Library Staff Picks!
Are you ready for a good read, but not sure where to start looking? Or tired of reading the same old thing you always read? Well, here’s where you can expand your horizons by checking out one of our “staff picks” to read inside on a snowy day, or outside when it’s warm and sunny. (Hey, you never know what the weather will be like in Illinois!)
Check back here each month to read the library favorites from one of the many departments on campus!
March 2009:
Music Department!
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A Mixture of Frailties
by Robertson Davies
Request this title through Interlibrary Loan!
Click here
“In this book Robertson Davies crafts a novel that gives insight into the eccentric world of classical music as we follow a young soprano from rural Canada as she travels to London, aided by an endowment left by an eccentric benefactress, to become a singer. Davies was the head of Massey College at the University of
Toronto, an actor at the Old Vic Theater in London, a novelist and a playwright. His books are required reading in Canada and were a huge influence on the writing of John Irving.”
– Recommended by Nicole Leupp, Professor of Opera Studio and Studio Voice
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The Lyre of Orpheus
by Robertson Davies
Request this title through Interlibrary Loan!
Click here!
“Much like A Mixture of Frailties, the backdrop
of the Lyre of Orpheus is the world of classical music. In this case, a young composition student is given a grant to write and produce a new opera. The characters involved from those on the foundation who
provide the money, the performers, conductor and librettist are expertly drawn. I’ve never found another author who writes so well about the chaotic world of the arts and the bizarre, eccentric characters one encounters therein.”
– Recommended by Nicole Leupp, Professor of Opera Studio and Studio Voice
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The Song of the Lark
by Willa Cather
PS 3505 .A87 S66
“Willa Cather’s prose is some of the most beautiful I’ve ever read. She was a great lover of the arts and in
this book traces the life of a young singer from humble roots in Colorado to international fame. This book is based loosely on the life of Wagnerian soprano, Olive Fremstad. It’s a true American classic.”
– Recommended by Nicole Leupp, Professor of Opera Studio and Studio Voice
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This is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession 
by Daniel J. Levitin
ML 3830 .L38 2007
“An excellent explanation of how the brain understands and learns music – in terms that anyone can understand. Levitin was a rock musician and producer before he began studying the brain and neural science – quite a combination.”
– Recommended by Neal Smith, Professor of Music
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Thoughts in Solitude
by Thomas Merton
Request this title through Interlibrary Loan!
Click here!
“There’s no one better than Thomas Merton, a Catholic priest who studies zen, to remind us of the importance of silence and contemplation.”
– Recommended by Neal Smith, Professor of Music
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Summer Music op31
by Samuel Barber
DISC .B234 SUM
“A few of my favorite things.”
– Recommended by Tina Nicholson, Associate Professor of Oboe
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Oboe Concert K314
by Heinz Holliger
CDISC .M 1040 .M693 K.Anh9M37
“A few of my favorite things.”
– Recommended by Tina Nicholson, Associate Professor of Oboe
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The Rest is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century
by Alex Ross
ML 197 .R76 2007
“”The Rest is Noise,” Alex Ross’ history of music in the 20th century. It is excellent reading for anyone interested in concert music, it’s relationship to popular music, its social and political contexts, and the characters and personalities of those involved with its creation and performance. This book has been highly and justly honored and praised.”
– Recommended by Michael Luxner, Professor of Music
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Pale Fire; a novel.
by Vladimir Vladimirovich Nabokov
PS 3527.A15 P35
“Nabokov’s “Pale Fire” is one of my favorite works of narrative fiction. I’d call it a novel, but it’s not that easy to classify. It’s funny and engaging, richly textured but not dense, and amazingly inventive in the way it spins its web, without calling attention to its own technique. A one-of-a-kind read, with special pleasures for denizens of academia who don’t take themselves too seriously.”
– Recommended by Michael Luxner, Professor of Music
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February 2009:
Education Department!
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Snake Oil Science: The Truth About Complementary and Alternative Medicine
by R. Barker Bausell
R 733 .B29 2007
“The author of this book has been a leader in testing the claims made by companies that develop and market products and “therapies” that claim to cure a wide range of ailments. His evidence to refute many of these popular claims is impressive, but I found the most interesting part of the book to be the extensive coverage of placebos – the history of understanding placebos and how that information can be useful to us in everyday life.”
– Recommended by Dr. Ray Boehmer, Associate Professor
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Evolution for Everyone
by David Sloan Wilson
B 818 .W665 2007
“This is a very readable book that points out how evolution affects our lives and societies ranging from the development of antibiotics to warfare. Well written with an extensive bibliography.”
– Recommended by Dr. Ray Boehmer, Associate Professor
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Pedagogy of the Oppressed
by Paolo Freire
request this title through interlibrary loan!
to do so, check out this link: http://tinyurl.com/amhyoq
“Freire provides American schools with a road map for improving the quality of education. A great book for educators of all age levels.”
