Fiction_L Archives Content Novels Dates: 3/28/01,3:42 PM  through  4/2/01,10:15 AM  (48 postings) Search for: Select one or more indexes to search: 2011-current     2009-2010     2004-2008    1995-2003    (Matches from each index will be displayed separately in the results page.) Return to March 2001 thread menu   |   Fiction_L Archives Menu

FROM: "Dowdy, Jill L." <[removed]@mayo.edu>
REC'D: 3/28/01, 3:42 PM

I am a graduate student at the College of St. Catherine working on my MLIS.
The professor for our Readers Advisory course has asked us read what she
calls a "content" novel this week. She has defined this as a work of fiction
in which the reader learns something new. An example is A Conspiracy of
Paper by David Liss, which includes information about stock trading, bond
selling and insider trading. Other types of books would include learning
about another culture, geographical place, or subject. This does not need to
be historical fiction and the credentials of the author could also be an
important factor. For example, The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
was about a missionary family in the Congo. Barbara Kingsolver went to the
congo with her family as a child to be missionaries, she incorporated the
political history of the Congo in the book, and she included a bibliography
of sources she consulted to write the book. I have already read Memoirs of a
Geisha and The Dress Lodger, both of which I would consider a content novel.
Does anyone have any other suggestions for this type of book written in the
past five years?
Thank you for your help,
Jill Dowdy
Rochester, MN

FROM: "Jeanne Meyer" <[removed]@nslsilus.org>
REC'D: 3/28/01, 3:52 PM

The Map of Love by Ahdaf Soueif is a wonderful novel that teaches
the reader about Egyptian history and culture.
Jeanne Meyer
Readers' Services
Des Plaines Public Library

FROM: "Deb Warner" <[removed]@co.durham.nc.us>
REC'D: 3/28/01, 4:04 PM

Sandra Gulland has a trilogy of not-too-long novels about Josephine
Boneparte that she spent years researching: THE MANY LIVES AND SECRET
SORROWS OF JOSEPHINE B., TALES OF PASSION, TALES OF WOE, THE LAST GREAT
DANCE ON EARTH. They follow her from Martinique through her arranged
marriage with a future leader of the Revolution and the courtship, marriage
and later history of involvement with the Big Nap. Certain details are
footnoted and bibliographical references are included. They are also quite
engaging reads.

There is also a new novel by Lanie Katz Becker, DEAR STRANGER, DEAREST
FRIEND, the subject of which is breast cancer. The story is of two women who
meet through an e-mail chat room for women with breast cancer and is made up
mostly of their e-mails. Katz is herself a survivor and she has made an
effort to provide as much up to date information as possible. An extensive
bibliography is included in the back. While not having the cachet of some
"serious literature", it certainly has content.

FROM: Mary Ann Bakken <[removed]@linc.lib.il.us>
REC'D: 3/28/01, 4:15 PM

I can recommend what has remained one of my favorite novels, published a
couple of years ago now. City of Light by Lauren Belfer talks about the
politics as well as the mechanisms of harnessing the power of the Niagara
River to bring electricity to the people of Buffalo. A central question is
whether it should be regarded as a privilege for the aristocracy or a
necessity for everyone. Lots of political information about the corruption
rampant in Cleveland's administration as well. It's kind of long, though.
Would make for a week of intense reading!

Mary Ann Bakken
St. Charles (IL) Public Library

> ----------
> From: Dowdy, Jill L.[[removed]@mayo.edu]
> Reply To: Fiction_L
> Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2001 3:44 PM
> To: Fiction_L
> Subject: Content Novels
>
> I am a graduate student at the College of St. Catherine working on my
> MLIS.
> The professor for our Readers Advisory course has asked us read what she
> calls a "content" novel this week. She has defined this as a work of
> fiction
> in which the reader learns something new. An example is A Conspiracy of
> Paper by David Liss, which includes information about stock trading, bond
> selling and insider trading. Other types of books would include learning
> about another culture, geographical place, or subject. This does not need
> to
> be historical fiction and the credentials of the author could also be an
> important factor. For example, The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
> was about a missionary family in the Congo. Barbara Kingsolver went to the
> congo with her family as a child to be missionaries, she incorporated the
> political history of the Congo in the book, and she included a
> bibliography
> of sources she consulted to write the book. I have already read Memoirs of
> a
> Geisha and The Dress Lodger, both of which I would consider a content
> novel.
> Does anyone have any other suggestions for this type of book written in
> the
> past five years?
> Thank you for your help,
> Jill Dowdy
> Rochester, MN
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html
>

FROM: Jeanne Etling <[removed]@ccs.nsls.lib.il.us>
REC'D: 3/28/01, 4:25 PM

Hi Jill,

Actually, one never knows where one may learn something. I couple of
years ago I helped win the parents vs students Scholastic Bowl at my
son's high school because I had learned the word "badinage" from reading
fiction. I'm a couple of chapters into Ex Libris by Ross King and it has
a wealth of information about England during its civil war. It is an
excellent read so far.

Jeanne Etling
Dundee (IL) Township Public Library District

FROM: Carol Elmore <[removed]@westga.edu>
REC'D: 3/28/01, 4:46 PM

Don't know if these are a little "light" reading for what you need, but I
have learned something from almost everyone of the Dick Francis books I
have read.
John Dunning "Booked to Die" and "Bookman's Wake" will teach you a lot
about secondhand book business...as well as being exciting mysteries.
Carole Elmore
Newnan-Coweta Public Library
Newnan, GA

FROM: "Joy Tofteland" <[removed]@ankeny.k12.ia.us>
REC'D: 3/28/01, 4:57 PM

I read Corell's Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres on the recomendation of a
friend. In 437 pages, I learned about Greek culture, Greek history, and the
Italian occupation during WWII. Keep your dictionary handy. This author
challenges you with a rich vocabulary.

