5 books from the July Biography & Memoir eNewsletter with unusual titles

“I sold the memoirs of my sex life to a publisher - they are going to make a board game out of it”
- Woody Allen

I moved into public libraries for two reasons: 1) books and 2) I wanted to see if I had what it took to work with any and all kinds of queries and people. Appallingly cliche, right? And yet true. I wanted to be able to see and read ALL OF THE THINGS. My first day on the job I was asked by a customer how much it would cost to send a letter to Tunisia. And every day during my time in the branches was like that. It was a hoot. The variety of questions ensured that I never got bored. Ten years later, I haven't read all of the things, but I've given it a damn good try. At the heart of it, those reasons above are still valid today. I would, though, like to add a third thing to the list: 3) unusual book titles. That must be a thing. Surely? I mean, I come across so many during my work day - whether it's editing eNewsletters, following up on eBook/eAudiobook queries, updating our tweetstream or Facebook page, or even just in conversation with family, friends, and colleagues - they're just THERE. Waiting to be discovered. I think it's my superpower that I manage to find them without even trying. As we all know, with great power comes great responsibility, and it's my duty to share them with you all. Whether you want them or not. Today's five are rounded up from the July Biography & Memoir eNewsletter. Which, by the way, you can read online OR subscribe to for free because BOOKS GOOD is the best philosophy ever. (Followed very closely by CHOCOLATE GOOD, admit it).

Top 5 most requested nonfiction for November 2012

"Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers."
- Charles W. Eliot

In my mind, this introduction was going to be an absolutely stunner. I was going to wow you all with my wit and way with words. And then I woke up and realised that's so not my style. Instead, I'm going to keep it simple. Today's Top 5 list features an NZ cook, a rugby player, The Rod (as in Stewart AND I see that they managed to fit the word 'knickers' in to the synopsis somehow), rushing woman's syndrome, and a place on the Shore that makes the most amazeballs food I have ever seen. I give you our Top 5 most requested nonfiction for November 2012.

5 books by Gok Wan

Gok: If I set this up for you, will you invite me to your wedding?
Melissa: Yes! It's in Rarotonga...
Gok: *confused look* I don't know what that is.
Melissa: It's an island. It has Rarotongan boys.
Gok: I love boys!
- Gok Wan, British fashion consultant, 30 May 2012 (and I know he said this because I was there to hear it)

I have never watched an episode of Gok Wan's show How to look good naked, so when I saw the signs start popping up in Westfield Manukau advertising an in-mall appearance, it didn't mean anything to me. I'd walk past the posters and smile because something about him - he's quite adorkable, really - makes me do that. That's not to say I don't know who he is. I do. I'm not totally clueless. I've just never watched his show. (I'll be honest and admit I don't watch America's next top model OR Project runway, either). Yesterday, on the way to work, and after having walked past yet another poster with his face on it, I decided I'd go and have a look during my lunchbreak, and drag Natalie and Jolene with me. After having seen Gok in action yesterday, I have to say, I'd be more inclined to watch his show now. Not because he takes women and shows them how to dress well and with confidence (a knack I've never mastered and think very little about - some mornings it's hard to remember to put on matching shoes), but because he's funny. Actually, he's hilarious. I spent the entire time screaming with laughter. I think the women who put their hands up to have makeovers done were extremely brave. A colleague asked me later, "What did you learn from watching the show?" THIS! That Gok is riotously funny, cleavage is (very probably always) in, and you should use belts. In that order. Well worth working late to make up for the extended lunchbreak. When I got back to my desk, though, I wondered what books or DVDs we have of Gok's. And so there you go - today's list: 5 books by Gok Wan.

