Genre Book Discussion

So True!

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What do you do when you’d like to read a good book, but you want it to be a real(ly) good book? Well, you could do what we just did and pick up a nonfiction book that is just as much storytelling as it is a reporting of factual information! I enjoyed hearing what everyone had to say and I hope you do to!

Evelyn: The Ungarnished Truth: A Cooking Contest Memoir by Ellie Mathews. This is the story behind the story of Ellie Mathews, who won the Pillsbury Bake-Off in 2008 with her quick and easy recipe for Salsa Couscous Chicken–a recipe she concocted on a whim using Old El Paso salsa. Up against major players in the contest world, Ellie’s fresh, uncomplicated look at things is poignant and even humorous. Thinking she’d be happy if she just ended up a semi-finalist, she wowed everyone by taking home the million dollars.

Carol: Fifth Avenue, 5 AM : Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and the Dawn of the modern woman by Sam Wasson. In “Fifth Avenue, 5 a.m.” Sam Wasson examines everything “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” how it was nearly cast (w/ Marilyn Monroe!), how Truman Capote wanted nothing to do with making the film, how it was nearly not made (several times) and changed directors as often. He begins by summarizing the early career of Audrey Hepburn, the ordeal of casting her as Holly Golightly and how screenplay writers chose to translate the blatant sex from the book to the silver screen.

Donna: The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels-A Love Story by Ree Drummond. This book was a delightful, entertaining and easy-to-read account of the author’s unlikely romance with a real cowboy , their eventual marriage and move to her husband’s, the Marlboro Man, cattle ranch near Pawhuska, Oklahoma. Drummond is a blogger and author of The Pioneer Woman Cooks. Her website is http://thepioneerwoman.com. This memoir also includes several mouth-watering recipes to try.

Emma: The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir by Bill Bryson is a fun book for anyone wanting to reminisce about simpler times. The author grew up in the 50’s and 60’s in Des Moines, Iowa. His father was a successful sports writer for the Des Moines Register. His mom was a “home furnishings” reporter for the same newspaper. When Bill was 6-years-old he found a sweater decorated with a satin thunderbolt and so the amazing “thunderbolt kid” was born. Bill pretended that he had special powers enabling him to vaporize people that gave him a hard time.

Megan: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot is the story of how scientists took samples of cervical cancer cells from an African-American woman without her permission and developed an immortal human cell line. This cell line has played a pivotal role in groundbreaking medical discoveries in areas such as cancer research, gene mapping, and infertility. While advancements in science and great wealth was made from these cells, Henrietta’s family remained poor and ignorant of the truth behind her cells. The science aspect of this story is fascinating and thought-provoking, but not too science. The story of Henrietta’s personal legacy, her children, and the impact that her cell line had on them is disturbing. This engrossing book, while well-researched and full of medical history reads like fiction.

Chris: The Best American Science and Nature Writing, the 2010 version edited by Freeman Dyson is filled with fascinating information about what’s going on in the areas of space, neurology, natural beauty and the environment. All the essays are very accessible; many were taken from the pages of The New Yorker, National Geographic, even GQ. A few I particularly enjoyed were “Don’t,” “Hearth Surgery,” “Brain Games,” and “The Superior Civilization” which informed me that stilts could be put on ants. Why else but to prove that they were counting steps in order to return to their nest?

Rosemary: And I Shall Have Some Peace There: Trading in the Fast Lane for my own Dirt Road by Margaret Roach is pretty much summed up in the subtitle. Margaret had a brilliant career as an editor for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and also as an editor for the New York Times. After 9/11 she began to question the basic tenets of her life and somehow her career and material success no longer held sway over the longings of her inner life. It took five or six years of thinking and planning, but recently Margaret moved to her home in the country for good. This memoir details the good, the bad, and the feline.

Dori: In The Emperor of Maladies: A Biography of Cancer, Siddhartha Mukherjee, a cancer physician and researcher, weaves together the biological, political, and sociological threads of cancer, creating a moving and articulate study of this horrible disease.

Janet: Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore tells the story of an unlikely friendship between an international art dealer and a homeless man. Debbie Hall, Ron’s wife, felt called by God to help the homeless people of Fort Worth, Texas at The Union Gospel Mission. Ron agreed to volunteer with Debbie one day a week. Over time Deborah’s involvement continued to grow and Ron agreeably followed her ideas including becoming a friend with Denver Moore. Same Kind of Different As Me is the story of Deborah, Ron and Denver. Their journey is inspirational and certainly memorable.

Julie: The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova-Bailey is part natural history, part memoir. It tells of the author’s battle with a devastating illness and the little snail who made such a huge difference in that struggle. You might think it would be a sad, dry read but the elegant prose instead produces an interesting and inspiring read. Definitely try it!

Ann: Tales of an African Vet by Roy Aronson takes you with this South African veterinarian as he treats exotic animals such as a little squirrel monkey, a lion, and a baby elephant. The squirrel monkey that Dr. Aronson thought was doomed makes a miraculous recovery. The baby elephant, stuck in the mud, and abandoned by his mother and aunties is pulled out in the nick of time and saved; he goes on to be one of the elephants at the wildlife refuge that gives rides to visitors touring the refuge. Dr. Aronson gets a surprise when he is sitting alone in the back of a truck with a lion who had been given anesthesia, and everyone felt was down for the count, but the lion suddenly lifts his head and roars- luckily he then drops his head and goes back to sleep. Lots of interesting adventures in these tales.

Stacey: 365 Thank Yous by John Kralik is John’s story of how he turned his life around by writing 365, simple notes to let people know he appreciated their thoughtfulness. It started with notes in return for material gifts he had received. John took pains to acknowledge the thought behind the gift and it helped him to realize how much he had in his life that made him truly happy. This book is inspirational without being preachy and I can’t believe anyone could read it without sending at least one thank you note of their own!

