My pick for the 100 American novels I like the most

A wrinkle in time, Madeleine L'Engle

A cold red sunrise, Stuart Kaminski

A confederacy of dunces, John Kennedy Toole

A thousand acres, Anne Smiley

A tree grows in Brooklyn, Betty Smith

Adventures of Augie March, Saul Bellow

All the king's men, Robert Penn Warren

All the pretty horses, Cormac McCarthy

An American tragedy, Theodore Drieser

Animal farm, George Orwell

Anne of green gables

Are you there God, it's me Margaret, Judy Blume

Blood meridian, Cormac McCarthy

Born on the 4th of July, Ron Kovic

Brave new world, Aldous Huxley

Cannery row, John Steinbeck

Catch 22, Joseph Heller

Cider house rules, John Irving

Deliverance, James Dickey

Devil in a blue dress, Walter Mosley

Divine secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Wells

Dune, Frank Herbert

Erections, Ejaculations, Exhibitions And General Tales of Ordinary Madness, Charles Bukowski

Fear and loathing in Las Vegas, Hunter Thompson

Fear of flying, Erica Jong

Fried green tomatoes at the whistle-stop cafe, Fannie Flagg

From here to eternity, James Jones

Gone with the wind, Margaret Mitchell

Grapes of wrath, John Steinbeck

Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain

In cold blood, Truman Capote

Invisible man, Ralph Ellison

Legends of the fall, Jim Harrison

Little house on the prairie, Laura Ingalls Wilder

Little women, Louisa May Alcott

Lolita, Vladimir Nabokov

Lonesome dove, Larry McMurtry

Manchild in the promised land,

Moby Dick, Herman Melville

Monkey wrench gang, Edward Abbey

My Antonia, Willa Cather

Mystic river, Dennis Lehane

Neon rain, James Lee Burke

O Pioneers, Willa Cather

On the road, Jack Kerouac

One flew over the cuckoo's nest, Ken Kesey

Peyton place, Grace Metalious

Pillars of the earth, Ken Follett

Portnoy's complaint, Phillip Roth

Prince of tides, Pat Conroy

Rabbit run, John Updike

Ragtime, E L Doctorow

Red badge of courage, Stephen Crane

Riders of the purple sage, Zane Grey

Sea wolf, Jack London

Slaughterhouse-five, Kurt Vonnegut

Snow falling on cedars, David Gutterson

So big, Edna Ferber

Sophie's choice, William Styron

Stranger in a strange land, Robert Heinline

Talking drum, Louis L'Amour

The 13th valley, John M DelVecchio

The andromeda strain, Michael Crichton

The big sleep, Raymond Chandler

The call of the wild, Jack London

The catcher in the rye, J D Salinger

The chosen, Chaim Potok

The color purple, Alice Walker

The confessions of Nat Turner

The dark tower; the gunslinger, Stephen King

The eighth day, Thornton Wilder

The fires of spring, John Michner

The French Lieutenant's woman, John Fowles

The godfather, Mario Puzo

The great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald

The heart is a lonely hunter, Carson McCullers

The heart of the matter, Graham Greene

The jungle, Sinclair Lewis

The last coyote, Michael Connelly

The last good kiss, James Crumley

The lonely silver rain, John D McDonald

The magnificent Ambersons, Booth Tarkington

The Maltese falcon

The naked and the dead, Norman Mailer

The Reivers, William Faulkner

The right stuff, Thomas Wolfe

The Sackets, Louis L'Amour

The sound and the fury, William Faulkner

The sun also rises, Ernest Hemingway

The things they carried, Tim O'Brian

The ugly American, Graham Greene

The world according to Garp, John Irving

The yearling, Marjorie Kinnen Rawlings

Their eyes were watching God, Zora Neal Hurston

To have and to have not, Ernest Hemingway

To kill a mockingbird, Harper Lee

Tobacco road, Erskine Caldwell

Tropic of cancer, Henry Miller

USA, John Dos Passos

Winesburg, Ohio, Sherwood Anderson

Friends' Book Sale

Here it is the end of summer and September is right around the corner and that means Friends' Book Sale at Riverside Park. This year the sale is just two days - Friday and Saturday so plan to come early and stay late. The best deals are made late but the best books are found early so you decide.

