Curl Up with a Good Book

            It’s the Fifth Season in Vermont. Time for sugaring and muddy roads. A hint of spring, but the fireplace is still beckoning. In short, the perfect time to curl up with a good book.
           We asked some local authors, English teachers, and librarians to give us suggestions for a good Fifth Season read.

            Dick McCarthy, an English teacher at St. Johnsbury Academy, appropriately recommended Don Bredes’s mystery, “The Fifth Season.” He also said his advanced placement students are reading “The Great Gatsby” as a “shiny escape for this time of year.”
           Author Don Bredes seconded the Don Bredes theme by saying, “There's a new mystery out called 'The Errand Boy' that everybody who likes that sort of thing should definitely read.” For nonfiction readers, Don recommends the “The Greatest Show on Earth” by Richard Dawkins, which lays out the evidence of evolution.
           A couple of interesting books by Daniel H. Pink were among the picks of St. Johnsbury Academy Headmaster Tom Lovett. “A Whole New Mind” has a sub-title that explains the books premise: “Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future.” Lovett also chose “Drive” by the same author, a book that examines what motivates us and how to use that knowledge to work smarter and live better. Lovett also was a fan of two new books, Juan Enriquez’s “As the Future Catches You” and Tina Seeling’s “What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20.”
          Author Reeve Lindbergh recommended the highly acclaimed debut novel of Kathryn Stockett, “The Help.” This novel set in the early 1960’s in Jackson, Mississippi, focuses on the maids of white women during an era of social awakening. Reeve also picks “The Lacuna” by Barbara Kingsolver, “Brief Encounters with Che Guevara” by Ben Fountain, and ALL the Joanna Trollope novels.
            Bill Biddle mentioned two books that sound fascinating for anyone interested in understanding poetry.  One is Nicholson Baker's “The Anthologist,” a novel about a writer who is trying to finish the introduction to an anthology of traditional poetry.  Bill says, “It's an amusing fiction read, but at the same time, a sort of under-the-table introduction to the appreciation and understanding of poetry.” Bill also likes “The Poetry Life: Ten Stories” by Baron Wormser, the former Poet Laureate of Maine, now living in Cabot, Vermont. Bill says, “The plot of each story deals with the narrator's gradually coming to understand and appreciate some aspect of the poet's work, tone, style, focus ... cumulatively, a course in the understanding and appreciation of poems and poetry.”
          Beth Kanell, an author and owner of Kingdom Books in East St. Johnsbury, recommends some mystery page-turners, “The Scarpetta Factor” by Patricia Cornwall and “U is for Undertow” by Sue Grafton. Beth has signed copies of both books available for sale. Beth also recommends “The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest” by Steig Larsson and, for a local treat, the romantic suspense novels of Vermont author Carla Neggers.
            Jennifer Mackenzie, an English teacher at St. Johnsbury Academy, is reading A.S. Byatt's newest book, “The Children's Book,” which Jennifer says is easily her finest novel since “Possession.” According to Jennifer, “It is beautifully written, with a tangled web of a plot that draws you in like the best Victorian novels.”  Jennifer also recently finished C.J. Ransom's “Dissolution,” which she says is “a fast-paced and very well-written mystery set amid the dissolving monasteries in Tudor England, with all the key political players of that time.”  
           Last, but certainly not least, are the recommendations from Lisa von Kann and the staff of the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum. These books should not only get you through this mud season, but several other mud seasons to come. Here are the librarians’ selections:
            “The Shadow of the Wind,” by Carlos Ruis Zafon—It is truly a delight for readers who love Barcelona, magic realism, and immersion into imaginative and fanciful writing.
“Box 21,” by Anders Roslund and Borge Hellstrom—This chilling novel set in Stockholm's dark underworld came out of the blue this year and totally blew us away. If you are a fan of Henning Mankell's Kurt Wallander, then you'll love Ewert Grens, the Stockholm police detective.
“Homer and Langley,” by E.L. Doctorow—A wonderful read about two of New York's most famous eccentrics.
“The Story of Edgar Sawtelle,” by David Wroblewski—A not-so-simple tale of a Wisconsin boy and his dogs.
“The Country of the Pointed Firs,” by Sarah Orne Jewett—Delightfully captures the culture of late 19th century Maine through exquisitely crafted characters who bring alive the daily trials and rituals of a coastal fishing community.
“Olive Kitteridge,” by Elizabeth Strout—The 2009 Pulitzer Prize winner for fiction is a beautifully written account of the human connection.
“Zeitoun,” by Dave Eggers—Spellbinding, and it will make you mad. It is the true story of Abdulrahman Zeitoun. He is from Louisiana, and he rode out Hurricane Katrina. Then he ran into the forces of "law and order."
“The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo,” by Stieg Larsson—Gripping characters full of what we call “Nordic Noir.” A must read.
“Jar City,” by Arnaldur Indriaason—Even more “noir” than Larrson. Iceland is a really cold place!
“Maise Dobbs,” by Jacqueline Winspear—The first of a delightful series about a nurse turned private detective set in England during World War I.
“The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society,” by Mary Ann Shaffer—A story set on the Island of Guernsey soon after World War I. This novel truly gives one a sense of what the occupation was like for this English island. 
          So visit your local bookstore or your local library, find a comfortable chair, and enjoy these good reads!

