Genre Book Discussion

It’s Ladies Day! -in Women’s Fiction

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We recently spent some time thinking about the lives of women and focusing on their relationships with family, friends, and loves -or- we talked about Women’s Fiction! Either way you think about it?It’s true! I think it was a pretty successful discussion with positive responses all around, why not see what you think of what we read?

Maureen: The Magician’s Lie by Greer Macallister is an absorbing historical debut that takes readers into the world of traveling magic shows in America around 1900. The main character, known as the Amazing Arden, has just been apprehended after a dead man is discovered beneath the stage of her show. The story unfolds backwards as Arden tells her life story to the deputy that catches her and explains how she came to be one of the only female illusionists of her time. Her life is full of heartbreak, love, suspense, and the thrill of performing. Will it turn out that Arden is the perpetrator of the murder? Just who is the mysterious man found dead beneath the stage? A compelling historical novel with a very strong female character that perseveres in the face of many obstacles and learns what she is really made of in the process.

Megan: The Cure for Dreaming by Cat Winters is the story of Olivia Mead, a headstrong teen living in Oregon in 1900. While Olivia is drawn to the suffragist movement and dreams of going to college, her father wants his daughter to be a docile wife and mother. He attempts to silence her by hiring a stage illusionist to hypnotize the rebellion out of her. The experiment has unexpected results. While Olivia is no longer able to speak her mind, she is able to see people’s true natures. The horrifying visions lead her back to the mysterious mesmerist and boost her resolve to fight for women’s rights. A captivating historical fiction with a hint of romance and a touch of the supernatural.

Beth: God Help the Child by Toni Morrison is a beautifully written story about a resilient female character who overcomes her past and finds the courage to take on her future. The story delves into some of the most sensitive, often disturbing, issues we face as a culture, including racism, pedophilia, and rape, all of which play some role in the main character’s life, shaping her into a strong female icon.

Carol: In The Precious One by Marisa de los Santos, Taisy has been estranged from her father Wilson, ever since he left their family to start a new one when she was a high school senior. Sixteen years later, she can’t seem to say ‘no’ when the unabashedly conceited Wilson asks her to write her memoir. The by-product of Wilson’s second marriage is his spoiled and beloved teenage daughter, the precocious Willow. Willow adores their father, but is less than thrilled when Taisy moves into the pool house to begin her research. Worse still is that Willow, who’s been homeschooled all her life, has been enrolled in public school. Desperate for some help with navigating through unchartered waters, Willow might just find that she’s glad Taisy is there after all. This novel about sisterhood, family, love and second chances is a quick read with a happy ending that would make for great beach reading.

Emma: In The Glass Kitchen by Linda Francis Lee, Portia has a magical way with food. Just like her grandmother, she knows exactly what to cook/bake to help people. Portia and her two sisters inherited a dilapidated brownstone in Manhattan. Her sisters quickly sold their apartments to wealthy widow Gabriel Kane who renovates the apartments and lives there with his two teenage daughters. Newly divorced Portia decides to leave Texas and move into her portion of the brownstone, the garden apartment. Gabriel’s daughters initially latch on to Portia because she’s a good cook, but eventually Portia becomes close with the girls and their father. Her goal is to open a Texas style restaurant like her grandmother’s “Glass Kitchen” in Manhattan. A mixture of families, romance, family secrets, and tasty recipes.

Steve: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows is a splendid book about author Juliet Ashton and her group of unexpected pen pals from Guernsey, who share their stories of life under Nazi occupation during World War II. Juliet ultimately meets her new circle of friends in person and her life undergoes major changes. Although this is a fictional account told in the form of letters, you would swear that these are real people.

Ann: The Silent Sister by Diane Chamberlain is the latest in a long string of the author’s books featuring strong women struggling with relationships and with life. Riley MacPherson returns home to New Bern, North Carolina after her father dies. As she sorts through the house and talks to people who knew her dad, she finds she not only didn’t know him as well as she thought, but unearths layer upon layer of family secrets and questions. There is a startling revelation about her sister. Riley finds her life spiraling almost out of control as she realizes that the family members she thought she knew had hidden so much from her. The story and the characters pull you in and keep you reading late into the night.

Dori: Ani FaNelli is a woman that seems to have it all – she’s clawed her way to a successful career in New York City and is about to marry a handsome, wealthy man. She’s also shallow, mean and deeply unhappy. She’s crafted a persona to hide a traumatic adolescence that involved a news making violent event at her prestigious high school. When she agrees to be interviewed for a documentary about the event, her past unravels and flashbacks reveal the painful truth, but what will Ani do with it? Entrancing the reader from the first page, Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll is a twisty, dark, surprising debut novel.

Lauren: The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen features two women facing the ups and downs of family, relationships, and the wounds of the past. Generations ago, Willa’s family was the height of Southern society in their small North Carolina town before being struck by financial ruin. During their heyday they built the Blue Ridge Madam, the town’s grandest mansion, which was subsequently sold and fell into disrepair. Paxton Osgood, Willa’s former classmate and still the quintessential “little Miss Perfect” is the President of the local women’s club and her family has purchased the Madam and Paxton is overseeing it’s restoration in time for the gala of the year. When a body is uncovered during renovations a decades-old mystery is brought to light and the two women are drawn together in delving into their pasts to uncover the truth.

Stacey: Lawyer for the Dog by Lee Robinson had a little romance, a super sweet dog named Sherman, and a powerful main character Sally Barnard. Sally is caring for her mother, who has advanced Alzheimer’s, while managing her own law practice and dealing with a little bit of relationship baggage from the past, which seems unavoidable as Sally’s in her fifties. This would be a good choice for a little light reading on the porch in summertime.

Next time we’re going to be sharing -mysteries! This is one genre I’m pretty sure no one here has any reluctance to read a mystery book and as a bonus feature -they’re really easy to define: a crime has been committed and someone tries to figure out who dunnit! -wa-lah!

Enjoy!

— Stacey

Pretty as a -Graphic Novel- Picture

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Graphic novels are one of the best categories ever -especially if you’re limited on the amount of time you have to read!! There was plenty of variety in topics and plenty of variety in the amount of words people chose to read, from almost none (me!) to lots and lots (???), but the overall degree of satisfaction with individual choices was pretty darn high. So if you want a suggestion of a story told primarily through pictures, this list is for you!

Chris: Can’t We Talk about Something More Pleasant? A Memoir by Roz Chast takes us on a journey some of us know all too well—being there for our aging parents in the final years of their lives. I laughed and cried reading it and realizing how similar the human experience is whether one’s parents live in the Bronx or Garfield Heights. Who knew their maddening idiosyncrasies would be so similar in nature and so cherished after their passing? A winner of many awards including 2014 National Book Award Finalist, it’s a great read.

Carol: Race to Incarcerate: A Graphic Retelling by Sabrina Jones and Marc Mauer is an adaptation of a 1999 work by Marc Mauer. This nonfiction graphic novel looks at how the United States came to have the highest incarceration rate in the world with a population of over 2 million prisoners. With various stories of incarcerated individuals serving as examples, this statistic-filled book shows the failure of our prison system. Mauer suggests that by investing in education, drug treatment, job creation, and a fairer system of sentencing, the need for prisons would lessen.

Lauren: The Sculptor by Scott McCloud is a lengthy graphic novel (nearly 500 pages) but it gives its author plenty of time to draw out (ha! pun intended?) the story of a struggling artist, David Smith, taunted by the absence of what, he believes, should by now be a wildly successful career in sculpture. The story takes a fantastic turn when David makes a deal with Death: he will receive the power to sculpt anything around him into a masterwork just using his hands. The trade-off?—he has just 200 days more to live. Initially the agreement seems acceptable to David, but everything changes when he falls in love.

