Favorite books

Make Mine with a Twist!

Evelyn2 Comments

I’ve always loved books with that surprise zinger at the end ever since I read Sidney Sheldon’s The Other Side of Midnight back in the ’70s.

A new author I’ve discovered that provides me that same satisfaction is Brian Freeman. The first book of his I read wasThe Burying Place. Although it is the fifth book in his series featuring police detective Jonathan Stride, I didn’t need to read the others first to know what was going on. And, boy did he lead me along thinking I knew who the killer was…until that final twist!

Of course, I had to go back and read his other books. So far, I’ve read the first two books in the series, Immoral and Stripped. Both were great reads with complex characters, multiple plot twists, and…that same surprise ending.

 I can’t wait to finish up with the rest of the series!

~Evelyn

Random Favorites

JanetLeave a comment

After you read through the following list I hope it will give you a springboard to think of your own fiction titles and you own categories that you will share with a friend. There are so many ways to find books but I still find my best recommendations are “word of mouth.”

 Brave Irene by William Steig is my favorite children’s book.

My favorite teen book is Holes by Louis Sacher.

Fortunes Rocks  by Anita Shreve and A Boy’s Life by Robert McCammon are two of my favorite adult works of fiction.

It’s hard to believe that The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini and The Help by Kathryn Stockett are debut novels.

Keeping Watch by Laurie R. King is my favorite war-related book.

A quirky book that is worth reading is The Girl I Used To Be by David Christofano.

The best book dealing with all sides of Teenage Pregnancy is Girls in Trouble by Caroline Leavit.

An author that I believe deserves a larger readership is Kaye Gibbons.

A strong work of historical fiction that was overlooked by readers is The Blood of Flowers by Anita Amirrezvavi.

Two books that had my undivided attention from the first page are – American, America by Ethan Canin and The Help by Kathryn Stockett.

The book I’ve been recommending lately is The Good Daughters by Joyce Maynard.

—Janet

The Tip of the Iceberg

JanetLeave a comment

Southern Fiction is big. It is longer, wider, and deeper than this blog posting. Recently, Vanity Fair magazine published a two-page photograph of some Southern women authors. They chose: Sheri Joseph, Susan Rebecca White, Karin Slaughter, Amanda Gable, Joshilyn Jackson, Natasha Trethewey, Emily Giffin, Jessica Handler and Kathryn Stockett. According to the magazine these women “write fearlessly about the region’s troubled legacies of race, class, gender and sexuality.”

From my experience as a reader, I have my own list of favorite Southern authors. Mark Childress is the author who reached out and grabbed me with Crazy in Alabama. I have also enjoyed One Mississippi and Georgia Bottoms, his newest book. Crazy in Alabama starts my imaginary shelf of must-read Southern fiction and Kathryn Stockett’s The Help finishes it. In between these two books are more titles that I would recommend: Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman, The Scandalous Summer of Sissy LeBlanc by Loraine Despres, The Rock Orchard by Paula Wall, Miss Julia Speaks her Mind by Ann B. Ross, The Heaven of Mercury by Brad Watson, Eddie’s Bastard by William Kowalski, The Last Girls by Lee Smith, On Account of Conspicuous Women by Dawn Shamp, Whistlin’ Dixie in a Nor’easter: A Novel by Lisa Patton and most recently Sweet Jiminy by Kristin Gore. Enjoy!

—Janet

Thrilling First Novels Full of Surprises

EvelynLeave a comment

I love to read first novels to find new authors I’ve never read. There’s no expectations from previous books and basically you just never know what you’re going to get. Here are a couple of my recent favorites.

In Daniel Palmer’s debut thriller Delirious, Charlie Giles, an up-and-coming software developer, has it all. His start-up company has just been bought by a major firm and his “In Vision” software will be the next big thing on everyone’s car. When strange things begin to happen at work, Charlie becomes paranoid because he can’t remember doing them. Soon he can’t tell if he’s becoming like his schizophrenic brother, or someone is really out to get him. Could he really murder someone and not remember?

This book is full adrenalin with an incredible “can’t put it down” plot. To me it felt a little like some of Joseph Finder’s books with the “ordinary man in too deep in a business setting” so I wasn’t surprised that Daniel is a friend of Joe Finder. I guess it shouldn’t have surprised me that his dad is Michael Palmer either because I’ve loved his books for years.