– Recommended by Geralyn Yu, Professor
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The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey
by Candice Millard
request this title through interlibrary loan!
to do so, check out this link: http://tinyurl.com/cczm9r
“I like the River of Doubt because it is a true adventure story about Teddy Roosevelt’s camping trip in the darkest, deepest jungles of South America. I couldn’t even believe how they travelled and survived with the equipment that they brought and the physical challenges they were up against.”
– Recommended by Nan Gaylen, Director & Associate Professor
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The Little Book
by Selden Edwards
request this title through interlibrary loan!
to do so, check out this link: http://tinyurl.com/b9zx7n
“The Little Book is a wonderful historical fiction novel about time travel. A rock and roll star from the 80’s goes back in time to Vienna, Austria in the years preceding WWII. It is filled with actual historic events about that time period but it is also mind-boggling how time travel complicates everyone’s life.”
– Recommended by Nan Gaylen, Director & Associate Professor
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Running with Scissors : a memoir
by Augusten Burroughs
PS 3552 .U745 Z477 2002
“really entertaining, about an unusual childhood, a lot of humorous moments…a good escape.”
– Recommended by Dr. Georgette Page, Assistant Professor, Early Childhood Education
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The Last Lecture
by Randy Pausch with Jeffrey Zaslow
QA 76.2 .P38 A3 2008b
“Powerful study in figuring out what’s important, what’s not…written by an extraordinary professor, who lost his battle with pancreatic cancer. This book swims around in my head a lot…”
– Recommended by Dr. Georgette Page, Assistant Professor, Early Childhood Education
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Old Bones the Wonder Horse
by Mildred Mastin Pace
JUV. PZ10.3 .P12 OL
“I also love to re-read children’s books and have recently checked out and am reading Old Bones from the library. It was one of my favorites when I was in third grade.”
– Recommended by Dr. Georgette Page, Assistant Professor, Early Childhood Education
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The Shack
by Wm. Paul Young
request this book through interlibrary loan!
to do so, check out this link: http://tinyurl.com/d8qqk7
“It is an amazing story that is creatively written to take you to the heart of God. It invites you to come closer to God so that He can show you His mercy, love, hope, and healing for the world.”
– Recommended by Marilyn Yokel, Lecturer
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December 2008:
Biology Department!
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The Private Life of Plants
with David Attenborough
vol. 1 = A-V QK 661 .B7162 1995
vol. 2 = A-V QH 546.3 .P877 1995
vol. 3 = A-V QH 471 .B4742 1995
vol. 4 = A-V. QH 546 .P6516 1995
vol. 5 = A-V QH 548.3 .L5856 1995
vol. 6 = A-V QK 901 .I7475 1995
accompanying book – QK 50. A77 1995
“My favorite video series is Private Life of Plants’ with David Attenborough. He presents plants as dynamic and fascinating organisms.”
– Recommended by Dr. Judy Parrish, Chair and Associate Professor of Biology
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The Long Walk to Freedom
by Nelson Mandela
DT 1949 .M35 A3 1995
“My favorite book remains Nelson Mandela’s ‘The Long Walk to Freedom’, largely because it shows how a clear thinking human being can overcome amazing atrocities and avoid bitterness to change the world. Obama’s journey has not been nearly as difficult, but that may be in part to the shoulders he stands on!”
– Recommended by Dr. Judy Parrish, Chair and Associate Professor, Plant Ecology
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Guns, Germs, and Steel 
by Jared Diamond
HM 206 .D48 2003
“It brought evolution to life for me in ways standard texts couldn’t.”
– Recommended by Dr. Jeffrey Hughes, Professor, Microbiology and Virology
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Team of Rivals 
by Doris Kearns Goodwin
E457.45 .G66 2005
“My most recent reading outside science.”
– Recommended by Dr. Terry Matthews, Professor, Genetics
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Planet Earth video series
by BBC & Discovery Channel
A-V. QL50 .P526 2007
“I would highly recommend the Planet Earth video series. Not only are the images amazing, but it gives us a glimpse at some places in nature we have never seen before!”
– Recommended by Prof. Roslyn O’Conner, Instructor, Laboratory Manager
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Creation : An Appeal to Save Life on Earth
by Edward O. Wilson.
QH303 .W55 2006
The Selfish Gene
by Richard Dawkins
QH437 .D38
Ancestor’s Tale : A Pilgrimage to the Dawn of Evolution
by Richard Dawkins
QH361 .D39 2004
Bully for Brontosaurus : Reflections in Natural History
by Stephen Jay Gould
QH45.5 .G681991
“My most favorite reading in biology is anything written by E.O. Wilson, Richard Dawkins, or Stephen J. Gould.”