Next time? We’re going to hit the dusty trails and head to the Wild West of the past! If you want to come along for the ride, you’ll want to find a book set in the American West with a clear-cut hero who has stepped up to fight against a dastardly person -or situation. Most often they are set in the past and have a strong sense of place thanks to the wide-open plains, rugged mountains, or wide desert areas. Yee-haw, saddle up pardner!

— Stacey

One more fantasy title to add…

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Our last Genre Book Discussion was about fantasy and Stacey has already posted the book titles that were shared to this blog. It certainly was a varied selection. Unfortunately, I didn’t turn my blurb in so that the book I read wasn’t included. I love fantasy (probably because I live in my own little world of fairy tales with happy endings) and I love books. I thought the book that I read was so fantastically wonderful that I just have to share it with all of you. The book I read was Among Others by Jo Walton and I loved it!

This book is more than a fantasy. It is a book about books (which I love), libraries (which I love), magic (which I love too) and a young girl struggling to find her own identity (I love these coming of age stories too). I even love the cover of the book too! Yes, I can honestly say that I truly, truly, truly loved this book!

Written in a journal form and set in 1979 and 1980, this is the story of fifteen year old Morwenna Phelps trying to move on with her life after her twin sister is killed. Morwenna and Morganna had teamed together to try to stop their crazy mother from using magic to harm others. In their battle with their mother, Morganna is killed and Morwenna is crippled. After going to live with her father, she is sent to a boarding school where she misses the magic in her life. However, if she uses magic again, will her mother be able to find her?

No matter what, Morwenna has books and as she writes in her journal, “I have books, new books, and I can bear anything as long as there are books.” Thanks to Morwenna, I now have more titles to add to my reading list. I don’t think I will ever run out of books to read! Thank you libraries!

Besides The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, I have read some really marvelous fantasy books. Check out our Reading Room for reviews of books by my favorite fantasy authors, Terry Pratchett, Jasper Fforde, and Neil Gaiman. As Dr. Seuss has said “I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living.”

Happy Reading!       ~Donna

Fantastical!

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After setting out on our own magical, mythical journeys, yesterday the book discussion group was reunited in the safety of the Community Room and we shared the information we had gathered from reading fantasy stories… Yes, that’s right. We read fantasy books featuring magic or myth, with plots emphasizing journeys of mind or body, and stress the virtues of courage, sacrifice and kindness. Fantasy books can be set in this world, with understandable and magical differences, or they may take place in a fully created, imaginary world, but they will always be aimed at a reader’s heart, not their head. Are you ready to take a journey of your own? Maybe you’d like to start with one of these titles:

Julie: Ysabel is a Guy Gavriel Kay novel from 2007 and the first one I’ve enjoyed as much as his Fionavar Tapestry series. Ned Marriner is on a trip with his father in France when very unusual things start happening. When things go from strange to worse, writing essays for school quickly becomes the least of his worries. The author blends coming of age, myth and history into an enjoyable read.

Chris: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak tells the story of Max, a little boy who after behaving badly is called a “wild thing” by his mother and sent to his room without dinner. Rather than continuing his naughtiness, he lets his imagination take over and fantasizes taking a boat trip to the land of wild things. When he arrives, he takes control of the wild things; they like him well enough to make him their king. After awhile he starts feeling lonely, returns home, and is welcomed by the smell of dinner. Max knows he is loved. Written in 1963, the book is a Caldecott Medal Winner and beautifully illustrated by the author. A children’s classic and ageless in appeal.

Janet: Bearers of the Black Staff by Terry Brooks is the story of the United States five- hundred-years after a devastating war. The book focuses on the people whose ancestors established a new community in a valley. The borders of the valley have been protected all these years by powerful magic. In this first of a two book set the magic mysteriously disappears which endangers the residents of the valley as well as nearby elves and mutants. Led by the Bearer of the Black Staff, leaders of the threatened communities race to prepare a defense when they learn that a large troll army wants to take the valley for themselves.

Carol: The Hobbit, or There and Back Again by J. R. R. Tolkien is considered a prequel to The Lord of the Rings. In this story, a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins, is asked/volunteered by Gandalf the Wizard to accompany a group of 12 dwarves, along with their leader Thorin, to reclaim the dwarves’ treasure. Along the way, the group is met with adventure and danger in the form of goblins (Orcs), trolls, and giant spiders. Upon finally getting to the Lonely Mountain, they must defeat the mighty dragon Smaug who guards the treasure. I (re)read an especially beautiful edition, illustrated by Michael Hague, in honor of the upcoming release of Peter Jackson’s film version of The Hobbit.

Evelyn: In Dying Bites: Book One of The Bloodhound Files, the debut fantasy-thriller by D.D. Barant, FBI profiler Jace is pulled into an alternate reality universe by a vampire working for the NSA. In this world, populated by vampires, lycanthropes (aka werewolves) and demons, Jace is part of the one percent human minority. Her skills are needed though, because there is a serial killer who is actually able to make vampires and werewolves stay dead–an he’s a human, too! I really wanted to like this book, and the story line isn’t bad. I think it was just the many abbreviations the author used, like pires for vampires, thropes for lycanthropes, and vics for victims that prevented this from being a great read for me.

Emma: A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray begins in India on Gemma’s 16th birthday in 1895 when she witnesses her mother’s death. Gemma is sent to the Spence School, a finishing school in London, where she begins to understand the joys and dangers in her visions and in her ability to go back and forth to another realm. Gemma and three classmates share an old diary where they learn of an Order of sorceresses and join in the adventures back and forth. The first entry in the Gemma Doyle Trilogy is full of action with hints of things to come.