Lauren (again! -She loved them both!): Princess Decomposia and Count Spatula by Andi Watson is a delightful graphic novel geared towards young adults. The story takes us into the underworld and is populated by monsters and ghouls of every sort. Poor Princess Decomposia is left to handle all the official palace duties while he hypochondriac father, the King, remains in bed with a new ache, pain, or general complaint daily. Things start to look up for Princess Decomposia when newly hired palace cook, Count Spatula, enters her life. Count Spatula opens Decomposia up to new ideas about food, friendship, and true love. A charming read!

Beth: How to Be Happy by Eleanor Davis is a beautifully crafted graphic novel representing the extremes that humans take in desperate attempts to find happiness. The cover images and many of the included graphics are so beautiful that I feel they deserve to be framed the my wall, rather than shoved between other books on the shelf. The stories seemed to be deep if you gave them some thought, though none of them really grabbed me. It’s worth a look just for the art.

Julie: I “read” Love: The Tiger by Frederic Brremaud, illustrated by Federico Bertolucci, and I’m air quoting because the book’s only words are brief writing at the beginning and end of the story. It shows us a day in the life of a tiger searching for food and the illustrations are, for the most part, incredibly beautiful and as lush as the jungle they depict. It’s a world in which, according to the book, is experienced “an elemental love. A love that mankind can never experience.” I know I didn’t experience it, but it’s worth checking out simply for the illustrations.

Emma: March: Book One is the first in a projected graphic novel trilogy by John Lewis, U.S. Representative for Georgia’s 5th congressional district. He is the sole surviving member of the “Big Six” of the Civil Rights movement and was one of the original Freedom Riders. The graphic novel has Congressmen Lewis sharing Civil Rights history with a couple of young visitors to his office on the day of President Obama’s first inauguration. He begins with his early years in segregated rural Alabama through the birth of the Nashville Student Movement in the early 60’s. An important period of history told in a unique format.

Steve: White Death, by Robbie Morrison and Charlie Adlard, focuses on Italian WWI soldier Pietro Aquasanta and his time in the war. The story is bleakly told and drawn, and centers around the use of “White Death,” which was the purposeful setting off of avalanches using gun and cannon fire to destroy the enemy. Unfortunately the story itself is hard to follow, in part because the characters seem to look all the same, and partly because it is just plain disjointed.

Dori : In Persepolis by MarJane Satrapi, Satrapi illustrates the story of her childhood in Iran after the fall of the Shah in 1979. Her family, hailing from the educated elite, had been protesting the Shah and his violent and undemocratic methods of dealing with adversaries. After the country is turned into an Islamic state, her family is hopeful, but soon the Iraq War begins and it becomes clear that the new regime is deeply dangerous . Satrapi, 10 at the time, can no longer listen to Western music, dress how she likes or go to school with boys, and her extended family faces peril, including her beloved Uncle Anoosh. No wallflower, she often gets in trouble for speaking her mind and her parents, concerned for her safety, find a way to send her to Vienna to boarding school, telling her that they will soon follow. Beautifully illustrated in simple planes of black and white, Satrapi is able to capture individuals and their feelings with simplicity. Her text, too, is sparse, but captures the complexities of life in Iran under the Islamic regime.

Megan: Ms. Marvel Vol. 1: No Normal by G. Willow Wilson introduces a new superhero for the modern age. Kamala Khan is just an average teen from New Jersey when she suddenly finds herself possessing the superpowers that allow her to morph into her hero, Carol Danvers. Now she finds herself stuck between her two conflicting worlds. On the one hand, she longs for freedom from her strict, traditional Muslim parents on the other, she discovers she is not quite comfortable being Carol Danvers. As she explores the extent of her powers she learns how to be comfortable in her own skin. This new addition to the Marvel family is getting plenty of buzz due to the fact that Kamala is their first Muslim hero to headline her own comic, but Kamala is so much more than her religion and her skin tone. She is a charming and normal teenager just trying to figure things out. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for the new Ms. Marvel!

Stacey: I am Pusheen the Cat, by Claire Belton relies heavily on super cute images to reveal the charm of large fluffy cats -surprise! Pusheen and her little sister Stormy have plenty of adventures, apart and together. If you’re looking for something not too taxing on the brain but plenty of aww! -this one’s for you!

Now we’re back to lots of words on the page with Women’s Fiction! If you want to read along with us, please find a book that focuses on a female protagonist and her relationships with those around her. The main theme of the story should be of a woman overcoming a crisis and emerging triumphant. You go girl! (I know, I know but -I had to!)

Enjoy!
Stacey

Time to Hit the Dusty Trails… Western Genre style!

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Did you find a book that was set in the Wild West of North America? Perhaps you found something that featured wide open skies, a flawed hero, and a clear resolution? Then *you* were reading a Western along with the rest of us! Wasn’t it rip-roarin’ fun? -We thought so too! There was a pretty good variety included in our discussion with the best part being how much everyone enjoyed the experience. Are you ready to hear what people had to say about the book they read? Well then saddle up partner, ‘cause here we go:

Megan: Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee is the story of two girls trying to outrun their troubles on the Oregon Trail. Samantha is a 16-year-old Chinese-American, who in the wake of a tragedy, is trying to reach California. She is befriended by Annamae, a slave girl planning her own big escape. Disguised as boys, the pair join a group of cowboys heading west in search of fortune. Lee’s stunning debut is a welcome addition to the historical fiction genre. This survival story is full of adventure and wild west action, but at it’s core is a moving story of trust and friendship. Plus, there are cowboys and horses and a little romance!

Chris: All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy is a coming-of-age classic. Set in 1949, sixteen-year-old John Grady Cole leaves his family ranch in west Texas with his buddy Lacey Rawlins and crosses the border into Mexico to experience a new way of living. He learns to survive, he strengthens a friendship, he falls in love. Eventually he makes his way back home to spend time with his family, but leaves a few days later to continue his adventure. I particularly liked the landscape McCarthy paints—the desert and the plains—and the feeling of solitude. It gives a person space to think. This first novel in McCarthy’s Border Trilogy compels me to read the rest.

Beth: In Louis L’Amour’s Trouble Shooter Pete Melford has died and left his ranch to his niece, Cindy Blair. When Cindy sends a scout out to determine the condition of the ranch, they are troubled at the downright disappearance of the ranch. Soon after Cindy’s scout determines something fishy is going on, Hopalong Cassidy rides into town, as he got a feeling that his help was needed. Hopalong Cassidy takes on the dangerous task of trying to figure out the mystery of the death of Melford and his missing ranch. This tale of Hopalong Cassidy was fast paced and action packed. Louis L’Amour inscribes the reader right into the heart of the outlaw laden wild west.

Dori : The Revenant: a Novel of Revenge by Michael Punke, is the story of Hugh Glass, an honorable, smart and experienced frontiersman who accompanies the Rocky Mountain Fur Company on a trapping and trading mission out of St. Louis in 1823. Mauled by a grizzly bear and feared close to death, the Captain of the Company appoints two men to stay with him until he dies so he can be buried. When Indians threaten their camp, however, they abandon Glass, taking his weapons and supplies. Glass crawls back to St. Louis, recuperates, and vows revenge. A tale of the West, of survival and of moral uncertainty, this novel is riveting. Soon to be a movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio!

Steve: Appaloosa, by Robert B. Parker, is the story of Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch, lawmen in the Old West who move from town to town taking on trouble. They are called into Appaloosa to deal with rancher Randall Bragg and his crew of criminals that are running the town. Bragg is sentenced to hang for the murder of the previous Marshal, but while being transported escapes with the help of two hired gunmen. Cole and Hitch are on his trail and in for all sorts of action. The characters and solid story will appeal to western and non-western fans alike.

