Summer Reading – Scott Westerfeld

Posted on July 30, 2016 by Martha

Book covers of the Leviathan series by Scott Westerfeld: Leviathan, Goliath, Behemoth

Leviathan
Behemoth
Goliath
by Scott Westerfeld
F Wes
Curriculum Collection, Juvenile Fiction, 2nd floor

Scott Westerfeld has written a lot of juvenile fiction, but his best, in my opinion is the steampunk Leviathan Trilogy: Leviathan, Behemoth, and Goliath. In case you’ve never heard of steampunk I’ll tell you a bit about it. Steampunk is essentially Victorian inspired science fiction, generally occurring either during the reign of Britain’s Queen Victoria (1837-1901) or during a later time period that still has Victorian sensibilities and uses the technology of the time period (steam and mechanical as opposed to gas and computers). From there you will find a myriad of variations like dieselpunk. Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea would be steampunk if it had been written these days instead of in 1869.

Here’s what Scott has to say about the story:
“Prince Aleksander, would-be heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His title is worthless. All he has is a battletorn war machine and a loyal crew of men.

Deryn Sharp is a commoner, disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. She’s a brilliant airman. But her secret is in constant danger of being discovered.

With World War I brewing, Alek and Deryn’s paths cross in the most unexpected ways, taking them on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure that will change both their lives forever.”

Watch the trailer for Leviathan here.

Leviathan Series by Scott Westerfeld and how you can get them:

1. Leviathan (2009)
2. Behemoth (2010)
3. Goliath (2011) – available through UW Request

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Friday Fun – Visual Pu Pu Platter

Posted on July 29, 2016 by Barbara

Here’s a little Friday Fun! Check out the wallpapers on the website of the file transfer service WeTransfer, which also welcomes submissions of webadverts (see “The very best of our commercial advertisements“). Some of the wallpapers are just beautiful and inspiring…sometimes curious…and definitely more interesting than the ads on websites’ banners or down one side of the display that I regularly ignore. WeTransfer was even an honoree in 2010 for a Webby AWard in the Best Visual Design – Function” category.

For example, “Chip Clark: The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History” shows a very nonpublic side of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (which I love visiting). It’s a bit sad, actually, to see the collections of once-living birds just stored on trays. But it’s fascinating to see that there is such a collection. Of course there would be these collections behind the public exhibits, but who thinks about it?

As you sample other wallpapers you may find, as I did, that you’re getting lost just following each entry’s tags or the offers of “Something Else?” at the bottom of each one. Some of my favorites are “Yoni Alter” showing samples of his animal animations and “World Press Photo – Daniel Ochoa de Olza: The Maya Tradition.”

screenshot from WeTransfer website

Enjoy.

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New Stuff Tuesday – July 26, 2016

Posted on July 26, 2016 by Carol

Visiting Tom: A Man, A Highway, and the Road to Roughneck Grace

Visiting Tom: A Man, A Highway, and the Road to Roughneck Grace
by Michael Perry
CT275 .H388 P47 2016
New Arrivals Island, 2nd floor

Michael Perry is one of Wisconsin’s favorite contemporary writers as well as a radio host and songwriter. His folksy books about Wisconsin rural life regularly appear on the New York Times Bestseller lists. Perry’s books are populated by hard-bitten farmers and other earthy souls who inhabit the fertile fields, taverns, and homesteads of northern Wisconsin.

This book features a wiry cannon-wielding octogenarian farmer named Tom. Perry’s work offers social anthropology and quirky humor in equal measures – and this book looks to follow suit.

In 2008, Michael Perry won the UWW Chancellor’s Regional Literary Award for his work. So you’re not likely to go wrong with any of his books – they are quick and enriching reads.

Here are some of the author’s earlier books (and we have more on the way):

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Summer Reading – Erin Celello

Posted on July 25, 2016 by Martha

Learning to Stay book cover

Learning to Stay
by Erin Celello
PS3603.E4 L43 2013
Main Collection, 3rd floor

Miracle Beach book cover

Miracle Beach
by Erin Celello
PS3603.E4 M57 2011
Main Collection, 3rd floor

Professor Erin Celello has written some deeply thoughtful books that get you pondering, which might be great for late summer reading.

Learning to Stay, Celello’s most recent heart wrenching novel, is about lawyer Elise Sabato, her husband Brad, and a dog named Jones. As the book opens, Brad is stationed in Iraq and Elise is at home in the States. Soon enough though he returns home a changed man, suffering from both a traumatic brain injury and PTSD. Things could not be more different than when he left and Elisa finds herself facing the schism between her ideal life and her new reality. When Jones comes along he helps her realize that life is full of twists and turns and sometimes you end up right where you were meant to be. Click here to read a Learning to Stay excerpt.