Megan: The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan is the first of eleven books in the Rangers Apprentice series. Orphaned as an infant, Will is a ward on the Baron’s estate. At the age of fifteen he and the other wards are presented to the fief’s crafts masters to be selected as apprentices. It has been Will’s dream to be selected for the Battleschool where he can train to be a knight like his father. Unfortunately he is not chosen by the battle master because of his small stature. Instead, the mysterious and elusive Halt of the Rangers chooses Will to be his apprentice. Will’s months of training comes in handy when the king’s sworn enemy unleashes two deadly creatures sent to destroy the Rangers and start a war. This first book sets the stage for what is sure to be a fantasy adventure of epic proportion.

Ann: Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman is an inventive and light-hearted follow up to American Gods. Fat Charlie Nancy leads a hum-drum life in London, but when he travels to Florida for his father’s funeral he learns that he has a brother he’s never known about. After he returns to London and meets his brother Spider, Charlie’s life changes in a big way. A comical fantasy about brothers, relationships, and finding your way.

Rosemary: Stork is a compelling and very entertaining teen fantasy by first-time novelist Wendy Delsol. Katla moves from LA to Norse Falls, Minnesota after her parents’ divorce. She encounters mean girls and not so nice boys at her new high school. There is one young man, Jack, to whom she is unusually attracted. Katla finds out that she is a member of the Stork Society, an ancient order of women who determine which woman will give birth to a certain baby. Once she is part of the Storks, many uncanny events begin to occur, some are exciting and some are dangerous. Through it all, Katla comes across as a very real sixteen year old, which makes her all the more appealing to readers.

Dori: The Act of Will by A.J. Hartley is a historical fantasy set in a world resembling Elizabethan England. Growing up in the theater, feisty and funny 18-year-old orphan Will Hawthorne prides himself on surviving by his wits and storytelling skills. When authorities raid the theater, he narrowly escapes and falls in with a band of heroic rebels who take him on a quest to a distant city. With the aid of magical weapons, they must fight a mysterious group of red cloaked men who have been on a pillaging and murdering spree. Will Will decide that honor and loyalty trump survival? Fast-paced and with a sequel to boot, this is a clever, page-turning adventure.

Stacey: The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan is the start of a new series -and also a sequel to the Percy Jackson adventures with cross-over characters and settings. This time around the stories are focused on Jason, a boy who wakes up on a school bus with no memory of who he is but what his friends are telling him about his past doesn’t sound quite right. When it’s discovered that Jason is actually from the Roman version of Camp Half-Blood, all the dangerous situations are raised to epic-level proportions. If readers are ready for more adventure, plus a chance to learn about Roman mythology, this is a book for you!

Our next journey will not have one mythical beast or an epic quest full of magic! How do I know that? Well, we’ll be reading narrative nonfiction, or books about real people, places, and events in an easy to read prose style.

—Stacey

Ho, Ho, Holiday Stories!

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Is there any other time of year when it’s not just okay (but maybe expected?) to go looking for a fabulously sappy, happy story? I think not! But just because I enjoy these books, it doesn’t mean everyone does. It’s like Cadbury Eggs in that only come out in time for Easter. I love the sugary, colored “egg yolk” in the middle of the chocolate egg, but I know they don’t appeal to everyone. That’s good since it leaves more for me! (Both books and Cadbury Eggs!) And how did I come to discover this truth you might wonder? For the second year in a row, our genre book discussion group has dished the dirt on Holiday stories and both times I’ve heard the rumor that some people around the table don’t see the appeal. But there was a good discussion and an interesting mix of sappy, suspenseful, and humorous, so I suspect there’s an excellent chance all readers will find a book that will appeal to their reading tastes! Now wouldn’t you like to know what we read? Here they come:

Emma: An Amish Christmas by Cynthia Keller is the story of the Hobart family living the American dream in Charlotte, North Carolina. Life is good until James is fired and loses all of the family’s savings with a risky investment. After losing their home, the family’s only option is to move in with the Meg’s parents. On the way to New York there is a car accident, and an Amish family takes them in until repairs are complete. James, Meg and their children experience a simpler daily life and begin to realize “stuff” doesn’t make them happy. This is an enjoyable Christmas story with a close look into the life of the Amish.

Donna: Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas. This appealing, contemporary romance is a perfect holiday treat filled with laughter, love, a few tears and a happy ending for all. With the sudden death of his sister, Mark Nolan is forced to provide a new home for his six-year-old niece, Holly. He gets help from Maggie Collins, a young widow who owns the local toy store. Together, these three lonely souls try to add love and happiness again to their lives.

Rosemary: Christmas Mourning by Margaret Maron is the 16th in her Judge Deborah Knott mystery series. Even though Christmas is quickly approaching, Deputy Dwight Bryant, Deborah’s husband, is faced with the investigation of a single car crash that killed a popular high school girl. To add to the community’s grief, two young brothers are found shot to death just days after the accident. Dwight finds many more questions than answers as he tries to piece together the reasons for the crash and shootings. This series is so appealing because Deborah comes from a huge North Carolina family, and they are a constant presence in her life. Their shared affection adds a warm glow to their many holiday traditions.

Carol: In Santa Cruise: A Holiday Mystery at Sea by mother/daughter duo Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark, Lottery winner Alvirah Meehan and her husband Willy invite investigator Regan Reilly and husband, Jack, head of the NYPD Major Case Squad along on an all-expenses-paid cruise right after Christmas. This “Santa cruise” is a publicity stunt to generate buzz about a new ship, the Royal Mermaid, as she sets out on her maiden voyage. Also on board is a mystery fan convention celebrating a “ghost of honor,” as well as ten men who donated time playing Santa Claus, looking to rest up after the season. The Christmas tranquility soon vanishes when two Santa suits disappear from a locked room, a storm develops, and an attempt is made on a passenger’s life. Trusty amateur sleuth Alvirah is on board and must solve this quick-to-read, but light-on-plot caper.

