Happy Money: The Science of Smarter Spending by Elizabeth Dunn & Michael Norton

The Last of the Doughboys: The Forgotten Generation and Their Forgotten World War by Richard Rubin.

Mickey and Willie: Mantle and Mays: The Parallel Lives of Baseball’s Golden Age by Allen Barra

Obsessed: America’s Food Addiction– And My Own by Mika Brzezinski ; with Diane Smith

The Reality-based Rules of the Workplace: Know What Boosts Your Value, Kills Your Chances, & Will Make You Happier by Cy Wakeman

Scatter, Adapt, and Remember: How Humans Will Survive a Mass Extinction by Annalee Newitz

The Simple Joys of Grandparenting: Stories, Nursery Rhymes, Recipes, Games, Crafts, and More by Abigail R. Gehring

The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America by George Packer

What Would Brian Boitano Make? : Fresh and Fun Recipes for Sharing With Family and Friends by Brian Boitano

How about trying a new cuisine? We have new cookbooks with recipes from many backgrounds: Mexican, Irish, Indian, or Asian. Perhaps learning some new healthy recipes? Healthy not your thing? What about making your own Hostess cupcakes at home?

Or maybe you’re not into cooking. What about breaking some new ground in your yard? Grow plants instead of lawn!  Create new hybrid plants of your own! Make cool stuff for your garden!

And for the really adventurous: South Bend passed an ordinance in January allowing backyard chickens. If that’s something you’d like to try, visit Rural King or Tractor Supply for those cute baby chicks, and check out Urban Chickens for more helpful information!

Register for the Summer Reading Challenge starting June 3 at any branch library. Receive a gift for signing up, then log your reads. For every five books, your name goes into the drawing for more great prizes! See you on the other side of new!

Hardcover Fiction:

1. DEAD EVER AFTER, by Charlaine Harris. (Ace.) The telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse searches for the truth about the death of the former barmaid Arlene.

2. SILKEN PREY, by John Sandford. (Putnam.) Lucas Davenport is drawn into the investigation of a Minnesota political scandal and the disappearance of an operative.

3. 12TH OF NEVER, by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. (Little, Brown.) One week after the birth of her baby, Detective Lindsay Boxer must return to work to investigate a string of grisly murders; a Women’s Murder Club novel.

4. THE HIT, by David Baldacci. (Grand Central.) The government hitman Will Robie uncovers a serious threat as he attempts to take out a fellow assassin who has gone rogue.

5. A STEP OF FAITH, by Richard Paul Evans. (Simon & Schuster.) In the fourth book of the “Walk” series, Alan faces new challenges on his walk to Key West.

Hardcover Nonfiction:

1. HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY, by Phil Robertson with Mark Schlabach. (Howard Books.) The Duck Commander pays tribute to “faith, family and ducks.”

2. LEAN IN, by Sheryl Sandberg with Nell Scovell. (Knopf, $24.95.) The chief operating officer of Facebook urges women to pursue their careers without ambivalence.

3. LET’S EXPLORE DIABETES WITH OWLS, by David Sedaris. (Little, Brown.) Essays from the humorist on subjects like French dentistry and a North Carolina Costco.

4. COOKED, by Michael Pollan. (Penguin Press.) The writer masters recipes and argues that regaining control of cooking will make Americans healthier.

5. DAD IS FAT, by Jim Gaffigan. (Crown Archetype.) Life with five kids in a two-bedroom New York City apartment.

Young Adult:

1. THE FAULT IN OUR STARS, by John Green. (Dutton, $17.99.) A 16-year-old heroine faces the medical realities of cancer. (Ages 14 and up)

2. THE 5TH WAVE, by Rick Yancey. (Penguin Group.) Aliens land on earth and the apocalypse begins.  (Ages 14 and up)

3. DIVERGENT, by Veronica Roth. (HarperCollins Publishers.) A girl must prove her mettle in a faction-ridden dystopia. (Ages 14 and up)

4. INSURGENT, by Veronica Roth. (HarperCollins Publishers.) In this Divergent follow-up, a faction war looms. (Ages 14 and up)

5. THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER, by Stephen Chbosky. (Simon & Schuster.) What it’s like to grow up, from the perspective of a high school boy. (Ages 14 and up)

Children’s Middle Grade:

1. WONDER, by R. J. Palacio. (Knopf Doubleday Publishing.) A boy with a facial deformity enters a mainstream school. (Ages 8 to 12)