Maureen: In The Waiting Gun: A Western Story, written in 1957 by Wayne D. Overholser, we follow the suspenseful story of Bill Varney, a young man who feels spurned by his father, his girlfriend and his entire situation in life. Full of resentment, Bill is working out a way to escape his work as a lowly farmhand on the family ranch, Pitchfork, while his favored sister lives in the main house taking care of their father. When a gunfighter comes to town and challenges his aging and arthritic father to a duel and a farmhand uprising threatens Pitchfork’s future, Billy rises to the occasion, despite a hidden, sinister plot to get him out of the way. The story, though a tad predictable, had enough interesting characters and plot to keep me interested and was relatively believable. Overholser, who died in 1996 at the age of 90, won two Spur Awards (Western Writers of America) over the span of his career. In fact, he was the winner of the first Spur Award ever given, in 1953, for his novel Lawman, written under the pseudonym Lee Leighton.

Emma: Originally published as a serial in the “Saturday Evening Post”, True Grit by Charles Portis is told by elderly Mattie Ross. In the 1870’s, 14-year-old Mattie hires Federal Marshall Rooster Cogburn to help hunt down Tom Chaney, her father’s killer. Texas Ranger LeBouef joins in the hunt since he has been searching for Chaney for several months. Quirky characters bring the Old West to life.

Lauren: Doc by Mary Doria Russell traces the early life of John “Doc” Holliday and his years spent out west in Texas and Kansas. Doc left his native Georgia hoping the west’s arid climate would aid him in battling tuberculosis. Most of the book’s action takes place in the late 1870s in the bustling cattle town of Dodge City, Kansas and follows Doc, Wyatt Earp, and their friends and fellow townspeople years before the infamous shootout at the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona. The story has all the elements of a classic Western tale: horses, cattle drivers, guns, gambling, and plenty of bourbon. For all of history and popular culture’s fascination with Wyatt Earp, it’s very enjoyable to read a book that mainly centers on Doc Holliday and paints him as a true gentleman—educated, cosmopolitan, loyal, and kind—but still perfectly at home in the “rough and tumble” Wild West.

Ann: In Appaloosa by Robert B. Parker, Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch are hired by the town of Appaloosa to restore law and order. The town has been plagued by the no-good rancher Randall Bragg and his henchmen who have committed murder, rape and robbery and have recently killed the town’s sheriff and deputy. Virgil Cole has had success in other towns as marshal. He believes in posting the bylaws; if someone doesn’t obey he arrests them; if he doesn’t go along, Cole shoots him. Marshal Cole and his deputy Hitch set out to reform Appaloosa in this engaging western filled with snappy dialogue and lots of action.

Stacey: The Curious World of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly may be written for a younger crowd but this book will appeal to anyone interested learning more about the daily life of families out West at the turn of the century. This is the second book to feature Callie, her rascally brothers and her beloved Granddaddy, all of whom have important roles to play in her adventures. Together we learn about big to small creatures inhabiting the central Texas lands, the wars that led to Statehood and those that almost divided the Nation, and a great secondary storyline about the hurricane that devastated Galveston in 1900. But the best part of the story? Rooting Callie on in her quest to be seen for her abilities, not her gender. Start with The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate for full enjoyment effect!

Next time we’re giving ourselves a little break from all those squiggly lines of print and we’re going to look at stories that are told primarily through pictures! That’s right folks, we’re going browsing in the Graphic Novels area -and I hope you’ll join us there!

— Stacey

How Romantic! …is that romance genre?!

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Do you love a happy ending? (Who doesn’t?!) Well then, this list might be The One to make all your dreams come true! That’s right, we were discussion the romance genre! Romance stories are all about relationships and appeal strongly to a reader’s emotions, with everyone walking away from the experience (characters and readers alike) knowing all is right in the world. Are you ready to see the titles we discussed?

Carol: In Amazing Gracie by Sherryl Woods, Gracie McDougall has quit her hotel management job in France to flee to Seagull Point, a small town in Virginia, where she vacationed as a child. There, Gracie becomes fixated on buying an abandoned Victorian house and turning it into a Bed & Breakfast. The one problem in her way is the property manager, hunky Kevin Daniels, who doesn’t want to sell. While the two disagree on the fate of the Victorian, they can’t deny their attraction. Will they let down their guards and give love a chance, or will Kevin’s complicated and meddlesome family scare Gracie away?

Lauren: Danielle Steel’s first novel, Going Home, was published in 1973—something today’s reader will be painfully aware of in the book’s dated imaginings of love and relationships (among other things—smoking and drinking while pregnant? Apparently totally acceptable during this time. Weird to read around). Gillian Forrester is a beautiful, stylish, single mother who meets and (instantly) falls in love with wild-card Christopher Matthews. Chris has trouble staying faithful, routinely disappears without notice, and when Gillian becomes pregnant, is so dismayed at the reality that he will become a father he asks that Gillian leave San Francisco and return to New York City. Despite this, Gillian remains hopelessly in love with Chris. However, having moved herself back to New York, Gillian meets dashing Gordon Harte. And then things get complicated. I had never read anything by Danielle Steel but was curious, as I know her to be immensely popular. I choose poorly. I’ll give her another chance sometime and be sure to pick something people generally agree to be among her best.

Emma: In Pegasus by Danielle Steel, Nick discovers that his mother, who he does not remember, was half Jewish. Nick and his 2 sons leave their aristocratic life in Germany when Hitler starts persecuting Jews. Best friend Alex gives Nick a prize Lipizzaner horse and an Arabian horse in order to join the Ringling Brothers Circus once Nick and his boys arrive in the United States. What follows is their new life with the circus and the tragedy of what’s happening in Europe. A rollercoaster read.

Beth: Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire is new adult romance set on a college campus. The prim and proper Abby has escaped a troubled childhood to attend Eastern University with her best friend and start a new life for herself. Shortly after arriving on campus, Abby finds herself attending a floating fight club where she catches the eye of the bad boy, Travis Maddox. Abby and Travis find themselves bound to each other through a bet, the outcome of which, surprises everyone. The plot and the characters are not well developed in this predictable story.

Ann: Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty is the first novel by the popular author of The Husband’s Secret and Big Little Lies. The novel opens at a birthday party dinner for three sisters, Lyn, Cat, and Gemma, triplets who are turning 34. Unfortunately after a few drinks the evening turns ugly, there are arguments, and an ambulance must be called. Though triplets, the women couldn’t be more different. The book takes us through the year leading up to the birthday party- as the sisters deal with sibling rivalry, relationships, unfaithful husbands, divorced parents who are acting just a little too cozy these days, and the trials and tribulations of living life as triplets. Similar themes run through all of Moriarty’s books- strong female characters, strong family ties, wonderful humor, and plots that surprise you around every turn.

Steve: Bloodsucking Fiends: A Love Story by Christopher Moore is not your traditional romance, but that’s what makes it so great. Jody is a 26 year old living in San Francisco who wakes up in a dumpster with a scorched hand and as she is trying to figure out what happened to her, she discovers that she is a newly bitten vampire. She heads off to the local Safeway mart and meets Tommy Flood, a 19 year old aspiring writer fresh in from Indiana. Tommy is thrilled with his luck, meeting a beautiful girl upon his arrival in the city, and the two begin a quirky romance. The story is filled with odd characters, a twisted sense of humor and a mysterious vampire who seems to be trailing Jody and plotting Tommy’s demise.

Megan: One Plus One by Jojo Moyes is the story of a single mom, her quirky kids, their enormous smelly dog, and one life-changing road trip to a Math Olympiad with a virtual stranger. This contemporary romance is full of humor and heart and manages to steer clear of expected cliche. Fans of Liane Moriarty and the film Little Miss Sunshine with find themselves rooting for Jess and her kids.

