Genre Book Discussion

Listen Up!

staceyLeave a comment

This was such an easy category to define! Audiobooks are any book of any genre, it’s only limited by the format -you need to listen with your ears not read with your eyes. Love it! The only catch? I think it takes time to be a good audiobook listener, but once you’ve got the knack you’ll find all sorts of chores aren’t as horrible anymore. Let’s listen in (haha!) to what everyone had to say about their selection this time around, shall we?

Carol: Joseph Finder’s edge-of-your-seat thriller Suspicion takes place in contemporary Boston. Writer and single dad Danny Goodman finds that he can no longer afford his daughter’s fancy private school and is given a generous loan by her best friend’s dad, millionaire Thomas Galvin. Galvin might work for a drug cartel though, and the DEA wants Danny to snitch–putting Danny’s and his daughter’s lives in jeopardy. This was a great book to listen to, but next time I pick up a book by Finder, I’ll be sure to get a paper copy to allow me to read it at the lightning fast pace his books deserve!

Julie: Published eight years ago, Michael Pollan’s Omnivore’s Dilemma is just as important for every American to read (or listen to!) today. We are plagued with too much, often conflicting, information on the age old question of what to eat for dinner. Something seemingly simple has become incredibly complicated, but Pollan helps us understand it better. I read the book many years ago and have found that listening to it is even easier and the narrator, Scott Brick, very good at bringing what is already compelling nonfiction, to life.

Steve: Happy, Happy, Happy: My Life and Legacy as the Duck Commander, by Phil Robertson, is the autobiography of the patriarch of the popular Duck Dynasty clan. Phil tells of his life story, warts and all, and you might be surprised to learn that he was not a real nice guy, walking out on his family for a life or partying before finding God. The stories about starting the duck call business are pretty funny and are the true strength of the book. There is some preaching and Bible quoting, but it’s not until the later chapters that it becomes more prominent. Narrator Al Robertson, the eldest son of the family, lends an authentic voice to this audio version.

Jamie: Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson is set in Newcago (the city formerly known as Chicago) after an unknown event has altered the humans of Earth. Now they come in two categories: normal and epic. Epics have special powers they use for their own gain and rule any weaker opponent with no mercy, until David decides to enact revenge for his father’s death. Everyone thinks that Steelheart is unbreakable, that he has no weakness. But, David has seen him bleed. He sets out to join the Reckoners, a group of ordinary people that study the weaknesses of Epics and destroy them. The reader of this audiobook is MacLeod Andrews, who really brings the action to life.

Megan: The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin and narrated by Scott Brick is like a love letter to little bookstores and people who love them. It is at once both a heartwarming and heartbreaking story about the power of words. After the death of his wife, bookstore owner A.J. Fikry seems determined to wallow in grief and drink himself to death. However, a bizarre and seemingly unrelated series of events provide A.J. with an opportunity to rebuild his life. Scott Brick, an acclaimed voice artist, is the award-winning narrator of over 600 audiobooks. Fans of audiobooks will no doubt recognize his familiar voice, while those new to listening will be charmed by his work.

Emma: In Can’t Wait to get to Heaven by Fannie Flagg, Elner Shimfissle falls off a ladder while picking figs upsetting a hornets’ nest. She dies later at the hospital, enters heaven temporarily, and meets up with a variety of people including her sister, Ginger Rogers, and Thomas Edison. But heaven isn’t ready for Elner just yet. An uplifting and entertaining story.

Lauren: The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson relies heavily on Larson’s research of primary source material and recounts the people and events surrounding the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Larson writes in a signature “narrative nonfiction” style, telling the story of true events in a way that reads like fiction. We learn about Chicago before the turn of the century and the Chicago World’s Fair through two men: Daniel H. Burnham, the lead architect of the Fair, and Dr. H.H. Holmes, the man known as “America’s first serial killer,” who lured victims into the labyrinthine Chicago hotel where he did his killing. This book keeps up a swift pace by moving back and forth the creation of the Fair and the sinister actions of Dr. Holmes. Larson takes us on a journey from the construction of the White City through the opening of the Fair and it’s reception around the world, as well as from the moment Holmes claims his first victim to the moment the law finally catches up to the killer. The audiobook is read by Scott Brick. Brick has an impressive resume and brings a smooth and sophisticated tone to the narration that really keeps the listener entranced.

Chris: Bossypants written and read by the great Tina Fey was a real joy. I read the book when it first came out, and even though Tina’s voice was in my head, her comedic timing wasn’t. Oh, what a difference; the audio was so much better. Hearing her recount her dating experiences, working dilemmas—at Second City, SNL and 30 Rock—and just her quirky observations shouldn’t be missed.

Stacey: Homeland by Cory Doctorow is the sequel to Little Brother and I would suggest reading them in order for maximum enjoyment, but it’s not deal breaker. The content of these stories is reminiscent of George Orwell’s 1984, with the Government playing fast and loose with the civil rights of citizens but the more recent publishing dates appropriately reflect the changes in technology, the global political climate, and still manage to include entertaining pop culture references! A bonus feature to the audio edition? Wil Wheaton is the reader!! So. Much. Fun! -and thought-provoking too.

Next time? We’re going from one pretty open-ended genre -audiobooks- with plenty of options to another pretty open-ended genre -award winners! The easy-peasy definition of this genre: the book you chose won some sort of official, recognized award! Enjoy!

— Stacey

Classy Classics!

staceyLeave a comment

As I may have mentioned last time at the end of Debut Novels, it’s hard to define Classics, so I wasn’t surprised when there was such a wide range of titles at our discussion. I enjoyed hearing why people picked their books and their current impressions on these stories that have been around for decades. Are you ready to hear what everyone had to say about the titles they selected? Then, here we go:

Chris: Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion is a compilation of her classic essays on Californians, New Yorkers, politics, and just the everyday. Her title essay takes us to Haight Ashbury in San Francisco in the 60s, 1967 to be exact. Missing children were gathering and calling themselves “hippies.” It was a time of drugs, Day-Glo paint, free love and when guys called their girlfriends their “old ladies.” Everyone was blissed out. Janis Joplin, the Krishnas and the police were all hanging out in Golden Gate Park—It was the Summer of Love. Didion captures the chaos perfectly.

Emma: Winesburg, Ohio was written by Sherwood Anderson in 1919. It is a collection of 23 short chapters based on individuals who lived in or near Winesburg. These individuals were acquaintances of newspaper reporter George Willard, and he relates their stories. No one seems to have a happy easy life in this little town. Sherwood Anderson was considered a major influence on the younger generation of writers in his time. He used his influence to help get the first books of both Faulkner and Hemingway published.

Steve: The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton, is a marvelous story about the complexities of teen identity and what’s important in life. It finds two gangs, the Greasers and Socials, constantly fighting, and it is with in this environment that the story of Ponyboy Curtis and his brothers and friends unfolds. When a situation with the Socials gets out of hand, Ponyboy and his friend Johnny go into hiding and find things will never be the same.