2. A HIDDEN ENEMY, by Erin Hunter. (HarperCollins Publishers.) Lucky and his pack fight wild dogs for control of the forest. (Ages 8 to 12)

3. THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN, by Katherine Applegate. (Harper/HarperCollins.) A gorilla who lives in a mall meets an elephant. (Ages 8 to 12)

4. LEGO NINJAGO CHARACTER ENCYCLOPEDIA, by Claire Sipi. (DK Publishing.) Information about minifigures, vehicles and weapons. (Ages 6 and up)

5. THE CARE AND KEEPING OF YOU 1, by Valorie Schaefer. Illustrated by Josee Masse. (American Girl Publishing.) Advice on the changing body for younger girls. (Ages 8 to 12)

Now contrary to popular belief, librarians do not get to sit around and read all day at work. And after my husband told me I couldn’t bring home any more galleys because we also need room in our house for, like, food and furniture and stuff, I had to rein in my kneejerk reaction during the ceremonial unpacking of the new galleys (which was initially along the lines of “ALL THE BOOKS FOREVER ARE MINE, THE END”) and limit myself to one or two new books to preview each month.

The thing is, though, they send us way more than one or two a month. Actually, they send more than an entire building of librarians could ever hope to get through.** The solution? We’ve decided to share the wealth and give YOU (hello, you!) the chance to preview these upcoming releases as well!

So henceforth, each month I’ll be giving you a sneak peek one of the galleys we’ve recently unpacked and a chance to win that galley or a handful of others that are available. See, don’t ever say your library never gave you anything nice.

This month, the one I’ve carefully handpicked with a discerning eye for literary merit and artistic value (See also: Ooh, Pretty Cover!) is Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich.

Thank you, William Morrow & Co., for the panty-free cover. Safe for public consumption!

Vital stats:

The publisher says: “A rollicking, sensuous, feel-good romantic comedy about a grieving young widow who decides to get in shape and get her groove back…and a whole lot more!”
What’s it about? Logan Montgomery, personal trainer to the stars, and Holly Brennan, large woman, meet-cute on an airplane. Holly — who has recently lost her husband, has been comfort eating, and needs a positive change in her life — takes Logan up on his offer to help her shed the extra lbs. She throws herself into her new exercise routine and (spoiler alert j/k, it’s right on the inside flap) into Logan’s arms.
Who would star in the movie adaptation? Perfect world scenario: Melissa McCarthy and Ryan Gosling. More probable scenario: Katherine Heigl in a fat suit and Ryan Gosling.
Where do I know that name…? Stephanie Evanovich is indeed the niece of noted mega-selling author Janet Evanovich. This is her debut novel.
So is it any good? Publishers Weekly says “quality writing, memorable characters…and an emotionally satisfying story add up to a marvelous gem.” Kirkus says it’s “a good start by Evanovich” (and Kirkus hates pretty much everything, so that counts as a rave review).
Reminds me of: Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner and Bridget Jones’ Diary by Helen Fielding
Try it if you like: Jennifer Weiner, Sophie Kinsella, Candace Bushnell, Emily Giffin, or Lauren Weisberger
When can I read it? It hits shelves on July 9^th, and you can put your copy on hold here. (Or you can have it RIGHT NOW, if you enter the giveaway contest!)

Other galleys up for grabs this month:

A Tap on the Window by Linwood Barclay (Suspense/Thriller, due out July 2nd)

The Serpent and the Pearl by Kate Quinn (Historical Fiction, due out August 6th)

The Man from Berlin by Luke McCallin (Mystery, due out August 6th)

The Execution of Noa P. Singleton by Elizabeth L. Silver (Crime Fiction, due out June 11th)

The Curiosity by Stephan P. Kiernan (Literary Fiction, out July 9th)

Now for the Great Galley Giveaway Ground Rules:

1. To enter the contest, comment in the Leave a Reply section below. Make sure you include a valid email address (this will not be publicly displayed, and we’ll only use it to let you know if you’ve won).
2. In the Message field, let us know which of these galleys you’d like to win.
3. Winners will be chosen at random by drawing and notified via email.
4. Here are some things you can do with your new galley should you win: read it, give it to a friend, use it as kindling for a fire, hollow it out and hide small trinkets in it. Here’s the main thing you cannot do with it: you cannot sell it. The publishers aren’t messing around with that “Not for Sale” thing, and if you think we lack a sense of humor when it comes to overdue fines, ooh boy, just wait.

