Yes indeed, you have heard it right..

There’s an upcoming anniversary (50th in fact!!) of the publication “To Kill a Mockingbird”, which will happen on 11 Jul 2010. More details can be found here: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/25/books/25mock.html?ref=books

In the local context, it appears that some schools have used Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” as text/readings for the students in their curriculums:

“All students will study Romeo and Juliet, Oedipus Rex, and Of Mice and Men. Additional readings may be taken from the following: To Kill a Mockingbird…”
Source: http://www.sas.edu.sg/hs/Catalogs/English.html

“Teacher initiated inquiry into the understandings of how societies have evolved or what factors have shaped the nature of societies through the study of your Literature texts, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ and…”
Source: http://www.chijsec.edu.sg/main/history_1.html

“The course will force students to analyze one core text in depth (for now either The Crucible by Arthur Miller or To Kill a Mockinbird by Harper Lee) while training them to…”
Source: http://www.hci.sg/studies/highSch/literature/?page=blurbs

There’s also a posting done up by my colleague Reena, about this publication at Y.O. blog from NLB as well.

If you wish to borrow a copy of this “Pulitzer Prize” title (print or AV format), please check our online catalogue for its availability and holdings.

** All websites above are last accessed 18 Jun 2010 **

If you have any enquiries or comments, please drop us an email at ask@nlb.gov.sg and we will reply within 3 working days.

Posted by Mr Justin Tan
Librarian
Adult & Young People’s Services

The Orange Prize for Fiction was first established in 1996. This is a unique prize as it was awarded to and judged exclusively by women.  You can find out more about this award and its  past winners here.

And now for the winner…*drumrolls*

Marilynne Robinson!    

She picked up the 2009 Orange Prize for Fiction for her work ‘Home’.  What is ‘Home’ about? As extracted from the book cover: ’Glory Boughton, age thirty eight, has returned to Gilead to care for her dying father. Soon her brother Jack – the prodigal son of the family, gone twenty years- comes home, too, looking for refuge and trying to make peace with a past littered with trouble and pain. Jack is one of the great characters in recent literature. A bad boy from childhood, an alcoholic who cannot a job, he is perpetually at odds with his surroundings and with his traditionalist father, though he remains Boughton’s most beloved child…’

 ’Home’ is available at our public libraries for borrowing. Please check our online catalogue for availability and locations.

  Answered by Yen Yen Toh, Librarian, Adult and Young People’s Services

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Recently a member of the public tried to remember a title of a book which he forgotten but vaguely remembers the plot. Based on his tweet entry, it’s known to be of thriller genre… Well, how then does one recall back such titles in his/her mind, especially for those fiction lovers when they have read heaps of fiction titles in the past?

Of course, besides asking around your friends and colleagues (ed: preferably those who are avid fiction readers!!) for help, one such tool you can use is AquaBrowser Library’s Fiction Connection. Besides the usual author, title, and publisher search, the interface allows you in addition to use by settings, time frame, genre and even by character traits.

Alternatively, you can also use EBSCOHost’s NoveList to assist your searching as well. It specifically has an option to allow you to enter keywords to search by story plots even. Most useful!!

** For the above mentioned tools, please access them from NLB’s eResources page. For Fiction Connection, you can access it from “Global Books-in-Print” Database. For NoveList, select “EBSCOHost NoveList” Database accordingly from the list of databases. Do note that GBIP Database is available for onsite access only at Lee Kong Chian Reference Library, whereas EBSCOHost NoveList can be accessed onsite at any of the 22 Public Library branches or remotely from home **

If you have any enquiries or comments, please drop us an email at ask@nlb.gov.sg and we will reply within 3 working days.

Posted by Mr Justin Tan
Librarian
Adult & Young People’s Services

1.
Title: Naked in Death
Author: JD Robb
Call No.: ROB
Summary: In the very first novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series, Eve Dallas gets involved with Roarke, a suspect in her latest murder case. But passion and seduction have rules all their own.