Megan: The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier is a YA class that was once described as “Watergate at the high school level.” Trinity High School has an ambitious new headmaster who conspires with the leader of a no-so-secret student organization called the Vigils in order to sell a record number of chocolates for the school. The Vigils are known for assigning cruel pranks and practical jokes to selected student. No one is exempt and the consequences for refusing an assignment are devastating. When the Vigils require a freshman to refuse to participate in the chocolate sale, the aftermath of the prank are shocking and brutally violent. This dark novel addresses themes of authority, pack mentality, and conformity. Forty years after it was published this book continues to be relevant today, despite being one of the most challenged.

Carol: The Sun Also Rises is the classic novel written by American author Ernest Hemingway. The characters are based on real people from Hemingway’s circle, and the action is Hemingway’s trip to Spain in 1925. On the surface, this is a story about protagonist Jake Barnes—a man whose war wound has made him impotent. He’s deeply in love and heartbroken by the promiscuous divorcée Lady Brett Ashley who leaves a collection of discarded suitors in her wake. Thematically, this novel is said to have captured the angst of the age and the disillusionment and frustrations felt by an entire generation after World War I.

Dori: In Kurt Vonnegut’s God Bless You Mr. Rosewater, the main character is Money, specifically the Rosewater fortune, a fortune earned by shady means. The current scion of the Rosewater Foundation, Eliot, was raised in luxury, but after his service in World War II, he’s a changed man; he now wants to give his money away and help those in need. Moving back to the family home in Indiana, he starts a crisis help line, joins the volunteer fire department and doles out money and advice to the folks there. Meanwhile, the firm overseeing the Foundation has hired a lawyer who wants to have Eliot declared insane and a distant relative made head of the Foundation. A satirical look at the greed and hypocrisy of American capitalism, this classic by Vonnegut is laugh-out-loud funny, insightful and full of the author’s trademark prose and humanity.

Lauren:  A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith. We meet Francie Nolan at age 11 in 1912 in Brooklyn, New York and she guides us through her world using her own observations on the neighborhood, the Nolan family, Francie’s education, and the family’s almost constant struggle with poverty. This book is delightfully intimate, as we’re privy to Francie’s thoughts and feelings about everything that happens to her, about her alcoholic father whom she cannot help but fiercely love and the difficulty she faces in knowing her brother is her mother’s favorite child. We are with Francie as she grows into a young woman and begins to earn a living while doggedly pursuing her education and weathering her first experiences with love and heartbreak. Set 100 years ago and written over 70 years ago, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn persists in captivating the reader today, not unlike its namesake tree.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Maureen: Published in 1951, Fahrenheit 451 is the story of Guy Montag, a “fireman” in a new type of dystopian future where books as we know them are illegal and those found harboring them have their homes burned to the ground. Montag, who starts off complacent about the situation, soon finds his entire world turned upside down after meeting Clarisse McClellan, a 17 year-old self-proclaimed “oddball” who still likes to have real conversations with people, observe the natural world around her, and have her own original thoughts about things. After Clarisse disappears, Montag begins to more closely examine the world he lives in where entertainment is dictated by the powers that be, everyone robotically moves through their existence and those that choose to be free-thinkers are eliminated. When he decides to begin saving books despite the fact he is employed to destroy them, Montag’s world is pushed to the brink. Definitely thought-provoking!

Stacey: Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh is a children’s book published in the early 1960s and has been in print ever since! Harriet M. Welsh is twelve and full of energy. When she comes home from school, she gets a slice of cake and milk before she sets out on her spy route where is writes down her daily observations on the same people. She also takes notes on her impressions of her friends, and sometimes these notes might be too honest. When Harriet’s notebook is read by her classmates, she’s in trouble for sure. This is the kind of book I find to be a comfort read -meaning it’s simply about how this young girl sees her world and it’s got illustrations and there’s a gentle little life lesson to boot.

And next time? We’ll be listen intently -to audio books! Feel free to pick any book you want but challenge yourself by listening -not reading- to the story! You can choose whatever format you’d like -books on cd, a Playaway, or download the book onto any compatible device. Why not listen while you talk a walk or working in or outside the house? Heck, that’s what I like to call a win/win!

— Stacey

So new! So fresh! …Why they must be Debut Novels!

staceyLeave a comment

You may not know this but -librarians like to search for stuff! Sometimes we like to search for facts that could be useful in a school report, sometimes we search for information to help a consumer find the right option for their lifestyle, and sometimes we like to search out a completely new author to share with our fellow readers! Some of these books have been published within the last few months and some are a little older but they’re all books that were an author’s very first, published work. Maybe you’ll find a new author to love in this list:

Maureen: The Kept by James Scott. This first novel by an up-and-coming author tells the story of 12-year-old Caleb, who is the lone survivor of a horrible incident on the family farm that occurs while his mother Elspeth has been away serving as a midwife in upstate New York in 1897. The events that follow Elspeth’s return pave the way for a tale of sorrow, regret, and mostly, revenge. The bleak setting of winter in upstate New York is well depicted in the novel and the characters, although flawed and dysfunctional, prove the driving force of the story. This author will be one to watch!

Megan: The Universe Versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extence is the story of an unlikely friendship between an epileptic teen and a reclusive American expat and Vietnam veteran. When he was ten Alex made headlines after being struck by a meteorite. This event left him scarred and seizure prone and made him the perfect target for the village bullies. It was these bullies who actually led him to Mr. Peterson. It is the story of this friendship that Alex tells the police after he is stopped at customs with an urn of ashes and 113 grams of marijuana. Be sure to have a tissue handy while reading this thought-provoking and memorable debut!

Donna: The Traitor’s Wife: A Novel: The Women Behind Benedict Arnold and the Plan to Betray America is the first novel by Allison Pateki. She was inspired to write this story after coming across a historical marker in the woods near her New York family home that showed the path Benedict Arnold used to escape from George Washington’s troops. Through our history books, everyone knows that Benedict Arnold was a traitor during the Revolutionary War but the why and the other major players in his traitorous plot are not usually as well known. Through Clara, a fictional maid, the author gives readers an inside look into the life of Peggy Shippen Arnold, Benedict Arnold’s much younger second wife and her role in Arnold’s plan to surrender West Point to the British. Although fictionalized, the author has been able to make this historical time period come to life. The Discussion Guide at the end of the book along with the author’s information on her research just makes this novel so much more interesting. Fans of Jennifer Chiaverini’s historical fiction should enjoy this title too.

Carol: The Rosie Project is a wonderful, memorable and funny debut novel by Graeme Simsion. Don Tillman, an assistant professor of genetics, is very dedicated to his daily routines and has problems socializing. At the age of thirty-nine, he decides it’s time to find a wife, and so he begins the “Wife Project.” In the interest of quickly eliminating the women who are unsuitable matches, Don puts together a (rather ridiculous) questionnaire. When Gene, one of Don’s only friends, sends barmaid Rosie Jarman to Don’s office, Don thinks she is there as a candidate, but as she’s not prompt, she smokes, and drinks too much, he doesn’t even bother to have her fill out his questionnaire. Don does think that Rosie is very beautiful though, and he decides to help her when he realizes that Rosie needs a geneticist’s assistance in order to find her biological father. As the two spend time together searching for Rosie’s dad, an unlikely bond is formed. Should Don dare consider Rosie a possible match? She’s certainly most unsuitable…right Don? The Rosie Project is a moving and hilarious novel. Run out and find a copy to read immediately.