The Library Friends use all of their money for the library and our work. They buy our lease books program and our talking books; they fund most of our programs by paying for speakers, banners, invitations, refreshments, and even the gifts for our Tree Lighting Festival; they underwrite our Reading is Fundamental effort that places a book in the hands of every 5th grader in Independence that we can reach; and they have purchased more equipment than I care to list.

The Friends is a volunteer group who sign up to serve and they do it on behalf of all library users and library supporters. There are not very many of the 'worker bees' in our Friends' hive which in no way reflects on the amount of work they accomplish because they get the job done, and there are a group of other Friends they can call on for special efforts like helping at the book sale or baking something special for a program.

If you have books to donate for the sale please do. If you want to come and look for books to buy please do. Both things are for a good cause.

Back to Stockholm

Stieg Larsson. What a writer.

Start with The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Next read The Girl Who Played With Fire.

Now wait. Next will come Castles in the Sky. Then it will be over.

He died. What a dirty trick.

He waited until he had the first two mysteries written before he even contacted a publisher. He finished the third novel in the trilogy but there will not be any more.

These were all written in Swedish and translated by Reg Keeland who did an excellent job, not that I have compared the texts, just that the story that comes through is complete and indistinguishable as a translation and no footnotes are required to make sense of the story. So much of what I have read over the last year has been in translation and there are some unsung heroes out there doing great work.

The first book in the trilogy has been made into a successful film in Sweden that we can only hope makes it to the US with subtitles. I would love to see these stories on the screen.

These are big stories with complex plots, lots of action and twists and turns. They are the kind of story that drives one to keep at turning those pages for whatever comes next. The characters are interesting, expecially the female protagonist, Lisbeth Salander. She is one tough cookie.

Give these books a shot, you won't be sorry.

Slovakia? Bratislava?

Michael Genelin has a wonderful new police Commander, Jana Matinova, who is featured in one of the better reads to come along in a while. The two book series, (so far) is based in Bratislava, Slovakia; but ranges to the Ukraine and to France and Austria, but mostly Slovakia - the piece of Czechoslovakia that isn't Czech Republic now that they have parted company.

Siren of the Waters is the first Commander Jana Matinova and introduces the dark landscape of Slovakian crime.

Dark Dreams is the second in the series.

Both books are in our collection and I recommend them to anyone following my trip around the world reading mysteries. They are well written, well plotted, the mystery is big enough for the story, and the characters are quirky and memorable. I like this author and hope for a long run of satisfying mysteries. These books were originally written in English, they are not translations.

I recently read the latest by Andrea Camilleri, August Heat. This is such a good series. I love reading about Salvo Montalbano the Sicilian police inspector. The mysteries are wonderful stories firmly set in the Sicilian landscape, filled with somewhat quirky Sicilian characters. Camilleri takes a strong interest in the eating habits of his Sicilian characters and his descriptions make me want to visit Sicily to sample some of the delights he serves his characters. This series is written in Italian and translated by a very skilled artist. Don't miss this series.

Do you remember?

My book discussion group had mixed reviews on Elmore Leonard's Stick. I like everything he writes and I appreciate his use of dialog but my group did not. If you have not read Stick, there is an interesting connection between Stick's ex-wife and her new squeeze, a Dental Faith Healer, a Reverend Daniels if I remember correctly. This mention of such a bizarre faith healing specialty brought us to question if this character was based on a real person, and if so, what the hey?

It only took a minute to ask Google about dental faith healers, and quick as a bunny there was this article from the Herald Tribune on Rev. Steve Jones the 50 year-old West Virginia preacher practicing his faith. Truth being stranger than fiction any day of the week, such a sub-specialty does exist.

Anyway, we set another meeting date for late July but did not pick a title to read and discuss so I have a mission to find the book for my last book discussion (probably) as library director here in Independence. I fondly remember reading Eric Sevareid's autobiography, Not So Wild A Dream so as I poked around looking for references to it to confirm my recollecion, I ran across this YouTube clip of Sevareid at the end of his news career with Walter Cronkite that I thought a few people might appreciate.



What a treasure of clarity. Whenever I heard Sevareid I rejoiced his logic and clear thinking. I may not like what he said but it was unambiguous and clear and stands in sharp contrast to everyone speaking from the idiot box these days.

Hey Greenies! How cool is this?

Henning Mankell coming to PBS

For three Sundays in May, one of mystery fiction's strongest characters will be brought to life for American viewers for the first time. Henning Mankell's Kurt Wallander will be featured locally on OETA starting May 10th and running the next 2 Sunday evenings.

