LEGOs

In the fall of 1991, as a birthday present from my parents, I received LEGO set number 6062. The set - part of the Castle theme series - featured a small fortified wall under attack from a battering ram. After building the set and running through a series of small skirmishes, I quickly destroyed the wall and battering ram and began reassembling the bricks.

I was hooked. These little plastic bricks were the coolest thing ever. Over the next few years, I amassed quite a collection. (My obsession with LEGO made me very easy to buy presents for. “What do you want for your birthday, Matthew?" LEGOs! “What do you want for Christmas, Matthew?" LEGOs! This pattern held for five or six years.)

Slowly and subtly, my love for LEGO waned as I went through middle school.  My collection was kept in a large tub and filed away in a closet. There they sat, neglected for years while I attended college, got married, began paying my own utilities - the stuff of adulthood. I like to imagine my LEGO minifigs (the little 1-inch tall LEGO men) came alive in my absence - Toy Story-like - waiting for my return. They kept their swords sharp, and their horses groomed and fed, knowing that the Dark Ages in the back of the closet would not last forever. 

Several years ago, while visiting my parents, I found that tub of LEGO bricks. I took it home and began reassembling my sets in a corner of my basement. That corner is fast becoming full of castles and marauding armies of sword and spear wielding minifigs. I’ve assembled a race track and some Indy style cars to speed along it. My wife - bless her - even got me a LEGO set for Christmas, the first Christmas morning in 15 years that I’ve had the the thrilling experience of opening a new LEGO set.

Which brings me to this delightful book - LEGO: A Love Story by Jonathan Bender. Bender is roughly my age and had a similar experience in transitioning from a child to adult fan of LEGO. His memoir-via-toys narrative is full of funny and eye-opening encounters  as he ventures into the world of the AFOL (Adult Fan of LEGO).

So, whether you’re a child or adult fan, in need some inspiration for your LEGO building, be sure to also check out these books and magazines from the Library:

LEGO Club magazine

The Unofficial LEGO builder’s guide by Allan Bedford

The LEGO ideas book: unlock your imagination by Daniel Lipkowitz



~Matthew

Children's Books for Adults

Jan recently wrote about classic children’s tales and reading to your kids. While I totally agree with her about story time with children should be non-ironic, I personally love children’s picture books that have hidden adult meanings, or children’s-style picture books written for adults. Here are some of my favorites; parental guidance is suggested!

The Amphigorey Series by Edward Gorey. These books are filled with fabulous black and white ink illustrations and dark humor at its finest. This will sound crazy if you don’t know anything about these books, but if you are a fan of morbid humor and the alphabet, you will be trying to buy these with your rent money after reading them.

Go the F* to Sleep by Adam Mansbach. Yes, here it is. The f-bomb in all its glory, I know. However, if you have children, you will most definitely identify with this story. Told from a father’s point of view, this lovely book is a rhyming plea for his child to just go to bed already. Just don’t read this when your kids are taking a nap…your laughter will surely wake them up.

It’s a Book! by Lane Smith. In a world of computers, smart phones, Bluetooth, iPads, and Skype, where do books fit in? I think they fit in quite well, if your brain isn’t too fried to read one. This book is okay for kids, if they are old enough to understand the humor at the end.

All My Friends Are Dead by Avery Monsen. Aw, so sad! All Dinosaur’s friends are dead. All the pirate’s friends have scurvy. This is a book about the downside of being anything, which is funny and sad all wrapped up in a cute 96 page picture book.

Children Make Terrible Pets by Peter Brown.  A very cute picture book written for kids, but is such a good one, I couldn’t resist it. Lucy the bear finds a boy in the woods and takes him home. Mama bear warns her that “Children make terrible pets.” The pictures are fabulous and the story hilarious. I honestly wish I could see a bear with a kid as a pet.

Dick and Jane and Vampires by Laura Marchesani. Written and illustrated in the style of Dick and Jane, this book includes (gasp) a Vampire!  Don’t worry, there’s a happy ending. Spoiler alert: you will also see Spot run.

Goodnight iPad by Ann Droyd. A clever parody of Goodnight Moon, this book takes a peek at all the electronics in our everyday lives. Brightly illustrated and full of pop-culture references, it’s a fun, two minute read.

These are all humorous books that will lighten up any bookshelf in the house…just make sure that they’re out of the kids’ reach!


~Michelle

Are You a Jason Bourne Fan?

With the new movie The Bourne Legacy soon to be released, I decided to revisit the first book of the series, The Bourne Identity. When initially approaching the thought of reading the book, I wondered if I would get lost in the details as there are many places and faces. The result was quite the opposite. This intense action packed thriller was such a great read I had trouble putting it down.  If you have ever dreamed of becoming a super spy there is plenty of opportunity to live vicariously through the characters and work undercover. As a man searches through his memories to find his identity, the plot thickens and the answer is not so simple. You play the detective and figure out who the mysterious Jason Bourne really is!  Read the whole series:

The Bourne Identity

The Bourne Supremacy

The Bourne Ultimatum

The Bourne Legacy













~Emily

Maureen's Favorite Books From 2012... So Far

Since we're already over halfway through 2012 (and HOW did that happen?), I thought I'd talk a little bit about the books I've enjoyed so far this year.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein: I find it difficult to talk rationally about this book, because I love it so much. It's not necessarily for everyone, but it's amazing. It begins with the narrative of a young British woman captured by the Gestapo during World War II. I can't tell you anything else, or I'll spoil it, but it's all about friendship and trust and bravery. If you manage to get through it without needing tissues, I'll be highly surprised. (For a lot more about this book, see here: http://bysinginglight.wordpress.com/tag/code-name-verity/)

Team Human by Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan: If you've ever thought that vampire stories are cool in theory, but not so much in real life, this might be the book for you! This hilarious and slightly snarky book explores what might happen if a vampire actually attended high school. But it also unexpectedly moving, as our narrator has to face her own prejudices when her best friend falls in love with the vampire.

The Book of Blood & Shadow by Robin Wasserman: a YA thriller, complete with secret societies and international travel. The teenage angst is the icing on the cake. Actually, though, this is a great quick read and has enough heart (and smarts) to keep it from feeling too fluffy. Recommended for anyone who enjoys a heart-pounding read.

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman: It’s hard to believe this is a debut novel. The writing is pitch perfect from the beginning and I loved the setting, with its cosmopolitan feel and different groups interacting. It also manages to feel both fresh and comfortingly old-fashioned. It’s a book I would have absolutely adored as a teenager and liked a lot now. Plus, DRAGONS!

So far 2012 has been a great year for books—hopefully that trend will continue!


~Maureen