Judging a CD by its covers

One of my favorite things about music is hearing how one song can be performed and interpreted in different ways by different artists. Even if its not one of my favorite songs, its almost always interesting to hear something familiar delivered in an unexpected way. Broadly speaking, cover versions can either be faithful and reverent towards the original, as is the case with the Dub Pistols' trip-hop update of Blondie's "Rapture", or go in a completely different direction, perhaps subverting the intent of the original, like Lou Barlow's folksy take on the hair-metal classic "Round-n-Round". Occasionally artists will stretch the art of the cover version to a whole new level, as exemplified by the following CDs.

Rebuild the Wall, by Luther Wright & the Wrongs
This is a cover of an entire album, Pink Floyd's The Wall, as performed by a Country and Western band from Ontario. It sounds crazy, but if you give it half a chance it starts to make beautiful sense. The banjo-fueled sing-a-long version of "Goodbye Blue Sky" is a personal favorite, although the pedal steel flourishes on "Comfortably Numb" are quite nice as well. For a full review from the All Music Guide, check here.

Petra Haden Sings: The Who Sell Out
This is another album-length cover, but instead of doing The Who's 1967 album The Who Sell Out in a different musical style, Petra Haden performs the entire album a capella! The guitar parts, percussion, strange little interstitial bits and everything else are duplicated by her singing. Literally every sound on the album is one woman's voice, and that's pretty impressive. Her version of "Armenia City in the Sky" gives me chills. The Who's Pete Townsend is a big fan too, according to Entertainment Weekly. Check out both versions of this album, and prepare to be amazed.

Mixtape: Classical Piano Arrangements of Pop Hits, by Andrew Russo
The gimmick here is that classical pianist Andrew Russo approached a handful of leading composers of modern music and asked them to do an arrangement of their favorite popular song in their own idiosyncratic style. The result is a wide range of songs reinterpreted in an eclectic array of styles. Most of the songs, like the Velvet Underground's "All Tomorrow's Parties" and Wild Cherry's "Play that Funky Music", are instrumentals, leaving you to pick out the vocal melody from amongst the surrounding clamor. Others, like Steppenwolf's "Born to be Wild" or "Search and Destroy" by Iggy Pop & the Stooges retain the vocals, but deliver them with a completely different spin than the originals. There are also some fun reworkings of songs originally by Gary Numan, Radiohead, the B-52s, and others.

Hidden DVDs

The holidays are winding down, and the cold days of winter are fast approaching. When it's too cold to get out, I've found the perfect way to while away the nights is to watch DVDs. Lately, I've been watching TV shows that were recommended to me by others. Several shows I'd never heard of because they had short runs and were cancelled before they could find an audience. So, here are some of my picks for under appreciated television shows that are available in DVD at the library.

Sports Night ran on ABC for two seasons and looked at the behind-the-scenes atmosphere of a late night television show similar to ESPN. Directed by Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing) and starring Felicity Huffman and Peter Krause, Sports Night sparkles with intelligent and witty dialogue. You don't have to be a sports fan to enjoy the antics, but it does deepen the enjoyment of the plots.

Jericho was recently cancelled after two seasons on CBS. Centered in the small Kansas town of Jericho, it asks the question of how would you survive if atomic bombs were dropped in key American cities. Since communication with the outside world is very limited, food distribution is halted and gasoline becomes a precious commodity in this new world, the citizens of Jericho must become self-reliant and pull together as a community in order to have a chance of survival. It almost seems like a modern day Western. The contrast between the visiting urban New Yorker and the rural citizens of Jericho makes you realize how dependent we are on modern conveniences.

Wonderfalls and Joan of Arcadia are two similar dramas. In Wonderfalls, Jaye is a twenty-something college graduate working at a gift shop in Niagara Falls when inanimate objects start talking to her. In Joan of Arcadia, Joan is a teenager new in town who begins getting visions from God. In both series, the action centers on whether they will do as directed to take specific actions in order to help others, and what happens when they ignore or don't correctly interpret what is expected of them. While both are humorous in the predicaments that happen, both also provoke some thought about how our actions can impact other people's behaviors.

