see.  Oh, to be sure, there is a plot but it is scattered amidst the existential backdrop of Copenhagen and the joys and sorrows of a circus clown wrapped in the cloak of Kierkegaard’s ghost in search of a mysterious little girl and her aura of silence.

          Personally, I got the sense early on that I would have to let the sentences flow without worrying too much about how the plot was developing.  The book is well written from start to finish and we all agreed on that most important aspect.  So, as a reader, I became buoyant, partly submerged in a time-warp of a mysterious plot but supported by numerous allusions to philosophy, clown - foolery, humor (both slapstick and black) and clever use of multiple meanings.

          There are hints early on of double meanings.  The tinted glass of the long, black Volvo.  A man and woman register an acoustic essence of D-Minor and the girl they bring to see Kasper emanates a silence that obliterates reality.  Of course the silence he senses might be infused with a symptom from a momentary blackout he experiences due to his lack of sleep from having stayed up gambling away his fortune two nights in a row.  It is his ability to discern the acoustic essence of people, described in musical pitch, that enables him to help children overcome psychological trauma.  He has helped hundreds of children in this way.  Kasper gained this ability because of a circus accident as a child.  He comes from a circus family and his main profession is world class clown.

          At once we have the upheaval in Kasper’s life set amidst his search for the girl who may or may not have been kidnapped.  Along with another child who has exceptional abilities, this “quiet” girl becomes involved with a plot by land speculators who are attempting to either cause, predict or prevent an earthquake from occurring under Copenhagen.  Kasper teams up with several bizarre characters, including his ex-wife who works for city government and might be playing both sides of the fence.  In his quest to find the girl, Kasper is shot, has his skull fractured and he takes many taxi rides with a driver who has no legs.   One can see why some critics call this a thriller gone awry.  There are many thrilling scenes but the action only approaches gratuitousness once or twice and then things take on such an absurd bent as a spark of humor and character wit provides the basis to read on without expectation.

          I cannot stress enough the rich quality of the prose that overrides the complex nature of this story.  As he begins his search for the girl, Kasper discovers that she has connections to a monastery of the Russian Orthodox Church outside of Copenhagen.  Upon this discovery he adds caffeine to his mix of alcohol and sleeplessness.  After taking the caffeine wafers he places his cup upside down - a habit evidently formed after meeting the famous mime, Jacques Tati, whom he saw place his glass upside down after removing his makeup.  When asked why, Tati responds, “the dust”.  When Kasper says, “but we’ll be back tomorrow”, the mime smiles with mouth only, “we can only hope so but can we count on it?”  This meeting with Tati took place after his movie “Playtime” was panned by the critics and he lost his fortune which he had spent making the film.  I mention this anecdote because it is typical of the author’s use of reflection and how it sets the tone and pace for the prose.  We never get too removed from something we can hang our hat on.

          Our discussion was free-wheeling as was the book.  We took a brief excursion into attempting to define or clarify Existentialism as pertains to the “father” of this philosophy, Søren Kierkegaard.  This led to a discussion of how Kierkegaard’s own “earthquake” of self-realization that he wrote about at age 25 coincides with Sviatoslav Richter’s playing of Bach that Kasper uses for background music when attempting to decipher a child’s acoustic essence.  The “Richter scale” then comes into play again when the plot of the land speculators and talk their of an earthquake is monitored by the Richter Scale.  One can put the two or three levels together but the author allows the reader to do so.  He does not spell it out.

          There is drama to this book but the story within the story is, I believe, the earthquake under Copenhagen.  The real, main story is the earthquake of Kasper himself.  Late in the novel we find out that the “quiet girl” is really Kasper’s daughter and Stina, his ex-wife, knew all along as she was pregnant when they broke up.  Good reason after all for her to try and steer Kasper away from and then to the villains and the girl.  Overall, a fascinating read and good discussion.

          Next we tackle Anil’s Ghost by Michael Ondaatje.  It is set in late 20th century Sri Lanka.  We meet the evening of February 15th at 6:30 p.m. in the Blum House next door to the Collinsville Memorial Library.  Check out the book from the front desk and join the discussion.

Posted by Jim Krapf

Lookin' For Answers

The Collinsville Memorial Public Library and Fairmont City Library Center's Staff recently took a little time to compete against each other in a Scavenger Hunt that led them all over the Collinsville Library Center. Here are some of our favorite questions from the hunt. Give it a shot to see how many answers you can find around the library!

1.) Alphabetically, what's the first magazine in our collection?
2.) How many people are in the "Peddlers" photograph in the Collinsville Area Camera Club's Photography Display on the First Floor?
3.) Which of these characters is not featured in the Stairway leading up to the Children's Floor: the Gingerbread Man, Arthur, the Cheshire Cat, the Tin Man, or Jack & The Beanstalk?
4.) There are two Horseradish Festival Posters hanging in the Community Room. What years are they from?
5.) What is the library's fax number?
6.) What is inside of the barn that's painted on the wall of the Children's Library Toy Room?
7.) In the Non-Fiction 800-999.99 Wing of the Library, what is the sum of the 22 large blue numbers that border the room?
8.) True or False: A man smoking a pipe is depicted in the Stained Glass above the Main Desk.
9.) What's the title of the poem hanging on the wall in the Adult Reading Room?
10.) What number is on the hat of the Fireman in the "Read To Your Hero" poster on the Children's Floor?
11.) Whose name is on the door of the Adult Reading Room?
12.) Who is the Community Room named after?
13.) How many hours is the Fairmont City Library open in a regular week (with no holidays)?
14.) Which Children's Book won the Caldecott Medal in 1986?
15.) Alphabetically, what's the last magazine in our collection?

Happy Searching!
/jed

Friends of the Library Book Sale This Month!

Books, records, videos, and more all put out on tables and ready for you to take home. The Basement Sale will open at 9am and close at 8pm for one day only.

2011 September -- November 2012 January -- March -- May -- July

Last hour bring a bag and a dollar and take what you want! By the end of the day it will all be gone!


Posted by Jessica Lawrence

Winter Reading Program - "Warm Up with a Good Book"

The Winter Reading Program has begun! Earn chances to win prizes for reading anything you want from January 2 - March 5. Audiobooks and eBooks count. Start reading and filling out tickets today! Pick up a packet at the Main Desk. The more you read the more chances you have to win!

Posted by Jessica Lawrence.

New Year - New You!

According to the book:  52 small changes: one year to a happier, healthier you by Brett Blumenthal. 

When was the last time you vowed to overhaul your life - only to revert to your former ways a few days later?  Let's face it:  change is easier said than done, especially when it comes to managing your health amidst the chaos of everyday living.  Now wellness coach Brett Blumenthal has devised a way to inspire and motivate anyone to live healthier and make positive changes in their lives.  This is no quick fix, but it is a surprisingly simple one:  make one small change per week, for 52 weeks and at the end of a year, you'll be happier and healthier.

Week 1:  Drink up!  Although water isn't a major source of vitamins or minerals, it is an important part of your diet and overall health.  Roughly 60 to 70 percent of your body weight is water, and replenishing your body on a daily basis is vital to proper body function.

So check out this book today & get started!

Posted by Katie Heaton
Branch Manager, Fairmont City Library Center

Food For Fines for Christmas

Until December 16 you can pay your fines with non perishable food items. For every non perishable food item you bring in we will waive $1.00 in overdue fines and then donate that food item to the Collinsville Food Pantry. This only works for overdue fines not billing fees but it’s a win, win for all, your fines are paid for and you’re helping those in your community. For more information please call the Collinsville Library at 618-344-1112.