Dori: In Heroes are my Weakness by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Annie’s mother has died, and she’s broke, sick and homeless, returning to her family cottage off the coast of Maine to find a valuable family legacy with only her puppets for company. She has terrible memories of the island because in her teens she fell for a wealthy boy there, Theo, who tried to kill her. Soon, however, she runs into him and discovers that he’s grown up to be a brooding, handsome horror writer who’s not as evil as she remembers. As she’s drawn into the lives of the islanders, it becomes clear that someone doesn’t want her there: is it Theo or someone else on the island? This book has a bit of Gothic spice but it’s also funny, with a strong female character and a twisted plot, making it a unique romance.

(That’s right! Dori and I read the same book!)

Stacey: Heroes are my Weakness by Susan Elizabeth Phillips is the story of Annie, a struggling puppeteer, and Theo, a successful author. The two met when they were children and their parents married. Their years as step-siblings were limited but they managed to go from awkward to intrigued adolescents, and a lifetime fascination was born. This author has a special knack at mixing humor into her romance stories and she knows how to add a nice touch of drama to keep the pages turning.

We’re about to ride off into the sunset now, and we’re going to pick up a Western on our way! If you want to mosey in the same direction, you’ll want to look for a book generally set in the Western half of North America with side open skies, a flawed hero and a clear resolution. See ya soon pardner!

− Stacey

A Gentle Introduction …to gentle reads

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It’s always nice to start off anything new with a quiet, gentle approach -right? So why not start off the New Year with a Gentle Read?! If you’re reading along with us, that means you found a book that has a low-key, charming book that centers around a small community or group of people and their everyday joys or sorrows. Or maybe you were waiting to see what we all choose to read and share at our discussion? If so, then you’re in luck today! Here’s what everyone had to say:

Carol: In Morning Glory by Sara Jio , Ada is a travel writer who is mourning the tragic loss of her husband and child. When her psychiatrist offers to rent her a houseboat in Washington and the suggestion that she get away, Ada jumps at the opportunity. The houseboat and surroundings are just what she needs, and, with nothing but quiet and calm, and a few helpful old timers as neighbors, Ada begins the healing process and is given a second chance at love. She also learns about Penelope Wentworth, a woman who lived in the same houseboat in the 1950s. Penny was in an unhappy marriage and went mysteriously missing one night decades earlier. Ada attempts to unravel Penny’s story and the secret of her disappearance—a secret that some of her new neighbors are still trying to keep. This gentle read is about love, friendships, grief and healing and makes for quick reading. An added bonus is the addition of some tasty sounding recipes and a twisty surprise end.

Chris: The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett is an absolutely charming story. It all begins when Queen Elizabeth’s corgis go into a bookmobile parked near Buckingham Palace and she follows them in. Once there, she feels obligated to check out a book, does so, and that one checkout, ultimately turns her into a voracious reader. So much so, that she starts neglecting her royal duties; she’s more interested in staying home to read. Naturally, her palace staff is troubled, but never more so than when she turns her thoughts to becoming a writer. As wonderful and witty a story as you might expect from one of England’s most celebrated writers.

Dori: Miss Buncle’s Book, written by D.E. Stevenson and published in 1936, is a cozy story of small town village life. Barbara Buncle, a wallflower and spinster, is in need of money, so she decides to write a book about the only thing she knows – the villagers of Silverstream, England. Much to her amazement, the book is accepted for publishing under a pseudonym and becomes quite popular, but when her fellow villagers read it and recognize themselves, she creates quite the tempest in a teapot. Some residents vow to either sue the author for libel or hunt down the viper in their midst, but have no idea that Miss Buncle is the culprit. When events in the book begin to take place in real life, life in the village changes for the better. First of a trilogy, this is a humorous, quick read, perfect for a winter afternoon.

Beth: The Dress Shop of Dreams by Menna van Praag is a whimsical, magical tale of self-discovery and love. Cora Callaway is a scientist who spends her days in the research lab trying to complete her parents’ life work to save the world, at least until her grandmother, Etta Sparks, takes action. Etta’s dress shop is magical and every dress helps make her customers’ dreams come true. With a little meddling, Etta works her magic into the life of her granddaughter’s world, opening up new feelings, memories, and mysteries. This was a whimsical and lighthearted (despite some heavy circumstances) read. Though it wasn’t the most riveting storytelling, you can’t help but fall in love with some of the uncanny characters.

Lauren: Small Blessings by Martha Woodroof interweaves the lives of myriad characters on a quaint college campus. We meet professor Tom Putnam, his troubled wife Marjory and her mother Agnes, and Rose, the new campus bookstore employee who seems to charm everyone she meets. But everyone’s lives are upended with the arrival of ten-year-old Henry. Henry arrives at the train station with a backpack containing a teddy bear, a change of clothes, a birth certificate with Tom Putnam’s name on it, and a half million dollars. Woodroof calls upon each of her characters to cope with changing life circumstances, secrets, surprises, and true matters of the heart.

Steve: A Guide to the Birds of East Africa by Nicholas Drayson finds Mr. Malik, a widowed 61 year old, vying to identify the most birds that he can in a week, hoping to top his old school acquaintance, Harry Khan, for the chance to invite Rose Mbikwa to the Nairobi Hunt Club Ball. Mr. Malik is secretly in love with Rose, who leads the weekly bird walks of the East African Ornithological Society that he attends. The story revolves around his challenge to identify the birds, and his nightly meetings at the Asadi Club, a social club where he and fellow members review the day’s events (the unassuming Mr. Malik surprisingly gets into more than his fair share of dangerous situations), and more importantly the bird totals.

Emma: The River is a stand-alone novel by Beverly Lewis. Tilly and her father have always had a strained relationship. She believes her father holds her responsible for her little sister’s death. Tilly left the Amish community, married an Englischer, and has young children. Ruth, Tilly’s sister, followed her into English life cutting off all ties with the family in Lancaster. The sisters are invited home to celebrate their parents’ 40th anniversary and discover their father is in poor health. An engaging story of family relationships that begin to reconcile after many years.

Stacey: In A Desperate Fortune by Susanna Kearsley, Sara Thomas, the main character in the contemporary setting, is a loner with uncanny ability to see patterns and break hidden codes. When Sara’s given the task of deciphering the diary of Mary Dundas, a seemingly average woman of the Jacobean era, everyone is surprised at the secrets revealed. The complex relationships, in both the present and the past, will provide plenty for readers to ponder and the historical information adds a little easy learning for all.

Next time? We’ll be sticking with the unexpected genre + month = theme by reading Romance! Yes, that’s right. We’ll be reading Romance in February… surprise! So if you’d like to read along with us -and who wouldn’t?- you’ll want a book that appeals to your emotions and will give you a fabulously happy ending. (Sweet!) All the characters can be strong and independant but it’s their romantic relationships that are the main focus of the story. Enjoy the love people…yep yep…enjoy the love!

—Stacey

Holiday Stories for the Holiday Time!

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I always appreciate it when a genre is fairly easy to describe… say like, Holiday Stories. Well. That kind of covers everything, doesn’t it? And so this time we discussed fictional tales centered around -and for our particular purposes- winter holidays! Ta-dah! On to the good stuff -or what people had to say about the books they read:

Steve: A Christmas Story: Behind the Scenes of a Holiday Classic, by Caseen Gaines, is a wonderful look at the making of this classic and its lasting legacy. Originally A Christmas Story was not a big hit at the theaters, but thanks to VHS rentals, and Ted Turner playing it non-stop after acquiring it from MGM’s film library, A Christmas Story is now a holiday staple. The book is full of many interesting stories. Did you know that the actress playing Miss Shields, Ralphie’s teacher, was actually seven months pregnant and wore a body suit to make her look frumpy instead of pregnant? And that the bulk of the film was actually filmed in St. Catharines and Toronto, Canada, and many of the Canadian school kids were used as extras, and paid just $1 for their work? Many more stories await you in this gem of a book.