These are just several of my favorites that when I reached the end of each of them, I wanted more! DVDs of television series are a fun way to try something that you may not have heard of before. It is also easy to get spoiled because all of the episodes are easily available and you don't have to wait for the next episodeto be televised. So, try something new this winter when it is too cold to venture outside.

Movies from books: Winter Edition

I was browsing through my stacks this morning and found The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which I only knew as a Brad Pitt movie I was sure I didn't want to see. So I flipped open the book and found out that it was a reworking of F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story from Tales of the Jazz Age. About an old man that ages in reverse, who starts out five feet eight inches tall and is forced by his father to play with a rattle--"whereupon the old man took it with a weary expression and could be heard jingling it obediently at intervals throughout the day." The short story looks so good that I can't wait to see the movie now. Other movies on my list after reading the book:

The movie: The Watchmen to be released 6 March 2009
The website: http://watchmenmovie.warnerbros.com
The book: graphic novel, The Watchmen by Alan Moore

The synopsis: The title of the graphic novel comes from the Latin quote "Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?" which is most often translated as "Who watches the watchmen?". For someone who usually thinks of graphic novels as "light reading" this particular one proved me wrong. In the Watchmen world, superheroes are reviled, in part because of their methods. While deconstructing the superhero ethos, Moore also manages to speak on such mundane topics as childhood trauma, depression, and spousal abuse. This graphic novel is not for children.

The movie: Twilight in theatres now
The website: http://www.twilightthemovie.com
The book: Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

The synopsis: Vampire stories have been around since 1047, but it wasn't until John Polidori's "The Vampyre" published in 1819, that vampires were brought to the English speaking world. The most unique aspect about Meyer's vampires is not the love story (although that is why teen girls read it), its the sparkly vampires. They can be awake during the day, but can't be in too much sunshine, lest the show their diamond skin to the world. Intended for young adults, this should be a fun and easy read for anyone interested in the subject.

The movie: City of Ember in theaters now
The website: http://www.cityofember.com
The book: City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

The synopsis: If the last one was just for young adults but a good read for us adults, City of Ember is really just for kids. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't read it. As an adult, I appreciated the possibilities of this book about an underground city that doesn't understand its origins. They believe that Ember always was and that canned goods are the way that food comes. At one point Lina, the 12 year old protagonist, has a discussion with another character about what pineapple must have tasted like--the last can was eaten so long ago. The book and subsequent sequels make me pine for a version written for adults, but until then I can glean things from the books that I don't think children are able to, such as the underpinnings of what it would have taken for someone to create a city like Ember.

Anathem: Soundtracks for books?!?!?

I've recently been reading Anathem by Neal Stephenson, an epic length 937 page book about a group of devout monks that study math and the heavens - in an alternate universe of course. I've spent so much time ruminating on the protaganist, Erasmas, and his quest to understand the universe, that I did a quick Google search about the book to enhance my understanding of the book. Its kind of a tough read. The book is divided into distinct sections so it feels like I have been reading wildly different books with the same characters. The first part has our monks in their monastary, studying and learning which includes some heady philosophical questions couched in quantum theory and cosmological study (not to say the book is not readable--just weighty at times--one reviewer called it "philosophy extreme sports"). The second part is this sort of bumbling humorous adventure; the third, an almost Jack London Arctic trek, the next a political tale about aliens... and well I'm not done with the book yet. And to my surprise Stephenson's website has a wealth of information, including a soundtrack to listen to as you read the book (downloadable here). I had never heard of a soundtrack to a book! The music is chanting, inspired by Eastern Buddhist and Western Monastical traditions.