Evelyn: Under the Mistletoe combines two Christmas romances. The first one is Bluebird Winter by Linda Howard. It’s Christmas Eve and Kathleen Fields is alone and in premature labor. Struggling to drive herself to the hospital in an Arkansas blizzard, she loses control and lands in a ditch. Derek Talifero is driving back to Houston when he sees a car in the ditch and stops to help. Kathleen’s prayers have been answered—Derek is a pediatrician and is able to get her back home and deliver her daughter safely. Derek arranges for Kathleen to come to Houston and stay in his home so she can be near her daughter in the Neonatal unit. Soon Kathleen and Derek find their love for small baby turns into a love for each other. Naughty or Nice by Stephanie Bond. When the Chandelier Hotel in San Francisco is purchased by a national chain, they are told to toe the corporate line. Current manager Cindy Warren’s family has a long history of working for the hotel–her great-grandfather built it. To survive, the hotel has found a niche by attracting unusual conventions—like the Klingons. Checking into The Chandelier‘s reluctance to fit the corporate image, headquarters sends out its top hatchet man Eric Quinn Stanton. Eric checks into the hotel under an assumed name and promptly gets involved in its quirkiness, and with Cindy, too. What will happen when she finds out his real identity? Full of laughs and lots of love, this story will warm your heart.

Julie: A Chesapeake Shores Christmas by Sherryl Woods is the fourth in a series that is a light read, good for getting away from holiday stress and finding a happy ending. Megan left her husband, Mick, years earlier because he was too controlling and ignored the family, immersing himself in work. She has slowly been reconnecting with her ex, believing he has changed and is ready for another chance at love, but complications, including the vehement opposition of her youngest son, may mean they don’t make it back to the altar.

Megan: In the beautifully illustrated book Auntie Claus by Elise Primavera, Sophie Kringle is curious about her Aunt’s mysterious annual business trip that keeps her away from home in the months before Christmas. Sophie stows away in Auntie Claus’ luggage and finds herself at the North Pole. Sophie finally learns her aunt’s true identity and saves her little brother from the Bad Boys and Girls List. This is a sweet and magical book that readers of all ages will enjoy.

Janet: Promise Me by Richard Paul Evans is a highly readable book. The story line centers on Beth Cardall, a single mother whose life suddenly falls apart. Her husband dies from cancer, Charlotte, her 6-year-old daughter is suffering from symptoms that have not been accurately diagnosed and Beth’s job does not provide enough money. When Beth meets a man who is too good to be true this story takes a strange turn that the reader will either love or hate.

Ann: A Highland Christmas by M.C. Beaton. Police Constable Hamish Macbeth is feeling a bit forlorn just before Christmas. His former girlfriend has moved away, his other family members are off on a trip they won, and some people in his hometown of Lochdubh in the Scottish Highlands frown on what they view as the pagan ritual of Christmas. But Hamish soon has two cases to worry about. A grouchy old woman insists her cat Smokey has been stolen, and the Christmas lights and tree from a neighboring town are missing. Through his investigations, Hamish finds ways to spread some Christmas cheer through the village. A humorous cozy mystery that’s not too sweet, and not too tart, but just right.

Dori: In The Fat Man: a Tale of North Pole Noir by Ken Harmon, Gumdrop Coal, head of Santa’s Coal Patrol, has been fired and framed for murder. Who in Kringletown is guilty? Is it Candy Cane, who’s looking to replace Santa, the Misfit Mafia, a group of toys who are sick and tired of their exiled life, or Rosebud Jubilee, star reporter and femme fatale? This holiday mystery is a recipe for humor and holiday puns mixed together and spiced with the perfect Christmas lesson.

Stacey: Busy Body by M.C. Beaton is the twenty-first book in the Agatha Raisin series and it’s as much fun to read as all the ones that came before! This time around, Agatha is drawn into solving the murder of John Sunday, a Safety Inspector who was really just a mean bully and totally lacked any Christmas spirit. While Agatha searches for the killer she’s also looking for a little romance (of course!), a little recognition from the police department, and maybe a little more control over the office drama. This might not be high on the Christmas sappy meter, but it’s an easy, fun read for busy time of the year!

And so this brings a close to our Genre Book Discussions for the year 2010 -but don’t be sad! Start looking forward to our Genre Book Discussion 2011 style and our kick-off genre… fantasy! Isn’t that fantastic? If you want to read along with us again, here’s what you’ll want to be looking for: a book that has strong elements of magic, a plot that emphasizes a mental or physical journey, and stresses human virtues through acts of courage, sacrifice or kindness. Not a bad way to start a year, yes?

— Stacey

Everything Old is New Again

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I have to mention that this book discussion was unexpectedly lively, especially considering we were sharing books in which the most current time period was set nearly sixty years into the past! There was a dramatic reenactment inspired by one of the books, interesting factoids shared about WWII for a few of the others, and everyone enjoyed the book they read. I mean really, how often can you get all goodness of that from one group of books -and the people who read them? I guess it could have been an unusually lucky selection of titles, but I’m leaning more towards the idea that we all like historical fiction more than we might all like some of the other genres. What do you all think? Read what everyone is saying about their book and give a little ponder why don’t you?

Janet: Every Man Dies Alone by Hans Fallada was written in 1947 and translated into English in 2009. This book is about what life was like for the residents of Berlin while it was under Nazi control. Eva and Enno Kluge, the Persicke family, Frau Rosenthal, Otto and Anna Quangel, Emil Borkhausen, Inspector Escherich, Trudi and Karl Hergesell were the main characters that throughout this book would come and go into each other’s lives as the larger story was told. The main focus of this book centered on the ongoing act of resistance that Otto and Anna Quangel began after their only son was killed in the war. However, Hans Fallada’s greatest achievement was telling the reader how day-to-day living was miserable, unbearable and usually led to each character facing death alone.