Joy Tofteland
Reference/ Technical Resources Librarian
Kirkendall Public Library
Ankeny, IA
----- Original Message -----
From: Dowdy, Jill L. <[removed]@mayo.edu>
To: Fiction_L <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2001 3:33 PM
Subject: Content Novels


> X-Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html
> X-List_Archives: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flarchive.html
> X-List_Manager: [removed]@webrary.org
>
> I am a graduate student at the College of St. Catherine working on my
MLIS.
> The professor for our Readers Advisory course has asked us read what she
> calls a "content" novel this week. She has defined this as a work of
fiction
> in which the reader learns something new. An example is A Conspiracy of
> Paper by David Liss, which includes information about stock trading, bond
> selling and insider trading. Other types of books would include learning
> about another culture, geographical place, or subject. This does not need
to
> be historical fiction and the credentials of the author could also be an
> important factor. For example, The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
> was about a missionary family in the Congo. Barbara Kingsolver went to the
> congo with her family as a child to be missionaries, she incorporated the
> political history of the Congo in the book, and she included a
bibliography
> of sources she consulted to write the book. I have already read Memoirs of
a
> Geisha and The Dress Lodger, both of which I would consider a content
novel.
> Does anyone have any other suggestions for this type of book written in
the
> past five years?
> Thank you for your help,
> Jill Dowdy
> Rochester, MN
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html
>

FROM: Kathleen Stipek <[removed]@exchange.acld.lib.fl.us>
REC'D: 3/28/01, 5:09 PM

And, of course, there's Jonathan Gash's incomparable Lovejoy, antiques
dealer and forger and rogue extraordinaire. I have always enjoyed his firm
principles combined with a complete lack of scruples.
.....................
Kathleen Stipek, Adult Services/Interlibrary Loans, Alachua County
Library District (FMG), 401 E. University AV, Gainesville FL 32601
[removed]@exchange.acld.lib.fl.us)
352-334-3938 (v) 352-334-3948 (f)

"Non, merci."--Cyrano de Bergerac


-----Original Message-----
From: Carol Elmore [[removed]@westga.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2001 5:35 PM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: Re: Content Novels


Don't know if these are a little "light" reading for what you need, but I
have learned something from almost everyone of the Dick Francis books I
have read.
John Dunning "Booked to Die" and "Bookman's Wake" will teach you a lot
about secondhand book business...as well as being exciting mysteries.
Carole Elmore
Newnan-Coweta Public Library
Newnan, GA

FROM: "Archer, Ann" <[removed]@library.ottawa.on.ca>
REC'D: 3/28/01, 6:12 PM

I just finished Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue, akin to The Dress Lodger in
that it is the portrait of a postitute's life in 18th century England.
Also, could J.M. Coetzee's Disgrace be called a content novel as it portrays
late 20th century South Africa? (in any case, very thought provoking)
The Secret Book of Grazia dei Rossi by Jacqueline Park is an exquisite look
at Renaissance Italy from a Jewess's point of view, lots of rich detail.

-----Original Message-----
From: Dowdy, Jill L.
To: Fiction_L
Sent: 3/28/01 4:33 PM
Subject: Content Novels

I am a graduate student at the College of St. Catherine working on my
MLIS.
The professor for our Readers Advisory course has asked us read what she
calls a "content" novel this week. She has defined this as a work of
fiction
in which the reader learns something new. An example is A Conspiracy of
Paper by David Liss, which includes information about stock trading,
bond
selling and insider trading. Other types of books would include learning
about another culture, geographical place, or subject. This does not
need to
be historical fiction and the credentials of the author could also be an
important factor. For example, The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara
Kingsolver
was about a missionary family in the Congo. Barbara Kingsolver went to
the
congo with her family as a child to be missionaries, she incorporated
the
political history of the Congo in the book, and she included a
bibliography
of sources she consulted to write the book. I have already read Memoirs
of a
Geisha and The Dress Lodger, both of which I would consider a content
novel.
Does anyone have any other suggestions for this type of book written in
the
past five years?
Thank you for your help,
Jill Dowdy
Rochester, MN

FROM: Kathleen Stipek <[removed]@exchange.acld.lib.fl.us>
REC'D: 3/28/01, 6:22 PM

The Judge Dee mysteries by R.H. van Gulik give an interesting portrait of
Tang (I think) Dynasty China and the workings of the Chinese magistrate
system.

........................................................................
.....................
Kathleen Stipek, Adult Services/Interlibrary Loans, Alachua County
Library District (FMG), 401 E. University AV, Gainesville FL 32601
[removed]@exchange.acld.lib.fl.us)
352-334-3938 (v) 352-334-3948 (f)

"Non, merci."--Cyrano de Bergerac


-----Original Message-----
From: Archer, Ann [[removed]@library.ottawa.on.ca]
Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2001 7:10 PM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: RE: Content Novels


I just finished Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue, akin to The Dress Lodger in
that it is the portrait of a postitute's life in 18th century England.
Also, could J.M. Coetzee's Disgrace be called a content novel as it portrays
late 20th century South Africa? (in any case, very thought provoking)
The Secret Book of Grazia dei Rossi by Jacqueline Park is an exquisite look
at Renaissance Italy from a Jewess's point of view, lots of rich detail.