5 titles that'll either make me detest - or like - Bob Dylan even more

"A poem is a naked person...Some people say that I am a poet."
- Bob Dylan

I've been listening to Bob Dylan's self-titled début album, which was released 19 March 1962. If I had to choose three words to sum up his voice and lyrics, they'd be these: Sparse. Raw. Evocative. Two weeks ago, I would have said: Irritating. Overrated. Nasal. What prompted this about face? Just the other week I realised that Bob Dylan released his début album 50 years ago. I was equal parts impressed and confused. Impressed because his appeal has lasted so long and had such a huge impact on the music industry. Confused because I don't understand why or how. I don't really know anything about the man, his music or his life. In fact, here's a confession coming up. This is what I know about Bob Dylan: He and Joan Baez were an item once. That's it. Truly. And that only because I remember my parents, years ago, discussing his relationship with Baez and how their careers took quite different paths. Quite a heated discussion, too. Mum was a Baez fan, dad was a Dylan fan. For some reason, their love of either artist never transferred itself to me. I could never see either of them as anything other than poets who also happened to play a guitar. Thanks to one of dad's brothers, I heard the album Infidel played too many times for my sanity to comprehend, and the only song that stuck was Jokerman. Today, I remember it fondly. At the time, I thought my ears would bleed. Seriously, there were days I wanted to yank the ribbon of the tape out and dance around the lawn with it if it meant I never had to hear it again. And then, over the weekend, I had this strange idea that it was perhaps high time I took Bob Dylan for a spin, and requested (by employing my usual on purpose/random selection process) a combination of titles about Dylan's life and his music, most of which I've finished, all of which made for fascinating viewing/watching/listening. All serving to show me how little I really knew about him. Like the fact that Dylan had roughly 27 albums between 1962 and 2001 and, that out of those (roughly) 220 songs, I know 13. (I can add a few more since I now have his first album). Some of those I only know because other people had versions. Do I like his music more, now? I'm not sure. Certainly I admire his ability as a writer. I don't want to make my mind up until the end. And so! 5 titles that'll either make me detest - or like - Bob Dylan even more :) (Although I'm leaning towards 'like,' but not quite willing to topple totally just yet).

Top 5 nonfiction reads

List by Tosca

"Reading - the best state yet to keep absolute loneliness at bay."
- William Styron

Greetings & saluations! You might have noticed that I've been a little bit absent (it's like being a little bit pregnant, I'd imagine - you either are or you aren't) from the blog lately *thoughtful look* I've been taking a bit of time out to ponder the future of this blog. Not along the lines of, 'Should I get rid of it?' More like, 'Is this layout what I want?' and, 'Am I giving readers the best that I can?' and even, 'What more can I do to make this relevant?' And then, before I knew it, a couple of weeks had gone by and I was no closer to getting a post out. Which reminded me that, d'oh, I actually had to write/publish to it because, hey, life goes on. (I'm slow, but I get there in the end). Compared to last month there aren't any big surprises on this list although, strangely, some of you *still* want to know just *what* Paul Henry was thinking. One title in particular that never fails to make me raise my eyebrows is 'That woman,' used to describe Wallis Simpson. I'm 36 and I have quite clear memories of being a child while gran (who was a diehard fan of royalty which, looking back, I find wholly unusual) would tell me again and again the story of a man who gave up a throne for love of a woman in such hushed and scandalised tones. I'm not sure talk of Simpson will ever die down. And so! Books. For you. All for you. Nonfiction titles, to be specific. Enjoy!

More top nonfiction reads:

So brilliantly clever : Parker, Hulme and the murder that shocked the world / Peter Graham

A train in winter : a story of resistance, friendship and survival / Caroline Moorehead

Seriously - I'm kidding / Ellen DeGeneres

The official New Zealand road code

Love at the end of the road : finding my heart in the country / Rae Roadley

Journey / Pippa Blake a collaboration with Trish Clark

Top 5 most requested titles for October 2011

List by Tosca

"Books had instant replay long before televised sports."
- Bern Williams

A 6"5 inch mountain of a man (who, weirdly, will be 5"7 instead in the recently announced book-into-film version, but more on that later). Civil rights in 1960s Jackson, Mississippi. Gods and demigods. The memoir of a man who managed to offend most of NZ without even trying. Dragons and destiny. What do they have in common? On a normal, day to day basis probably no crossover whatsoever. Unless you work with books. Behold, our top 5 most requested titles for October 2011!

P.S. I don't envy anyone waiting on our #1 book. That number is phenomenal.