Ann: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.
Juliet Ashton, a writer, is at odds after the war (World War II), but a letter from a man on the island of Guernsey peaks her interest in the island and its occupation by the Germans during the war. Charming and sweet, but also brings you face to face with the horrors of World War II. Guernsey sounds like such a fascinating island, I’m ready to pack my bags and go visit.

Dori: The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer begins in 1937 when Andras leaves his close-knit family in Hungary to study architecture in Paris on scholarship. There, he falls in love with the city and with Klara, a dance teacher and fellow Hungarian immigrant with a mysterious past. Both Jewish, they and their friends become victims of anti-Semitism when the Germans occupy France. After the war begins, they are forced to return to Budapest to face the horrors of World War II. Well-researched and emotionally stirring, this epic novel is a story of art, family, love and the sweep of history.

Megan: Wicked Girls: A Novel of the Salem Witch Trials by Stephanie Hemphill
In Salem Village Massachusetts in 1692 a series of illnesses are blamed on witchcraft. A group of teenaged girls, known as the Afflicted, begin to accuse their neighbors of being witches. For months the village leaders not only allow, but encourage Ann Putnam, Mercy Lewis, and Margaret Walcott to lead them on a witch hunt that has deadly consequences for 20 of the more than 200 accused people. Told in verse, this fictionalized account of real events offers a frightening glimpse into the minds of three of the accusers.

Julie: Both The Boys from St. Petri by Bjarne Reuter and Hornet Flight by Ken Follett put the history spotlight on Danish resistance during WWII. Denmark’s rescue of Danish Jews during the occupation has been the topic of several books, but the efforts to thwart Nazi operations are not as often written about. These are two excellent stories of espionage during that era.

Carol: Jane Smiley’s novel, Private Life takes place between the Civil War and World War II. In this historical context, readers meet Margaret Mayfield who is born in small-town Missouri in the 1870s. Margaret’s mother raises three daughters alone—thrilled when she marries them off. Margaret is last, at 27, when she weds Captain Andrew Jackson Jefferson Early, a naval officer, astronomer, and rumored genius. Sadly for Margaret, life with the ‘genius’ is unbearable, and in an era where divorcing is not an option, Margaret quietly plays the role of the good wife. Private Life is a compelling read that details some ugly parts of our country’s past, where among other things, many stayed unhappily married.

Emma: Royal Blood by Rhys Bowen is the story of a wedding and murder at Castle Bran in Transylvania. Set in 1932, Lady Georgiana Rannoch (Georgie) is asked to represent the royal family by attending the wedding of former classmate Princess Maria Theresa of Romania to Prince Nicholas of Bulgaria. At a dinner before the nuptials Field Marshal Pirin, head of the Bulgarian army and a close adviser to his country’s king, is poisoned and someone tries to frame Georgie for the murder. A very entertaining historical mystery.

Rosemary: Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English by Natasha Solomons is for readers who enjoy the leisurely unfolding of character and plot in their fiction. The Rosenblums emigrate to England during WWII. Mrs. Rosenblum is devastated by this move from Berlin. Although Jack is truly unaware of it, their marriage is in tatters. Sadie is consumed by guilt and anger over her leaving her entire family in Germany. She cannot understand why Jack can forge ahead with his life. The key to some of Jack’s good cheer and energy is found in a pamphlet given to him by the British government on how to become an Englishman. Jack follows the instructions to the letter. He is convinced that he will be welcomed by his fellow villagers. When his application for membership to the local golf club is denied, he decides to build his own. What ensues is sometimes funny and often heartbreaking, but it is always the quintessential Mr. Jack Rosenblum.

Evelyn: Juliet: A Novel by Anne Fortier. When their Aunt Rose dies, twins Julie and Janice Jacobs inherit everything, but not equally. Janice gets the estate, and Julie gets a key for a safe deposit box that belonged to her dead mother in Siena, Italy. Soon Julie learns that her birth name was Guilietta Tolomei and that she has a namesake ancestor who lived in Siena in 1340. Inside the safe deposit box are five versions of the play Romeo and Juliet–all previous to Shakespeare’s version. Could it be possible that her ancestor was the original Juliet? This first novel is captivating. I loved both stories–the one set in 1340 and the one in the present. Lots of historical details add to the story.

Stacey: Into the Wilderness by Sara Donati is the story of Elizabeth Middleton, an English spinster who’s come to live with her well-established father in Paradise, New York. Elizabeth’s dream is to teach the children of this small community but her father wants to use her as a pawn in marriage to pay off personal debts, but keep his land in the family. When she meets Nathaniel Bonner, the son of Hawkeye Bonner, the decisions Elizabeth has to make get more difficult and confusing. Can Elizabeth help the Native people reclaim their mountain from her father, are her feelings for Nathaniel being honestly returned, and can she accomplish her goal of starting a school for the local children? This will appeal to anyone who enjoys a fast-paced, adventurous, informative, romantic, and fabulous book! It’s also the first in the series that was just completed with book number six, The Endless Forest. And sometimes it’s nice to know that there’s an honest-to-gosh ending to a series, no matter how much you like them, don’t you think?

I’m not sure we’ll be able to top this experience, but we’ll give it a shot with Adventure books! We’ll be looking for books that have fast-moving plots, unusual locations, and unstoppable heroes (or why not a heroine?)! Sort of like an action movie, but better –because it’s a book! Enjoy the challenge!

— Stacey

Teen Titles are Terrific!

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Do you know one of my favorite things about teen books? They have the same amount of drama, action, and character development that you’d want to find in any good adult book, but they don’t have a lot of the distracting chatter. Or maybe I should have said: teen books are succinct! But you don’t have to take my word for how awesome teen books can be, you can read what everyone thought about the book they read right here:

Carol: A Spy in the House by Ying S. Lee takes place in May 1858, during London’s “Great Stink.” In the attic of a boarding school is the “Agency,” an elite, all-girl group of private investigators. Ex-thief, hotheaded 17-year-old Mary Quinn, is the Agency’s newest hire. A Spy in the House is not just a great mystery. It’s intricately plotted, humorous, and set against a well-written and well-researched historical backdrop. It stars a fabulously feisty heroine and includes a bit of romance too. What could be better? Oh yes, the second book in the Agency series, The Body in the Tower, comes out this month, I’m (not so patiently) waiting.