-----Original Message-----
From: Dowdy, Jill L.
To: Fiction_L
Sent: 3/28/01 4:33 PM
Subject: Content Novels

I am a graduate student at the College of St. Catherine working on my
MLIS.
The professor for our Readers Advisory course has asked us read what she
calls a "content" novel this week. She has defined this as a work of
fiction
in which the reader learns something new. An example is A Conspiracy of
Paper by David Liss, which includes information about stock trading,
bond
selling and insider trading. Other types of books would include learning
about another culture, geographical place, or subject. This does not
need to
be historical fiction and the credentials of the author could also be an
important factor. For example, The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara
Kingsolver
was about a missionary family in the Congo. Barbara Kingsolver went to
the
congo with her family as a child to be missionaries, she incorporated
the
political history of the Congo in the book, and she included a
bibliography
of sources she consulted to write the book. I have already read Memoirs
of a
Geisha and The Dress Lodger, both of which I would consider a content
novel.
Does anyone have any other suggestions for this type of book written in
the
past five years?
Thank you for your help,
Jill Dowdy
Rochester, MN

FROM: "Archer, Ann" <[removed]@library.ottawa.on.ca>
REC'D: 3/28/01, 6:44 PM

My former note should have said prostitute, not postitute!
Another similar title to The Dress Lodger and Slammerkin is Alias Grace by
Margaret Atwood, except she portrays a young maid in Canada in the 19th
century with terrific descriptions of her life in domestic service, and
later in various prison situations.
Anything by A.S.Byatt is big content!
And Salman Rushdie's Midnight Children is excellent (with magic realism
thrown in) for life in India at the time of the transition to independence.

-----Original Message-----
From: Dowdy, Jill L.
To: Fiction_L
Sent: 3/28/01 4:33 PM
Subject: Content Novels

I am a graduate student at the College of St. Catherine working on my
MLIS.
The professor for our Readers Advisory course has asked us read what she
calls a "content" novel this week. She has defined this as a work of
fiction
in which the reader learns something new. An example is A Conspiracy of
Paper by David Liss, which includes information about stock trading,
bond
selling and insider trading. Other types of books would include learning
about another culture, geographical place, or subject. This does not
need to
be historical fiction and the credentials of the author could also be an
important factor. For example, The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara
Kingsolver
was about a missionary family in the Congo. Barbara Kingsolver went to
the
congo with her family as a child to be missionaries, she incorporated
the
political history of the Congo in the book, and she included a
bibliography
of sources she consulted to write the book. I have already read Memoirs
of a
Geisha and The Dress Lodger, both of which I would consider a content
novel.
Does anyone have any other suggestions for this type of book written in
the
past five years?
Thank you for your help,
Jill Dowdy
Rochester, MN

FROM: "Bessie Makris" <[removed]@acpl.lib.in.us>
REC'D: 3/28/01, 8:43 PM

How soon we forget! Novels by James A. Michener and Arthur Hailey (HOTEL, WHEELS, OVERLOAD etc.) fit into this category.

Bessie Makris
Allen County Public Library
P.O. Box 2270
Fort Wayne, IN 46802

FROM: [removed]@aol.com
REC'D: 3/28/01, 11:49 PM

IMHO, almost any novel which is well-grounded but not mired in research can
be considered a content novel. Several examples:

Ayn Rand. Fountainhead. The reader will be immeresed in facets of
architecture as well as in "the virtues of selfishness," which are the
author's trademark.

Elizabeth Chadwick. Shields of Pride. The Wild Hunt. Both novels immerse
the reader in the gritty day-to-day of medieval England.

Elizabeth Lowell. Tell Me No Lies. Set against the fabulous background
of the discovery of the Chinese terrracotta soldiers. And her Women Without
Lies is set againt the background of the heroine's stained glass artistry. I
could almost feel the vicarious cuts on my fingers

Mary Stewart. Madam, Will You Talk? In addition to a wonderful romance,
this book is beautifully set against the background of the French
countryside. A friend of mine was going to France and describing where she
was planning to go. I knew exactly what she was talking about because I'd
already seen certain bridges, amphitheatres, cathedrals, and even the city of
Marseilles through the author's eyes.

Anne McCaffrey's contemporary romantic suspense novel, Ring of Fear, gives
the reader a generierous glimpse into the privileged world of the horse
circuit in Saratoga (NY) and environs.

Rex Stout's "Nero Wolfe" novels not only present the reader with great
stories of detection - the reader also learns (over the course of the many
books) about Wolfe's twin passions: orchid cultivation and gourmet cooking
and eating.

There are many other examples, of course.

Binnie Syril Braunstein
romance novelist/former librarian

FROM: [removed]@aol.com
REC'D: 3/28/01, 11:49 PM

Ellis Peters' "Cadfael" mysteries invite the reader into that era. And after
reading many Georgette Heyer novels, I frequently find myself "at sixes and
sevens," and voicing exasperation as "the outside of enough."

Binnie Syril Braunstein
romance novelist/former librarian

FROM: [removed]@aol.com
REC'D: 3/29/01, 12:09 AM

Not to mention - Tom Clancy taking us deep in The Hunt for Red October, Robin
Cook's uncomfortable glimpse into the depths of epidomology (Outbreak), and
Stephen Hunter's tense glimpse into the world of an assassin in The Master
Sniper.

And speaking of hotels (as someone did, mentioning Hailey's book set in that
millieu) there's also Hugh Pentecost's series of "Pierre Chambrun" mysteries,
set against the background of a major New York hotel.

Binnie Syril Braunstein

FROM: Heuer <[removed]@itol.com>
REC'D: 3/29/01, 10:34 AM

Almost anything by Morgan LLyewelyn will give you a wonderful history of
Ireland from Brian Boru in "Lion of Ireland" forward to the Irish Rebellion
in her book, "1916." I especially liked "Lion of Ireland". I think her
latest is called "1921. All historical fiction.