Here are a couple of trailers for the series.

Kurt Wallander - Three Sundays in May

OETA has announced the program I have waited a long time for - Kenneth Branagh staring as Kurt Wallander, the noteworthy character of Henning Mankell. The mystery series by Mankell is set in Ystad, Sweden and are classic modern day police procedurals. Mankell is a master at his craft and I think his stories will translate well to television.

Mark your calendars.

OETA has a short video trailer of the film.

May 10, 17, 31, 2009 Wallander Kenneth Branagh stars as complex detective Kurt Wallander, fighting crime and his own demons. Based on the books by best-selling Swedish author Henning Mankell, Wallander was filmed in rarely seen locations in southern Sweden.

Life of Pi - Love it or Hate it!

I enjoyed it. The story intrigued me on page one and I suspended belief until the end. This one will not be everyone's cup of tea and based on the variety of opinions at Amazon and on the Internet, that goes without saying.

Next Tuesday, April 28th, my book discussion group will have this one on the table and I suspect we will share a spectrum-wide variety of opinions about the book.

Written by Yann Martel and published in 2001, Life of Pi was awarded prizes and thoroughly thrashed by reviewers.

Here is an interview of Martel to give you a taste of him as a human being.



I will recommend the book because I found it ultimately creative, fresh, and unique.

Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas

My Tuesday Book Discussion Group talked about Tallgrass today. Thumbs up from everyone. What failings there were in the story were forgivable and minor in the general scheme of things. What we liked was the story, the plot, the characters, the mystery, most of the sappy touching stuff, and the human scale of the story.

Some scenes resonate Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird, such as the father facing down a lynch mob with the aid of his wife. The story served as a springboard to discuss prejudice, the War, small town life, the difference between growing up 'country' or 'city,' and how some of us are offered the rare opportunity to act above ourselves in aid of the oppressed.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Top o' the morning to ya!

Call Me Crazy ...

The Virgin of Small Plains by Nancy Pickard was the 2009 selection for Kansas Reads! I rounded up a dozen copies of the paperback edition for a book discussion which was held March 10, 2009. Five of us showed up to talk about the book. Mixed reviews, mostly disappointment.

The story grabbed me early. A mix of violent action, sex, mystery, death, and tension. What's not to like? The book was nominated for an Edgar, an Agatha, an Anthony, and won a Macavity Award for Best Novel. Pretty good company. Everybody and his dog wanted this book out in front. Problem is, the story did not deliver what was promised in the first 40 pages.

The book begged for a good editing and was left wanting. For example, an indelible scene of disgusting violence to a corpse is left unexplained and unsupported by the story. A pitifully ill woman intrudes on the story asking for a miracle from the 'Virgin' but served no purpose but to kill off a couple of baddies at the end to tidy up the story. Another character who promised looming violence and who could have been given redemption, up and disappears headed for greener pastures, maybe he ran away with the rodeo. The identity of the 'Virgin' (who was anything but) is a mystery except almost everyone in the story knows her name. Another unsatisfying plot device involves three exotic birds, one of whom goes missing in a tornado, that serve little purpose. The story suffered from so many red herrings that it should come with nose-plugs.

I could see the basis for this book being cooked up at a dinner party of writers where one dares another to write a mystery, set in Kansas, involving a dead virgin, a tornado, 3 parrots, a baby born in a storm shelter, a crazy judge, and an coitus that was interruptus for 20 years.

The book was laughably bad but had an engaging story arc that had me by the throat for the first several chapters and then the holes began to appear and the author was never able to put it back together. The author has huge skills with scenery, character, dialog, place, and beginnings. Her editor did not serve her well.

Talk About Literature in Kansas

Once again, our Friends of the Library are teaming with the Kansas Humanities Council to bring a challenging book discussion series to Independence. Today's Mysteries is the title and mysteries are what it is about.

The three-part series opens February 26 at 7 PM in the library meeting room where Sandra Calvin Hastings from the Johnson County Community College will present and lead a discussion of Reflex by the ever-popular Dick Francis.

The second discussion will take place on March 26 at 7 PM. Phillip D. Thomas will lead a discussion of Talking God by Tony Hillerman. Thomas comes from Wichita State University.

Lastly, Erin Pouppirt from Leawood, will lead a discussion of Where Echos Live by Marcia Muller on April 23 at 7 PM.


This series usually attracts a group with a lively interest in discussing a variety of takes on the viewpoints presented. Julie Hildebrand is the Library's Grant Manager for this series. Admittance is free and the discussions are open to the public.