Dori: Shane Kuhn’s first novel, The Intern’s Handbook: a Thriller, is a manual written by John Lago, an employee of Human Resources, Inc., a firm of assassins. Their technique: they go undercover as interns to murder corporate criminals. From making the perfect cup of coffee, to disappearing in colorless clothing, John is able to get close to his targets as an insignificant intern. Recruited as a teenager, having survived the murder of his mother, the disappearance of his father, and a series of foster homes, John’s latest job is also his last; he’s decided to retire and of course, the job will not let him go easily. Kuhn, a writer for films and advertising, creates a fun comic thriller, with bloody fight scenes and weapons of every kind, plot twists and identity mix-ups.

Emma: Shotgun Lovesongs by Nickolas Butler is the story of five friends born and raised in Little Wing, Wisconsin. Henry and Beth are married raising their family on a farm close by. Ronny, a recovering alcoholic, is an injured rodeo star. Kip, who made his fortune trading commodities in Chicago, moves back home to restore the local mill to its former glory. Popular musician Lee is home after recording his first album, Shotgun Lovesongs. Even though their lives have taken different paths, the friends are there for each other and are drawn back to Little Wing. Each character in alternating chapters tells this story of friendship which survives the good times and the bad times.

Steve: The Girl with a Clock for a Heart, by Peter Swanson, finds George Foss, a late 30’s Bostonian living a dull life with his so-so job and on-and-off girlfriend, mixed up in a deadly web of lies. George is thrilled and shocked when a college-ex, Liana Dector, walks into his life after disappearing 20 years earlier. She asks if they can meet to discuss some trouble she is in, and although he knows better, he agrees. When George meets at the appointed location, he is greeted by a thug who punches him in the kidneys, drawing him into a world of deceit. The fast paced story alternates between the present and the past, and is truly one that will be hard for you to put down.

Lauren: A Constellation of Vital Phenomena, by Anthony Marra, spans roughly a decade from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s and follows a small group of individuals struggling during the hardships and turmoil of the Chechen Wars. We come to know sisters, fathers, sons, and at the center of the novel, an eight-year-old girl, Havaa, all whose existence becomes a fight between trying to hold onto any shred of a “normal life” and literally trying to survive. Marra slowly reveals the story of each character all while masterfully weaving their lives together. The subject matter can be difficult to deal with; this book is not easy to read. Still, throughout it there were single sentences that took my breath away, and the last 100 pages or so make for incredible reading. One of the best books I’ve read in a while.

Chris: The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides tells the story of five teenage sisters who commit suicide. The first one to do so is Cecilia, and within the year the rest follow her; all four in one night, all told in one paragraph. Narrated by the boys in the neighborhood, who have been totally smitten by the beautiful and mysterious sisters for years, you’ll hear some actual facts and lots of imagined happenings. After Cecilia commits suicide, the family, who always was a little weird (especially the parents), becomes more so after the tragedy. And that’s a large part of the telling—about this family, the relationships between the sisters, and the almost non-existent relationships with everyone else.Not only is this book remarkably impressive as a debut novel, it’s been heralded as a masterpiece and a classic. Prior to reading Virgin Suicides, I enjoyed Eugenides’ third book, The Marriage Plot, but it pales by comparison.

Ann: The Martian by Andy Weir has gone from being a free online book available on the author’s website to a six figure publishing event from Crown Publishing. His novel tells the story of the third manned mission to Mars on the ship Ares 3. The main character, Mark Watney, tells the tale in log format after he is left behind on Mars and is presumed dead by the rest of the world. While he realizes he is probably not going to survive, he is a scientist, and he uses all of his knowledge and resourcefulness to stay alive. This is a fun and exciting first novel filled with a lot of science and humor. It is well researched by the author, who says he wanted the book to be as realistic as possible based on existing technology.

Stacey: Black Moon by Kenneth Calhoun is quite the unusual book. The story begins some time after a large portion of the population has stopped sleeping, with no clear explanation of why, and all the social structures we count on are starting to crumble. But there are few people left who can still sleep. Can they save the rest of society or will they too become sleepless? It’s hard to know what to highlight from this book: the mystery and suspense, the science, the relationships, or maybe to alert readers there are some disturbing and violent moments, all found in this one debut novel. Definitely consider reading this -just maybe not right before bedtime.

Our next genre is one that we’ve added to our expanding list of possibilities and it’s… Classics! The hard part of this genre is (and will be) the definition of what makes a book A Classic. There doesn’t seem to be one, universally accepted set of criteria so I decided to cobble together my own parameters… So, if you’d like to read along with us with a classic of your own choosing? Please look for a book that you consider to have long-lasting value, a timelessness, or offer rare insight, and was published at least thirty years ago. Yes, this might be a little vague but you could approach it as opening up a wide range of reading options! Enjoy!

— Stacey

What’s Your (life) Story?

staceyLeave a comment

I’m sure you’ve heard at least one variation of the saying: if you want to understand someone you should walk a mile in their shoes, right? And I agree! But if you’re a little tired and you still want to get to know someone better? How about a biography or autobiography! At our most recent genre book discussion we shared books about the lives of real people and I learned a lot -without much walking… Are you interested? Excellent! Here they are:

Donna: Unbroken: a World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand was first published in 2010 but has remained on the New York Times Bestsellers List for over 160 weeks. This heartbreaking captivating biography is about World War II prisoner of war survivor Louis Zamperini who is still alive today at a robust age of 97! After his plane crashed in the Pacific, he remained alive for 47 days adrift in a life boat with no food and water until he was captured by the Japanese. He spent the rest of the war in Japanese POW labor camps. As he was tortured and starved, he struggled to keep his sanity and to keep his spirit unbroken. Returning to the United States after the war was not easy for Louis and again he struggled to find his own path in life. Louis Zamperini’s life story is truly an inspiration for all of us. This book will soon be out in a movie that was directed by Angelina Jolie.

Lauren: Zeitoun, by Dave Eggers, tells the story of Syrian-born Abdulrahman Zeitoun and his American wife Kathy’s struggle to survive through the destruction of Hurricane Katrina, only to face a much larger battle in the aftermath of the storm. Kathy and the couple’s children evacuate before Katrina hits, but Zeitoun stays behind. When the worst is over, he uses a canoe to paddle around flooded New Orleans, connecting with other survivors and helping those he can. After a few weeks and daily check-ins with Kathy by a lone working telephone, Zeitoun suddenly disappears. The struggle of being a Muslim man in America compounded by the nation’s ongoing war on terror have devastating implications for Zeitoun and his family. I highly recommend.

Carol: Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman is a memoir based on the author’s time served in a federal prison for money laundering. A graduate of Smith College, Piper makes a mistake and gets involved in a relationship with a Nora, a woman who is involved in laundering money and smuggling drugs for an international drug ring. Years after their short-lived relationship, which included an ill-advised transport of money overseas by Piper, Piper is visited by Federal Agents and indicted. Sentenced to 15 months at Danbury Correctional Institution, Piper arrives there a full 10 years after her crime has been committed and she’s a very different woman with a loving fiancé and many supportive friends. Soon, Piper is submerged in the culture of prison, navigating the unspoken rules of institutionalized life and eventually having to do time alongside of Nora, the woman she feels is responsible for putting her there. This is a fascinating book about life behind bars.