Megan: Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey. Solange Drake is the first female vampire born to the Drake family. According to an ancient prophecy if she survives her transformation on her sixteenth birthday she will become the next Vampire Queen. As if the threat of death from the bloodchange is not enough, the current queen, the local anti-vampire league, and a couple of rogue vampire tribes are all out to kill her. When Solange is kidnapped just days before her birthday it is up to Lucy, her human best friend, and her seven overprotective brothers to save her before it is too late.

Janet: Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi is set in the futuristic gulf coast area of the United States. Nailer, a teenage boy, leads a day to day existence stripping copper from old, grounded oil tankers. After a hurricane Nailer discovers a wrecked clipper ship full of valuables and a beautiful young girl which may lead him to a better life.

Evelyn: The Christopher Killer: A Forensic Mystery by Alane Ferguson. Cameryn Mahoney wants to become a forensic pathologist. She talks her father, the county coroner, into letting her become his assistant. When the latest victim of a serial killer is found near their small town, Cameryn learns that the victim is one of her friends and is forced to use her own intuition and forensic knowledge to help find the killer. This is the first in a planned series for young adult readers. The characters are well developed and interesting and the author includes fascinating, detailed forensic information. I wish they had books like this when I was in high school.

Emma: Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman is the diary of 12-year-old Catherine. It’s 1290 and Catherine documents daily life with lots of detail on family, friends and food. Catherine’s father, the beast, is trying to marry off his young daughter for the best price. Catherine is very clever in trying to avoid marriage, especially to smelly old men. A wonderful funny story.

Julie: Sabriel by Garth Nix is a wonderful teen fantasy book that begins the Abhorsen trilogy. Sabriel is at school living a fairly normal life when she must cross over the wall into the Old Kingdom to search for her missing father. The world of necromancers, magic and a very angry cat named Mogget is an unusual and engaging place to let the reader’s imagination loose.

Ann: The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton is a wonderful book. Crime, mystery, teen angst, and coming-of-age blend together into one of the most unusual books I’ve read in a long time. Michael discovered at an early age a special talent- he could open locks. It is precisely this talent that gets him into so much trouble that he can’t find his way out. Combine that with the fact that Michael hasn’t spoken a word since he was eight years old due to a traumatic event, and you have a narrative that zings. For most of the story, Michael is a teenager, and while this book is not written specifically for teens it definitely will appeal to teenage readers.

Dori: Solace of the Road by Siobhan Dowd tells the story of fourteen-year-old Holly Hogan who has lived in a residential care facility in London for most of her life. After finding a wig, she decides to take on a new, more courageous identity as “Solace” taking to the road to find her mother in Ireland. Holly’s voice is funny, sarcastic and smart, and her journey is realistic and uncompromising.

Stacey: Motorcycles, Sushi, and One Strange Book by Nancy Rue was an interesting book to read, both for the plot and for the subtle Christian lessons learned along the way. Fifteen-year-old Jessie has ADHD and her mom has a mental illness. When things horribly wrong at home, Jessie finds herself relocated to a new state with a father she’d never met before but it could be the best thing that ever happened to her. It just doesn’t seem that way but can the cute boy who owns his own motorcycle help Jessie find happiness?

A pretty satisfying, wide array of choices in this list, don’t you think? Me too! And while you’re selecting something from the teen room, you could also be selecting a book to read from our next genre … historical fiction! The only guideline I’ll provide this time? You’ll want to choose something set at least 25 years in the past. Enjoy the hunt, I know I will!

-Stacey

Ladies First!

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How exciting! And How sad! This was our last (first time around) genre in the list and it was …Women’s Fiction! Women’s Fiction are books that feature women as the main, ultimately triumphant, characters and focus on their relationships with family and friends in romantic or suspenseful storylines. Newer entries in this category can also have a wittier edge to them. Sounds interesting, right? And there’s a nice variety in what everyone chose to discuss too:

Donna: The Season of Second Chances: A Novel by Diane Meier is the author’s first fiction novel. At 48, single Columbia University professor Joy Harkness leaves her comfortable life to start over again with a new teaching position at Amherst College in Massachusetts. Always a content loner, Joy reluctantly becomes involved with the close-knit college community. As she adjusts to her new life, Joy realizes that she is getting a second chance at life to do something different with her life. This is a pleasant, “feel-good” novel to enjoy and treasure.

Janet: The Red Thread by Ann Hood. Following the freak accident that kills her baby daughter Maya Lange starts an adoption agency that brings together Chinese baby girls with American Families. Although her agency brings Maya comfort, it is her work with a set of six couples that forces her to step beyond her current comfort zone.

Evelyn: True Colors by Kristin Hannah. After their mother’s death, the three Grey sisters, nicknamed Bean, Sprout, and Pea by their deceased mother, do the best they can to take care of their father, their ranch, and each other, but they encounter many stumbling blocks along the way. The eldest, Winona, is a lawyer and very smart, but hindered by weight problems. Aurora, the middle daughter, is married, comfortably wealthy and the peacemaker. And Vivi Ann, the youngest, is beautiful, a champion rider, and loved by everyone. This is a wonderful story about sisters, family relationships, and determining what’s most important in your life. I highly recommend it.

