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June 21, 2006

Dean Koontz Readalikes

Dean Koontz’ latest pulse-pounding suspense thriller, The Husband, tops several bestseller lists this week. If you’re a fan of Koontz and are looking for more atmospheric, character-driven chills, you may also enjoy:

Darwin’s Radio by Greg Bear
Lost Boy Lost Girl by Peter Straub
Hearts in Atlantis by Stephen King
The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris

Posted by hplreadingcorner at 10:32 AM | Comments (228)

June 15, 2006

Et tu, Google?

In honor of its sponsorship of New York City's Shakespeare in the Park, Google has launched a microsite that allows you to read and search within all of Shakespeare's works. If you find it difficult to decipher the Bard through your computer monitor, be sure to check out the library's Shakespeare collection—you'll find plays, biographies, criticism, and much more in the 822.33 area of our nonfiction shelves.

Posted by hplreadingcorner at 1:34 PM | Comments (519)

June 14, 2006

New Poet Laureate Announced

Today New Hampshire native Donald Hall was named the new poet laureate of the United States. A prolific writer, he has published poems, essays and children’s books, and is known for employing a plainspoken style that has been compared to the verse of Robert Frost. Hall succeeds Ted Kooser as poet laureate. According to the Library of Congress, during his or her term the poet laureate “seeks to raise the national consciousness to a greater appreciation of the reading and writing of poetry.” Past poets laureate include Frost, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Billy Collins.

Posted by hplreadingcorner at 3:25 PM | Comments (119)

June 7, 2006

Music Under the Stars

Summer doesn’t officially begin for another two weeks, but the summer music season already is in full swing thanks to the Ravinia Music Festival in Highland Park. Complementary lawn passes to selected jazz and classical performances at Ravinia are now available at the library on a first-come, first-served basis to adult HPL cardholders (one performance only per library card, please; passes must be claimed in person). Here are some highlights of the entire Ravinia season:

June 16: Wynton Marsalis and Dr. John
June 25: Bonnie Raitt
June 29: Chicago Symphony Orchestra: Mahler’s Third Symphony
July 2: Los Lonely Boys
July 8: Chicago Symphony Orchestra: Verdi’s Requiem
August 6: Yo-Yo Ma
August 19: B.B. King
Sept. 1-2: Tony Bennett

Posted by hplreadingcorner at 10:18 AM | Comments (102)

June 6, 2006

Zadie Smith Wins Orange Prize

British author Zadie Smith has won the Orange Prize for Fiction for her book On Beauty. This international award, which honors a full-length English-language novel written by a woman (and is judged exclusively by women), is known for its roster of compelling, evocative winners. Past honorees include We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver, Bel Canto by Ann Patchett, Larry’s Party by Carol Shields, and Property by Valerie Martin.

Posted by hplreadingcorner at 6:34 PM | Comments (260)

June 1, 2006

June Staff Picks

The library's staff picks page has been updated. This month, the recommendations come from our reference librarians. Enjoy!

Posted by hplreadingcorner at 3:42 PM | Comments (57)