"Notable Books for 2004"
 

            The American Library Association has compiled a list of notable books for 2004.  Their intention is the general reader, and librarians, who work with book club selections, will use the recommendations for the expansion of knowledge or for the pleasure they can provide to adult readers.  Titles were selected from books published from November 2002 through October 2003 that demonstrate wide general appeal and literary merit. 
            The pamphlet contains both Nonfiction and Fiction titles.  Quite a few of them are owned by Columbus Public Library.   Also, I’ve reviewed some of the selections.  For instance, in one of my recent columns I’ve discussed “The Known World” by Edward P. Jones.  It has won many prizes, but the National Book Award is probably the most prestigious.  Several of the other book awards are based not on merit, but on political considerations.   The reader is almost guaranteed a fantastic literary experience by choosing a National Book Award winner. 
            “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini and “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time” by Mark Haddon are two great reads and they’ve been reviewed, not just by me, but many, many top critics.  Others on the Notable List are “Brick Lane” by Monica Ali.  This engaging first novel tells the story of a sympathetic Bangladesh woman who challenges her fate and imagines a life full of passion and purpose.
            “Any Human Heart” by William Boyd is a diary of a writer, spy, and lover that takes the reader on an amazing and intimate journey through the major events of the twentieth century.
            “The Fortress of Solitude” by Jonathan Lethem.  Life is hell for Dylan, a white kid in a rundown Brooklyn neighborhood, until he makes friends with Mingus, the son of an addicted R & B star
            “Love” by Toni Morrison. Past and present rivalries dominate this haunting tale of the feuding women connected to the late owner of a once-flourishing hotel for the black elite.
            “Star of the Sea” by Joseph O’Connor.  Danger, regret, and hope lurk on every deck, from steerage to first class, of an 1847 ship full of Irish immigrants desperate for a new life in America.
            “Drinking Coffee Elsewhere” by ZZ Packer. In Packer’s first collection of short stories, about the African American experience, misfits living on the fringes of society face life-altering choices
            “The Cave” by Jose Saramago (Translated by Margaret Jull Costa).  This dark, allegorical tale juxtaposes a rural existence with artificial modern life and examines love, relationships, and family.
            The titles were chosen by The Notable Books Council and the ALA Reference and User Services Association. The mini-reviews were compiled from the ALA pamphlet.  If you would like a copy of the brochure---Notable Books 2004 --- please contact me at the reference desk or email me at:  shansen@columbusne.us.    If you enjoy books and reading about books, our website www.columbuslibrary.info  is a treasure trove of information and ideas.  Also, if you would like to read my previous “Librarian’s Shelf” articles, they are located on the Library’s website.
            Recent donations to the Columbus Library Foundation include memorials from Mr. and Mrs. Stan Musil in memory of George Horne, John Brandts Sr., Ella Inselman, Joe McKown, Sr. and Lauren Darling.  Memorials received in honor of Robert Brega include those from Elaine Morgan, Corinne Korte, Mr. and Mrs. Dick Luebbe and family and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Trautwein.   Also, the Foundation received a memorial from Jacquilyn Alfson in memory of Betty Rozmarin, and a donation from Runza Corporation.