Chris: Abigail Adams by Bancroft Award-winning historian Woody Holton takes a comprehensive look at Adams’ life and of women’s roles in the creation of the republic. From a young age and throughout her life, Abigail’s wit and intelligence opened many doors, to the powers that be, and to her husband’s heart, who affectionately called her “Miss Adorable.” She spent her life campaigning for woman’s education and denouncing sex discrimination. She was a savvy investor, and wrote her own will leaving her property to her granddaughters; this done at a time when husbands were legally assigned their wives’ properties. She was really knowledgeable about politics and had a huge influence on her husband and our second President. Abigail Adams truly was a unique and remarkable woman who made a difference.

Emma: Johnny Carson by Henry Bushkin is Johnny’s story at the pinnacle of his career through the eyes of his lawyer, tennis partner, and friend. Bushkin quickly learned that he needed to be available for Carson 24 hours a day. The book contains lots of Hollywood insider information and name dropping. Johnny was successful, brilliant, shy, moody, generous, and sometimes cruel. There were always consequences for crossing Carson. Bushkin went behind Carson’s back on a business deal, and their relationship ended abruptly after 18 years. This is a close look at a man who in the public eye had everything but who never seemed to find contentment and happiness with his family and friends.

Steve: A Curious Man: The Strange and Brilliant Life of Robert “Believe It or Not!” Ripley, by Neil Thompson, details the very interesting but very odd life of Ripley. He started out poor, painfully shy, and very self-conscious of his large teeth and stutter. A caring teacher took note of his artistic talents and allowed him to draw his reports, rather than write and speak about them, saving him the embarrassment of his stutter. As Ripley grew older, he honed his skills and began his career as a newspaper cartoonist, later stumbling onto his wildly popular “Believe It or Not!” fame after first showcasing odd sports feats. As his life progressed, Ripley became rich, famous, odd and erratic. A thorough and enjoyable read!

Megan: Stories I Only Tell by Friends by Rob Lowe provides a thoughtful glimpse into the life of a young teen idol and describes the challenges involved in creating a successful and meaningful career as well as a satisfying private life. Originally from Dayton, Ohio, a move to Hollywood when he was ten set the stage for a career path that has stood the test of time. From the Brat Pack to the West Wing, Lowe has managed evolve and succeed in a business that is not always kind to child actors. Fan already know that Lowe is charming, charismatic, and quite hilarious and this book will just confirm this!

Ann: A Street Cat Named Bob by James Bowen is a dual biography- of Bob the Cat and James Bowen. When they meet, James Bowen is a down and out busker on the streets of London. James sees a tom cat hanging around inside his apartment building and the cat appears to be in bad physical shape. James decides he has to help the cat, whom he names Bob, and takes him to the vet and nurses him back to health. James is recovering from drug addiction, and as a street musician, he can barely afford to feed himself much less a pet. James figures Bob is used to the street and will go on his way when he feels better. Wrong. James cannot shake Bob, who follows him down the street toward his music playing gigs. The two basically adopt each other, and Bob soon becomes a regular with James as they set up and play music in the street. The people love Bob, and so will you!

Dori: Gary Shteyngart’s Little Failure: A Memoir is both laugh out loud funny and touchingly poignant. As a child in the Soviet Union, novelist Shteyngart was a fragile asthmatic from a Jewish family that had suffered from the evils of Hitler and Stalin. Once settled in New York, he was bullied for his difference, suffering panic attacks and making few friends. At Oberlin College, he floated along in a haze of alcohol and drugs and started to fall in love with writing, though it takes years of psychoanalysis to pull him through. In this mesmerizing autobiography, he’s able to explain the relationship between himself and his parents, capturing the divide that many immigrants have with their American children, whose ambitions and grievances are often at odds.

Stacey: Jim Henson: the biography, by Brian Jay Jones, provides complete coverage, from birth to untimely death and reveals unexpected contradictions behind the legend. Mr. Henson was a creative genius who could bring simple pieces of felt to life while equally fascinated by new technological toys; he believed a simple handshake could seal the deal but understood the value of owning the rights to his original works. He wasn’t perfect but he was always true to himself, that’s pretty impressive.

And next up? We’ll be reading first novels! If you want to read along with us, find the debut book by an author -hopefully someone who has just recently been published for the first time. It’s always fun to find someone who’s just getting started, then when they’re super popular you can look back and say, “I found them!” So hurry up and search out the next big thing! We’ll be waiting…

— Stacey

Romance is Lover-ly!

staceyLeave a comment

Romance! Full of love and affection! Who doesn’t love love? Well, I guess maybe the heartless are physically incapable of love -not having a heart and all- but if we ignore those walking medical miracles? Reading a book that features strong emotions and two individuals struggling to become a happy pair will hopefully leave everyone in a good mood! Let’s see if that’s what happened in our very own romance genre discussion, shall we? (You’ll have to base your opinion on the brief descriptions people provided..)

Megan: Better Off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg is the story of Levi and Macallan, two best friends set on proving to everyone that guys and girls can be just friends. They manage just fine for years, but then something changes. What follows is a series of missed connections and misunderstandings that could potentially ruin everything. Full of witty banter and lovable characters, readers will be rooting for Levi and Macallan long after they close the book!

Chris: Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert tells the story of woman in desperate need of romance. Emma Bovary hopes to find it with her country doctor husband, Charles, but he proves to be dull beyond words. She enters into a secretive love affair with the worldly Rodolphe, but after awhile he becomes bored with her demanding affections and leaves. She then succeeds in rekindling the flame with an old lover, Leon, but soon tires of him. Will she ever find that excitement and passion she yearns for? Madame Bovary’s search for romance leads her to suffering financial woes and ill health and, ultimately, to taking her own life.

Emma: Getting Rid of Bradley by Jennifer Crusie is the story of two Bradleys’. One is Lucy’s ex-husband Bradley Porter, and the other is a high school friend of Lucy’s ex, John Bradley. John Bradley has stolen a sizeable amount of government bonds and Lucy’s ex is helping him hide the evidence. There is a key to a safety deposit box somewhere in Lucy’s house and it must be found. Tina, Lucy’s sister, has threatened her former brother-in-law if he ever enters the house or tries to contact Lucy. John Bradley tries to scare Lucy away from her house by blowing up her car, but she won’t leave her dogs behind. Police detective Zach Warren moves in to protect Lucy and catch the culprit. The two become a couple very quickly. Getting Rid of Bradley is a great combination of romance, humor, and a touch of suspense.

Dori: Ellen O’Farrell is a hypnotherapist, helping to guide people to change through the power of the mind eve4n though she can’t seem to hold onto a relationship of her own. Then she meets Patrick through an online dating site and the two hit it off immediately, though Patrick has a secret: his ex-girlfriend is stalking him. Ellen, being the empathetic person that she is, is both fascinated and repelled by the idea while Saskia, the stalker, is deeply hurt and confused by Patrick’s sudden rejection. Liane Moriarty explores the inner lives of both Ellen and Saskia in The Hypnotist’s Love Story while delving into the intricacies of relationships, love, loss and just plain old dumb luck.