Miracle Beach is Celello’s moving debut novel, about equestrienne Macy Allen and her husband Nash, who’s already died in a tragic accident by the time the first chapter has begun. He is not forgotten though as his secrets are soon revealed and influence what is to come. Similar to her latter novel, here the main character questions the tenets of her marriage and, instead of a dog, a child changes expectations. Click here to read a Miracle Beach excerpt.

On Celello’s website you will find conversation guides with questions to ask yourself or your book group as you think through her novels.

In this “Conversations from St. Norbert College” video, Erin Celello talks about how her personal experiences influenced the writing of Miracle Beach.

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New stuff Tuesday – July 18

Posted on July 22, 2016 by James Castrillo

An illustrated book of bad arguments book cover

An illustrated book of bad arguments
by Ali Almossawi
BC177 .A46 2014
New Arrivals, 2nd floor

The explanation of logical fallacies often involves a critical reading of philosophy to reach an understanding. Ali Almossawi takes a different approach by using illustrated animals to represent the different types of logical fallacies. A stuffy walrus represents ad hominem attacks and a toucan represents straw man fallacy. The accompanying text explains each logical fallacy. The illustrations by Alejandro Giraldo are both fun and provide a proper visual representation of each fallacy’s short coming.This book is effective in its simple explanation. And it is great for both those new to this topic and anyone in need of a refresher on the topic. Read this book if you would like to gain a better understanding of how to have a reasoned and rational argument.

You can read more about Ali Almossawi on his website.

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Cool off – Fans available to Walworth County residents

Posted on July 19, 2016 by Barbara

image of sunAndersen Library is one of Walworth County’s cooling centers,* and in partnership with the county Division of Public Health, has free box fans to distribute to individuals who do not have other means to remain cool. Fans are available from the Circulation Desk during regular Library hours while supplies last, limit one per household. Call (262) 472-5511 to assure that a fan is available.

* The University Center on campus will be open to members of the UWW and community until 9 p.m. on Thursday July 21 and Friday July 22 for keeping cool also. https://announcements.uww.edu/Announcement/Details/12792

The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat watch for later this week. Be prepared, and don’t underestimate the risk of heat-related injury associated with high temperatures and humidity!

Find a place or means of cooling down if you experience dizziness, headache, muscle cramps, weakness, nausea or vomiting.
Call 9-1-1 for these symptoms: hot, dry skin; confusion; unconsciousness; chest pains; shortness of breath.

For more information, see “Heat Related Health and Safety Tips” from the Wisconsin Dept. of Health Services, which gives these tips:

In Wisconsin, generally when temperatures approach or go above 90° F, the following actions are recommended:

  • Avoid strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day. If such activity is unavoidable, drink plenty of fluids and take frequent breaks in air-conditioned or shaded areas. Consider monitoring body weight and oral temperature. A weight loss of more than 2 lbs. or an oral temperature above 99° F is cause for concern.
  • Do not leave anyone – children, disabled individuals, pets – in cars for even brief periods. Temperatures can rise to life-threatening levels in a matter of minutes.
  • Make frequent checks on the status of elderly or ill relatives or neighbors. If necessary, move them to an air-conditioned environment during the hottest part of the day.
  • To avoid dehydration, a conscious effort should be made to drink more fluids during hot weather. Rapid weight loss may be a sign of dehydration. Don’t drink liquids that contain caffeine, alcohol, or large amounts of sugar–these actually cause you to lose more body fluid.
  • Use fans to increase ventilation. If the temperatures exceed 90° F, instead of having a fan blow hot air in from a window, have the fan blow the hot air to the outside. At extreme high temperatures, a fan loses its ability to effectively reduce heat-related illness.
  • Cool showers, baths, and sponge baths can be used to reduce body temperatures. In addition, wet clothing has a cooling effect.

Andersen Library is a federal and Wisconsin depository library with federal and state government documents on a variety of current and relevant issues available to you in various formats (print, DVD/CD-ROM, online). Check out your government at Andersen Library!

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New Stuff Tuesday – July 12, 2016

Posted on July 12, 2016 by Martha

There Are Things We Live Among: Poems book cover

There Are Things We Live Among:
Poems

by Patrick Moran
PS3613.O6824 A6 2016
New Arrivals, 2nd floor

Our very own Professor Patrick Moran won the Grayson Books Poetry Prize in 2015 and has published this book of poetry as a result. His wife, Bethann Handzlik, a lecturer here on campus created the beautiful cover art for his book. He’d previously won the 2013 Poems & Plays‘ Tennessee Chapbook Prize for Rumors of Organized Crime. This book was inspired by objects we encounter in our every day life and from them he draws vivid pictures and emotions.