--
Jeanne Heuer
Brown County Library
Green Bay, WI
[removed]@itol.com

"Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes, Art is knowing which ones
to keep." -anonymous

FROM: Deborah Roy <[removed]@skyenet.net>
REC'D: 3/29/01, 10:55 AM

Diana Gabaldon's books (Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager, The Drums of Autumn)
are a wonderful plunge into Scottish and early Colonial history, and feature a
wonderful romantic story. They're also the best time travel books I've ever had the
privilege to read. They aren't exactly romance, or fantasy, or historical fiction.
A combination of all three, I suppose, and addictive! When we recommend these, we
warn patrons that they really should take the first two books in the series at the
same time, because of the incredible cliffhanger. A co-worker, against our specific
warnings, only took the first one on vacation to Ireland, and was forced to find a
bookstore in the middle of her trip to find the next one IMMEDIATELY. Pretty good
stuff, to distract a person during their first trip to Ireland...

Deborah Roy
Huntington City-Township Public Library
Huntington, Indiana
<[removed]@skyenet.net
__________________________________
Always carry a flagon of whiskey in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a
small snake. -W. C. Fields

FROM: [removed]@aol.com
REC'D: 3/29/01, 11:16 AM

Susan King's historical novels immerse the reader in Scottish and celtic
lore. Her latest book is THE SWAN MAIDEN, preceded by THE STONE MAIDEN.

Patricia Potter also does wonderful "immersion" in her Scottish Card series,
the latest of which was THE BLACK KNAVE and in previously published
post-(U.S.) Civil War books such as BETWEEN THE THUNDER and CHASE THE THUNDER.

Binnie Syril Braunstein
romance novelist/former librarian

FROM: Sarah Herlache <[removed]@lib.az.us>
REC'D: 3/29/01, 11:27 AM

What about Tony Hillerman's mysteries? They are set on the Navajo reservation,
evoke a very strong sense of place, and immerse the reader in modern Native
American culture.

Sarah Herlache
Foothills Branch Library
Glendale, Arizona

FROM: "Pat Ferguson" <[removed]@smlnet.sml.lib.la.us>
REC'D: 3/29/01, 11:38 AM

My favorites, at present, are Peter Tremayne's Sister Fidelma series.
Really neat info
about 7th century Ireland and Celtic Catholic Church.

Pat Ferguson
Shreve Memorial Library

FROM: "Mary Rindfleisch" <[removed]@biblio.org>
REC'D: 3/29/01, 11:48 AM

Jill -- Are you willing to compile this list for us? We would appreciate it
greatly.

Mary Rindfleisch
Adult Services/Readers' Advisory Librarian
Ridgefield Library
472 Main St.
Ridgefield, CT 06877
Phone: 203-438-2282
e-mail: [removed]@biblio.org

-----Original Message-----
From: [removed]@maillist.webrary.org
[[removed]@maillist.webrary.org]On Behalf Of Dowdy, Jill L.
Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2001 4:33 PM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: Content Novels


I am a graduate student at the College of St. Catherine working on my MLIS.
The professor for our Readers Advisory course has asked us read what she
calls a "content" novel this week. She has defined this as a work of fiction
in which the reader learns something new. An example is A Conspiracy of
Paper by David Liss, which includes information about stock trading, bond
selling and insider trading. Other types of books would include learning
about another culture, geographical place, or subject. This does not need to
be historical fiction and the credentials of the author could also be an
important factor. For example, The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
was about a missionary family in the Congo. Barbara Kingsolver went to the
congo with her family as a child to be missionaries, she incorporated the
political history of the Congo in the book, and she included a bibliography
of sources she consulted to write the book. I have already read Memoirs of a
Geisha and The Dress Lodger, both of which I would consider a content novel.
Does anyone have any other suggestions for this type of book written in the
past five years?
Thank you for your help,
Jill Dowdy
Rochester, MN

FROM: Karen Bilton <[removed]@wccls.lib.or.us>
REC'D: 3/29/01, 11:49 AM

Speaking of historicals, Sharon Kay Penman's When Christ and His Saints
Slept will teach you so much about the 20 year civil war between Stephen &
Maud in medieval England, you would think you were there. And it's so well
written, you wish their battles didn't have an end!

> -----Original Message-----
> [removed]@aol.com [[removed]@aol.com]
> Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2001 8:59 AM
> To: Fiction_L
> Subject: Re: content books
>
> Susan King's historical novels immerse the reader in Scottish and celtic
> lore. Her latest book is THE SWAN MAIDEN, preceded by THE STONE MAIDEN.
>
> Patricia Potter also does wonderful "immersion" in her Scottish Card
> series,
> the latest of which was THE BLACK KNAVE and in previously published
> post-(U.S.) Civil War books such as BETWEEN THE THUNDER and CHASE THE
> THUNDER.
>
>
>
> Binnie Syril Braunstein
> romance novelist/former librarian
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html

FROM: Anne Frontino <[removed]@camden.lib.nj.us>
REC'D: 3/29/01, 11:49 AM

Jill -- The Sister Fidelma series of mysteries by Peter Tremayne is a
fascinating blend of mystery, Irish history, and information on women
judges/lawyers in early Ireland.

Anne Frontino
Haddonfield Public Library
Haddonfield, NJ

FROM: Kaite Mediatore <[removed]@yahoo.com>
REC'D: 3/29/01, 11:59 AM

This entire thread has reminded me that I've learned some
pretty interesting things in my lifetime of reading. Such
as if you dip a knife in a glass of water as you're
slicing it, your eyes won't tear up. And how to say "Merry
Christmas and fall down the stairs!" in Italian.