Donna: The Rosie Project is the debut novel by Australian Graeme C. Simsion. Don Tillman is a genetics professor who is looking for a wife. He designs the Wife Project, a very detailed questionnaire, to screen for potential perfect matches. He starts the Rosie Project when he meets Rosie who wants him to help her find her biological father. Soon, the two projects merge. Rosie and Don are two delightful, quirky characters that the reader will constantly root for in this charming, laugh out loud romance.

Steve: A Knight in Shining Armor, by Jude Deveraux, finds Dougless Montgomery stranded by her boyfriend in a medieval English church near a statute of Nicholas Stafford, an earl who died in 1564, executed for treason. She had been anticipating a marriage proposal and asks aloud where her knight in shining armor is. The earl, in 1564, hears her sobbing and travels to the 1980’s to aid her. Dougless thinks he is crazy, but grows to believe his time-traveling story and soon is helping him research who falsely accused him of treason. This is a light, funny love story with a touch of intrigue. The historical details and time travel add a nice element. All in all not too shabby.

Ann: Anyone but You by Jennifer Crusie introduces us to Nina, recently divorced and turning 40. She’s moved into her own apartment and is going to get a puppy (her ex-husband never wanted a dog). She goes to the shelter to pick out a bouncing puppy- to cheer her up. Instead, she comes home with Fred. Fred is an overweight, quirky, sad-faced basset hound-beagle mix. But when he crawls through the wrong apartment window, Nina gets to meet her downstairs neighbor, Alex. Now Nina is not looking for a new man and if she would be, it would not be Alex. Sure he is charming, great looking, and shares Fred’s love of Oreos, but he just is turning 30! 10 years is a huge age difference- isn’t it? A witty, clever romantic comedy.

Carol: A Victorian Rose by Catherine Palmer is a historical romance that takes readers back in time to Victorian Yorkshire, England. Artist and young widow, Clemma Laird, has caught the eye of Dr. Paul Baine, a man who is shunned by the community for his past amoral behavior. Despite her better judgment, Clemma is drawn into Dr. Baine’s lifework, and what she discovers about his past changes her outlook on life and her future. This book was a quick, charming, and thoughtful read about love and redemption.

Julie: Beth Harbison’s latest book grabbed me with the title, Chose the Wrong Guy, Gave him the Wrong Finger – fun, right? The story follows Quinn ten years after she left her high school sweetheart at the altar because she found out he had cheated on her. Oh, and it was his brother who told her and who she then ran away with to Vegas. She quickly ended that, but now they’re both back in her life and she has to figure out what to do about it.

Stacey: The Wedding Bees by Sarah-Kate Lynch probably falls a bit between romance and general fiction but it delivers nicely on the main points of a good romance; and so this is my book of choice! Sugar Wallace has moved once a year for the past fifteen years and each new location is chosen by the queen bee of her hive. Wherever she lands, Sugar likes to help as many people as possible and it looks like her newest home in NYC will be business as usual. Well at least until her new friends decide Sugar might need some redirecting herself, no matter what she says! Even better if that new path takes her into the arms of Mr. Right, right?

And next time, if you care to read along with our genre challenge of March, you’ll want to find a biography or autobiography! Yes, that’s right! You’re looking for a book that is written by or about one person and focuses on their life experiences. Enjoy!

— Stacey

Can It Be True? -or Narrative Nonfiction is Real!

staceyLeave a comment

Who doesn’t like to change up the fictional for the true every once in a while? It can be nice knowing the story you’re reading really happened to someone or is a factual event that can be researched for additional information. And it seems like everyone at our narrative nonfiction discussion would agree -sometimes nonfiction just hits the right spot! So would you like to see what everyone had to say about the books they read?

Steve: Last of the Blue and Gray, by Richard A. Serrano, nicely follows preparations for the Civil War centennial in the late 1950’s, in anticipation of the 1961 kickoff commemorations. Another story unfolds within this time period, as the last two veterans of the war vie to outlast the other, one from the Union, and one from the Confederacy. As it turns out, only one is a true veteran though. History and Civil War buffs will especially enjoy this work.

Dori: What Are You Looking At? The Surprising, Shocking, and Sometimes Strange Story of 150 Years of Modern Art by Will Gompertz builds the case that modern art is about more than just the craftsmanship, it’s all about the idea behind the work. Starting with impressionism and ending with performance and conceptual art, Gompertz shares stories, anecdotes and a slew of information about the artists that brought us Starry Night (Van Gogh), The Fountain (a urinal turned upside down by Duchamp) and The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living (a pickled shark by Damian Hirst). Funny and enlightening, this book opened my mind about modern art.

Emma: On 9/11 the citizens of Gander, Newfoundland (population 10,000) welcomed 6,595 passengers from 38 jetliners bound for the United States who were redirected to their community. Many of their experiences are shared in The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland by Jim DeFede. For about a week the people of Gander and the surrounding communities provided housing, food, showers, internet access, local transportation, friendship, etc. to the stranded people from all walks of life. A heartwarming tale of the good things people are willing to do in crisis situations.

Carol: Wild by Cheryl Strayed chronicles the journey of self-discovery and forgiveness that the author embarked upon when, at age 26, she set out to hike over 1,000 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail. Her memoir of the experience makes for a gripping, suspenseful, emotional and riveting read–one that soon will be made into a film starring Reese Witherspoon.

Megan: The Eighty-Dollar Champion by Elizabeth Letts is the story of a dutch immigrant and an unwanted plow horse bound for the slaughterhouse. When Harry de Leyer bought the beat up plow horse for eighty dollars in 1956, he never imagined he was rescuing a future champion. The unlikely pair, to everyone’s surprise, began training for the show-jumping circuit. Together they overcame extraordinary odds, beating the best thoroughbreds, and earned Harry the nickname “the Flying Dutchman.” This is an inspirational story about hope and dreams and a horse that captured the heart of a nation.

Stacey: In Knocking on Heaven’s Door, by Katy Butler, the current approach to health care -particularly for the elderly or chronically ill- is examined as the author shares her own family’s experiences. At the core, this is a personal, heart-felt story in which Ms. Butler is also able to present a well-reasoned argument against the medical community’s current approach of suggesting expensive procedures with long-term consequences over less invasive options that may have similar, or better, results. Such a thought provoking book!

The February genre is… Romance! How funny! (We actually pull the genre topic without looking, that’s why it’s funny!) If you’d like to play along, you’ll want to find a book that focuses on a misunderstanding or circumstances that keep our hero and heroine apart until the very end. Both lead characters will be equally strong and capable but we’ll all be hoping that they find their very own happy ever after!

Enjoy!

— Stacey

Jolly Ol’Holiday Stories!

staceyLeave a comment

From Thanksgiving until New Year’s Day -there’s nothing but holidays! And so we celebrate all these various festivities by reading books! (Aw, come on -we’re librarians! It’s what we do!) There’s more variety to the Holiday Story than you’d imagine. Would you like proof? Well here it is:

Megan: The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum is an enchanting account of the magical life of Santa Claus. Abandoned as an infant and raised by forest nymphs, Claus led a charmed life. As a young man he felt a responsibility to join his fellow mortals and he soon found his calling entertaining and caring for children. This desire to help children quickly became a full time occupation that required the help of his magical immortal family and soon the sleigh-riding jolly man with a sack full of toys became famous around the world. This is a charming Christmas story that will remind readers young and old that Christmas is a magical time of year.