Prof. Moran has written four other books of poetry and been published in multiple periodicals. The books are:

  • The Book of Lost Things (2011), Main Collection PS3613.O6824 B7 2011
  • Dopplegangster: Poems (2011), use ILLiad to borrow
  • Rumors of Organized Crime (2013), use ILLiad to borrow
  • Tell a Pitiful Story: Poems (2011), use ILLiad to borrow

Care to read more about Prof. Moran’s accomplishments? Our University News wrote an article about him, Professor Wins National Poetry Award, back in February.

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Summer Reading – Ann Garvin

Posted on July 10, 2016 by Martha

I Like You Just Fine When You're Not Around book cover

I Like You Just Fine When You’re Not Around
by Ann Garvin
PS3607.A78289 I3 2016
New Arrivals, 2nd floor
Special Collections, 1st floor

Our very own Professor Ann Garvin has recently come out with her third novel I Like You Just Fine When You’re Not Around. I’ll admit I haven’t read it yet, but if On Maggie’s Watch is anything to go by you’ll really enjoy it. That book is about a pregnant woman who has recently returned to her hometown. She’s resuscitated the Neighborhood Watch and is trying to solve a bit a mystery. It will make you laugh and squirm, and get sucked into the story. The new book is about a psychologist whose life has taken a turn for the worse and she’s struggling to get it back on track. There’s humor here too, as well as a family secret.

Prof. Garvin also wrote The Dog Year, about a well-respected surgeon who’s life gets out of wack following the death of her husband and unborn child. She takes steps to heal her herself and things take off from there. It looks like that’s another humorous take on life, but filled with heartbreak and sadness too.

  • The Dog Year (2014), Main Collection PS3607.A78289 D64 2014
  • On Maggie’s Watch (2010), Main Collection PS3607.A78289 O52 2010

Check out this YouTube video of Ann Garvin discussing On Maggie’s Watch.
https://youtu.be/bhA7J277ECM
Perhaps you’ll get an idea of where the humor in her books comes from.

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New Stuff Tuesday – July 5, 2016

Posted on July 5, 2016 by Diana

Cover Image: The Bingo Queens of Oneida

The Bingo Queens of Oneida
How Two Moms Started Tribal Gaming in Wisconsin
By Mike Hoeft
E99.O45 H78 2014
New Arrivals, 2nd floor

Ever wonder how Native American communities and casinos came together in Wisconsin? This book shares the story of two women, members of the Oneida tribe and living on the Oneida Indian Reservation outside of Green Bay, WI, who started organizing games of bingo in the mid-1970s to pay some of their bills. The women’s bingo games turned into a big revenue source for their community. The proceeds helped to alleviate some of pressures on the poor and elderly living on the reservation and were also reinvested in projects, such as hotels, that provided jobs. The money raised from gambling helped revitalize Oneida cultural institutions as well. Read this over the summer break and learn more about Wisconsin history.

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Tennis, anyone?

Posted on July 4, 2016 by Barbara

Did you know? On July 6th in 1957, Althea Gibson became the first African American Wimbledon champion when she won the women’s singles title. Later that year she won the U.S. Open as well. You can learn more from the History Channel’s This Day in History web site or the book Born to win: The authorized biography of Althea Gibson (3rd-floor Main Collection, GV994.G53 G73 2004).

cover of Game, set and matchSummer is the perfect time to work on your tennis game, or just learn more about the game! Andersen Library can help. Search Research@UWW for books, media, and more at UW-Whitewater to find books such as Tennis and philosophy: What the racket is all about (online book from University Press of Kentucky, available via Project MUSE) and Game, set and match: Secret weapons of the world’s top tennis players (3rd-floor Main Collection, GV995 .H587 2015), and videos such as Vince Spadea play like a pro (2nd-floor Academic DVDs, GV1002.9.T7 V56 2012), Modern tennis methodology (2nd-floor Academic DVDs, GV1002.9 .T7 M64 2010), and Yoga conditioning for athletes (2nd-floor Academic DVDs, RA781.7 .Y622 2006).

Endlessly fascinating are the official web sites for men’s and women’s professional tennis: ATP World Tour web site for men’s professional tennis and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA). Look up when tournaments are happening, find out all about particular players and how well they’ve been doing, and more. Both are affiliated with the International Tennis Federation (ITF), the “world governing body of tennis.” Wimbledon, one of the Grand Slam competitions, is going on right now (June 27-July 10). See Sports Media Watch for televised coverage in the U.S.

Please ask a librarian for assistance with finding additional materials.

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