That should do it for today…now who wants to win a galley? Ready, set, go!

*Librarian Enthusiasm Level Key: ”Really exciting” = more exciting than 50 Shades of Grey casting rumors (“oh, that’s neat”); less exciting than “J.K. Rowling might write another Harry Potter book” rumors (“ZOMG BEST THING EVAR!!”)
**Hank maybe could, if he were so inclined, given the rate at which he reads. I suspect he’s developed some top-secret speed-reading method involving dark magic and/or osmosis.

Tech Tip # 1

The very first Tech Tip is also an introduction to the Library Technicians. Each and every location of the SJCPL employs a lot of unique and helpful individuals, but today I wanted to talk about the Library Technicians. Each location has a Library Technician whose essential job is to provide basic technological assistance to patrons. This group is the one coming up with some of the tips for this ongoing blog, and I am happy to count myself among them.

You may have known about the Library Technicians, you may even have caught sight of one of these mythological beings, but did you know that you can schedule an appointment with a Library Technician? So, the very first tip is to check the availability of your local Library Technician. You can click here and contact your local branch to see when you can setup an appointment. Appointments are not necessary, but if you want a half hour of dedicated time to sit down and go over some bit of technology or program that we can help you with, we are happy to schedule a time to meet with you at the Library.

Suggested by: Alex, the Library Technician for Main Library

Look for the next Tech Tip on Thursday, May 30th.

If you would like to submit a tip or suggestion please follow this link by clicking the Suggestion Box and provide a name and email address.

Liabilities and Disclaimer

The comments and suggestions expressed on this blog are those of their respective contributors only. The comments and suggestions expressed on this blog do not necessarily represent the views of SJCPL, its management, or employees. SJCPL and the writers of this blog are not responsible for, and disclaim any and all liability for the content of comments written by contributors to the blog.

So, I’ve started to think about archaeology books that I’ve really enjoyed (most of which are mystery novels!) and others that I am interested in reading this summer as part of the summer reading challenge.  Of course, you can include any book you read in your summer reading log.  There is no need for it to connect with the topic–I just have fun trying to read things that relate to the theme.  And these books are great reads for any time.

So here’s my list of fiction archaeology books.  Elizabeth Peters’s archaeology mystery series takes place at the turn of the century and is about a family of English Egyptologists. The stories are great adventures involving newly discovered tombs, priceless Egyptian artifacts, master criminals, romance, murders and kidnappings. The characters are quirky and appealing and the plots are so gripping that these books are hard to put down. And they are frequently laugh-out-loud funny.  The first title in the series is Crocodile on the Sandbank.

Erin Hart’s mysteries about Cormac Maguire and Nora Gavin, an archaeologist and a pathologist, take place for the most part in contemporary Ireland. In several of the stories, the two main characters examine bog bodies, ancient human remains that have been preserved for centuries in peat bogs.  The discoveries and study of these remains are linked to crimes in the present.  By recounting the very interesting and sometimes tragic personal stories of the two main characters and those of the investigating police officers, Erin Hart gives the reader a real sense  of life in contemporary Ireland.  The first book in this series is Haunted Ground.  Here is a link to “Digging Deeper,” an article from Booklist about the most recent title in the series, The Book of Killowen.

Beverly Connor writes two excellent series, one about an archaeologist, Lindsay Chamberlain, and the other about a forensic anthropologist, Diane Fallon.  I like the Lindsay Chamberlain stories because Lindsay is an upbeat, energetic character and because the novels usually take place on fascinating archaeological excavations.  I feel like I learned quite a bit about archaeology by reading these books.  The series begins with A Rumor of Bones.  On the other hand, the books about Diane Fallon are somewhat grittier and grimmer than the Lindsay Chamberlain books.  I really enjoy them for their intensity and fast pace and Diane’s struggles for justice against very dangerous enemies.  And I must say, the latest Diane Fallon title, One Grave Less, was one of the most gripping books I have read in a very long time and it just stunned me with a couple of breathtaking plot twists.  But you really have to have read some of  the earlier titles to appreciate the developments in this most recent title.  The first title in the series is One Grave Too Many.  I was delighted to learn recently that Beverly Connor is working on new titles in each of these fantastic series.