– Recommended by Dr. Terry Matthews, Professor, Genetics
April 2008
————————————————————————————————————–The Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
by J.K. Rowling
JUV. PZ7.R79835 H39 2007
This is the final book in the Harry Potter series and definitely makes the entire series. You finally get the answers you were looking for.
– Recommended by Rachel, Library Student Worker
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The Informant
by Kurt Eichenwald
HV8144 .F43 E53 2000
Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), a multinational food processing conglomerate based here in Decatur, was the subject of the largest price fixing scandal in United States history. A true account of the characters involved during the 1990’s time period, this book is now the basis of a movie that will be filmed in central Illinois this spring starring Matt Damon.
– Recommended by Joe Hardenbrook, Educational Technology Coordinator & Research/Instruction Librarian
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How to Survive an Atomic Bomb
by Richard Gerstell
UF767 .G39
Out of Post WWII, Korea, and Cold War fear, this book from 1950 is chock-full of un-scientifically-true, yet very reassuring, advice about how to survive during and after an atomic bomb attack. Remember, as it says in the preface- “If an atomic attack does come, this book may save your life.”
– Recommended by Debbie Myers, Instructional Services Coordinator & Research/Instruction Librarian
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Beach Road
by James Patterson
PS3566.A822 B433 2006
I love Beach Road because it’s an “easy read”. The chapters are suspenseful and move quickly. James Patterson, always has a unpredictable twist in the end. This book is worth your time and a great way to relax in between studies.
– Recommended by Andrea Carter, Circulation Associate
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The Sandman: Endless Nights
by Neil Gaiman
PN6727.G37 S26 2003
I love this novel. The illustrations are beautiful! In addition to the wonderful art, the stories Neil Gaiman writes are full of Desire, Despair, Death and all other human emotions. If you were to ever read a graphic novel this is one to grab. My favorite story is ” Dream”.
– Recommended by Nicole G., Library Student Worker
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Eat Drink Man Woman
Dir. by Ang Lee
A-V. PN1995.9.F67 E36 2000
Ange Lee at his best. The title says it all about this tale of an aging widower (and Chinese chef) in Taiwan and his relationship with his three daughters and all of their awkward romantic escapades. The food is the backdrop and you’ll want some Chinese takeout as you’ll get hungry as you watch the movie!
– Recommended by Todd Rudat, Archives & Research Associate
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The Butter Battle Book
by Dr. Seuss
JUV. PZ8.3.G276 B8 1984
This book is a cautionary tale about intolerance and how hate and war can escalate to preposterous proportions. Its message is as timely today as when Seuss wrote it during the Cold War.
– Recommended by Gavena Dahlman, Circulation Associate
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Die Brücke (The Bridge)
Directed by Bernhard Wicki
A-V. PN1995.9.F67 B73 1995
I know, a black and white movie with subtitles! But honestly, take a chance and watch this powerful true story of lost youth and the ravages of war.
– Recommended by Todd Rudat, Archives & Research Associate
March 2008
————————————————————————————————————–The Memoirs of a Beautiful Boy
by Robert Leleux
PS3612 .E44 Z46 2008
OK, I admit it. Sometimes my emotions border on Schadenfreude (does that make me a bad person? Never mind; I do not want to know). However, in Leleux’s memoir, you can’t help but to feel for him. Abandoned by his father when he was a teen, left with no money, and the responsibility to rein in his over the top mother with a penchant for plastic surgery, each day is a new challenge for Leleux. First he needs to break free from his mother, all while she tracks down a new, rich husband. Then he discovers something about himself that was obvious to most others. If you like David Sedaris or Augusten Burroughs, then you will enjoy this. A fast read: great book for Spring Break!
– Recommended by Joe Hardenbrook, Educational Technology Coordinator & Research/Instruction Librarian
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Heaven Lake
by John Dalton
PS3604 .A4355 H43 2004
I read Heaven Lake last year before traveling to China. After having read the excellent reviews, I eagerly looked forward to learning about Chinese culture through this novel, described as “an evocative, beautiful exploration of modern-day China,” and “powerful and rewarding reading,” (Booklist 2/1/2004). It is easy to get engrossed in the story of Vincent, a young college graduate from Illinois who decides to go to China to do church work and teach English. Be forewarned: this is not a tale of a squeaky-clean missionary! While working and traveling in China, Vincent sinks to levels he thought himself incapable of, but finds that he is able to rise above his transgressions to become more self-aware, confident, and capable of love. Heaven Lake, Dalton’s first novel, certainly lived up to its reviews.
– Recommended by Cindy Fuller, Library Director
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The Sneetches and Other Stories
by Dr. Seuss
JUV. PZ8.3. G276 S4 1989
Dr. Seuss is one of my all time faves. His creative words, rhyming style, and illustrated characters always amazed me as a child. Even today, his books make me smile because, as always, his zany characters are rooted with deeper meaning.
– Recommended by Nicole G., Library Student Worker
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