Chris The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans tells the story of a young family, Richard and Keri Evans and daughter Jenna, who move into a mansion to act as caretakers for its owner, MaryAnne Parkin. It’s a very warm, cozy story of people caring for people. And along the way, each benefits in practical and spiritual ways—the widow enjoys having people around and sharing her home; the family enjoys Parkin’s companionship and a lovely place to live. Perhaps the most important thing is the lesson that Richard learns. I felt this book read like a Hallmark Christmas movie, which always get me in the holiday spirit, and sure enough it was, in 1995.

Carol: I read The Mitford Snowmen by Jan Karon. Though there’s not much of a plot, this was a cute little book that tells about a snowman-building contest in Mitford that occurs right in the middle of a busy snowy day. Because it’s a contest, the townspeople all try to one-up each other, trying to build the best snowmen to win the prize, free donuts. Eventually, though, they are all having so much fun that they don’t care about winning…and the mayor decides to buy everyone donuts! The moral I took away from this short book was not to be too busy during the holiday season that you can’t have a little fun. The illustrations of snowmen are pretty darn cute as well.

Emma: The Other Wise Man was written by Henry van Dyke in 1896. It is the story of Artaban, the fourth Magi. Artaban planned to travel to Bethlehem with Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar to bring gifts to baby Jesus. (He had a sapphire, ruby, and pearl to give.) Artaban was detained when he stopped to help someone and missed traveling with the other magi. He spends the next 33 years on a life-long quest to find Jesus and uses the gems to help others along the way. Artaban finally sees Jesus at his crucifixion and bemoans the fact that he had not found him earlier. As Artaban lies dying he has a vision and hears these words from Jesus, “Verily I say unto thee, Inasmuch as thou hast done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, thou hast done it unto me.”

Ann: The Dogs of Christmas by W. Bruce Cameron is just the right mix of schmaltz and puppy-love to make a winning Christmas book. Josh’s neighbor abandons a dog at his house. Although Josh knows nothing about dogs, he certainly recognizes that this one, Lucy, is going to have puppies! Soon, with six dogs, Josh feels very overwhelmed. When he calls the local animal shelter for help with the puppies, Josh meets Kerri, and soon realizes he’s fallen for both Kerri and the dogs in his care. You will love these Lucy and her little puppies just as much as Josh does!

Steve: Pearl Harbor Christmas: A World at War, December 1941, by Stanley Weintraub, will delight history buffs who want to be engaged in the political and military maneuverings of Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill during the holiday season of 1941. The book is light on the Christmas part, but the holidays do present themselves in the background of the detailed meetings and parties of these two giants.

Dori: In The Mischief of the Mistletoe: a Pink Carnation Christmas by Lauren Willig, Arabella Dempsey has recently returned to her home in Bath, accepting a position as a teacher at Miss Climpson’s Select Seminary for Young Ladies. A Christmas pudding with a secret message brings her to the attention of Reginald “Turnip” Fitzhugh, a blundering but kind aristocrat, who is visiting his sister at the school. Together, they try to decipher the message, culminating in a 12-day Christmas celebration at the grand estate of the Dukes of Dovedale and threats to Arabella’s safety. With a dose of romance, mysterious spies, humor aplenty and even a cameo from Jane Austen, this Regency novel is a perfect holiday treat.

Stacey: Silent Night by Robert B. Parker and Helen Brann features all the key characters of a classic Spenser novel with entertaining holiday elements. When a young boy approaches Spenser for help on behalf of a man who runs a shelter for homeless boys, Spenser finds more than just troubled teens lurking around the place. But there’s not much Hawk and Spenser can’t put to rights and in the end, a lovely gathering of family and new friends feels just right. A great, fast-paced and entertaining mystery that has a nice touch of holiday cheer.

And to start the new year off on the right foot? We’ll be discussing narrative non-fiction! If you want to read along with us -and who wouldn’t?!- then you’ll want to find a book that tells a true story but in an engaging prose style! Some popular examples would be: Unbroken by Lauren Hillenbrand or The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson, or just check out our list from the last discussion!

Have a wonderful holiday season!

– Stacey

Round ‘em Up -for the Western Book Discussion!

staceyLeave a comment

Yee-haw! We rustled up some purty interesting books for our wild Western genre discussion this last time around! Our books were filled with big conflicts, but equally big resolutions, and flawed heroes you can’t help but appreciate. At first appearance this might seem like a fairly narrow group of books, with little variety possible. After you read the descriptions of what everyone read I think you’ll see what a misconception that is. So are you ready to become a fan of the western genre?

Megan: Sisters Brothers by Patrick de Witt tells the story of Eli and Charles Sisters, the notorious henchman of the mysterious Commodore. When they are charged with killing one Hermann Kermit Warm, they must journey from Oregon City to Sacramento, California. Along the way Eli, who does not share his brother’s love of whiskey, women, and killing, begins to question his career choice. This western noir novel pays homage to classic westerns through a colorful cast of characters who convey the violence, lust and greed associated with the gold rush era. The humor and philosophical musings are an entirely unexpected, but welcome treat. Not your typical western, this is a story of brotherhood, blood ties, and redemption.

Emma: Riders of the Purple Sage was written by Zane Grey in 1912. It’s 1871 in southern Utah, and Berne Venters is about to be whipped by Elder Tull for befriending Jane Withersteen. Jim Lassiter, a Texas gunfighter, stops the whipping before it begins. Tull wants to marry wealthy Jane and take over her cattle and land. Jane is not interested in Tull, so he plots with Oldring to have her cattle stampeded and her riders intimidated. Berne goes after Oldring and his men, killing Oldring and wounding a masked rider. The masked rider turns out to be Bess, Lassiter’s niece. Bess had been taken from her mother, Lassister’s sister Millie, when she three years old. This is a happy ever after story for Bess and Berne who fall in love and leave Utah and for Jane and Lassiter who also fall in love. This was Zane Grey’s bestselling and best-known novel.

Ann: Juliet in August by Dianne Warren is a novel told as a series of stories about the people of Juliet, Saskatchewan on a particular day in August. Juliet is a sleepy little prairie town at the edge of the Little Snake Sand Hills, which is actually desert land. We meet people such as Lee Torgeson who reminisces about how Astrid, his adoptive mother, found him on her doorstep in a laundry basket (she actually at first mistook him for a tom cat!) There is Willard and his sister-in-law Marian. They run the local drive-in movie theater, and Marian sometimes watches the movie from the house’s big picture window. People in the town are tied to the land and their animals. The pace of the book is slow and leisurely, and the writing is rich and beautiful. While set in the present, the novel has a very western feel, and the author, who is Canadian, says the book is informed by the western books and movies she grew up with.

