Resurrecting the Classics

There are a number of characters having surfaced across the ages of literature who remain as timeless and relevant as ever. Either because of some essential relatibility or enduring charm, they have staved off the onset of being lost and forgotten among the personalities of so many unremembered stories. Not only are they still familiar to us in their original contexts but many have even been re-imagined by modern authors who, captivated by their tales, felt that their inken journeys were yet unfinished.

Jane Austen's Elizabeth Bennet first seen in Pride and Prejudice is perhaps the most oft' revisited character in English literature having inspired at least five film adaptations including a 1940 film with Mary Boland, the BBC television special starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth, the more recent film featuring Keira Knightley, the Bollywood inspired film Bride and Prejudice, and not least of all Bridget Jones's Diary (inspired by the book by Helen Fielding which was a modern re-imagining of Bennet's story).

But Austen's most well-loved story has not only been revisited on-screen. In fact there are many authors still writing who have picked up the story of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy where Austen left off. The beloved Mystery writer P.D. James recently published Death Comes to Pemberley wherein James imagines that Darcy's foe Wickham has been murdered and chaos ensues. Sharon Lathan also picked up where Austen left off in her Darcy saga which begins with Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy. Carrie Bebris writes mysteries featuring the literary power couple--her series kicks off with Pride and Prescience.

But Elizabeth Bennet is not the only character to have had an entire sub-genre of fan-fiction unfold on her behalf.

If you enjoyed The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Jon Clinch's Finn explores the seedy characters surrounding Huck's father.

For fans of Sherlock Holmes Nick Rennison has compiled an Unauthorized Biography, imagining a Victorian London wherein Holmes was a real-life figure. In the anthology The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes beloved authors such as Stephen King and Peter Lovesey each contribute a new Holmes adventure. BBC has envisioned a modern retelling of the adventures of Holmes and Watson in the new television series Sherlock.

For those who prefer modern adventure James Bond and Jason Bourne have long outlived their authors.Carte Blanche (2011) sees Agent 007 going strong re-imagined by Jeffrey Deaver nearly half a century after the death of Ian Flemming who originally penned Bond's exploits. The Bourne Imperative (2012) is the most recent installment in Robert Ludlum's acclaimed series written by Eric Lustbader eleven years after Ludlum's passing. Both series have (of course) spawned lucrative film franchises which begin respectively with Dr. No and  The Bourne Identity.

Audiobooks - Free, Fun and for the Teen in all of us.

Inspired library staff would like you to know about a summer audiobook program for young adult (an older!) listeners that has been organized by the audiobook industry, and the company Overdrive - MyMediaMall. It's called Sync. It's easy to use and has the feeling of community built in -- like a Summer Reading Club. Two specially selected MP3 audiobook titles a week can be downloaded and enjoyed throughout the summer. Listen after the day is done. Listen around the kitchen table as a family. Take a walk with a great storyteller narrating through your earbuds.


The books each week include a popular contemporary title and a related classic title. Since these have been chosen by the audiobook publishers to promote their industry, they are the best of the lot with talented actors as readers. The idea of pairing contemporary and classic titles invites discussion.


It's easy to get started, especially if you have already used Overdrive MyMediaMall audiobooks from the library. All the how-to's are on the Sync website, but basically you download the Overdrive Media Console to your computer or use the APP for your mobile device. From then on just download the audiobook offerings from audiobooksync.com. Once downloaded you can listen to the titles all summer.

I'm impressed with this private/public program. Let us know if you are too. Write us at readersservicesdesk@dppl.org

Current and Upcoming Titles

July 5 – July 11, 2012
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake, Read by August Ross
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins, Read by Ian Holm

July 12 – July 18, 2012
Guys Read: Funny Business by Jon Scieszka [Ed.] et al., Read by Michael Boatman, Kate DiCamillo, John Keating, Jon Scieszka, Bronson Pinchot
The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County and Other Stories by Mark Twain, Read by Norman Dietz

July 19 – July 25, 2012
Cleopatra’s Moon by Vicky Alvear Shecter, Read by Kirsten Potter
Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare, Read by a Full Cast

July 26 – August 1, 2012
Pinned by Alfred C. Martino, Read by Mark Shanahan
Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson

August 2 – August 8, 2012
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor, Read by Khristine Hvam
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, Read by Simon Prebble

August 9 – August 15, 2012
Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy, Read by Rupert Degas
Dead Men Kill by L. Ron Hubbard, Read by Jennifer Aspen and a Full Cast

August 16 – August 22, 2012
The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera, Read by Jay Laga’aia
The Call of the Wild by Jack London, Read by William Roberts

Battle of the Bands- This Friday!

Summer is, in my opinion, the best time to be at the library. The magazines and light beach-reads are plentiful, the AC is always a giant relief in 100 degree weather, and best of all, during the Summer Reading Club, it seems like there is always a great event going on at the library. Take this week for example-- this Friday (July 6) is Battle of the Bands right here on Ellinwood, outside the library! It starts at 6pm, and features several local teen bands.

The line-up so far includes:

Dive Bomber
Peyote River
Saving Sanity
Inferno
Storm the Front
Serendipity


Come eat pizza (courtesy of the Des Plaines Park District), hang out, and vote for your favorite group. Who knows, you might discover a new favorite band!