I’ve been reading the Gideon Oliver series for over 20 years now, and am still enjoying them as much as I ever did.  Gideon Oliver is a professor of forensic anthropology who solves mysteries by finding clues about the victims and their murderers by examining skeletal remains.  The books often take place in exotic locations and provide a lot of detail about those locations, while at the same time offering suspenseful plots that are hard to put down.  Fellowship of Fear is the first title in the series, but these books really don’t have to be read in order.

I’ve just begun reading Artifacts, the first book in the Faye Longchamp series by Mary Anna Evans.  This series is about an amateur archaeologist trying to save her family home, which may be seized due to debt.  Since I’ve just begun reading it, I can’t say much about it, except the main character is appealing and well-drawn and the plot seems like it will be gripping.

Dana Cameron’s Emma Fielding mysteries, like the Lindsay Chamberlain stories, usually take place on interesting archaeological digs.  Emma Fielding is an archaeology professor and her digs are in New England and relate to the early colonists of the United States.  While reading these books, I loved learning about archaeology and this time period in our country’s history, but also enjoyed the character of Emma Fielding and the tense and intricate plots.  The series begins with Site Unseen.

A couple of archaeology stories that I am interested in trying are:

Elly Griffith’s Dr. Ruth Galloway series that takes place in England

Tom Knox‘s archaeological thrillers

Alex Archer’s SF/Fantasy archaeology series about Annja Creed

Are there any archaeology books you would recommend? What books do you think of when you hear groundbreaking reads?

Hardcover Fiction:

1. 12TH OF NEVER, by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. (Little, Brown.) One week after the birth of her baby, Detective Lindsay Boxer must return to work to investigate a string of grisly murders; a Women’s Murder Club novel.

2. THE HIT, by David Baldacci. (Grand Central.) The government hitman Will Robie uncovers a serious threat as he attempts to take out a fellow assassin who has gone rogue.

3. WHISKEY BEACH, by Nora Roberts. (Putnam, $27.95.) A former criminal attorney who has been acquitted of his wife’s murder retreats to his family estate on a rocky New England cliff, where he is comforted by the house’s caretaker amid continuing danger.

4. BEST KEPT SECRET, by Jeffrey Archer. (St. Martin’s.) In Volume 3 of the Clifton Chronicles, the focus shifts to a new generation — Sebastian, the son of Harry and Emma Clifton.

5. NOS4A2, by Joe Hill. (Morrow/HarperCollins.) In a creepy battle between real and imaginary worlds, a brave biker chick is pitted against a ghoulish villain who lures children to a place where it is always Christmas.

Hardcover Nonfiction:

1. LEAN IN, by Sheryl Sandberg with Nell Scovell. (Knopf, $24.95.) The chief operating officer of Facebook urges women to pursue their careers without ambivalence.

2. LET’S EXPLORE DIABETES WITH OWLS, by David Sedaris. (Little, Brown.) Essays from the humorist on subjects like French dentistry and a North Carolina Costco.

3. WAITING TO BE HEARD, by Amanda Knox. (Harper.) Knox, who was convicted of the murder of her roommate in 2009 when she was an American student in Italy, a conviction that was overturned in 2011, tells her story.

4. COOKED, by Michael Pollan. (Penguin Press.) The writer masters recipes and argues that regaining control of cooking will make Americans healthier.

5. MY NEXT STEP, by Dave Liniger with Laura Morton. (Hay House.) A businessman fights back from a staph infection that paralyzed him.

Young Adult:

1. THE FAULT IN OUR STARS, by John Green. (Dutton, $17.99.) A 16-year-old heroine faces the medical realities of cancer. (Ages 14 and up)

2. DIVERGENT, by Veronica Roth. (HarperCollins Publishers.) A girl must prove her mettle in a faction-ridden dystopia. (Ages 14 and up)

3. THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER, by Stephen Chbosky. (Simon & Schuster.) What it’s like to grow up, from the perspective of a high school boy. (Ages 14 and up)

4. INSURGENT, by Veronica Roth. (HarperCollins Publishers.) In this Divergent follow-up, a faction war looms. (Ages 14 and up)

5. WHILE IT LASTS, by Abbi Glines. (Simon & Schuster.) Cage takes a summer job in the countryside and meets a farmer’s daughter. (Ages 17 and up)

Children’s Middle Grade:

1. WONDER, by R. J. Palacio. (Knopf Doubleday Publishing.) A boy with a facial deformity enters a mainstream school. (Ages 8 to 12)

2. THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN, by Katherine Applegate. (Harper/HarperCollins.) A gorilla who lives in a mall meets an elephant. (Ages 8 to 12)