Anyone else learn anything useful, unusual, etc from in
your reading travels?

Kaite

PS The first came from a youth book _The Janitor's Girl_
the second from _Waiting_ by Debra Ginsberg

=====
Kaite Mediatore, Reader's Services Librarian
KCKPL Main Branch
625 Minnesota Ave.
Kansas City, KS 66101
913.279.2212 fx 913.279.2032
[removed]@kckpl.lib.ks.us

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail.
http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/?.refer=text

FROM: Spencer Ms Martha <[removed]@usmc-mccs.org>
REC'D: 3/29/01, 12:10 PM

The Raj Quartet by Paul Scott; The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy,
wonderful novels about India in the past and present.

Martha Spencer
Base Librarian
Camp Lejeune, NC

-----Original Message-----
From: Dowdy, Jill L. [[removed]@mayo.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2001 1:33 PM
To: Fiction_L
Subject: Content Novels


I am a graduate student at the College of St. Catherine working on my MLIS.
The professor for our Readers Advisory course has asked us read what she
calls a "content" novel this week. She has defined this as a work of fiction
in which the reader learns something new. An example is A Conspiracy of
Paper by David Liss, which includes information about stock trading, bond
selling and insider trading. Other types of books would include learning
about another culture, geographical place, or subject. This does not need to
be historical fiction and the credentials of the author could also be an
important factor. For example, The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
was about a missionary family in the Congo. Barbara Kingsolver went to the
congo with her family as a child to be missionaries, she incorporated the
political history of the Congo in the book, and she included a bibliography
of sources she consulted to write the book. I have already read Memoirs of a
Geisha and The Dress Lodger, both of which I would consider a content novel.
Does anyone have any other suggestions for this type of book written in the
past five years?
Thank you for your help,
Jill Dowdy
Rochester, MN

FROM: Lisa Price <[removed]@MtLaurel.Lib.NJ.US>
REC'D: 3/29/01, 12:54 PM

Has anyone mentioned Umberto Eco's __The Name of the Rose__?
Lisa Price
Mount Laurel (NJ)

Pat Ferguson wrote:
>
> My favorites, at present, are Peter Tremayne's Sister Fidelma series.
> Really neat info
> about 7th century Ireland and Celtic Catholic Church.
>
> Pat Ferguson
> Shreve Memorial Library
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html

FROM: "BETH NIENOW" <[removed]@rochester.lib.mn.us>
REC'D: 3/29/01, 1:04 PM

Cider House Rules for obstetrical "content." Complete with footnotes!


>>> [removed]@mayo.edu 03/28/01 03:33PM >>>
I am a graduate student at the College of St. Catherine working on my MLIS.
The professor for our Readers Advisory course has asked us read what she
calls a "content" novel this week. She has defined this as a work of fiction
in which the reader learns something new. An example is A Conspiracy of
Paper by David Liss, which includes information about stock trading, bond
selling and insider trading. Other types of books would include learning
about another culture, geographical place, or subject. This does not need to
be historical fiction and the credentials of the author could also be an
important factor. For example, The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
was about a missionary family in the Congo. Barbara Kingsolver went to the
congo with her family as a child to be missionaries, she incorporated the
political history of the Congo in the book, and she included a bibliography
of sources she consulted to write the book. I have already read Memoirs of a
Geisha and The Dress Lodger, both of which I would consider a content novel.
Does anyone have any other suggestions for this type of book written in the
past five years?
Thank you for your help,
Jill Dowdy
Rochester, MN

FROM: "Hulsey, Cynthia" <[removed]@tulsalibrary.org>
REC'D: 3/29/01, 1:26 PM

One of the best "content" novels I have read lately is The Red Tent by Anita
Diamant. It is a fabulously literary and rich story based on Dinah, a
character mentioned only briefly in the Bible. Ms. Diamant gives a voice to
Dinah and many other women in the Bible, and tells familiar stories from a
female viewpoint. My reading group (13 women made up of Catholics,
Protestants, Unitarians, and atheists) read this book and were all
incredibly moved by it.

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy would also be a good choice. It
positively drips with Indian culture!

Cindy Hulsey
[removed]@tulsalibrary.org

FROM: Dottie MacKeen <[removed]@bellatlantic.net>
REC'D: 3/29/01, 1:26 PM

At 09:57 AM 3/29/01 -0600, you wrote:
>Motherless Brooklyn features a wealth of information about Tourette's
>Syndrome and it is a great story to boot.


dottie

>

FROM: Vicki Novak - LIBRARYX <[removed]@MAIL.MARICOPA.GOV>
REC'D: 3/29/01, 1:38 PM

I just finished a book that would fit into this category. Thunderhead by
Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child is a thriller set in a remote canyon in
Southern Utah. I learned about archaeology, Native American pottery, and
Lake Powell and surrounding slot canyons. It is not literary fiction, but
it is a good thriller.

Also, if you want young adult fiction, try "Shabanu" and "Haveli" by Suzanne
Fisher Staples. They tell the story of a girl growing up in modern
Pakistan. She is forced at a young age to marry a much older man. I
learned about the customs, landscape and treatment of women in Pakistan.
They are great reads, too!

Vicki Novak
[removed]@mail.maricopa.gov

Adult Services
North Central Regional Library
Maricopa County Library District
17811 N. 32nd St.
Phoenix, AZ 85032-1201

http://mcld.maricopa.gov

FROM: "Hulsey, Cynthia" <[removed]@tulsalibrary.org>
REC'D: 3/29/01, 1:49 PM

A fun and informative contemporary "content novel" is Bestseller by Olivia
Goldsmith. It is a biting satire of the publishing world.