I did some research and dug up other books that have soundtracks, that might help you get through that next book. I know I will probably need the soundtrack to finish this one. If you like this list, check out Amazon's "hear the soundtrack to your favorite book" list for more suggestions, or to find mixtape suggestions from authors check out the Book Notes Archive.

The Black Angel
John Connolly
The book itself includes a cd that has Kate Bush, Neko Case, and more.

The Book of Lies
Brad Meltzer
This soundtrack starts of with REM and Five for Fighting and ends with Mahler and Elgar. Very eclectic and can be found on Meltzer's website.

Coldblooded
Omar Tyree (Urban Griot)
As you might expect, Omar Tyree's soundtrack is filled with with rap and r&b. It looks like the cd is no longer available, but you can check out the discography on Blackauthors.com.

A Personal Library To Top Them All

When I was about 6 or 7 years old, I was convinced that I would be able to read every single book in the world (assuming I lived to at least 90, of course). It didn't take me very long to realize that I would probably never accomplish that goal, seeing as how I might need to learn a few dozen more languages.

Instead, I decided to concentrate on building my own library of books. When I was in middle school, I had a fairly small collection (maybe 100 titles) that I arranged in alphabetical order. On a sheet of lined notebook paper I created a sort of spreadsheet that included categories for "Person's Name", "Book Title", "Book Author", "Date Checked Out", "Date Returned." I then told my younger brothers that they were allowed to check out one book at a time from my personal library. Today, I still categorize my books, but I now have a few more than back then and I let my brothers check titles out without any paperwork involved.

Although I know I will never read every book ever written, in my mind I still imagine that one day I will build an addition to my house (which does not exist because I live in an apartment) with a library to rival this one:



New Englander James Walker has built a 3,600 square foot personal library to rival even some of the most well-known and beautifully curated public libraries in the world. Not only does Mr. Walker have editions of rare books (such as the 1493 Nuremberg Chronicle), he has an amazing collection of artifacts (from the Nazis' Enigma machine to pieces of the Sikhote-Alin meteorite).

Please click on the photo above to see more images and to read more about Mr. Walkers library.

Be Sure To Watch and Read

From personal experience television and movies can be a motivator to read. I watched a television production of Why Didn’t They Ask Evans? and it opened a whole new world of Agatha Christie mystery novels. They are entertaining and keep you guessing. At home now I probably have all of her novels in paperback and some in hardback. Another popular Christie book is And then There Were None which also goes by the title of Ten Little Indians. In the movie versions they take artistic license and change the ending. The book has a different ending where…well you will have to read the book to find out.

Another example was the Masterpiece Theater production of A Town like Alice based on the Nevil Shute novel. This is a wonderful story set during and after World War II about Jean Paget, who was working in Malaya when the Japanese invaded. She meets a young Australian soldier, Joe Harmon, who helps her and her fellow prisoners. He is punished by the Japanese and she thinks he has died. She survives the war and inherits money and decides to go back and build a well in a village where the people sheltered her. There she learns that Joe is still alive and she travels to the town of Alice Springs, Australia, where Joe lived before the war. In the meantime Joe has heard that Jean survived the war, and he goes to England looking for her. Jean’s solicitor Noel Strachan tells him she is in Australia and they both meet again in Australia in the town of Willstown. Noel visits Jean in Australia where she is using some of her inheritance to start a business and make Willstown a “Town like Alice”. Jean and Joe fall in love again and eventually marry and in the meantime Noel returns back to England. It is a love story with a bittersweet ending. Noel as her solicitor sums up in the last sentence of the book the story and his own unfulfilled love for Jean. “Of a girl that I met forty years too late, and the life in that small town that I shall never see again, that holds so much of my affection.”

When I watch and get interested in a television series, such as watching them on video or DVD, I will track down books written about the shows to provide a guide to watch. I have read such books as Colombo Phile by Mark Dawidziak, Alfred Hitchcock Presents by John McCarty and Gunsmoke: an American Institution by Ben Costello.