Johnnie I Hardly Read Ye

Much of the civilized press recently noted the passing of John Updike with much fanfare and ballyhoo - marking him as a literary genius with a mountainous output - more than 50 books, countless short stories and essays, poems, grocery lists, and acceptance speeches for "The Best Writer in the Whole Wide World Award." Me, I could never get past chapter one, maybe chapter two, but no further. My shame is my own. I have hidden it well and avoided those cozy conversations trading tidbits from the latest Updike novel.

Maybe this is my non-Ivy League education coming home to roost, those night school courses at state universities where the beauty of the campus was less important than than balancing a job and an education with a family and a car payment.

I will admit that I tried. John Updike novels made the round-trip from the library to my night stand, but with all those first pages of Updike novels I managed to read, I admit that I never read a last page. But there is still time and I may use my retirement to become conversant in the antics of Rabbit Angstrom, but I doubt it. Anyway, another giant has passed.

Security at the Library

Last August we brought in a security company to help us with our security problems. Many of you remember the chaos that had become part of everyone's library experience starting at about 3:00 every afternoon. The problem with unruly kids had been confronted by library staff from the beginning - we wanted to turn the kids around - we thought we could reach them with argument, or with reward/punishment, we thought we could appeal to their better natures or to their parents, we thought that maybe we could single out the "real" trouble makers and then the problem would be solved. BUT, after a year and a half of butting our heads against a brick wall we brought in the pro's, and it worked.

When I say having a security guard worked I don't mean we have no more problem teens or adults, I mean that we have a professional to confront the person and resolve the matter. Staff is free to do library business and our security person is here to keep order and to keep the public safe. Just last night a small group of teenage girls were ejected from the library after raising a ruckus, abusing library staff with verbal filth and threats and generally making problems for everyone using the library at the time. Will they be back? They are welcome to come back if they bring a parent and are willing to sit down with library staff and go through a review of their behavior and what will be necessary for them to change in order to be allowed back.

I think many of the patrons that had been frightened off by the rowdy people at the library have returned and are using the library again, and for that we are grateful. We at the library remind ourselves regularly that our public service is a voluntary and consensual activity by the public - they don't have to use us and it behooves us to make their experience at the library a positive one that meets their needs, otherwise - we fail.

Our policy is about behavior. Everyone is welcome here at first. We are maybe one of the most neutral public services in Independence. We accept everyone at face value - at first, but we are committed to providing a public building that is safe for an 8-year old child to use on their own and we do what is necessary to keep that commitment - no apologies.

Happy Valentine's Day

Originally designed for the Museum of Modern Art as a Christmas card, the Robert Indiana screenprint is one of the most recognized pieces of art ever.


Publication excerpt
Deborah Wye, Artists and Prints: Masterworks from The Museum of Modern Art, New York: The Museum of Modern Art, 2004, p. 166

Born Robert Clark in Indiana, Robert Indiana took his native state's name after moving to New York in 1954, a gesture that presaged his Pop-inspired fascination with Americana, signage, and the power of ordinary words. In his studio on Coenties Slip at the tip of Manhattan, Indiana made assemblages of scrap materials and found objects, using stencils to introduce words into his art. By the early 1960s he was creating eye-popping paintings of text, numbers, and symbols that related to the hard-edge abstraction of the day, and included political and social overtones. Later he moved to the island of Vinalhaven off the coast of Maine, where he continues to work.

New White House Web Site

The President Obama Administration already has a new White House Web Site deployed. It is filled with good information about their plans. It is worth poking around on to learn a bit about what may happen.

Borrow those books, save a buck!

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I am adicted to Crash Hot Potatoes, I have given name to the sickness and may perhaps start my recovery. On a late-night forray into Stumbelupon, I hit a site where the picture below grabbed me by the eyes and demanded my attention.

The Pioneer Woman Cooks is the site and besides the wonderful recipes, the site has great photography as evidenced above. The recipe for Crash Hot Potatoes is simple, well illustrated, new (to me), and takes the humble red potato to a place it has never been.

I know, this is going way past the point where good form dictates it should -- they are JUST potatoes, after all; but that is the point, these spuds are not JUST potatoes, they are something sensual, creamy but crispy, earthy but heavenly, naughty but nice -- sorry, I've got to slowly back away from the keyboard and go check the oven, the next batch might be ready.