Cindy Hulsey
Tulsa City-County Library

FROM: "Roberta S. Johnson" <[removed]@nslsilus.org>
REC'D: 3/29/01, 2:21 PM

This may not be, ahem, what your professor exactly had in mind, but . . .

The first novel that leaped to mind was Born in Fire by Nora Roberts, in which the
central character is a glass artist. I learned so much about glassblowing! I have
always loved art glass since I discovered Dale Chihuly at Kent State (my alma mater),
and this look at the tools and state of mind and *physical experience* of working with
a medium that can set you on fire was remarkable.

That was my first Nora Roberts book and I've never looked back. :-)

RSJ


Roberta S. Johnson
Readers' Services Librarian
Des Plaines Public Library
[removed]@nslsilus.org
www.desplaines.lib.il.us
Opinions my own.

FROM: Diana Tixier Herald <[removed]@wic.net>
REC'D: 3/29/01, 2:44 PM

Roberta mentioned a Nora Roberts book which means that I have to chime
in with something, too. Nora Roberts' latest romance novel, DANCE UPON
THE AIR, has some very solid information about domestic violence. Her
depiction was down right scary because it was so right on. In a previous
life I was a counselor in a women's center and dealt with abused women
every day. There is a common misconception that the women who get into
those situations all grew up in abusive households and are just cycling
around. In truth, as Roberts points out so naturally and subtly in this
book, many women who had happy loving families growing up also can be
drawn in, mostly because they aren't expecting it and the abuse is so
insidious.

This seems like a strange assignment to me because I almost always find
something new to learn in what I read. In high school, I was able to get
my American History credit (and an A to boot) by reading historical
romances.

--
Happy reading,
Di Herald
[removed]@wic.net see the Genrefluent page at
http://www.genrefluent.com
Rosenberg's First Law of Reading "Never apologize for your reading
tastes."

FROM: Susan Hawrusik <[removed]@yahoo.com>
REC'D: 3/29/01, 2:54 PM

A new content novel is Ex-Libris by Ross King. It has
some fascinating insights into the rare book trade in
London.

__________________________________________________
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FROM: "Lisa Colcord" <[removed]@ci.glendale.az.us>
REC'D: 3/29/01, 5:12 PM

One of the *Little House* books, I don't remember which one, says that you can fill a glass to the brim with milk, and another glass the same size with popped popcorn, and put the popcorn one by one into the milk and it won't spill over the top. (I've never tried it, so I can't verify if it is true, but...)

Lisa

Lisa Colcord
Librarian
Glendale Public library
Glendale, AZ

....my views are my own....

-The secret to life is enjoying the passage of time- James Taylor

>>> [removed]@yahoo.com 03/29/01 10:43AM >>>
This entire thread has reminded me that I've learned some
pretty interesting things in my lifetime of reading. Such
as if you dip a knife in a glass of water as you're
slicing it, your eyes won't tear up. And how to say "Merry
Christmas and fall down the stairs!" in Italian.

Anyone else learn anything useful, unusual, etc from in
your reading travels?

Kaite

PS The first came from a youth book _The Janitor's Girl_
the second from _Waiting_ by Debra Ginsberg

=====
Kaite Mediatore, Reader's Services Librarian
KCKPL Main Branch
625 Minnesota Ave.
Kansas City, KS 66101
913.279.2212 fx 913.279.2032
[removed]@kckpl.lib.ks.us

__________________________________________________
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Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail.
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FROM: "Brad Scott" <[removed]@ci.allen.tx.us>
REC'D: 3/29/01, 5:33 PM

Reminds me of the time I brewed up a batch of mead (honey-based wine) from the recipe given in Flora Thompson's "Lark Rise to Candleford"!

An excellent historical portrait of rural English life in the 19th century, by the way. I guess that's my contribution to this thread.

Bradley A. Scott
Allen (Texas) Public Library

** All opinions are personal. **
---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: "Lisa Colcord" <[removed]@ci.glendale.az.us>
Reply-To: "Fiction_L" <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2001 16:10:15 -0700

>One of the *Little House* books, I don't remember which one, says that you can fill a glass to the brim with milk, and another glass the same size with popped popcorn, and put the popcorn one by one into the milk and it won't spill over the top. (I've never tried it, so I can't verify if it is true, but...)
>
>Lisa
>
>Lisa Colcord
>Librarian
>Glendale Public library
>Glendale, AZ
>
>....my views are my own....
>
>-The secret to life is enjoying the passage of time- James Taylor
>
>>>> [removed]@yahoo.com 03/29/01 10:43AM >>>
>This entire thread has reminded me that I've learned some
>pretty interesting things in my lifetime of reading. Such
>as if you dip a knife in a glass of water as you're
>slicing it, your eyes won't tear up. And how to say "Merry
>Christmas and fall down the stairs!" in Italian.
>
>Anyone else learn anything useful, unusual, etc from in
>your reading travels?
>
>Kaite
>
>PS The first came from a youth book _The Janitor's Girl_
>the second from _Waiting_ by Debra Ginsberg
>
>
>
>=====
>Kaite Mediatore, Reader's Services Librarian
>KCKPL Main Branch
>625 Minnesota Ave.
>Kansas City, KS 66101
>913.279.2212 fx 913.279.2032
[removed]@kckpl.lib.ks.us
>
>__________________________________________________
>Do You Yahoo!?
>Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail.
>http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/?.refer=text
>
>......................................................................
>Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
>Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html
>
>
>......................................................................
>Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
>Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html
>

