SPL Book Blog - we love these books!

The Revolution Was Televised: The Cops, Crooks, Slingers, and Slayers Who Changed TV Drama Forever

Jen — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:40:28 +0000

Alan Sepinwall is today’s major television critic; in this book, he uses his unique position to publish a fascinating look into the writing rooms of the modern breakthrough dramas: Oz, The Sopranos, The Wire, Deadwood, Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Lost and more. If you enjoy television, you need to read this book. Sepinwall smartly traces the creative decisions and cultural history of the past thirty years that have transformed the medium of television from the “idiot box” to something brave and new. I read this over two straight days, and I was just as enthralled by the chapters about shows I have no intention of seeing as I was by the chapters concerning my favourites. One chapter covers one show, so you can easily avoid spoilers for the programmes you haven’t had a chance to see yet. (submitted by NE)

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Filed under: Non-fiction

Unnatural Habits: a Phryne Fisher mystery – Kerry Greenwood

Jen — Thu, 09 May 2013 21:21:00 +0000

Miss Phryne Fisher is a glamorous “flapper” who solves mysteries with the help of her minions. Detective Inspector Jack Robinson respects and admires her but also at times finds her “leaping into the fray” rather exasperating. This mystery delves into the seedier areas of Melbourne, Australia. Pregnant girls are sent the Magdalene Laundry, where they are going missing, and a rather pushy young female reporter who views this as her scoop is also missing. Very pretty young blond girls are being abducted as well. A fun read! (submitted by WC)

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Filed under: Fiction, Mystery

Paris: a love story, a memoir

Jen — Thu, 02 May 2013 21:49:59 +0000

Not at all what I expected from the title, it traces Kati Marton’s life backwards from the death of her partner. All roads lead to Paris in this tragic and uplifting memoir. Recommended for fans of the city and of biographies. The audiobook is great; and it is also available in print. (submitted by TH)

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Filed under: Audiobooks, Biography, Non-fiction

The Tooth Mouse – Susan Hood

Jen — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 22:17:51 +0000

What a beautiful and magical book! It’s a very cute and simple story of a Tooth Mouse that delivers coins to children in exchange for their baby teeth. But when she gets old, she needs to select a successor. So she calls all the mice to the cathedral and gives them three tasks – the one who succeeds will become the new Tooth Mouse. Susan Hood mixes in a few French words for children to learn. And the ending? Loved it. So smart. The pictures by Janice Nadeau are so very beautiful, old-fashioned, and tasteful. I was inspired to buy a copy to give as a birthday gift. (submitted by MB)

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Filed under: Children's Picture Book

Tortured Artists: from Picasso and Monroe to Warhol and Winehouse, the twisted secrets of the world’s most creative minds

Jen — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 22:30:38 +0000

Here’s a book by Christopher Zara that I can highly recommend. It features interesting 3-4 page biographical sketches of traumatized actors, musicians, etc. – very humorous, but well-researched and concise. It sure inspired me to check out a few biographies. (submitted by JS)

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Filed under: Non-fiction

The Book of Negroes – Lawrence Hill

Jen — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 02:29:39 +0000

I read this book as part of a book club. It tells the story of Aminata Diallo from the time she is taken from her village in Africa till the time of her death in London. In between she lives as a slave in South Carolina, an escaped slave in New York during the American Revolution, a Black Loyalist in Nova Scotia, a settler in Sierra Leone, and finally a speaker against slavery in London. It is a compelling journey of her life through history, and well-worth a read. (submitted by SC)

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Filed under: Fiction

Time for Outrage: Indignez-vous!

Jen — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 20:42:37 +0000

I very much enjoyed this book by Stéphane Hessel, a former resistance fighter and diplomat. He has been an inspiration to youth protest movements in Spain, which in turn influenced the Occupy movement and the Arab Spring. Worth reading! (submitted by SF)

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Filed under: Non-fiction

Etiquette and Espionage – Gail Carriger

Jen — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 21:02:20 +0000

It is set in Victorian times so you have all the etiquette and dress codes, but she throws in vampires and werewolves. Sophronia is chosen, to her surprise, to attend an unusual finishing school for young ladies. Set in the same universe as Carriger’s adult series, The Parasol Protectorate, it tells the story that took place before that series. Entertaining, well-written, and intriguing, this series is good for both adults and teens. (submitted by SB)

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Filed under: Teen/Young Adult

I Used to Know That: stuff you forgot from school

Jen — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 21:03:50 +0000

Caroline Taggart’s book design is reminiscent of an old school primer, which is fitting considering the content is a bit old-fashioned in promoting the joys and virtues of general knowledge. There’s a lot I don’t remember from when I was in school. Once in a while a subject will come up in the news or elsewhere and I’ll have a nagging sensation that I once had some familiarity with the topic, or as the author would say an “I Used to Know That” moment. This is a great little reference book for people who need a refresher on topics that were covered, or should have been covered, in grade school. At a slim 175 pages, this is not a book to develop expertise in a particular subject, but to refresh some basic concepts that many people learned (or endured) during their schooling and have probably long forgotten. Once you have “refreshed” on a subject you enjoy you are free to delve deeper into that subject on your own; however, this book offers a great head start. (submitted by AM)

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Filed under: Non-fiction

Beautiful Ruins – Jess Walter

Jen — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 21:32:36 +0000

A tiny, crumbling Italian village. A dreamy young man. An American actress. A wily film producer. And Richard Burton. What’s not to love? It’s a sweeping, gorgeous narrative spanning decades and generations, and merging old Hollywood and new. I listened to this as an audiobook, and actor Edoardo Ballerini’s narration is outstanding – it’s no wonder Salon named this the best audiobook narration of 2012. (submitted by AA)

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Filed under: Audiobooks, Fiction