3. RAISING THE BAR, by Gabrielle Douglas. (Zondervan.) Photographs and facts about an Olympic gold medalist. (Ages 8 and up)

4. THE CARE AND KEEPING OF YOU 1, by Valorie Schaefer. Illustrated by Josee Masse. (American Girl Publishing.) Advice on the changing body for younger girls.  (Ages 8 to 12)

5. HOUSE OF SECRETS, by Chris Columbus and Ned Vizzini. Illustrated by Greg Call. (HarperCollins Publishers.) Three siblings battle warriors and pirates to find their way home. (Ages 10 to 14)

That evening he went out with his girlfriend which was his main reason for visiting IU.  I was asleep when he got back because I had the dreaded early morning Saturday class.

I dragged myself out of bed on Saturday and shuffled off to class where I managed  to stay awake through the lecture.  As I was walking back to the dorm, a car pulled over and honked at me. It was my new friend who offered to drive me back to McNutt.  After I got in the car, he said he had to stop by the Beta Theta Pi fraternity house on the way to the dorm.

He pulled into the parking lot next to the Beta house, hopped out of the car and assured me that he would be back quickly.  About five minutes later he came sprinting out of the Beta house leaped into his car, and we sped off.  I noticed he had blood all over his knuckles so I asked him what happened.  He did not reply, and we drove in silence, not back to McNutt Dormitory, but out into the countryside.  He parked on a deserted country lane near a creek.  Exiting his car, my mysterious friend knelt down on the bank of the stream and washed the blood off his hands.

On the way back to campus he told me what happened.  He claimed one of the Betas had been bothering his girlfriend.  He confronted the alleged girlfriend pesterer  who unluckily for him happened to be alone in the shower room.  A brief fight ensued followed by the Oberlin student’s flight to his car and subsequent escape.

After returning to McNutt, we received word that not only was every Beta on campus looking for us, but the Bloomington police and the campus police as well.  The now fugitive planned to stay with me on Saturday night and drive back to Oberlin on Sunday.  Unfortunately for him, his car was recognized, he was arrested and charged with assault and battery.

There was a write-up in the paper which said, among other things, that his trial would take place the following month.  He didn’t stay with me during his trial.  Perhaps the Betas had an empty bed.

Here are some novels in which innocent and mostly innocent people get in trouble through no fault of their own:

Topaz by Leon Uris     In 1962, French and American agents report that the Soviet Union plans to ship nuclear arms to Cuba.  When their superiors take no action, the agents find themselves involved in a situation that is far worse than they expected.

Psycho* by Robert Bloch   This novel was the basis for the Alfred Hitchcock movie of the same name.  Do not stop at the Bates Motel lest nutty Norman and his mother pay you a visit.

Dirty Story* by Eric Ambler     Petty criminal Arthur Abdel Simpson gets in way over his head when he takes a job as a mercenary with a mining company in central Africa.

Our Kind of Traitor by John le Carre     A young couple splurges on a posh vacation in the Caribbean.  They befriend a fellow vacationer who turns out to be a Russian money launderer.  When their new acquaintance asks them for a small favor, they find themselves in deep — well, you know.

Pompeii* by Robert Harris     The late summer weather in Italy is beautiful, the tourists are spending money and all is well.  Marcus Primus has just been promoted and is now in charge of controlling the water supply to nine towns around the Bay of Naples.  Things are certainly looking up, but wait a minute.  There seems to be a problem on the local mountain – Vesuvius.

The Heart of the Matter by Graham Greene     Scobie is an ethical, responsible man in a West African coastal town.  Enter the young widow Helen.  Scobie’s love for Helen starts him on a downward slide beginning with deceit and ending in murder.  And then Scobie rallies.

Dark Star by Alan Furst     Andre Szara who has survived Polish pograms and the Russian Revolution works as a foreign correspondent in 1937 Prague.  Szara is co-opted by  Soviet secret intelligence and finds himself in the position of spymaster in Paris at the start of World War II.

Nine Coaches Waiting* by Mary Stewart     An English governess takes a job at an elegant French chateau inhabited by an arrogant old man and an attractive but mysterious young man.  When the governess discovers a plot against her charge, a nine-year-old count, she must find a way to save him.

Misery* by Stephen King     A famous author gets in a serious automobile accident on a remote road.  Fortunately for him, he is rescued by a nurse who is a big fan of his.  Unfortunately for him, his rescuer is more than a little looney.