Carol: The Thicket by Joe Lansdale, set in the early 1900s in East Texas, opens as 16-year-old Jack Parker’s parents die of smallpox. Only a few pages later, Jack’s grandfather is killed by a troupe of bank robbing ruffians who also kidnap Jack’s sister Lula . Jack enlists a grave robber named Eustace and dwarf bounty hunter named Shorty to help him find Lula, and the bloodthirsty revenge begins. Filled with gritty, sharp, well-written dialogue, wicked dark humor, violence, sex, and strong language, this book is definitely not for the faint of heart. That said, this western had me laughing out loud as I read, and I could not put it down until it’s bloody end.

Steve: The Californios, by Louis L’Amour, finds the Mulkerin family trying desperately to save their pre-gold rush Malibu ranch, which has fallen in to debt after the death of the father. The family knows that in the past their father had ventured out in to the wilderness with a secretive Indian known as the Old One, and on occasion the Mulkerin patriarch had brought back gold from these trips. The Old One trusts the son, Sean, but will Sean be able to find the much needed gold before the bandits take the ranch? Find out and see if you enjoy the elements of mysticism that are sprinkled into this adventurous Western.

Dori: The Son: A Novel by Phillip Meyer is a family saga that spans 200 years ands documents the fortunes and misfortunes of the McCullough family of Texas. Three members of the family narrate the tale, beginning with Eli McCullough who, at age 13, is taken captive by the Comanches after the brutal murder of his family. Adapting to their way of life, he becomes a respected tribal member only to have to return to Anglo society when his tribe begins to die out. Shaped by his survival skills, he buys land, becoming a successful cattle rancher and then discovers oil. Peter, Eli’s grandson, struggles with the tradition of violence that is his family’s legacy, specifically the murder of a neighboring Tejano family. The third narrator is feisty, independent Jeanne who grew up at Eli’s knee, hearing his stories and idolizing him. She takes the family into the present, inheriting their money and their unhappiness. A fascinating, detailed story of the power, greed, and violence that is part of American history.

Chris: The Arbor House Treasury of Great Western Stories edited by Bill Pronzini and Marin H. Greenberg is an impressive collection. I was surprised to learn that some great writers like Mark Twain, Bret Harte, Stephen Crane and O. Henry also wrote westerns and are featured in this book. I gravitated toward “I Woke Up Wicked” by Dorothy M. Johnson—one of a small number of women who write westerns. It starts out innocently—A young puncher meets up with a crooked relative (a deputy) while waiting for the bank to open so the trail boss can pay off the men. He’s standing by the sheriff’s horse while his relative goes in to see if the bank is open for business. Suddenly there’s the sound of gunfire, the relative and a few others burst out of the bank and leap onto horses. The puncher jumps on the sheriff’s horse right behind. That moment, he becomes a bank robber and a horse thief. And the wickedness continues.

Stacey: I also read The Son by Philip Meyer. Dori did such a good job with her description I can only add: this book offers plenty of family drama, fascinating historical information, and more than a few surprises along the way.

And next time? We’re getting ready for the Holidays by selecting stories based on or around the upcoming winter celebrations, aka the Holiday Stories Genre! Would you like to read along? Then why not come in and take a look for a new or classic story that features the holiday season and get ready for a fairly tame -but mostly happy?- discussion!

— Stacey

Happy Horror-ween!

staceyLeave a comment

What timing! That our discussion of books that fit into the Horror Genre fell into October is nothing but coincidence! (That is, if you believe in coincidences -which don’t seem to happen much in this particular genre…) The broad definition of horror could be that these stories are meant to frighten the reader through strange and unnatural occurrences, which may or may not be attributed to the supernatural world. Some of these books are more violent than others, but there are also plenty of stories that are even more frightening because it’s about perception and how your own mind might be turned against you. -Did you just get a shiver down your spine? Me too!- Mostly, I’d say everyone found a book they found satisfying, and few nightmares were reported, so there is a strong chance you too can find something in the following list that you just might enjoy!

Julie: Johnny Dixon is a reoccurring character in a John Bellairs series that has 13 year old Johnny and his friends, Professor Childermass and schoolmate Fergie, getting into supernatural trouble. In The Revenge of the Wizard’s Ghost, Johnny lies near death as a long dead enemy of the Childermass family has taken possession of him in hopes of wreaking revenge on the Professor. It’s up to his friends to save him from sure death! While Bellairs is considered to be for children/young adults, anyone looking for a creepy story with a nostalgic feel can enjoy.

Megan: In the Shadow of the Blackbirds by Cat Winter is a chilling debut novel set in 1918, during the height of the Spanish Influenza epidemic. Sixteen-year old Mary Shelley Black is sent to San Diego to live with her aunt after her father is arrested as a traitor. Despite the ever present fear of the flu and war, Mary Shelley is eager to reunite with her childhood friend, Stephen. When she learns that Stephen’s brother has made a name for himself among Spiritualist by claiming to photograph the spirits of the dead, she sets out to prove him a fraud. Her plans are derailed when she herself is visited by an unsettled spirit. Illustrated with haunting photographs of the era, this is a must-read ghost story!

Emma: The Picture of Dorian Gray was the only novel written by Oscar Wilde. Dorian’s portrait is painted by Basil Hallward as a gift to 20-year-old Dorian. It is such a beautiful painting, Dorian wants the portrait to age and not him, and he gets his wish. As Dorian and Lord Henry Wotton become close friends, Dorian’s life becomes more corrupt and the portrait changes. Suicides, murder, and accidental shootings occur, and the portrait becomes more grotesque. Dorian is determined to change his corrupt ways and decides to destroy the portrait, but he himself is destroyed. The novel received harsh criticism when it was first published in 1891 but today is considered a great classic work.

Maureen: Night Shift by Stephen King is the first collection of short stories ever published by the author. The book was published in 1978 and covers a wide variety of typical King creepiness, from a deadly new flu virus strain to a serial killer to deranged trucks demanding humans do their bidding to a college student stalker. Most of the stories in the book were later made into motion pictures (most notably “Children of the Corn”) or adapted for television, even though several of them are less than 20 pages long. One of the best and most interesting things about this book was the foreword, which King wrote himself, and which provides a good deal of insight into his reasons for writing in the horror genre. He describes writers as filters and his theory of writing surrounds the different types of material (which he calls “sludge”) that make it through different peoples’ filters. For him, it is the stuff of fear. As bits and pieces catch in his particular filter, over time he pieces them together into a horror story. One of the best stories I read in this collection was called The Man Who Loved Flowers. In typical King fashion, he takes a simple, everyday action like a man buying a woman flowers, and turns it into a twisted, psychotic, demented tale of murder in broad daylight. A very interesting read and a peek into one of the greatest horror writers of all time at the beginning of his career.

Steve: The Ruins, by Scott Smith, is a creepy horror story that starts with a great premise. Six college age vacationers in Cancun set out to look for the brother of one of them, who has disappeared while off exploring some Mayan ruins with a girl he has met. On their way to the ruins, the tourists find a covered trail and soon notice Mayan villagers following them. When they step over what seems to be an imaginary line in a clearing, the Mayans pull out guns and arrows, keeping the vacationers trapped with-in the perimeter. Stranded on a hill above the clearing, on their own for survival, the group soon discover the horror that they must fight. If you are ok with the events not being explained at the end, this is a good enough read, but I would have liked more of a conclusion.