Megan: My True Love Gave to Me is a collection of short stories, is compiled and edited by Stephanie Perkins. Twelve well-known young adult authors have contributed holiday-themed romances. As with any anthology, some stories are better than others. In most cases the authors have stuck with what they do best, while others have branched out and tried something new, so you might be in for a surprise when you turn to your favorite author’s story! Full of magic, charm, romance and diversity, this holiday book has something for everyone to enjoy.

Ann: In The Christmas Train by David Baldacci Tom Langdon is on his way cross country on the train to meet his girlfriend for Christmas. Langdon is a writer and reporter taking a break from covering the dangerous wars of the world and from his recent writing about gardening and home decorating, and has decided to write a story about a cross country train journey. From the moment Tom steps on the Capitol Limited he meets character after character. There’s Agnes Joe who almost knocks him down the stairs, hard-working, efficient Regina, one of the train’s employees, Father Kelly, the priest, and young Julie and Steve running off to get married. The most astonishing person he meets is Eleanor Carter, his long-lost first love! Then later, when his current girlfriend boards the Southwest Chief train in Chicago, things really get interesting. Throw in an avalanche and you have a Christmas story filled with twists and turns and lots of surprises. Baldacci dedicates this to everyone who loves trains and holidays.

Julie: For a departure from the usual Christmas stories, it’s no mystery what you should grab – The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries, edited by Otto Penzler. With stories written by Agatha Christie, Mary Higgins Clark, Robert Louis Stevenson, Ed McBain, and many, MANY more, plus categories ranging from traditional to scary, there’s a mystery for everyone!

Emma: The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle by Joanne Huist Smith is the true story of Joanne and her 3 children grieving the unexpected loss of their husband/father. Joanne doesn’t want to even think about celebrating Christmas when little gifts start appearing on their doorstep. Each day during the twelve days before Christmas someone leaves small presents. Random acts of kindness by “True Friends” help bring this family together at Christmas time. A wonderful story.

Carol: Silent Night: a Lady Julia Christmas Novella by Deanna Raybourn was a quick little read that gave me the perfect excuse to spend a bit of time with the clever Julia and her hunky partner in investigating and love, Nicholas Brisbane. Julia and Brisbane go to Bellmont Abbey to spend Christmas with Julia’s eccentric family and as usual, it’s chaos. Family and animals are everywhere, and Julia and Brisbane barely can have a moment together. Also per usual, trouble follows the two. This time, it’s in the form of missing jewels and a ghost haunting. But don’t worry, Julia will get to the bottom of the strange happenings before the Holidays have ended.

Dori: Jane and the Twelve Days of Christmas, the 12th in Stephanie Barron’s Jane Austen mystery series, features Jane as an amateur sleuth. While she, her sister and her mother are visiting their brother’s family for the holiday season, they are invited to spend the holidays at the house of a local wealthy couple. Relieved and excited to be away from the dour, cold and non-celebratory home of their brother, they are enjoying a lovely holiday with visitors from afar, when someone is murdered. Jane’s novelist skills are ideal for the task at hand: to discover the murderer in their midst!

Lauren: In Hercule Poirot’s Christmas, Agatha Christie’s famous Belgian detective is at it again, tested to solve the grisly Christmas Eve murder of family patriarch Simeon Lee. Lee has gathered his family at his home for Christmas, bringing together estranged siblings and a granddaughter no one has met before under the guise of togetherness for the holidays. It quickly becomes clear that Lee has other motives—he dangles his will in front of his children and hints that he may be making changes, relishing in taunting everyone with his mind games. When he is brutally murdered in his bedchamber the list of suspects is eerily short and consisting largely of his own family. This is a fun, quick read that departs from the usual saccharine Christmas book.

Stacey: Petunia’s Christmas by Roger Duvoisin may look like a simple picture book but for me it is one of my most treasured holiday stories, ever. I read all XX pages in just a few minutes, and then I spent hours remembering all the times I’d read this book -this very copy!- in the past. Ah, childhood memories of Christmas… Petunia is a goose who falls in love with a gander named Charles. While Petunia is a beloved pet, Charles is being fattened up to be someone’s Christmas dinner. Petunia is determined to free Charles -and live happily ever after- but first she has to figure out how to make that happen. (It *is* a Christmas story so don’t worry too much, okay?)

Next year (weird to think about that, right?) we’ll start off nice and smooth with some Gentle Reads. If you want to read along with us, look for a charming, easy going story that focuses on the everyday joys and sorrows in small groups of people. Enjoy!

— Stacey

Narrative Nonfiction -It’s as much Fun as Fiction!

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There’s nothing a real, true story that reads quick and easy like a fiction book. For this genre discussion everyone picked a book that offers a strong sense of narration rather than all kinds of facts and figures -which are also lovely to read but more for the information than for the entertainment factor. I feel like this category is wide open for any topic you’d like to explore, how could you not find something kind of amazing? Are you ready to see if that opinion was a popular one for everyone involved in the discussion?

Chris: What Jackie Taught Us by Tina Santi Flaherty reminds us what a truly unique and successful individual Jackie Kennedy was. She lived a full-life and seemed to shine at every stage, whether she was a student, daughter, sister, mother, wife, or First Lady, she was committed to being true-to-herself and outstanding. I particularly liked remembering Jackie for her love of books and her dedication to being the best editor an author could hope for. She went back to work in her fifties at Viking then Doubleday, and we know she didn’t need the money. Her lifelong involvement with the arts led her restore the White House and work to restore Grand Central Station. That perhaps is my biggest lesson learned: do what you love and do it with passion. This commemorative book also includes quotes from famous women sharing the impact Jackie had on their lives. Nicely done.

Emma: The book Sergeant Stubby: How a Stray Dog and His Best Friend Helped Win World War I and Stole the Heart of a Nation, by Ann Bausum, celebrates the achievements of a stray dog. Stubby became the mascot of the 102nd Infantry Regiment Yankee Division. He wandered into a military training camp at Yale University and befriended James Robert Conroy who was later stationed in France. Over time, Stubby became “Sergeant Stubby” complete with ID tags, gas mask, and military coat decorated with authentic patches and medals. Forgotten about for several decades, Stubby is now on permanent display at the National History of American History. For dog lovers and/or military-history buffs.

Lauren: In Goat Song, Brad Kessler takes us along with him as he and his wife retreat to a farm in Vermont to try their hand at raising goats and making their own cheese.  Kessler interweaves the history of herding back to its most ancient roots and the long relationship between goats and humans with his own experiences tending goats.  From setting up house to breeding and delivering kids, to milking and cheese making, Kessler keeps a positive attitude while weathering the learning curve of goat farming.  No matter how many times “the queen” sticks a hoof in her milk bucket (or kicks it over all together), Kessler meets each farm task with likeable aplomb.  Kessler’s farm provides a naturally idyllic setting, but his beautiful writing brings the place to life.  How fun to read about newborn goats frolicking out to pasture and his starting attempt at homemade goat cheese, down to the first blissful taste.

Megan: Not My Father’s Son by Alan Cumming is a heartbreaking, insightful and charming memoir. Cumming openly discusses how his difficult childhood shaped and continues to influence his adult life. He reflects upon his relationship with his father and the disturbing news he received just as he was scheduled to appear on the show Who Do You Think You Are?, where the mystery of his maternal grandfather’s death is finally solved and revealed. My only regret with this book is that I was too impatient to wait for the audiobook to be available. Cumming himself reads the audio and I am sure it is a real treat!