Honourable mention (i.e. next 5 on the list):

Cabin fever by Jeff Kinney - children's fiction, book 6 in the Diary of a wimpy kid series. Currently on order

People's republic by Robert Muchamore - teen fiction, book 13 in the Cherub series

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - teen fiction, book 1 in The Hunger Games series

Thea Stilton, big trouble in the Big Apple by Geronimo Stilton - children's fiction

Diary of a wimpy kid : Rodrick rules by Jeff Kinney - children's fiction, book 2 in the Diary of a wimpy kid series

The conductor by Sarah Quigley - historical fiction, NZ author (I really want to read this one! I just don't want to have to wait *sigh*)

Top 5 most requested titles for September 2011

List by Natalie and Tosca

"Lord! when you sell a man a book you don't sell just twelve ounces of paper and ink and glue - you sell him a whole new life. Love and friendship and humour and ships at sea by night - there's all heaven and earth in a book, a real book."
- Christopher Morley

Kia ora and gidday! October has arrived, people :) Before I offer up our Goodies list - top 5 most requested titles for September 2011 - I want to take a few minutes to point out some new content on our library website that YOU WILL LOVE OR ELSE.

Have you checked out our New Titles page, yet? It has, quite quickly, become my most favourite page on our entire website). Our new lists are updated monthly (the first day of every month, to be exact) and display over 100 categories of new adults, children and teens items. The lists consist of our newest books, CDs, DVDs, audio books, kids' material, large print, console games and non-English items. With such a wealth of new items to choose from you won't be disappointed. A big, Big, BIG thank you to Danielle, Julia and Natalie for all of the hard work that went into building these lists :) Try out the new section and let me know what you think of it!

Did you know that we've added new sections to our website? Our Collections and services section contains four in-depth portals for our blogs, computers, kids, and Maori services.

October is a very busy and exciting month that sees us celebrating Diwali, the Rugby World Cup 2011 and the school holidays. We're also hosting a number of author talks and presentations from personalities such as Margaret Pope, Spiro Zavos, Dr. Anna Sandiford, and John Dybvig. You can view all upcoming special events and regular programmes in the Events section of our website. Our What's On eNewsletter, edited by the wonderful Jo, provides a wonderful monthly summation of any and all upcoming events.

On to the top 5 most requested titles for September 2011: teen spies, Gods of Olympus, a New Zealand television personality, a book-turned-film set in Mississippi and the latest Jack Reacher novel. Happy reading!

Top 5 'lifestyles of the rich and philandering'

List by Rachel

"You know sometimes the public and press gets it wrong."
~ Jesse James, People magazine

Rachel Randall, customer service advisor at Botany Library and fab reviewer of Katy Perry, cookbooks, style guides and more, sent in this list of biographies about (and monologues by) her top 5 bad hubbies and scandalous baby daddies that just couldn't keep it zipped. You might not approve of their lifestyle choices, but apparently they make for pretty entertaining reading and listening!

Top 5 items I nicked from Manukau Library's new books trolley

List by Tosca

'I would never read a book if it were possible for me to talk half an hour with the man who wrote it.'
- Woodrow Wilson

When I'm in need of inspiration or timeout (not like the naughty corner/naughty step kind of time out, though) I sneak away downstairs and raid their collections or their new books trolley. I find that I am greatly in need of inspiration this month. Ordinarily, I am full of words that are clamouring to be given voice here in this blog, but August seems to be a solemn month for me. As a result I have posted very little. I spent some of the last couple of weeks fretting about how hard I'm finding it to write posts that are engaging and funny or even relevant. And then last night I decided to let it run its course. After all, it doesn't mean I love books any less :) So today I offer up a simple post that is less about my sense of humour and all about the books: top 5 books I nicked from Manukau Library's new books trolley that are well worth the mention. Many thanks to Shanta for letting me ooh and aah over the trolley and 'borrow' a stack of new books for the day.

