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Reading Rescue, May 2007: Some Memorial Books
By Anne Allen and Mary Anne Fulmer
 Memorial
Day is a time to look back, think about the past, and remember those who
are no longer with us. At the library, one way we do that is through
memorial books, those books that are purchased through gifts made when a
loved one is lost. Every year we add these books in a variety of
categories, and it is enlightening to take time and look at recent
additions.
Several months ago, a local family sadly lost a daughter
after a battle with cancer. Among other purchases in her memory is one
reflecting her strong interest in soccer, David Beckham's Soccer
Skills (796.3342 BEC). This book is filled with handsome color
photos of Mr. Beckham, working with children at his soccer academy, on
the field during soccer matches, and demonstrating the techniques he
discusses in the book. He relates his history as a player and tells
stories about other famous soccer players, but primarily this is a book
for people seeking to improve their play and benefit from a superstar's
tips.
Many times a family tells us the person loved golf. John
Feinstein's latest book, Tales from Q School: Inside Golf's Fifth
Major (796.352 FEI) was a recent purchase. Feinstein covers the 2005
PGA Tour qualifying school, where 1205 entrants have paid money in hopes
of earning exempt status and playing with the big boys. Only the top 30
and ties will succeed, and it is a long struggle, with different stages
and cuts after each one. All kinds show up for Q school: kids just out
of college with nothing to lose, long-time pros who have fallen on hard
times, players who have been knocking around the mini-tours for a while,
and amateurs with careers who just want to give it a shot. Feinstein
always has great stories to tell and the ability to get the players to
open up to him. This book is a pleasure to read, even though some of the
stories are touching and sad.
Sometimes a book is purchased to honor someone, perhaps
on a birthday or anniversary. Last year, a long time library volunteer
was honored with the book The A to Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants
(R635.9 AME). Published by Dorling Kindersley, it has DK's trademark
glossy paper and wonderful photographs, making this a terrific plant
identifier. The book begins with information about the different plant
groups (trees, shrubs, orchids, bulbs, and grasses, among others). The
next section has the plant entries, which range from a couple of
paragraphs to 7 pages for a subject like narcissus. There are hardiness
and heat zone maps, and an index of common plant names. Shelved in the
reference section, this book is available for in-library use only, but
it is a wonderful source for information about the plants that we grow.
A memorial for a person who had worked in a library,
Sheridan Hay's novel, The Secret of Lost Things, tells the story
of Rosemary Savage, a young girl from Tasmania who is being raised by
her single mother and a friend who owns a used bookstore. When 17 year
old Rosemary's mother dies, she is sent by the family friend to New York
City to make her way and see the world. She gets a job in a huge used
bookstore, "The Arcade", owned by Mr. Pike. Pike has the habit of
referring to himself in the third person and has an obsession with
theft. The cashier is awaiting a sex-change operation, the manager is an
albino, and the handsome young man in the non-fiction section is an
expert on fabrics. Rosemary fits right in with her flaming red hair and
Australian accent, and finds herself involved in a hunt for a long-lost
manuscript by Herman Melville. This is a fascinating picture of the book
world, with collectors on the prowl, reviewers selling the free copies
they've been sent to write about, and the New York Public Library used
for research. Rosemary is a compelling main character, and the book is a
lot of fun to read.
In How Doctors Think (610 GRO), Jerome Groopman
describes the tools doctors use to make diagnoses and offer suggestions
the patient can use to communicate better. Along the way, he interviews
a variety of doctors about mistakes they have made and how they have
corrected their techniques to improve treating their patients. Groopman,
who is a doctor married to a doctor, had a series of accidents that left
him with a wrist that was red, swollen, and painful. He began a round of
doctor visits and tried several courses of treatment after a variety of
diagnoses. His own experiences led him to try to figure out how doctors
use the information they are given, how they get off track, and how a
patient can help themselves and the doctor do the best job. Groopman
also writes for "The New Yorker" and has a clear style and the ability
to explain the different medical terms he uses. He tells us what to look
for in a doctor and how business (insurance and pharmaceutical
companies) plays a part in the treatment we receive. Donated by the
family of a cancer victim, this book is a must read for anyone who has
dealings with a doctor, for themselves, a child or a parent.
The Summer Reading program is just around the corner,
with registration beginning June 4. Amnesty Week will begin the same day
and actually last two weeks this time. The next Harry Potter party is
scheduled for July, in conjunction with the release of the final book in
the series and the latest film. The Friends of the Library thank all
those who helped make their latest used book sale a huge success. As
always, send your comments and questions to
mfulmer@pennlib.org.
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