2.
Title: Cover of Night
Author: Linda Howard
Call No.: HOW
Summary: In the charming rural town of Trail Stop, Idaho, accessible to the outside world by only a single road, young widow Cate Nightingale lives peacefully with her four-year-old twin boys, running a bed-and-breakfast. Though the overnight guests are few and far between–occasional hunters and lake fishermen–Cate always manages to make ends meet with the help of the local jack-of-all-trades, Calvin Harris, who can handle everything from carpentry to plumbing. But Calvin is not what he seems, and Cate’s luck is about to run out.
One morning, the B&B’s only guest inexplicably vanishes, leaving behind his personal effects. A few days later Cate is shocked when armed men storm the house, demanding the mystery man’s belongings. Fearing for her children’s lives, Cate agrees to cooperate–until Calvin saves the day, forcing the intruders to scatter into the surrounding woods.
The nightmare, however, is just beginning. Cate, Calvin, and their entire community find themselves cut off and alone with no means to call for help as the threat gathers intensity and first blood is drawn.
With their fellow residents trapped and the entire town held hostage, Cate and Calvin have no choice but to take the fight to their enemies under the cover of night. While reticent Cal becomes a fearless protector, Cate makes the most daring move of her life . . . into the very heart of danger.

3.
Title: Rumor Has It
Author: Tami Hoag
Summary: Katie Quaid could never refuse a dare. It was the quality that had once made her a world-class equestrian. And it was the reason she’d been elected to introduce herself to Briarwood’s intimidatingly gorgeous new resident. It took one week to make Nick Leone the focus of the Virginia town’s rumor mill. So far he was a CIA agent, a male model, a fugitive–maybe all three. Whatever Nick was, Katie learned one thing right away: she liked him. And that made him the greatest danger she’d faced since the accident that has ended her riding career.

4.
Title: Say Goodbye
Author: Lisa Gardner
Call No.: GAR
Summary: For Kimberly Quincy, FBI Special Agent, it all starts with a pregnant hooker. The story Delilah Rose tells Kimberly about her johns is too horrifying to be true–but prostitutes are disappearing, one by one, with no explanation, and no one but Kimberly seems to care.

5.
Title: Silent Thunder
author: Iris Johansen
Call No.: JOH
Summary: When her brother is killed, brilliant marine architect Hannah Bryson must discover the volatile mystery behind a decommissioned Soviet submarine, Silent Thunder, that was recently purchased by the U.S. government for use as a maritime museum. Though the U.S. government tries to warn Hannah away, she’ll stop at nothing to find the ruthless mastermind behind her brother’s death. Even if it means joining forces with a mysterious man who may be even more dangerous than the enemy she has sworn to bring down.

You may wish to use our online catalogue to check the locations and availabilities of the above titles.

  Answered by Ms Eleaner Ang, Librarian, Adult and Young People’s Services

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[Editor: Have you ever had the itch to want to go back a chapter and rewrite it because the ending of the book was not satisfying? What about staying in your seat until the last movie credits appear only because you were recovering from the disappointment of the movie’s last scene and wished the ending was different?

I experienced that last week when I watched the movie 'X-Men Origins:Wolverine'. The itch of wanting to change the ending was so strong especially how growing up, Gambit has always been my favourite X-men in the comics and cartoon series. For those who are planning to watch the film, I shall not spoil it for you. All I can say is the movie could have ended better!

This is why I love books from the 'Choose Your Own Adventure series'. You are less likely to feel let down by the ending because as the reader, you are given choices and can decide on the course of the story by turning to different pages. The series is interactive and written in a way that makes the reader play the role of the story’s main character. There are many possible endings and side stories. Some books have more than 100 alternatives.]

Here are some titles from the Choose Your Own Adventure series available in our libraries.
With so many endings to discover, the books are hard to put down and can occupy you for a long time.

Image source: //news.cnet.com/crave/?keyword=adventure

The abominable snowman By R.A. Montgomery
Call Number: J MON

Book Description:
Beware and Warning! This book is different from other books.
You and YOU ALONE are in charge of what happens in this story.
There are dangers, choices, adventures, and consequences. YOU must use all of your numerous talents and much of your enormous intelligence. The wrong decision could end in disaster – even death. But, don’t despair. At any time, YOU can go back and make another choice, alter the path of your story, and change its result.
You and your best friend Carlos have traveled to Nepal in search of the fabled Yeti or abominable snowman. Last year while the two of you were mountain climbing in South America, a guide told you about the legendary creature and you haven’t stopped thinking about the Yeti since. Carlos arrived and went straight into the mountains when a Yeti sighting was reported. He hasn’t been heard from in three days. A late monsoon storm has moved in and the mountains are almost impassable. You know Carlos will depend on you to do the right thing. But what is it?