Top 5 most requested titles for July 2011

List by Natalie and Tosca

Books are immortal sons deifying their sires."
- Plato

Shortest intro from me ever, ever, ever: Lots of you want to know what Paul Henry was thinking :P

Top 5 most requested titles for June 2011

List by Natalie and Tosca

Kia ora and gidday! Today's post is a simple one that serves only to share our top 5 most requested titles for June 2011. Enjoy :)

Top 5 tearjerkers to make you happy

List by Jo (Jo is the fabulous editor of our monthly What's On eNewsletter and provides a great view of what events are taking place across Auckland Libraries)

My friends and I have all agreed there’s a lot of romance about sad movies, as in, we love them!! Wasn't it Aristotle who said a good cry "cleanses the mind?" It's no accident that many of us are addicted to the catharsis points of said movies, which move us to weep, which purges the toxins (kind of the same effect as ingesting antioxidants), which then elevates our mood. So, to continue our tribute to the 2011 NZFF here’s a list of five films that will lift your spirits by first making you sob.

Bestselling hardcover nonfiction, May 15 - 22 (according to NY Times)

List by The New York Times Best Sellers list

"There is a great deal of difference between an eager man who wants to read a book and a tired man who wants a book to read.
- G.K. Chesterton

Howdy & gidday! Just a quick post for today that might be useful for those of you feeling the need for a nonfiction read. Quite an eclectic mix and, hopefully, a little something for everyone.

Honourable mention:

From this moment on / Shania Twain by Shania Twain

Unbroken : an extraordinary true story of courage and survival by Laura Hillenbrand

The heart and the fist : the education of a humanitarian, the making of a Navy SEAL by Eric R. Greitens

My lucky life in and out of show business : a memoir by Dick Van Dyke

Onward : how Starbucks fought for its life without losing its soul by Howard Schultz with Joanne Gordon

5 books that helped me explain ANZAC Day to Mr 12 and Mr 13

List by Tosca

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them."
- For the Fallen by Laurence Binyon

I've taken part in a few dawn parades and ANZAC memorial services over the years and have read numerous books about life back then but it has always seemed as if it were all one step removed. I have felt such overwhelming sadness for so many lives lost, thinking that these soldiers were young and brave and foolhardy and probably oh so very scared. As much as I have understood why we remember such a time, I have never really felt it. At least, not until this year. Whether it's age, frame of mind or the company I had at the time, I'm not sure. I have always found it quite hard to know how to describe ANZAC Day to the nephews and I've often thought that I do it a disservice when I recite the timeline in such a dry matter-of-fact way with no actual feeling for the people involved. The 'how' and the 'who' seems easily enough said, but trying to explain what motivated soldiers to enlist - going off to war, far from family, fighting, unaware if they were going to live or die that day, the next day, the day after... - that's not so easy to do. I've no idea how much of it all my nephews truly understood beforehand and, unlike many friends and acquaintances, we have no personal knowledge of any family members who fought in the war, so other than a general sense of empathy and sadness it often seems like they (we?) view it rather objectively. This year, in an effort to be able to answer any questions they might possibly have about ANZAC Day, I raided our collections for a mix of books that would, hopefully, help explain the day itself in particular, and the war in general. I rounded up a whole heap and, with the nephews, spent a long time going through each title (where Mr 7's input was very much missed). By the end, Mr 12 and Mr 13 were rather subdued and reflective and (maybe?) somewhat wiser. Unfortunately, we couldn't spend the day together this year as the boys would be with the grandparents in Taipa, so we've made a date to take part in our local memorial service in 2012, an activity we've never done together. We don't profess that these are the top 5 of everything we have on this topic, but they are certainly 5 resources that helped.

Top 5 New Zealand non-fiction recommendations

List by ex-Manukau Research Library and Central Services staff

'For me each day starts with the same ritual - drawing the curtains and gazing out to sea, often for just a split second, or, if I'm lucky, for a minute or two. I find it's like checking on a friend...'
~ From 'Go fish', by Al Brown

Like the New Zealand fiction recommendations, the 5 books below are the favourite picks of local library staff, and really only just a drop in the bucket of great NZ titles... they aren't so much a 'Top 5' as a sampler platter of the 'Top 1' for each of the staff who responded. Non-fiction covers so much ground, so we've got biographies, gardeners, grandmas, an artist and a chef, as well as an award-winning sharing of traditional teachings and local history.