When middle-class college student Karen Clarke agrees to tutor the rich, free-spirited young actress Biba Capel,she soon becomes addicted to Biba’s bohemian lifestyle, friends, and ends up falling for Biba’s brother Rex. Karen learns that the Capel family has many secrets, but when Rex goes to prison for murder, Karen keeps the biggest secret of all.

The Poison Tree by Erin Kelly is a deep, dark, compelling story told in alternating chapters ten years apart. Not only will you not want to put it down, but you’ll want to find someone else who’s read it to talk about the shocking ending.

~Evelyn

My Top 10 Favorite Historical Romances

Donna1 Comment

I carry paperbacks wherever I go, in my purse and in my car and I have been known to carry a paperback in my coat or sweater pocket. Yes, I love to read paperbacks and especially historical romances. Oh, how I love a good romance with a happy ending for all! These are my top 10 historical paperback romances for 2010 (of course, I have read other hardcover historical romances in 2010 but I’m limiting my top ten list to just paperbacks). For an entertaining, pure escapism read to warm you up on a cold winter’s night, these books won’t disappoint:

How I Met My Countess
by Elizabeth Boyle

Aching for Always
by Gwyn Cready

In Bed with the Duke
by Christina Dodd

A Lady’s Guide to Improper Behavior
by Suzanne Enoch

Wicked Intentions
by Elizabeth Hoyt

A Kiss at Midnight
by Eloisa James

Love in the Afternoon
by Lisa Kleypas

The Year of Living Scandalously
by Julia London

How to Beguile a Beauty
by Kasey Michaels

The Wicked Wyckerly
by Patricia Rice

 

As always…Happy Reading!           ~Donna

Top Ten for 2010

EvelynLeave a comment

My Top Ten Reads in 2010

Basically, I prefer to read thriller-suspense and crime fiction, and this list is weighted that way, but I’ve also thrown in a couple titles in other genres, too, because, Hey, I’m a librarian and will read almost anything—what can I say? So, in no particular order, here are my top ten choices for 2010:

The 13th Hour by Richard Doetsch—After Nick Quinn’s wife is murdered, he is approached by a strange man who offers him the ability to re-live the last 12 hours and prevent his wife’s murder. But Nick quickly learns that when you attempt to change the past, you also must deal with unintended consequences.  I loved this book because of its original concept—it starts with chapter 12 and works backward to the first chapter.

The Bricklayer by Noah Boyd –When a radical terrorist group successfully gets away with millions in ransom money, Steve Vail, former FBI agent and current bricklayer, is asked to track them down because he doesn’t have to follow bureaucratic rules.  The fast-pacing and Vail’s hero factor take this thriller to the next level.

Faithful Place by Tana French—Dublin detective Frank Mackey returns to his childhood home after being away for twenty years when his first love’s suitcase is found in abandoned home.  On the night of their elopement so many years ago, Rosie never showed up and Frank thought he had been dumped. Now he must investigate her death as well as deal with former friends and family. Although this is the third book with Frank as a character, it can be read alone. The complex family relationships and haunting story will stick with you for a long time.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett—This is the story of three black maids and their relationships with their families, the families they serve, and each other is set in 1960’s Alabama during the onset of the Civil Rights Movement. I actually listened to this one and would highly recommend the audio version with its rich, multi-voice format.

 

 

The Burying Place by Brian Freeman—Detective Jonathan Stride is asked to help locate a missing baby in rural Minnesota when a young female officer lost on patrol stumbles upon a serial killer’s victim barely alive. Although it is the fifth book in a series, it can stand alone. The flawed characters, multiple plot twists and unrelenting action make this a book you won’t want to put down.

 

 

I’d Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman—When Elizabeth Benedict was 15-years-old, she was held captive by a serial killer, and was the only one he didn’t kill. Now a married adult with a new name and family, the last thing “Eliza” expects is to have Walter Bowman find her and request her presence on death row before his execution. I’m a big fan of Lippman’s standalone psychological suspense and, WOW!! This one is her best yet. Don’t even start this book unless you have the time to read it in one sitting.

