On the Shelf: Picks from the Hercules Library

It's not typical to walk into a public library and find books that you actually want to read sitting on the shelves. In fact, the is a rareity — and a luxury. Not only are the new releases boldly displayed in their own section (underneath the large, hanging "fiction" sign), but the classics are in good condition, free of that musty attic smell and those traditional crispy brown pages.

We scoped the shelves and found the following treasures:

1. David Copperfied by Charles Dickens

This beautiful leather-bound edition is the perfect catalyst for transporting the reader to 19th Century Dickensian England. Having a classic like this on your lap instantly increases your I.Q. And if you've never read Dickens before, David Copperfield is a great place to start. The story follows a young boy from a discontented, isolated childhood into prosperous maturity, with all the heartache and adventure that is typical of the "coming of age" tale. 

2. Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnson

If you're looking for something "different," Johnson has one of the most unique voices in American fiction. Renowned and revered for his short stories, Johnson astounded critics with this 2007 novel, which won the National Book Award for fiction and was also a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. The story follows eight characters during the Vietnam War, making it a complex and heavy (literally, at more than 600 pages) book. But Johnson's writing is not to be missed. Looking for something a little less laborious? Try Johnson's book of short stories, Jesus' Son. 

3. On the Road by Jack Kerouac

Jack Kerouac made spontanious road trips an essential part of the American Dream through On the Road. Set in the late 1940s, the semi-autobiographical novel follows Dean Moriarty on his adventures across America. With no particular destination in mind, Moriarty's agenda is to get sidetracked — by women, friends and booze. The book is a celebration of freedom and friendship in its rawest form, with some ole-timey cussing thrown in for good measure.

4. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson

This book, which is number one in the "Millenium Series" trilogy, has been all over the place, from bestseller lists to the box office. It's dark and violent narrative is by no means meant for minors or the faint hearted. The writing isn't great, but it's simple, making Swedish author Steig Larsson a screenwriter's dream. The two main characters are Mikael Blomkvist — a former financial journalist who has suffered an embarrassing fall from fame, and Lisbeth Salander — an emotionally stunted goth with a violent past. But, as fate would have it, the two are dependent on one another for resolution to their chaotic personal journeys. If you don't feel the pressure to read a book just because everyone in the world seems to be reading it, then the movie might do just as well instead.

5. 1984 by George Orwell

Funnily enough, "Big Brother" didn't start as a reality T.V. show. It's concept began in the pages of Orwell's 1984, a dystpoian adventure into public mind control and surveillance. This classic novel sparked a whole new world of ideas, government paranoia and socio-literary terms like "Orwellian," "newspeak," and "double-think." Decades after its original publication, 1984 will still have you thinking twice.

6. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

For those of you who weren't forced to read this in high school, The Bell Jar is Sylvia Plath's exploration of depression and the pressures of womanhood. In one of the most famous and exhilerating scenes in literary history, main character Esther Greenwood throws all of her clothes off of the roof of her hotel for no apparent reason. It is a scene that critics say resonates with women who are burdened by the weight of conventional beauty and fashion. But for most teenagers who read the book in high school... throwing your clothes off the roof just seems like a lot of fun.

Wild Cards: New Arrivals and Off the Beaten Track

1. The Story of Stuff by Annie Leonard

If you live in America, you probably have a lot of "stuff." You probably, even, bought more "stuff" this morning. And you will again tomorrow. But have you ever wondered why we have this cultural obsesson with consumption, and what it's it doing to the world we live in? Leonard offers a harsh and detailed look into America's buying epidemic.

2. Blacksad by Juan Díaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido

There is a common misconception that graphic novels are for kids. Wrong. Comic books are for kids. Graphic novels are awesome... if you want to experience reading an intense novel at the same time as watching a movie, that is. Start here, with Blacksad — a cat-like detective in a noir world of weird animalesque humans — and you won't be disappointed. After all, we all started reading by looking at the pictures, didn't we?

Happy reading!

Have you found any treasures at the Hercules Public Library? Share them here.