Maureen: Caribou by Charles Wright.Tennessee native Charles Wright has written poetry for over 20 years and was named Poet Laureate of the United States this year. He often focuses on nature themes and the human condition in his works, trying to inform the reader and make them think and reflect about their position and effect in the world. While his latest collection, Caribou, is a slender volume, it still delivers quite the punch, addressing themes such as aging, death, saying goodbye, redemption, and regret. I am amazed by the feeling Wright can evoke in so few words; most of the poems take up less than one small page. A wonderful, lyrical short read that will leave you pondering life’s big mysteries for a long time to come.

Ann: Dogtripping by David Rosenfelt is his account of the many dogs he and his wife Debbie Myers have rescued over the years and how they managed to move their own 25 dogs from California to Maine. When he first met Debbie a number of years ago on a blind date she told him she had to be home at a precise time to give her dog eye medication. He soon realizes that Debbie is an ardent dog lover. Now Rosenfelt had nothing against dogs; he actually liked dogs, but he had no plans on getting one. As a newly single guy he lead a life of relative leisure and certainly didn’t want to expend the time required taking care of a dog. Flash forward to now, and he and his wife Debbie have 25 dogs. This number is actually low, as at one time, they had 42 dogs, but have decided that more than 40 is slightly eccentric. Parts of the book introduce us to the various dogs they rescued, and the other parts tell about the planning and the actual move.  Let’s just say the subtitle sums it up- 25 rescues, 11 volunteers, and 3 RVs on our canine cross-country adventure. It is definitely one wild ride!

Steve: One Summer, by Bill Bryson, recounts the summer of 1927 in America.  There was a slew of events going on during that time, highlighted by Charles Lindbergh’s historic nonstop solo flight across the Atlantic.  Lindbergh is the thread that holds the summer’s events together, but along the way Bryson recounts a variety of other topics, including Babe Ruth’s historic 60 homerun season, the Mississippi flood, the rise of journalistic sensationalism, Prohibition and gangsters.  The book is lengthy, clocking in at over 500 pages, but Bryson’s wit makes it an easy and oftentimes humorous read.

Carol: In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeanette by Hampton Sides follows the adventures of a group of men who, prompted by a late 19th-century obsession with the unmapped North Pole, set off for exploration in the uncharted Arctic seas. The voyage begins on July 8, 1979, and ends two years later when the hull of the ship is breached by icebergs. The crew, marooned a thousand miles north of Siberia, must march across the ice—facing polar bears, deadly storms, and starvation, as they try to survival. This book is narrative nonfiction at its best, and is ultimately a thrilling and suspenseful read that, despite its grisly details, will have you turning its pages until the very end.

Dori: In Lost Cat: a True Story of Love, Desperation and GPS Technology, Caroline Paul is surviving a plane crash and doesn’t have much time to dedicate to her two cats, Tibia and Fibia. Tibia, in response, disappears and Caroline is inconsolable. 5 weeks later however, Tibia comes home, fat and happy…where has she been? Caroline and her partner Wendy investigate using the latest gadgets – cameras, GPS – but it’s good old fashioned neighborliness that solves the puzzle in the end. Funny and clever, with great illustrations by Caroline’s partner, artist Wendy MacNaughton, this book’s for you if have a special kitty or two in your life!

Stacey: Mister Owita’s Guide to Gardening by Carol Wall is an amazing story of friendship and personal resilience. A dedicated gardener, Carol took solace in caring for the beautiful greenery of her lawn. When she was diagnosed with breast cancer and began treatment, she found herself seeking the assistance of Mister Owita who’d demonstrated his landscaping abilities on a neighbor’s lawn. As the pair put their heads together to redesign her plantings, a strong bond develops. It’s their journey, as individuals and as friends, and how help each other through really tough times that makes this such a special narrative.

Next up? Yep -that’s right! We’re talking about Holiday stories! Find yourself something that features the winter holiday of your choice -and we’ll chat!

Enjoy!

— Stacey

Oh, the Twisted Tales of Horror!

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What a scary thing it would be if we had to fight for survival in a world where the supernatural, or the unnatural, that resembled the landscapes found in the horror category. Of course these books are meant to get a strong reaction from the reader, so I’d say the books we shared at our discussion were pretty darn successful. But of course you can also judge for yourself after you see what people had to say about what they choose to read:

Carol: The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon is adult ghost story that opens in 1908 in Vermont. Sara Harrison Shea is racked with grief — her young daughter Gertie has died. Sara cannot bear to live without her, and so she turns to magic taught to her by the tribal woman who helped raise her, in order to bring Gertie back from the dead. Meanwhile, in a present day storyline, 19-year-old Ruthie now lives in Sara’s old farmhouse with her younger sister and their mother. When Alice goes missing, Ruthie searches for clues, and discovers Sara’s long hidden diary along the way. As Ruthie reads the diary, she gets sucked deeper into the mystery of Sara’s fate, and realizes that she’s not first person who’s desperately looking for someone that they’ve lost. What do these missing people have to do with the young girl who supposedly died a century? This creepy ghost story is suspenseful and you’ll want to read it until it’s climactic end. Reader beware: you might need to leave a night-light after you are done with this one.

Emma: Classic horror novel, The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin is the story of Joanna and Walter Eberhart and their two children. The family moves to suburban Stepford, Connecticut from New York City. Joanna soon discovers that the women of Stepford are too perfect, too beautiful, and too submissive. The husbands of Stepford spend a lot of free time at the local men’s association while their wives are content at home cleaning and cooking, ignoring their previous occupations and interests. Joanna is afraid she will become just like them. A fable of male bonding or female bondage.

Steve: Misery, by Stephen King, is a terrifying psychological horror novel with one of the worst villains ever created. Author Paul Sheldon is in a car accident in Colorado and found by retired nurse Annie Wilkes, who happens to be his “number one fan.” She keeps Paul hostage in her home and makes him write a new novel featuring her favorite character, a character from his best-selling Misery series that he had previously killed off. Annie has a long history of violence and mental instability, and her treatment of Paul is terrifying. The book includes some incredibly gory descriptions, not for the faint of heart.

Dori: Chris Bohjalian’s Night Strangers begins with a harrowing plane crash: Pilot Chip Linton loses 39 passengers as he tries to land his failing plane in Lake Champlain. After the accident, he, his wife Emily, and twin girls try to start over in a remote town in New Hampshire. They buy an old Victorian and begin to fix it up, but soon Chip discovers a door in the basement, held shut with 39 bolts and soon after, the ghosts of a little girl and her father killed in the crash begin to visit him. Meanwhile, Emily and the girls meet a local group of herbalists, all named after flowers and plants and oddly obsessed with the twins. As so often happens in these kinds of stories, you want to tell them to run…and fast, but the Lintons stay on and are drawn much too deeply into the horrible secrets of the town. Suspenseful, engaging, and altogether creepy, this Gothic horror is the perfect Halloween read.

Megan: Evil Librarian by Michelle Knudsen. There is a new librarian at Cyn’s high school and he is hot! He is also a demon who has enthralled her best friend, Annie and is sucking the life essence from the students. Cyn has an unusual immunity to his charms so while she juggles school and the set design for the school’s production of Sweeney Todd, she also now has to save her best friend. This devilishly hilarious book has a little something for everyone-horror, humor, romance, as well as musical theater! And while a soul-sucking demon is not necessarily an improvement, I find this librarian to be a refreshing change of pace from the stereotypical shushing old lady librarian!