The Edge by Jeffrey Deaver—An avid game-theory expert, secret agent Corte is assigned to protect a DC police officer and his family while staying one step ahead of the man hired to kill them. As usual, Deaver keeps you on the edge of your seat. Just when you think you have things figured out, you realize that he’s tricked you with a red herring clue and you’re really several steps behind.  This is a truly amazing read.

Eat This, Not That by David Zinczenko—Subtitled “thousands of simple food swaps that can save you 10,20, 30 pounds—or more!” this book shows you in full color what TO eat and what NOT TO eat. Really, how simple can it be? Enough said.

 There by Hangs a Tail: A Chet and Bernie Mystery by Spencer Quinn—When a countess and her show dog are kidnapped, Chet and Bernie are hired to find them. Chet is a police-trained K-9 German Shepherd who failed his final exam when he chased a cat and Bernie owns a detective agency. The story, told through Chet’s eyes, is filled with kibble-sized tidbits of what dogs really think of humans. I’m really a cat person, but I LOVE these books!

 

 

The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag by Alan Bradley—On her second caper, teen sleuth Flavia de Luce sets out to investigate the suspicious death of famous puppeteer Rupert Porson with astonishing results. Clever writing, hijinks galore and a feisty main character make this series get better and better.

~Evelyn

Early Influences

JanetLeave a comment

The Bumper Book written by Watty Piper and illustrated by Eulalie was first published in 1946. The next publication date I could find was 1952. My sister was born in 1949 and I was born in 1951. My mother purchased one of these editions for her girls. The Bumper Book was an anthology of stories, poems, A,B,C’s and 1,2,3’s. This book was one that I claimed as a young adult. I have had it ever since.

Looking at this book over the years has always been a treat. The illustrations just blow me away. As I got older and had my own children I realized that I didn’t want this book to be closed and put away. The illustrations were just too beautiful. I studied the book many times before choosing which illustrations to frame. I really did agonize over my decisions because to choose an illustration meant the picture on the back would never been seen again. Framing would also mean that I would have to dismantle a book! I felt like I was committing a crime. However, the framed pictures are beautiful and I get to see them every day.

The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss was first published in 1957.  Our Mom purchased it for us. The other books that I still have in my possession are If I Ran the Zoo, Horton Hears a Who, McElligot’s Pool and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I can’t imagine how these books must have been perceived when they first came on the market. My sister and I are still amazed that Mom bought them. Our idea is that Dr. Seuss’s books must have looked fairly radical for the times and our Mom was not radical or whimsical but then again maybe she was! My sister and I cherish them.

To round out our pre-Kindergarten education my parents also subscribed to a children’s music series. The music was recorded on 78’s. Some of them were educational but most of them were just fun. They each had a paper dust cover with appropriate art work on the front. A couple of the covers are embellished with early drawings by my sister which I love. One of those covers will definitely be framed as well. The good news is that a few years ago Restoration Hardware had a suitcase-like record player which plays 78’s, 45’s and 33⅓’s so my kids and I listen to them at Christmas time.

I treasure these artifacts of early childhood and that includes my sister. (She is 60 years old!)

—Janet

What If There Were an American Author Idol?

Evelyn1 Comment

Would we judge authors on their looks? their prose? or maybe even the jacket covers of their books? Hmmm…..What a dilemma! I was wondering about this last night since it was pretty quiet on the reference desk and someone suggested that everyone was home watching American Idol. They told me there was even a Facebook page asking President Obama not to schedule his State of the Union speech to conflict with the program.

If I apply American Idol judging to pick the book I read next, which do you think would win?

The Bone Chamber by Robin Burcell

 

The First Rule by Robert Crais

 

Or, Impact by Douglas Preston

I like them all, so I’ll just flip a coin to choose. Maybe I’m just a little Paula  Abdul-ish at heart.