Lots of Books in a Tiny Space

            Walk down Main Street in St. Johnsbury and look closely. There’s a store that looks so small, you might not notice it if you’re not paying attention. See the sign? “Secondhand Prose.”
            This is St. Johnsbury’s quality used book store, and don’t be put off by its size. It’s chock-full of books, audios, videos, and record albums, with enough variety to appeal to everyone.              
              Founded in October 2006 by the Friends of the Athenaeum, Secondhand Prose sells gently used books at very discounted prices. Says Jim Zorn, one of the volunteers at the store, “Our goal is to make money for the Friends of the Athenaeum to support all the projects at the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum.”
            The store is staffed totally by volunteers. Co-managers Betsy Zorn and Pat Eldridge take their turns in the shop along with a small fleet of people who donate their time and talents to Secondhand Prose – sorting inventory, making displays, acting as salespersons, and doing the many tasks required to maintain the store. "It's a lovely, quaint space for books," says Eldridge.
            “There are tremendous bargains available at the shop,” says Zorn. “We have some books signed by the authors, lots of hardback books, children’s books, VCR tapes and DVDs, old record albums, and everything is priced very reasonably. It’s a great place to find a special Christmas gift.”

            The shop also sells the collectible pewter keepsake ornaments produced each year by the Friends of the Athenaeum. Started in 2002, the ornaments capture the finest architectural structures in St. Johnsbury. This year’s ornament is a mini version of the St. Johnsbury House, and others available include the Railroad Station, the North Congregational Church, Summer St. School, Fuller Hall at St. Johnsbury Academy, the Fairbanks Museum, and of course, the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum itself.
            Zorn says that the store has plenty of inventory on hand right now, and in fact, are not currently accepting book donations because their storage space is limited. “But we’re always looking for volunteers who would like to help out at the store,” says Zorn. “It takes a lot of people to keep this going and to raise money for the Athenaeum.” He encourages anyone interested to call the store at 802-748-9222.
            So next time you’re wandering down Main Street, stop at the tiny storefront that says “Secondhand Prose” and go inside. You’re sure to find a treasure to take home!

Don Bredes's Newest Book Available Now

Local fiction author Don Bredes offered area mystery lovers a preview of his brand-new book, “The Errand Boy,” here in St. Johnsbury, one day before the national release of the book. Hosted by local bookstore Boxcar & Caboose, Bredes  presented his first reading of the book at the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum September 21, 2009.

Bredes appeared at the Burlington Book Festival September 26, and is now in the thick of a book tour promoting “The Errand Boy,” the third book in Bredes’s series featuring Northern Vermont small town constable Hector Bellevance. His previous novels in the series, “Cold Comfort” and “The Fifth Season,” received strong reviews for their thrilling plots, tightly drawn characters, and clear sense of place. Early reviews of “The Errand Boy” are equally favorable. Gary Moore writes about “The Errand Boy”: “Don Bredes’ 'The Errand Boy' has page-to-page pull and fascinating characters you keep wanting to get back to.”