Ann: In The Darkest Evening of the Year by Dean Koontz the main character is Amy Redwing who rescues dogs. When she rescues Nickie, a golden retriever from an abusive home, she immediately senses a connection. Her own dogs, Fred and Ethel also sense that Nickie is special and defer to her as the Alpha dog. Amy and her boyfriend Brian both have baggage from the past, and when evil comes back to haunt them, the dog Nickie is right there with them. The horror in this thriller is the horror that one person inflicts on another. There are lots of twists and turns in this story with supernatural elements. Ultimately this is Dean Koontz’s book to honor his own beloved golden retriever Trixie.

Dori: In The Devil in Silver by Victor LaValle, Pepper is admitted to an underfunded, urban psychiatric hospital in New York City after accosting a couple of policemen. Quick to anger, but not mentally ill, he’s brought there for convenience, but is then drugged and forgotten. As he gets to know his fellow inmates, he learns about a monster who is kept at the end of one of the hallways behind a steel door, but escapes at night to terrorize, and sometimes kill, the patients. Banding together, the patients form a plan for eliminating the monster and escaping the hell of their hospitalization. Black comedy mixes with social commentary in a book where the monster may not be what he seems.

Stacey: For readers interested in finding something classic *and* unnerving, The Case of Charles Dexter Ward by H.P. Lovecraft,in graphic novel format, should be just right. Charles Dexter Ward began looking into his family’s past to unearth the truth of local gossip. It was said that one of Ward’s ancestors remained youthful beyond when it would have been reasonably possible, it was rumored this man was a necromancer. The more Charles discovers about this ancestor, the more he seems to lose touch with reality. Finally committed to a hospital for his own safety, there is a good chance that Charles might be in as much danger from outside sources as he is from the workings of his own mind. The gifted illustrator of this graphic novel took a dark, mysterious story and boosted it into something even better.

See? Not so “horror”-able! Next time? Well, we’ll be looking for you cowpokes around the campfire! That’s my hint that we’re reading… Westerns! If you want to read along, you should hunt down a story that takes place in the western North America. There should be a clearly defined conflict and resolution, with heroes that might be flawed but get the job done! Enjoy!

New to Us!

staceyLeave a comment

It’s always nice to find something new to get excited about, right? And what’s better than finding a new author that you enjoy?! So that’s part of why this last genre book discussion was a good time and the other part was that we celebrated the department wide achievements in adding lots and lots of titles to our very own book database: The Reading Room! (There were deliciously edible treats too- good stuff!) The only sad moment may have been at the end, when we chose the next genre to read. (You’ll see.) In the meantime, why not take a look at these titles:

Chris: The Grammarian by Annapurna Potluri tells the story of French philologist Alexandre Lautens who leaves his family behind to go to live in India to study the Telugu language. He stays with the Adivis family and ends up having an incident with one of the daughters, Anjali. It consisted of a trip to the ocean to let the daughter experience what it was like to go into the water, something she was always denied because of her lame leg. It was an innocent outing, even in 1911, but because of this, both are banished from the house. Alexandre ultimately returns to Paris and his family; Anjali becomes a political activist and spends time in and out of jail as a result. There’s a lot of good descriptive writing, especially wonderful are the portraits she paints of India.

Carol: Someday, Someday Maybe is a first novel by actress Lauren Graham. This quick read is the story of aspiring actress Franny Banks. She’d given herself three years to make it in New York, and as the novel opens in 1995, her deadline is quickly approaching. Currently she’s waiting tables, has made one commercial, and is taking an acting class alongside the famous actor James Franklin, who seems suddenly smitten with Franny. Will Franny make it in a dog-eat-dog city and even tougher industry? Will she find love along the way to finding representation? This novel is funny and sweet and it is easy to root for the likeable Franny. This reader will be looking forward to the next time Graham puts pen to paper.

Ann: A Share in Death by Deborah Crombie is the author’s debut of the Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James mystery series. Superintendent Duncan Kincaid is finally going on holiday. His cousin can’t use his Yorkshire timeshare in the stately manor house converted to vacation suites so he’s given his week there to Duncan. Kincaid has been working hard lately and is looking forward to some relaxing R&R in the Yorkshire Dales. But on his first morning there he hears children shrieking- only to find the dead body of the assistant manager in the swimming pool. So much for R&R! Kincaid becomes involved investigating the death and butts heads with the local constable. Then when another guest is murdered, Kincaid calls his sergeant, Gemma James in London for some backup assistance. If you enjoy this variation of a “locked room” mystery, there are fourteen more books in the series.

Emma: Telling the Bees by Peggy Hesketh is the quiet story of 80-year-old bachelor Albert Honig, a 3rd generation beekeeper in California. Albert checks in on his neighbors and finds Claire and Hilda Straussman (the Bee Ladies) dead. As Detective Grayson investigates the murders, the stories of Albert and Claire and Hilda are told. Albert has had a 70-year-old friendship with his neighbors. Young Claire visits Albert’s family and helps with the hives eventually having a few hives of her own. Claire and Albert become good friends but drift apart, and time marches on. A touching story filled with bee lore and wisdom on tending bees.

Megan: What Happens Next is the captivating debut novel by local author Colleen Clayton. Sid Murphy has a lot going for her. She’s a straight-A student, a cheerleader, one of a tight trio of best friends and she has pretty great family. Meeting the handsome and charming Dax on a ski trip changes all of that. Accepting his invitation to a party sets in motion a devastating chain of events and the worst part is Sid doesn’t remember any of it. Back at home nothing is the same as Sid struggles to cope with her trauma. Her attempts to escape her old life lead her to the last person she ever dreamed could help her, Corey, the schools loner and outcast. What Happens Next is both heartbreaking and uplifting. Colleen Clayton will be at Rocky River Public Library on September 30th to discuss her novel.

Dori: Adelle Waldman’s debut novel The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P. takes place in hipster Brooklyn where everyone is writing a book or trying to, and the dating scene is flirtatious and frenzied. Protagonist Nate Piven is about to travel in these circles after years of hard work, as his first book is about to be published, yet he doesn’t quite feel that he belongs. One of the benefits of hanging with the ‘in’ crowd is that, after years of desiring women that were ‘out of his league’, these same smart, beautiful women are now pursuing him. Considering himself a modern, feminist man, he nevertheless finds it difficult to sustain any kind of relationship. When he meets Hannah, a woman who is as well read as he, he thinks that this time it may get serious. Will Nate grow up enough to make it work? Waldman has fun skewering the Brooklyn literati in this sharply written book that makes me glad my dating days are behind me.

Stacey: From the Kitchen of Half Truth by Maria Goodin is a complex mix of the sweet and fanciful, used to cover over less happy times. Meg May’s mother loved to tell crazy, funny stories about Meg’s childhood and Meg loved to repeat these stories until the other kids start to make fun of her. Now she’s a scientist with no interest in participating in her mother’s silly tale anymore. But what harsh truths were these stories being used to hide?

For the next genre we’ll be looking for a book that fits into the horror category! (Eek!) Horror fiction can be written to frighten the reader with strange and or supernatural elements. In fact, the natural world may be twisted and no longer recognizable. If you’d like to further the challenge? Feel free to push the boundaries and find something funny or with a happy ending!

— Stacey