~Evelyn

Some Favorites from 2009

JulieLeave a comment

Compared to the voracious readers in this library, I complete a rather piddly number of books a year, especially since the recent addition of a couple little ones to my life. So this task of choosing my top books of the year had to be culled from a rather small population of choices. With that said, here you are – some favorite books of 2009:

Honestly Dearest, You’re Dead by Jack Fredrickson & September Society by Charles Finch

I list these two mysteries together because they are similarly well-written and interesting stories with engaging protaganists. The similarities end there as both the main characters (hard-boiled private detective vs. elegant amateur sleuth) and setting (modern day town near Chicago vs. Victorian era London and Oxford) couldn’t be more different.  But mystery lovers will enjoy giving both of them a try!      [Note: These are the second novels in series featuring both sleuths but are standalones.]

The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister

I’m not sure why, but I seem to be drawn toward novels that have a focus on the wonder and delight of good food. (New Year’s resolutions #1 and #2 – stop reading books about food and start working out…or maybe I should just read those books while working out…hmmm…) Anyway, it’s a treat of a novel about savoring life regardless of what life might dish out.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

After a horrible accident, Mia finds herself outside of her near lifeless body, able to see and hear those around her. As she watches the efforts of those trying to save her, she thinks back on her short but full life.  A life that will never be the same should she decide to stay in it. Don’t let the “young adult” label keep you from reading this thoughtful and moving book.

— Julie

Ann’s Top Ten of 2009

AnnLeave a comment

My end of year reading in 2008 of the newest Kate Atkinson book spurred my beginning year reading in 2009, and I went back to read the two older Atkinson books. Of these, Case Histories gets a nod for my Best of 2009 list. It introduces the private detective, ex-cop, Jackson Brodie, whose life is at loose ends. As her tried to solve three cases revolving around past mysteries, he’s pulled into the moment of real life in a big way.

Shreve Stockton’s The Daily Coyote (which just came out in a trade paperback ed.), is a definite for the list. You will fall in love with Charlie the coyote and Eli the cat in this true-life story about a city girl turned western ranch woman who rescues a baby coyote.

As long as I’m including the coyote book, I have to also include Homer’s Odyssey by Gwen Cooper. This is another inspiring animal story about a blind kitten named Homer, adopted by Cooper. Homer is a fearless cat, who ends up taking care of Gwen just as much as she takes care of him.

On the darker side, Arnaldur Indriðason’s Silence of the Grave is a powerful literary mystery set in Iceland. When a corpse is discovered, and thought to be many years old, Detective Erlandur and his team investigate. 2nd in the series.

Stephen White never fails to entertain, and Dead Time is no exception. In this latest novel, Alan Gregory runs into his ex-wife and when he agrees to help her track down a woman who is to be the surrogate mother of her child, he finds himself involved in a wild and dangerous mystery of another missing young woman.

I discovered Nicci French this year. The author is actually a husband-wife writing team, and their newest book is Until It’s Over. Set in London, bicycle messenger Astrid bell finds her world turned upside down when she’s in a bike accident with a car, and the driver of the car who is also a neighbor is later found murdered. This is a can’t-put-down suspenseful story for fans of Ruth Rendell and Minette Walters.

Laura Moriarty’s second novel, The Rest of Her Life is a stunner. During a moment of inattentiveness, teenager Kara Churchill hits and kills a pedestrian, and from that moment on the rest of her life changes. With insight, grace, and pain, Moriarty probes mother-daughter and family relationships in the wake of tragedy.

I’d been saving Steve Hamilton’s last Alex McKnight mystery, Ice Run. (He’s departed from that character in his more recent novels, but assures fans he is now working on a new mystery featuring McKnight.) This one, like the others is set in the UP of Michigan. It’s the dead of winter, and Alex becomes involved with a case concerning an old man he and his girlfriend run into at a Sault St. Marie hotel. Nonstop action, and the ghosts and mysteries from the past will chill you to the bone.

Another book I’d been saving to read is Summertime by Liz Rigbey. Rigbey’s only written two novels, and this one like her previous doesn’t disappoint. I couldn’t put this book down! It’s about a woman returning to California when her father mysteriously dies. As in Ice Run, there are tragedies and stories from the past that muddy the waters of the present in this wonderful mystery-thriller.

And finally to complete my list, there is The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Swedish author Stieg Larsson. The book really does live up to all the hype, and it’s a shame that the author died before seeing his three books published. This is the first of a trilogy. The second title is now available in the U.S., with the third due to be published in May, 2010.

~Ann