Image source: www.amazon.co.jp/Cup-Death-Choose-Your-Adventure/dp/1933390646

Cup of death By Shannon Gilligan
Call Number: J GIL

Book Description:
You are looking at another long, cold day of New Year’s vacation, when your good friend Kenichi calls to report the theft of a rare tea bowl from a famous tea ceremony school in Kyoto. You leap at the chance to hone your detective skills and help Kenichi’s brother. But several confrontations later, you realize you may be in over your head – as in glug, glug, glug…
Good luck!

Caravan By R.A. Montgomery
Call Number: JS MON

Book Description:
Have you ever read a book that’s about you? This book is!
You live in Tibet with your family. Once a year, your father travels with a caravan of people, ponies, camels, and dogs to far-away India. The caravan brings yak wool from Tibet and beautiful silks from China to India, where they are traded for spices and tea. Your father’s helper can’t join him this year – are you brave enough to take his place? The caravan crosses a dangerous mountain range, and travels through places very different from your home.
Do you join forces with another caravan?
Will you try to sneak past bandits in the night?
Can you trust an old man dressed like a monk?
YOU choose what happens next! Good luck…

All websites are last accessed on 28 May 2009. Please refer to the terms and conditions on the homepages for use.
All images and book descriptions are extracted from http://www.amazon.com unless otherwise stated
For the availability of the above book titles, please check the library catalogue.

Answered by Ms Farah Adilla Bte Abdullah
Librarian, Adult and Young People’s Services

Hey Kids! Reading has never been made so fun and cool with TumbleBooks Library!

Tumblebooks Library is an online treasure trove of e-books for kids!

Not only can you select books to read online, you can hear the books being read aloud as well! You control what you want to read and how you want your book to be read.

TumbleBooks Library has a wide range of audio books, ranging from popular picture books like “The Paperbag Princess” and “Bugs! Bugs! Bugs” to well loved tales like “Pinnochio” and “House at Pooh Corner”.

Of course for the advanced readers, there is a variety of audio and e-books for you as well! To make it easier for you to access your favourite books, you can add what you like to read on a customized playlist.

TumbleBooks Library also comes with online games, quizzes and a tool for you to create interesting and beautiful books reports for school!

Now, with all these amazing add-ons, reading will never be a chore again! All you need to do is go to NLB’s e-resources http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/index.aspx and look for Tumblebook Library. There, how you want to utilize this fantastic e-resource is left to your imagination.

Here’s a guide on how to use Tumblebook Library!
microsoft-powerpoint-how-to-use-tumblebooks.pdf

Posted by
Chen Wanying
Children’s Librarian

For the teenage girls who love Cecily Von Ziegesar’s popular series ‘Gossip girls’, the good news is that this series has been made into a TV series! It is now currently into season 2 in the United States, and Singtel’s mio TV is offering the series on demand. So now, you can get your fix of Serena, Nate, Blair and the whole upper east side elite group..

Some of you might have started out watching the tv series first, and not know that it was adapted from the book series… you can find out more here: http://www.gossipgirl.net/ 
For all the scoop and latest episodes of the TV series, go to: http://www.cwtv.com/shows/gossip-girl

I’m a huge fan of the tv series, but have not read the books yet. However, from what I understand, as are all adapted screenplays, there are differences between onscreen and offscreen. Find out what they are here:

http://www.watch-gossip-girl.com/news/gossip-girl-book-vs-tv-series.html

Find out straight from the horses’ mouth! Gossip Girl’s producer and writer explains why the characters are tweaked for the small screen: http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20153937,00.html

The library has a well-stocked collection of the gossip girl series, under the call number Y VON

To check the availabilities and locations, please use our online catalog at http://catalog.nlb.gov.sg/ 

 XOXO,

 Yen Yen Toh, Librarian, Adult and Young People’s Services

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If you have a different question, please email to ask@nlb.gov.sg instead of sending a comment

ASK! about Fiction

Below are some recommendations:

1. Title: The dark mirror
Author: Juliet Marillier
Publisher: New York : Tor, 2007.
Call No.: MAR -[FN]

2. Title :Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
Author: Susanna Clarke ; illustrations by Portia Rosenberg
Publisher: London : Bloomsbury, 2004.
Call No.: CLA -[FN]

3. Title: A song for Arbonne
Author: Guy Gavriel Kay
Publisher: London : Earthlight, 2002.
Call No.: KAY -[FN]

 4. Title: Stardust
Author: Neil Gaiman
Publisher: New York : Spike, 1999
Call No.: GAI – [FN]
(editor: Stardust has been made into a movie, starring Claire Danes, in 2007)

You can check our online catalog (http://catalog.nlb.gov.sg/) for the locations and availabilities of the above titles.

 Originally answered by Ms Lynn Koh, Librarian, Adult and Young People’s Services

Posted by Yen Yen Toh, Librarian, Adult and Young People’s Services

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Jodi Picoult’s signature subjects are good solid citizens and the complicated relationships of family, friends in thought-provoking extraordinary situations. Set in familiar New England communities, her characters are immediately recognizable – a pragmatic diner cook; a passionate lawyer; a taciturn stonemason; a kindly veterinarian – placed in situations falling under the heading “it could never happen to us.” Picoult likes to take controversial newsworthy issues and examine them through the eyes of common folk. Readers find much to discuss and ponder in Picoult’s novels.

Below are some recommended authors and works you may wish to explore:-

- Chris Bohjalian (Call No: BOH)
“The author who most closely matches Picoult in writing style, characters and subject matter is Chris Bohjalian. Another New England author who favors close examination of hot button issues in small town settings, Bohjalian has taken on midwifery, transsexuality and homeopathy just to name a few topics.”

Some recommended titles written by Chris Bohjalian, which are available from the public libraries:-
[01] Skeletons at the feast : a novel
[02] The double bind : a novel
[03] Before you know kindness : a novel

- Jacquelyn Mitchard (Call No: MIT)
“Mitchard is best known as the debut novelist Oprah Winfrey plucked from obscurity with her first book club selection, The Deep End of the Ocean. Sophomore effort A Theory of Relativity is equally satisfying. Readers with a preference for observing how families in turmoil deal with shocking situations will appreciate this novel of grieving grandparents locked in an anguished custody battle for the sole surviving daughter of parents lost in a car accident.”

Some recommended titles written by Jacquelyn Mitchard, which are available from the public libraries:-
[01] The midnight twins
[02] All we know of heaven : a novel
[03] Now you see her

- Luanne Rice (Call No: RIC)
“Concentrating less on controversial topics and more on family and personal relationships, Luanne Rice’s novels, particularly the earlier titles, are another good match for Picoult. The authors’ use of characters is similar; strong, intelligent women who find themselves consumed by life’s everyday and irregular tragedies but work out solutions with help from family and friends. Home Fires is a fine title to start with.”

Some recommended titles written by Luanne Rice, which are available from the public libraries:-
[01] Light of the moon
[02] The edge of winter
[03] What matters most

- Ann Hood (Call No: HOO)
“For a quieter, more lyrical tone, readers should consider Ann Hood. Like Picoult, Hood’s small town female characters are well developed but their problems are closer to home — infidelity, sisterly rivalry, and cold feet at an impending marriage. Hood employs a little more introspection and personal drama in her stories. Readers should take a look at one of Hood’s later efforts, Properties of Water.”

Some recommended titles written by Ann Hood, which are available from the public libraries:-
[01] How I saved my father’s life (and ruined everything else)
[02] The knitting circle
[03] An ornithologist’s guide to life

- Sue Miller (Call No: MIL)
“Fans of Picoult must not let Sue Miller escape their notice although her stories have a more literary quality and delve more deeply into character’s emotions. Her debut novel, The Good Mother, is a modern classic, but readers shouldn’t miss one of her other novels, While I Was Gone, an Oprah Book Club selection.”

Some recommended titles written by Sue Miller, which are available from the public libraries:-
[01] The senator’s wife
[02] Lost in the forest : a novel
[03] The world below : a novel

Retrieved from Novelist. Website last accessed on 4 Nov 08.

Originally answered by Huang Su San, Librarian, Adult and Young People’s Services

 Posted by Yen Yen Toh, Librarian, Adult and Young People’s Services

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