Lauren: If at times campy and cliché, Hell House by Richard Matheson is a classic horror story. At the invitation of an eccentric millionaire with terminal cancer, four people go to spend a week alone at the abandoned Belasco House in Maine. “Hell House” is believed to be haunted by the beings who were subjected to the depravity and perverseness of its original owner, Emeric Belasco, who delighted in torturing his guests and driving them towards debauchery. Dr. Barrett (along with his wife Edith) is seeking to explain the house’s strange phenomena from his viewpoint as a physicist. Also invited are two spiritual mediums, Florence Tanner and Benjamin Fischer. Fischer was the only survivor of the last attempt to investigate the house some thirty years prior. As the four set to work on solving the mystery of Hell House, Hell House sets to work on destroying them.

Ann: The Fate of Mercy Alban by Wendy Webb is a modern day haunted house story set on the shores of Lake Superior. When her mother dies, Grace Alban returns home to Alban House after a twenty year absence. Almost from the beginning, Grace and her young daughter Amity encounter strange happenings at the house. In addition, secrets from the past are unearthed that rattle Grace. Are the halls and passageways of the family home haunted due to some long ago family curse? A spine-tingling gothic novel.

Stacey: Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith is an unique mix of humor, ethical issues, and super creepy ( horrible!) events. In Ealing, Iowa, Austin is a sixteen-year-old whose best friend Robby and girlfriend Shann all hangout together, during and after school. Fixated on some of the average teen boy stuff: skateboarding, sex, smoking and drinking, Austin finds himself woefully unprepared to fight against the Unstoppable Soldiers, dedicated killers who also happen to be six foot tall praying mantis created from a man-made plague mold, accidentally released. This book almost defies any attempt at an accurate description- it’s so packed with all kinds of crazy details- but any reader who enjoys Libba Bray, Michael Grant, or Lish McBride will devour this book -almost as quickly as an Unstoppable Soldier!

Our next genre will be narrative nonfiction, or real and true stories that are written as if they were fictional. This category is wide open as it can be on any topic from any year, it just needs to be an easy-to-read nonfiction book. Ta-dah! So we’ll see you back here with your narrative nonfiction title in tow, very soon!

— Stacey

Spacey Stuff!

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In a bold and adventurous move, we took our book discussion into the uncharted territory of the science fiction section! It could have gone either way -into a black hole of despair or into the sparkly twirl of a nebula, and in the end I think we hit a pretty happy place somewhere near Middle Earth -oh wait, that’s from more of the fantasy genre… How about I get my head out of the clouds and you take a look at what everyone has to say about what they’re reading?

Carol: In Jo Walton’s Hugo-winning novel, Among Others, Morwenna is a 15-year-old Welsh girl and Science Fiction fanatic, who speaks to fairies and practices magic. In this, her fictional diary, Morwenna’s twin Morganna has been killed, and Morwenna has run away from her insane mother and been sent to a private girls’ school in England by her estranged father. There, she attempts to come to terms with her recent loss. This magical coming of age novel is a quick and thoughtful read, that also provides readers with lists of Science Fiction must-reads along the way.

Lauren: The Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brockmeier takes us to The City—a place inhabited by those who have recently died. People remain in the City as long as they are remembered by the living. Once there is no one left on Earth to remember them, they disappear. We discover that a deadly virus has swept the world, killing off the majority of the population. One day nearly all of the existing City residents suddenly disappear and an influx of new residents arrives, but the population of the City has been drastically reduced. Meanwhile back on Earth we follow the adventures and struggles of Laura Byrd, the lone surviving scientist of an imperiled mission to Antarctica. As the residents of the City convene and get to know one another they discover their tie that binds—Laura Byrd, who may very well be the last living human on the planet.

Emma: The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood is the story of a young woman captured while attempting to escape from the Republic of Gilead, the former United States, to Canada with her husband and daughter. Her freedom is severely limited when she is forced to become a handmaid and is called Offred. Her job is to bear a healthy child for the Commander, Fred, and his wife Serena Joy. When Offred doesn’t become pregnant quickly, Serena suggests that she have sex with Nick, the chauffeur, and pass their child off as the commander’s child. The reader is left not knowing what happens to Offred – prison or freedom.

Dori: In California, by Edan Lepucki, Cal and Frida have left a chaotic and broken down Los Angeles and are living on their own in the wilderness when they discover a mysterious settlement close by. Frida’s pregnant and the couple decide to join the settlement, though they are not fully welcomed and their presence eventually must be voted upon. Gradually, they realize that something is not quite right: in the settlement, decisions are made from the top down, roles are strictly defined and…where are the children? Lepucki raises important issues about social class and the choice of security vs. freedom, but the ending seems rushed and jars with the character development.

Maureen: Don’t ask me how, but Ready Player One by Ernest Cline combines the bleak, dystopian, energy-crisis future world of 2044 with hilarious flashbacks to video games and pop culture of the 1980s. Teenager Wade Watts is living with his insensitive, selfish aunt in a poor housing development in Oklahoma City called the “stacks” (trailers stacked vertically). To escape his less-than-stellar living conditions, Wade has a hideout in an old antique car buried within the stacks where he logs in for hours with his school-issued equipment to the online immersion of the OASIS, a virtual world created by the famous video game creator James Halliday. After his death, Halliday challenged the world to solve his puzzle called “Anorak’s Invitation” using his love of everything 1980s to find three hidden keys embedded within vintage video games (so-called “Easter eggs”) Whoever finds the keys and solves the riddle inherits Halliday’s fortune. Against all odds, Wade discovers the first key, but then becomes embroiled in a life or death race to finish the contest. Along the way, he meets fellow competitors, faces an evil, greedy corporation and learns that not all is as it seems in the OASIS. A quick read full of fun 1980 tidbits!

Steve: Gathering Blue, by Lois Lowry, is the second in the loosely connected The Giver Quartet. Kira, a crippled child in a future society, is left an orphan after the death of her mother. She is accused of being worthless to the society and faces banishment, until the Council of the Guardians defends her and she is soon given a valued position as the caretaker of the Singer’s robe, on account of her immense sewing and weaving skills. The robe illustrates the society’s past, present and soon to-be-filled in future, and is worn at the annual Gathering celebration. Kira’s excitement turns to shock as she discovers dark secrets about the Guardians and her society.

Megan: Ashfall by Mike Mullin is the thrilling first book in a trilogy. When fifteen-year old Alex is left home alone while his parents and sister visit family, he is expecting a weekend full of video games and hanging out with friends. All of his plans are ruined with the supervolcano in Yellowstone National Park erupts hundreds of miles away, plunging Alex’s Iowa town into chaos, darkness, and ash. Alex begins the long and dangerous journey east, in the hopes of reuniting with his family. Along the way he encounters violence and depravity as well as kindness and help. His new travel partner, Darla, is a mechanical genius and could be the key to his survival. Ashfall is terrifyingly realistic. It is an action-packed and riveting series opener that will leave readers desperate (and maybe just a little bit nervous) for more.

Ann: Little Fuzzy by H. Beam Piper is set in the distant future on a planet named Zarathustra. Jack Holloway is a gem prospector on Zarathustra. One day at his home he encounters a little creature that “yeeks.” He has never seen anything like him before. A passage from the book describes his initial contact. “He turned quickly, to see two wide eyes staring up at him out of a ball of golden fur. Whatever it was, it had a round head and big ears and a vaguely humanoid face with a little snub nose.” Jack calls him a Fuzzy and names this one “Little Fuzzy.” Soon more Fuzzies show up and they all exhibit a sweet, intelligent nature. In fact, it’s quickly believed that Fuzzies are indeed intelligent, sapient beings. But when officers of The Company, which owns the charter for the planet, hear about the Fuzzies, they are distraught because the charter specifies Zarathustra as an uninhabited planet. If the Fuzzies are sapient beings, the Company’s charter will be reversed- and no more profits will be made. This book was written in 1962 and nominated for a Hugo Award in 1963. It’s interesting reading to see a view of the future from over fifty years ago.