Carol: In Lori Lansen’s novel, The Wife’s Tale, Mary Gooch waits for her husband to arrive home on the eve of their silver anniversary. Morbidly obese, Mary met Jimmy when she was at her lightest weight, and has grown proportionately during their 25 years together. When Jimmy does not come home at all, Mary sets out on a road trip across North America to find him. Instead, she finds herself, and realizes that it is life that she has been missing out on while hiding behind her weight and food obsession. This novel will have readers cheering for Mary all along her journey of self (& muscle) discovery. Lansen’s prose sparkles as she treats topics of eating disorders and failed marriages with the seriousness they deserve, while at the same time allowing readers to laugh at along the way.

Megan: Her by Laura Zigman. Elise and Donald are happily planning their wedding when Donald’s absolutely perfect ex-fiance suddenly reappears. Elise’s jealousy and suspicion eventually leads to stalkerish behavior that threatens her sanity and her relationship.

Emma: The Diary of a Shirtwaist Striker by Theresa Serber Malkiel was written in 1910. It’s the fictional diary of a young woman, Mary, who went on strike in November 1909 with fellow shirtwaist makers who were seeking a 52-hour workweek, 4 paid holidays, employer-furnished supplies, safer work conditions, etc. When Mary’s dad forces her out of the family home for joining the strike, she better understands the plight of her coworkers who support their families and are destitute even with the wages they earn.

Dori: The Last Time I Saw You by Elizabeth Berg. A diverse group of men and women attending their 40th and final high school reunion anticipate revisiting their past and reinventing their futures. Some are looking for new or rekindled love, some for simple recognition, but all find something that they need. Both funny and touching, Berg’s latest is a charming look at the hopes as well as the realities of middle age.

Rosemary: The Other Family by Joanna Trollope explores the conflicted feelings of two women and their adult children after the sudden death of pianist Richie Rossiter. More than twenty years ago, he left Margaret and their young son for Chrissie, a woman almost half his age. Richie never divorced Margaret, even though he and Chrissie had three lively daughters together. Now that Richie’s will has left a considerable part of his estate to Margaret, Chrissie must tell her daughters that they were never married and that they have a half-brother living not far away. Trollope relates an emotional story filled with longing, sadness, and transformation.

Ann: While I’m Falling by Laura Moriarty. Veronica’s life is in a downward spin as is her mother’s life. The two intersect near the bottom and each helps the other back on her feet. In this book and in her two other previous books, Moriarty takes a good look at mother-daughter relationships. Moriarty is an insightful writer.

Stacey: Seven Year Switch by Claire Cook has all the elements you ever want in a great women’s fiction title. Seven years after Jill’s husband Seth took off for parts unknown, leaving her with their three-year-old girl, things have settled into a fairly decent routine for mom and daughter. There’s even the possibility Jill might start dating when Seth reappears as suddenly as he disappeared. Now Jill needs to figure out what’s best for her, and for her daughter, and choose what she wants her future to become.

It was a good note to end on and a lovely group to discuss books with but even better? Well, that’s knowing that we’re not done! We’re going to start all over again! So, next time? We’ll be reading books for children and teens, which means anything written for an audience under the age of 18! Ready? Set? Read!

— Stacey

Who Doesn’t Like a Book With Pictures?

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My favorite phrase when it comes to talking about a graphic novel is, “A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words.” But what else can so perfectly describe these stories told primarily through illustration and only enhanced by with a few, strategic words? But these aren’t like the comic books you read as a little kid, these books have some serious topics mixed in with the fantasy and the humorous stories. Maybe you’ll want to try one of the books we read? Or maybe you’ll want to come in and choose one of your own…

Carol: The Alcoholic, a graphic novel written by Jonathan Ames and illustrated by Dean Haspiel. This book is about a guy, called Jonathan A, who wakes up in the arms of a stranger and isn’t sure how he has arrived there. As he retraces his steps, we learn that he has been on a drinking bender after a girl has broken his heart. Set against the backdrop of New York City around the time of 9/11, Jonathan actually reveals that he’s been drinking since high school and spirals out of control every time this on-again off-again relationship goes ‘off,’ this becomes more of life story about how his addiction to alcohol is causing him to lose everyone he loves. At the end of the novel, there is no resolution. Jonathan continues to struggle with his addictions. This was a sad story, but also an important one that might shed some light into the workings of the alcoholic mind. With language and sex, this one may not be for every reader. I enjoyed Ames’ depiction of New York City and thought that his treatment of the events of 9/11 was both excellent and heartbreaking. Despite the grimness of the story, there is some humor, including a restaurant scene in which Monica Lewinsky makes an appearance.

Emma: Genesis by R. Crumb is an illustrated retelling of the first book in the Bible. The major events in Genesis are included, from creation until the death of Joseph. The book is based on the King James Version of the Bible and Robert Alter’s The Five Books of Moses. It’s an amazing work four years in the making. However in my opinion the images are sometimes shocking. The genealogies are overwhelming and the characters begin to look alike.

Janet: Stitches by David Small is a graphic memoir of his childhood from age six to sixteen. An award-winning children’s illustrator and author, Mr. Small has depicted his painful childhood with many haunting illustrations and fewer words. His saving grace was his talent as an illustrator. Stitches is a heart wrenching book that is not to be missed.

Rosemary: Happy Happy Clover by Sayuri Tatsuyama is a graphic novel for children, which features Clover the bunny and all her furry friends in the Crescent Forest. Young readers will enjoy Clover’s many adventures. Through darling illustrations and a fast-paced story line, Tatsuyama explores many childhood topics. There are problems with friends, issues with stubbornness, and big secrets to be kept, but Clover is up to any challenge.

Ann: The Rabbi’s Cat by Joann Sfar is a graphic novel by the well-known French comic artist, who won a prestigious award for this book. The cat, whose name is not mentioned, belongs to the rabbi and his daughter who live in Algeria in the 1930’s. One day the cat swallows a parrot and suddenly he’s able to speak. He decides he wants to be educated in Jewish law and to have a Bar Mitzvah. This cute (but adult-themed) story about a smart aleck cat and the rabbi and his family acquaints us with Jewish culture as well as the other cultures of the time in Algeria (Arab and French). It also tells the tale of the rabbi, his worries about keeping his position, the marriage of his daughter, and a trip they all take to Paris (the cat goes too, of course). The illustrations are rather squiggly with lots of small lines of dialogue. At the end of the book is a picture of the artist and his own cat; the cat in the story looks very much like the author’s cat.