FROM: Melissa Norton <[removed]@yahoo.com>
REC'D: 3/29/01, 8:01 PM

Lucia St. Clair Robson's books will immerse you and
several are fact-based--
RIDE THE WIND, all all-time favorite (Native
American/American West)
WALK IN MY SOUL (Sam Houston, Cherokees)
THE TOKAIDO ROAD (early Japan)

Also,
Faye Kellerman's Decker/Lazarus novels (Orthodox
Judaism)

Melissa

--- Anne Frontino <[removed]@camden.lib.nj.us> wrote:
> Jill -- The Sister Fidelma series of mysteries by
> Peter Tremayne is a
> fascinating blend of mystery, Irish history, and
> information on women
> judges/lawyers in early Ireland.
>
> Anne Frontino
> Haddonfield Public Library
> Haddonfield, NJ
>
>
>
......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L:
http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html


=====
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Melissa Norton [removed]@bridgton.lib.me.us
Asst. Librarian & Webmaster
Bridgton Public Library http://www.bridgton.lib.me.us
65 Main St.
Bridgton, ME 04009
207-647-2472

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Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail.
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FROM: [removed]@aol.com
REC'D: 3/30/01, 12:32 AM

Lindsay McKenna's novels give her reader's a goodly taste of the military
lifestyle. And with Suzanne Brockmann, one can sample the world of Navy
Seals. Kathleen Eagle's settings provide a window to different aspects of
Native American life.


Binnie Syril Braunstein
romance novelist/former librarian

FROM: [removed]@aol.com
REC'D: 3/30/01, 12:42 AM

In a message dated 3/29/2001 12:51:57 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[removed]@yahoo.com writes:

<< Such
as if you dip a knife in a glass of water as you're
slicing it, your eyes won't tear up. >>

Not to be a pest - but how do you slice water? Is an onion in this picture,
perhaps?

Binnie Syril Braunstein
romance novelist/former librarian

FROM: [removed]@aol.com
REC'D: 3/30/01, 1:22 AM

For the Orthodox Jewish millieu, I can also suggest Chaim Potok's THE CHOSEN
and THE PROMISE.

Binnie Syril Braunstein
romance novelist/former librarian

FROM: Kaite Mediatore <[removed]@yahoo.com>
REC'D: 3/30/01, 9:39 AM

Oh, yeah. Onion. Right on Binnie. Must have skipped that
word. ;)
Kaite

--- [removed]@aol.com wrote:
> In a message dated 3/29/2001 12:51:57 PM Eastern Standard
> Time,
> [removed]@yahoo.com writes:
>
> << Such
> as if you dip a knife in a glass of water as you're
> slicing it, your eyes won't tear up. >>
>
> Not to be a pest - but how do you slice water? Is an
> onion in this picture,
> perhaps?
>
> Binnie Syril Braunstein
> romance novelist/former librarian
>
>
......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L:
http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html


=====
Kaite Mediatore, Reader's Services Librarian
KCKPL Main Branch
625 Minnesota Ave.
Kansas City, KS 66101
913.279.2212 fx 913.279.2032
[removed]@kckpl.lib.ks.us

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail.
http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/?.refer=text

FROM: "Kelly Benson" <[removed]@htls.lib.il.us>
REC'D: 3/30/01, 9:53 AM

>One of the *Little House* books, I don't remember which one, says that you
can fill a glass to the brim with milk, and another glass the same size with
popped popcorn, and put the popcorn one by one into the milk and it won't
spill over the top. (I've never tried it, so I can't verify if it is true,
but...)
>

That was "Farmer Boy," although I can truly say that I don't quite see why
one would ever do that . . . .


Kelly Benson
Adult Services Librarian
Three Rivers Public Library District
Channahon-Minooka, Illinois

FROM: "Dowdy, Jill L." <[removed]@mayo.edu>
REC'D: 3/30/01, 3:55 PM

Thank you for your wonderful response to my question! Here is a compiled
list of all the responses I received. I will also be sharing the list with
my professor and classmates. Thanks again!

Jill Dowdy
Rochester, MN
(soon to be an "official" Librarian)

Content Novels listed on Fiction_L Listserv (3/30/01)

Roberts, Nora - Born in Fire (glass artist)
Dance Upon the Air (domestic violence)

King, Ross - Ex-Libris (rare book trade in London)

Thompson, Flora - Lark Rise to Candleford (historical portrait of 19th C
England rural life)

Robson, Lucia St. Clair - Ride the Wind (Native American/American West)
Walk in my Soul (Sam Houston, Cherokee Indians)
The Tokaido Road (early Japan)

Kellerman, Faye - Decker/Lazarus novels (Orthodox Judaism)

Tremayne, Peter - The Sister Fidelma mystery series (Irish history/women
lawyers in early Ireland)

Mckenna, Lindsay - any novel(military lifestyle)

Brockmann, Suzanne - any novel (Navy Seals)

Eagle, Kathleen - any novel (Native American life)

Potok, Chaim - The Chosen (Orthodox Judaism)
The Promise (Orthodox Judaism)

Lethem, Jonathan - Motherless Brooklyn (Tourette's Syndrome)

Preston, Douglas - Thunderhead (archaeology, Native American pottery,
canyons in Utah)

Staples, Suzanne Fisher - Shabanu (modern Pakistan) - young adult
Haveli (modern Pakistan) - young adult

Llyewelyn, Morgan - Lion of Ireland (Irish historical fiction)