Bredes lives in Wheelock, Vermont and has an impressive background as a fiction writer. A graduate of Syracuse University, he received an MFA from the University of California at Irvine and was a Wallace Stegner Fellow in fiction at Stanford University.  He wrote the screenplay adaptations from two Howard Frank Mosher novels for the independent films “Where the Rivers Flow North” and “A Stranger in the Kingdom.” Bredes teaches creative writing at the college level and continues working on his next book.

Bredes’s website, www.donbredes.com, gives us an idea how Northern Vermont and its charms make their way into his mystery trilogy. The plot of his first novel in the series, “Cold Comfort,” was inspired by an actual double murder that occurred in 1984 in Jay, Vermont. Bredes knew the victims and years later he began to research the crime. After five years of writing and rewriting, “Cold Comfort” was completed, with the actual murder translated to fictional background for his mystery plot.

Bredes includes photos of his home and garden on his website. An avid vegetable gardener and athlete, Bredes enjoys the great outdoors whether he is harvesting carrots, beating opponents on the tennis court, or simply gazing at the stars. His books paint a picture of a fictional Northern Vermont that you may recognize in part, but his stories of mystery and intrigue will transfix you.

     A world of information is literally at our fingertips, thanks to the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum's extensive online resources. Although visiting the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum is always a lovely experience -- chatting with the knowledgeable librarians, enjoying the magnificent John Davis Hatch III-designed building -- sometimes you want the information right at your own desk. And the Athenaeum has a multitude of resources for you to use without leaving the comfort of your own computer!
      Lisa von Kann, Library Director, explains that these resources are not simply what people can find on the Internet. “The Athenaeum supports the Vermont Online Library (VOL) , an online compendium of databases provided to Vermont libraries by the Vermont Department of Libraries. We consider them added value to your library card.” To access many of the online resources, just key in your St. Johnsbury Athenaeum library card barcode, and you’re on your way!
      Von Kann describes some of the most popular online resources offered at the Athenaeum. Through the Vermont Online Library, many general reference databases are available. The full text of magazine and newspaper articles, many going back 25 years, are available through this resource. “Often people are looking for an article they missed a year ago,” says von Kann. “The Vermont Online Library is an easy way to find the article and be able to read the whole thing.”
      An online database is the new way to search the encyclopedia. The Athenaeum offers access to the complete Encyclopedia Britannica, which is updated daily. Young children can use the “Kids InfoBits” resource to easily find information about their subjects of interest, with simple, graphical links to help children navigate the material. “This is part of our ‘Homework Help’ information that school-aged kids and their parents find very useful,” says von Kann.
      For people looking for health and wellness information, the Athenaeum offers a number of resources. The Health and Wellness Resource Center online database provides articles from hundreds of medical journals, newsletters, and pamphlets. In addition, the Athenaeum staff has compiled a list of the best websites to look for information on health and wellness issues.
      Folks interested in genealogy will enjoy Heritage Quest Online, a database of books, journals, and historical records that can be invaluable when searching for your family history. Need information about business? The Athenaeum’s business resources include databases for researching U.S. and international companies, as well as a website with information for people who are starting a new business in Vermont (www.startabusinessinVermont.net).
      Wilson Biographies is a database of biographies of thousands of people you may want to learn more about. A search for “Fairbanks” yielded some interesting information about Erastus Fairbanks, governor of Vermont and a member of the famed family whose Fairbanks Scales company sustained and built the St. Johnsbury  area throughout the nineteenth century.
      Book lovers have their own special section of online resources that has been compiled by the staff of the Athenaeum. “This is a great listing for anyone who loves books,” says von Kann. It includes sites of book reviews, libraries’ recommendations of great books, lists of award-winning books, and online communities to learn and talk about books.
      “These online resources give the library the ability to help people with their information needs 24/7,” says von Kann. “When we’re not open, you can still find what you need. Simply go to the Athenaeum website at www.stjathenaeum.org and click on the ‘Resources’ link.” Usage of the new resources has been steadily increasing since the Athenaeum began offering them. “We expect to add more online resources as we learn of others that are useful to our members,” says von Kann. “It’s the future of libraries everywhere, and the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum wants to be part of that.”