* I’ve read and enjoyed these novels.

from  http://the-most-funny-jokes.blogspot.com/

“Go ahead and laugh at Detroit. Because you are laughing at yourself.” – Charles LeDuff, Detroit: An American Autopsy

About a year ago, I was doing my library school practicum at a newspaper library in South Texas. As a former journalist, I had a blast being in the high-energy newsroom amongst the constant banter of the reporters. I would bite my lip, never chiming in while listening to leads develop, news break and theories thrown around. One day in particular I almost bit my lip right off. Two of the reporters were going to Detroit to receive a journalism award. The reporter next to me yelled out “good luck, don’t get shot,” which triggered an onslaught of the Motor City. One of reporters so bravely risking their lives to receive an award said he was actually looking forward to it as he was really fascinated by a city that’s “burning itself down.” Luckily, for my lip’s sake, the metro editor, who is from Toledo, put them all to shame. I don’t remember most of what he said but my scowl turned into a proud smile that only a Detroit native could produce.

I am among the millions who proudly proclaim they are from Detroit. The reality is, most of us are stretching the truth a bit. I was born in Royal Oak, MI and lived in the suburbs of Detroit before moving to Battle Creek, where I spent the majority of my childhood through adolescence. Most of us are from Metro Detroit and only make our way into the City for sporting events or work. I’ve actually only met one person that was born and raised within the city limits. By met I mean I was there when she lashed out on a fellow classmate who said he was from Detroit, but really meant Grosse Point. Which is nothing like the impoverished, corrupted streets of the time and again Murder Capital. So technically, I was born and spent a few years in north Metro Detroit.

During a 10^th grade field trip to the Detroit Institute of Arts Museum, our bus driver took a wrong turn and ended up on 8 mile. The bus driver made us all duck until we merged onto the highway. This was a little more than a year before Eminem’s movie, yet we were all aware of where we should and should not be within the “D”. The birthplace of the automobile and Motown was once called the Renaissance City and Paris of the West for its architecture. The now poorest city was once the fourth largest in the U.S. with its peak in the 1950 census. Detroit’s population dropped 40 percent, with less than 700,000 residents fifty years later. While on the edge of chaos, burning itself down, its decay reeking throughout the world, and yet so many still say they are from Detroit when they have the option not too. Why?

The answer is undoubtedly different for most, but I believe it’s because of what Detroit has meant to our way of life.  In its glory days, Detroit was the caricature of what was great about our county. Now, it represents what’s wrong with our country and is literally burning itself to the ground. Like a phoenix it will rise from the ashes again. I have hope; the same hope I’ve had my whole life that the Lions will win a Super Bowl. Possibly farfetched, but us Detroiters, faux or real, are resilient, determined and proud.

Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Charlie Leduff’s eloquently written memoir, Detroit: An American Autopsy kept staring at me from the bestseller display. I initially didn’t want to read it because I thought it would be too depressing. How could a book about the decaying city I love not be? I finally gave into its persistence and read it. Yes it is incredibly depressing, but its also engaging, inspiring and genuinely funny. It’s a must read. This notion is backed by Detroit native Leduff who claims “Detroit is no longer just a punch line. It is a warning of the future to come for millions of Americans.” Some might argue that Detroit is past its autopsy and onto the wake. But the wake is when you celebrate the life – the good and the bad. It’s the moment within the ashes right before the phoenix regenerates. So before the next time you laugh at Detroit or say, “at least we’re not Detroit”. Ponder where we would be without the Motor City.

Detroit is a place where we’ve had it pretty tough. But there is a generosity here and a well of kindness that goes deep. – Mitch Albom

10 reasons why Detroit will prove critics wrong

Further reading:

Detroit City Is the Place to Be: The Afterlife of an American Metropolis - Mark Binelli

Lost Detroit: Stories Behind the Motor City’s Majestic Ruins - Dan Austin

Hidden History of Detroit - Amy Elliott Bragg

Made in Detroit : a south of 8-Mile memoir – Paul Clemens.

The end of Detroit : how the Big Three lost their grip on the American car market - Micheline Maynard.

Hell or Richmond by Ralph Peters

A House Divided by Kimberla Lawson Roby

Into the Void by Tim Lebbon

Long Live the King by Fay Weldon

Murder as a Fine Art by David Morrell

Red Moon by Benjamin Percy

Screwed: A Novel by Eoin Colfer

Thinking of You by Jill Mansell

Unwritten : A Novel by Charles Martin