When I watched the movie The Ghost and the Darkness I tracked down a copy of the book it was based on The Man-eaters of Tsavo by John Henry Patterson. It’s the true story of two lions that attacked and killed over 130 of the builders of the Uganda-Mombasa Railway in 1898. Lieutenant Colonel John Henry Patterson was successful in killing the lions. The movie is loosely based on the book so to get the real story you need to read the book.

So the next time you watch a show on television or see a movie, check to see if it was based on a story or book, and then read it. You might be surprised to find out that the book is better.

Posted by David J.

Poetry, Financial Aid, Gardening and more!

There is always some event going on at the Central library or one of the branches. This month will be especially busy. Look for more events in May, such as a home organization workshop, and during the summer when we will be hosting our annual summer reading club. This year our theme is Vacation Readers go Everywhere.

While you are waiting for summer, take a look at what is coming up this month:

An Evening with Texas Poet Laureate Larry D. Thomas
April 14, 7-8:30 p.m. Southwest Branch

Please join us for An Evening With Larry D. Thomas. Mr. Thomas was appointed by the Texas Legislature as the 2008 Texas Poet Laureate. He retired in 1998 from a thirty-one year career in social service and adult criminal justice, and has since that time published eight collections of poems. His ninth poetry collection, New and Selected Poems, will be published by TCU Press in May 2008 as the fourth volume of the TCU Press Texas Poets Laureate Series. Mr. Thomas will read to the audience from his work.

Addendum: Mr. Thomas's book, "New and Selected Poems" is available at the Arlington Public Lirary

College Financial Aid
April 15 from 6 to 7 p.m. Southwest Branch

Need financial aid for college? Silvia Briceño from the Educational Opportunity Center will be available to advise interested adults, 18 years or older (U.S. citizens or legal residents), about financial aid to pay for college. You can receive information and assistance with admission and financial aid paperwork as well as career counseling and information about scholarships.Bring your questions and family members or friends who would also benefit from this FREE assistance! Space is limited so call the Southwest Branch at 817-459-6386 to register. Door prizes will be given!

Gardening in Texas: Joys and Challenges
April 20, 2-4 p.m. George W. Hawkes Central Library

Attend this program to hear local experts talk about gardening in Texas. Steve Chaney, Tarrant County Horticulture Extension Agent, will speak on Earth Kind Roses. John Darling of the Arlington Conservation Council will discuss gardening with native plants, composting and Texas Smartscaping. Please bring your questions for an informative event that will keep your garden in bloom all summer long!

Christmas Christmas time is near

I've always loved to read holiday and Christmas stories. My brother gave me a collection of Christmas short stories for my 10th Christmas-it included O. Henry's Gift of the Magi and stories by James Hilton, Thomas Hardy and Ray Bradbury-I've reread that book nearly every Christmas and still love the stories. Some of my other favorites include Mary Higgins Clark's Alvirah and Willie Meehan and Regan Reilly cute mysteries which always take place around the winter holidays. Another favorite is Truman Capote's A Christmas Memory, a wonderful story for all ages. For a lot of fun read John Grisham's Skipping Christmas - I can just visualize the snowman on the roof! And last, but not least-Dickens, A Christmas Carol - I've read this several times and seen so many movie versions-my favorite is Scrooge (1951) which stars Alastair Sim. One of my all-time favorite anytime movies. At Central we always display our holiday books-so drop by and pickup some holiday cheer! Or mysteries! Or cookbooks!

Related links:

http://www.auburn.edu/~vestmon/Gift_of_the_Magi.html

http://www.simonsays.com/content/destination.cfm?tab=1&pid=352932

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/database/capote_t.html

http://www.randomhouse.com/features/grisham/

http://dickens.ucsc.edu/

http://lang.nagoya-u.ac.jp/%7Ematsuoka/Dickens.html

http://etext.virginia.edu/toc/modeng/public/DicChri.html

Originally posted 12/14/2007 9:54 a.m. by Linda