Top 5 hardcover nonfiction bestsellers for March 10 according to NPR.org

List by NPR.org

"To choose a good book, look in an inquisitor’s prohibited list."
- John Aikin

There are easier ways to choose books, I assure you! You can ask library staff - we don't bite, we're relatively friendly and, even better, we love to talk about books - or you can do what I do: try a variety of reputable websites for 'what to read next' ideas. In this instance, I visited NPR for a list of possible nonfiction reads. These days I'm mostly about fiction (and romance fiction at that) so I apologise to the non-romance readers among us who would prefer something with a little more literary weight. Et voilà! Here are the top 5 hardcover nonfiction bestsellers for March 10 according to NPR.org.

Honourable mention:

Life by Keith Richards with James Fox

Townie by Andrew Dubus III

The immortal life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Autobiography of Mark Twain. Volume 1 by Mark Twain, Harriet Elinor Smith, Benjamin Griffin

The information : a history, a theory, a flood by James Gleick

Top 5 new book covers and titles that caught my eye on a sneaky visit down to see cataloguing staff

List by Tosca

"It is what you read when you don't have to that determines what you will be when you can't help it."
- Oscar Wilde

I heart new books! I've often been told that to admit that makes me sound terribly naive. To be honest, I don't care if it does. When I was first interviewed for a library assistant position 8 years ago with Manukau Libraries I was asked, 'Why do you want to work in libraries?' and, like a true hick, I replied, 'Because I love books.' And I do, I really do. It wasn't long though before I realised that, even better than indulging my own love of books, I was able to help others do the same. I enjoy face-to-face readers' advisory with customers. There's something particularly satisfying about seeing people make connections with books. It's the one reason I've stayed in libraries so long. These days I don't work at a branch customer service desk like I used to so being able to recommend books through this blog and via some of the eNewsletters I edit is the icing on the cake of my job, and I live to take ten or fifteen minutes out of the day to skip down to visit cataloguing staff and raid their trolleys for ideas. I'm conflicted, though. I'm not quite sure which gives me the greatest kick: the new books trolley or seeing staff :) This list is little more than my most recent 'DO WANT' list for pretty covers and/or quirky titles.

Honourable mention:

Nostradamus & the third Antichrist : Napoleon, Hitler and the one still to come by Mario Reading - totally made this list for the title alone

Top 5 authors, dvds, musicians, songs and tv series that remind me of Trace

List by Tosca

"No one can confidently say that he will still be living tomorrow."
- Euripides

On 11 March 2009, staff at Manurewa Library lost a much loved friend and colleague to cancer. I remember the day we received the phone call. I remember what we were all doing. Most of all, I remember that we were numb with shock and pain and grief. It was a heartbreaking and devastating blow for all of us. This post is nothing more than a chance to remember a friend.

Top 5 China in Your Hands

List by Annie

"Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us."
- Hal Borland

It’s Chinese New Year – and how better to celebrate and acknowledge this event, than by reading some of these books set in China. Whether they’re historical or fantastic, they’re worth checking out.

Top 5 bestselling Random House ebooks of 2010

I heart books! If you're a regular reader of this blog then you'll also know that I feel no guilt or shame whatsoever about cyber-stalking authors, publishing houses, reviewers etc. in an effort to ferret out any and all up-and-coming titles, snippets of info and gossip. Hey, it's a dirty job but somebody's gotta do it, right? This morning while clearing a multitude of RSS feeds I read that Random House's combined ebook sales over 25 Dec 2010/26 Dec 2010 are up 300% over this time last year. That's phenomenal! Being terribly nosey I headed on over to their site to see just what ebooks people are buying. 'Cause I'm voyeuristic like that :) And before you start squawking yes, I'm fully aware that we don't offer ebooks yet, but the titles still make for interesting viewing - after all, I wasn't expecting that Larsson's 'Millennium trilogy' would round out the top 3 spots. I've taken a bit of liberty with Random House's original list and, for the purposes of this blog, have placed all 3 together as #1. As far as the actual list itself goes I only have one teeny, tiny complaint and it's this: Dear Random House, you are solely responsible for ensuring that my TBR (to be read) pile is approaching gargantuan proportions. Take a bow! :)