Julie: Midnight Riot is the first in the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch. The quote from Diana Gabaldon on the cover is what caught my eye, “Midnight Riot is what would happen if Harry Potter grew up and joined the Fuzz.” Awesome! It follows detective Peter Grant, who can not only see but speak with ghosts, as he investigates murders involving supernatural elements in modern London.

Stacey: On Such a Full Sea by Chang-Rae Lee is set in the not too distant future set in the cities of B-Mor (Baltimore) and D-Troy (Detriot) where most of the residents are of Asian descent. The story really starts though when sixteen-year-old Fan, a diver in a fish farm, leaves B-Mor in search of her boyfriend Reg, who disappeared one day without leaving a trace. As Fan travels the path on which hopes to find traces of the missing teen, she must overcome a series of life threatening challenges that reflect the challenges surviving in this harsh, unforgiving world.

Next time we’ll be getting ready for the spookiest genre of all… Horror! If you’re feeling afraid that you won’t find anything to read in this section, don’t worry so much! You just need to find something that includes supernatural or occult ideas that are meant to frighten the reader, including books about the natural world gone awry. It’s time to brew up some coffee and keep the nightlights burning bright -it’s time to read some scary stuff!

— Stacey

Give This Book an Award!

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Such an easy category to define: Award Winners! It could be any award, in any year, in any format, or in any age range, all the book needs is to have won some sort of prize by a recognized organization. Really this includes an almost endless array of possibilities: Hugo Awards, Edgar Award, RITA, Macavity, Nobel Prize in Literature, Newbery, Alex, Caldecott and -of course- Notable Books for Adults, just as a few places to consider starting your own search.

Megan: The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair by Joel Dicker is an international bestselling mystery and the recipient of two French literature awards. Marcus Goldman is a young novelist suffering from a severe case of writer’s block. He seeks solace and inspiration at the isolated beach house of his friend and mentor, renowned author Harry Quebert. His plans for a second novel are derailed when the sleepy town of Somerset is rocked by the discovery of the body of 15-year old Nola Kellergan, a girl who disappeared in 1975. Even more disturbing is the fact that Harry, who had an affair with the girl, is implicated in her murder. Marcus’s publisher is clamoring for the inside scoop, but Marcus is only interested in clearing Harry’s name. To that end, he sets about writing his book, The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair and in the process learns what really happened to Nola Kellergan. This book about a book is full of multiple timelines, plenty of suspects, and red herrings on every page. Readers will find themselves engrossed in the small town secrets, the suspicious locals and their contradicting stories.

Carol: In Homeless Bird, Gloria Whelan’s 2000 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature winner, Koly is a 13-year-old Indian girl whose arranged marriage to a sickly boy leaves her a young widow. Facing a lifetime of servitude in her in-law’s home, Koly thinks that her chances at happiness are over until quite unexpectedly, she finds herself in the Indian holy city of Vrindavan. There on her own, Koly must rely on the sewing and embroidery skills she learned from her own mother to eke out a living. This is moving young adult novel that blends modern culture with ages-old Indian traditions and makes for a compelling and inspirational read.

Emma: There had been warnings before, and the dam always held. Sadly on May 31, 1889, 2,209 people died when an immense rainstorm forced a neglected dam near Johnstown, Pennsylvania to break away. This is the story of before, during, and after the flood. It’s an amazing tale of an awful tragedy never to be forgotten. David G. McCullough, author of The Johnstown Flood, received the Outstanding Achievement Award for his role in preserving Johnstown history by The Johnstown Area Heritage Association.

Chris: Toms River by journalist and professor Dan Fagin won the 2014 Pulitzer Prize and the 2014 NY Public Library Helen Bernstein Book Award and we still have five months to go. What happens when the CIBA chemical company moves into the quiet New Jersey community of Toms River in 1960 and begins pumping its wastewater onto the land and dumping its waste product into its makeshift landfill? One of the largest residential cancer cluster cases in history. Sure there was that initial rise in employment and a big boost to the local the economy, but after numerous deaths and horrific tragedies, the community rises up against the company and all the politicians who supported it and succeeds in closing down the company, embarrassing those politicians, and getting the wells cleaned and regularly checked. This is a story about real people, corporate greed, and concerned citizens. Toms River is well-researched non-fiction that reads like a novel with a cast of characters you’ll love or hate and surprises you like a mystery with its fascinating twists and turns.

Steve: Heart of a Tiger: Growing Up with My Grandfather, Ty Cobb, by Herschel Cobb, is the story of Herschel and his grandfather and their relationship that blossomed during Ty’s retirement and after the death of Ty’s two adult sons, who he never fully reconciled with.  Young Herschel and his siblings were the brunt of horrible abuses by their bullying father and alcoholic mother, and grandfather Ty was the welcome comfort in their lives.  Herschel offers another side to the often vilified Ty Cobb, as we witness Cobb showering affection on the grandchildren and him helping struggling ex-ballplayers who didn’t have the great fortunes that he amassed.

Ann: Doctor Sleep by Stephen King won the 2013 Bram Stoker Award for Best Novel. It continues the story of Danny Torrance, the young boy from The Shining, who is now an adult with lots of problems in his life. Dan still has “the shining,” the ability to know things, sometimes of the future, but the special gift hasn’t always served him well. He’s drifted through life relying on alcohol and often resorting to violence. When he gets off a bus in the small town of Frazier, New Hampshire, something there feels like home. He settles in, taking a job at a hospice, where with his special “shining,” aided by an all-knowing cat called Azzie, he is able to provide comfort to those patients at the end of life. The staff calls him Doctor Sleep. Little does Dan Torrance know that soon he and his special abilities will be called upon to help a young girl with powers of her own. Author Peter Straub, says of Doctor Sleep– “Obviously a masterpiece, probably the best supernatural novel in a hundred years.”

Julie: Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson was named to the ALA Best Books for Young Adults 2010 with good reason. The story is about Lia, an 18 year old dealing with the usual problems – school, fitting in, parents – and who now has to contend with her (former) best friend being found alone in a hotel room, dead. All of this while trying to convince everyone she is recovering from anorexia (she’s not) and no longer cutting herself (she is). Lia’s voice is believable and lyrical, and her story is heartbreaking but not without hope.

Dori: In The Guards, by Ken Bruen, private detective Jack Taylor, fired from the Irish police force for punching a superior, spends most of his time on a barstool in Galway, waxing eloquently about books and music. When a beautiful woman asks him to investigate the supposed suicide of her daughter, he discovers, suspiciously, that more young woman have committed suicide at the same spot. Beatings, blackouts and a stint at a mental asylum follow. Spare and poetic, Bruen’s writing is funny and original, with the focus less on plot than writing and character. The first of a 10 book series and winner of the 2004 Shamus Award from the Private Eye Writers of America.

Stacey: Too Bright to Hear Too Loud to See by Juliann Garey is one of those unforgettable books that readers will want all their friends to read -mostly so they can discuss each and every detail! Readers learn about Greyson Todd and his mental health issues short episodes of his life are revealed in-between electroshock treatments. It’s easy to feel a connection with Greyson, even when he’s being despicable, but his story also provides an interesting, insight into how difficult it is for individuals and their families to live with bipolar disorder.  This is one of the books I read for the Notable Books Council last year -and it absolutely earned it’s place on the Notable Books for Adults list!

Next time we’re going to head into uncharted territory -the bold new world of Science Fiction! Now’s the time to let your inner geek select a book about alternate worlds and scientific ideas are still exist mostly in the imagination. You can lean toward “hard” science fiction which focuses on the technology and machines or you might want to try something that could be considered “soft” science fiction which focuses primarily on the human element and the societies people construct for themselves. I can’t wait to see what people pick! -Including you!

— Stacey