Gabaldon, Diana - Outlander (Scottish and early Colonial history)
Dragonfly in Amber (Scottish and early Colonial history)
Voyager (Scottish and early Colonial history)
The Drums of Autumn (Scottish and early Colonial history)

King, Susan - The Swan Maiden (Scottish/Celtic lore)
The Stone Maiden (Scottish/Celtic lore)

Potter, Patricia - The Black Knave (Scottish)
Between the Thunder (post U.S. Civil War)
Chase the Thunder (post U.S. Civil War)

Hillerman, Tony - any novel (modern Native American culture)

Penman, Sharon Kay - When Christ and His Saints Slept (20 year civil war
between Stephen and Maud in medieval England)

Scott, Paul - The Raj Quartet (India)

Roy, Arundhati - The God of Small Things (India)

Eco, Umberto - The Name of the Rose

Diamant, Anita - The Red Tent (Dinah from the Bible)

Soueif, Ahdaf - The Map of Love (Egyptian history and culture)

Gulland, Sandra - The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B.
(Josephine Bonaparte)
Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe (Josephine Bonaparte)
The Last Great Dance on Earth (Josephine Bonaparte)

Becker, Lanie Katz - Dear Stranger, Dearest Friend (breast cancer)

Belfer, Lauren - City of Light (harnessing the power of the Niagra River for
electricity)

Francis, Dick - any novel (horses/horse racing)

Dunning, John - Booked to Die (secondhand book business)
Bookman's Wake (secondhand book business)

De Bernieres, Louis - Corelli's Mandolin (Greek culture and history/WWII)

Gash, Jonathan - any novel (antiques, forgery, rogue behavior)

Donohue, Emma - Slammerkin (prostitute's life in 18th C England)

Coetzee, J.M. - Disgrace (20th C South Africa)

Park, Jacqueline - The Secret Book of Grazia dei Rossi (Renaissance Italy)

Van Gulik, R.H. - The Judge Dee mysteries (Tang Dynasty/Chinia)

Atwood, Margaret - Alias Grace (19th C Canada/domestic service/murder)

Byatt, A.S. - any novel

Rushdie, Salman - Midnight Children (India)

Michener, James - any novel

Hailey, Arthur - any novel

Rand, Ayn - Fountainhead (architecture/virtues of selfishness)

Chadwick, Elizabeth - Shields of Pride (medieval England)
The Wild Hunt (medieval England)

Lowell, Elizabeth - Tell Me No Lies (discovery of the terracotta soldiers)
Women Without Lies (stained glass artistry)

Stewart, Mary - Madam, Will You Talk? (French countryside)

McCaffrey, Anne - Ring of Fear (horse circuit in Saratoga, NY)

Stout, Rex - Nero Wolfe (orchid cultivation/gourmet cooking/detective)

Peters, Ellis - Cadfael mysteries

Heyer, Georgette - any novel

Clancy, Tom - The Hunt for Red October (submarines)

Cook, Robin - Outbreak

Hunter, Stephen - The Master Sniper (world of an assassin)

Pentecost, Hugh - Pierre Chambrun mysteries (New York hotel)

FROM: [removed]@aol.com
REC'D: 3/31/01, 12:38 AM

In a message dated 3/30/2001 4:53:22 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[removed]@mayo.edu writes:

<<
Thank you for your wonderful response to my question! Here is a compiled
list of all the responses I received. I will also be sharing the list with
my professor and classmates. Thanks again!

Jill Dowdy
Rochester, MN >>

Jill -

IMHO, "Content Novels" was one of the most fun threads since I signed onto
Fiction_L.

By the way, I think the title to Nora Roberts' book (the one you cited) is
DANCING ON THE AIR. I checked the title on her web site, and with the people
at the bookstore her husband owns in Western Maryland. I can't wait to read
it!

Binnie Syril Braunstein
romance novelist/former librarian

FROM: "christine jeffords" <[removed]@hotmail.com>
REC'D: 3/31/01, 1:34 PM

I don't know if this would qualify, but I found Mary Johnston's "The Long
Roll" and "Cease Firing" to make me feel as if I was actually *seeing* Civil
War history pass before my eyes.
_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

FROM: "christine jeffords" <[removed]@hotmail.com>
REC'D: 3/31/01, 2:16 PM

>From: [removed]@aol.com
>Reply-To: "Fiction_L" <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
>To: Fiction_L <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
>Subject: Re: What I've learned WAS Content Novels
>Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2001 01:35:20 EST
>
>In a message dated 3/29/2001 12:51:57 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[removed]@yahoo.com writes:
>
><< Such
> as if you dip a knife in a glass of water as you're
> slicing it, your eyes won't tear up. >>
>
>Not to be a pest - but how do you slice water? Is an onion in this
>picture,
>perhaps?
>
>Binnie Syril Braunstein
>romance novelist/former librarian
>

I wondered about that myself, Binnie.

_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

FROM: "christine jeffords" <[removed]@hotmail.com>
REC'D: 3/31/01, 2:37 PM

It's a bit behind time, but anything by Edward Rutherfurd would also be a
keeper in this category, I think; I know my mother finds them fascinating.
_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

FROM: Dennis Lien <[removed]@tc.umn.edu>
REC'D: 4/2/01, 10:15 AM

Just realized no one has mentioned Dorothy Sayers' THE NINE TAILORS, which
may have taught many Americans more about change ringing (campanology) than
we really wanted to know...

Dennis Lien / U of Minnesota Libraries // [removed]@tc.umn.edu

(currently reading the latest "Richard Stark," FLASHFIRE, and learning all
about how to launder money, rob check-cashing establishments and gun shops,
and break into houses, none of which I'll probably use any time soon)

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