Julie: The Plain Janes with text by Cecil Castellucci and illustrated by Jim Rugg. Jane is enjoying a coffee when a bomb at a sidewalk café changes everything. Her mother insists the family move out of the city to be “safe” and Jane has to deal with the aftershocks from the attack in the foreign and unfriendly world of suburban high school.

Dori: Asterios Polyp by David Mazzucchelli is the story of a pompous professor of architecture in New York. After his marriage to art professor Hana fails, Asterios takes a bus out of town and becomes an auto mechanic, moving in with a working class family whose matriarch is a New Age aficionado. Themes of religion, philosophy and aesthetics round out the storyline, while the art amazingly reflects the text through color, line and placement.

Megan: The Big Book of Barry Ween, Boy Genius by Judd Winick. Barry Ween is a 10 year old genius. In fact, with a 350 IQ, he is the smartest living human. With the help of his faithful friend and trusty sidekick, Jeremy, Barry uses his superhuman intellect to cause all sorts of trouble. The Big Book of Barry Ween is a compilation of all of Barry’s adventures. These adventures include time travel, talking gorillas, aliens, the CIA, art thieves, and turning Jeremy into a dinosaur. The black and white illustrations are action-packed and full of detail. The dialogue is dripping with sarcasm, wit, and foul mouthed humor. Fans of Calvin & Hobbes will appreciate the Barry Ween collection.

Stacey: Percy Gloom by Cathy Malkasian features an odd little man who’s dreaming of a job that will allow him to write cautionary statements for everything and anything in the world. Critics love this graphic novel for both its images and its story line. If you’re ready to embrace a new genre to expand your horizons, you could find this title intriguing too.

Next stop in our genre exploration tour: women’s fiction! These books focus on a woman and her relationships. They can have elements of mystery, suspense, humor, or romance, but are really about a woman succeeding against the odds.

—Stacey

Clever Books for Clever Folks…

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Hmm, what good timing… The same week we’re celebrating National Library Week we’re sharing our latest genre book discussion, which just happens to be literary fiction! Sometimes you want to read a book that focuses on an author’s inventive writing technique or get to know a character’s personality through their thoughts rather than their actions or maybe something that’s been declared an award winner once or twice. If any of those descriptions sound appealing then you might be interested on our literary fiction picks!

Carol: The Girl Who Fell from the Sky by Heidi Durrow. In Durrow’s debut, set in the 1980s, young Rachel is the only survivor after a Danish woman and her biracial children fall from their Chicago apartment’s rooftop. The whereabouts of Rachel’s father, an African-American G.I., are unknown. Rachel, who has lived overseas in Germany for much of her life, now travels to Portland, Oregon to live with her African-American grandmother, and there, she finds herself in a new role as a “black” girl. Rachel also must come to terms with events that led to the death of her mother and siblings, and as she struggles with her identity and grief, the truth of that horrible day is slowly revealed. This is at times a heart-breaking read but Rachel’s story makes for a hard-to-put-down coming-of-age debut novel. Through the wise-beyond-her-years character Rachel, Durrow eloquently explores issues of identity and race. This poignant novel won Barbara Kingsolver’s Bellwether Prize for best fiction manuscript that addresses issues of social justice. I highly recommend this novel and eagerly await Durrow’s next effort.

Emma: A Lesson before Dying was written by Ernest J. Gaines in 1993. The story takes place in Bayonne, Louisiana in the late 1940’s. Jefferson is at the wrong place at the wrong time. He witnesses a robbery and killings at a local convenience store. Two young black thieves are dead and so is the white store owner. Someone has to pay for the death of the owner. Poor, black Jefferson is arrested, tried, found guilty, and sentenced to death. Jefferson’s godmother Miss Emma recruits teacher Grant Wiggins to spend time with Jefferson and help him to prepare to die with dignity. This is a powerful story with an inevitable ending.

Evelyn: Hester: The Missing Years of The Scarlet Letter: A Novel by Paula Reed. At the end of Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, the reader is told that Hester and her daughter Pearl travel to England, which is where this book begins. Pearl inherits a large sum of money from Roger Chillingworth and Hester wants to use it to find Pearl a proper match for a husband. Consequently, Hester reunites with a friend who is a close ally of Oliver Cromwell and she becomes deeply involved in the political intrigue of the times. Cromwell, the ultimate Puritan, is fascinated by Hester’s ability to see the sins of others and uses her talents to find those plotting against him. This is an interesting and imaginative historical novel giving us a glimpse into Reed’s vision of what life was like for Hester and Pearl after The Scarlet Letter. Although the book can stand-alone, knowing at least the basic facts of the original makes it much more entertaining.

Ann: Come Sunday by Isla Morley is a beautifully written book although hard to read at times. Abbe Deighton’s life is ripped apart by grief, and she struggles to stay afloat in the present while reflecting on her South African childhood. A multi-layered novel: a family saga; the story of a mother’s grief; and a book tuned to the rhythms of the religious year.

Megan: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. The horrors of World War II are recounted by Death as he tells the story of Liesel, the young book thief. Death first meets the young girl at her brother’s graveside, where her book stealing career begins. Death has many more opportunities to see the young foster girl as she and her new family tries to survive the war. The books that Liesel steals, and eventually learns to read with the help of her accordionist father, offer comfort and hope to her neighbors during bomb raids and to the young Jew the family has hidden in their basement. Liesel’s story is touching and Death’s perspective and opinions of human life make this award-winning book unique.

Janet: Tinkers, the debut novel by Paul Harding, focuses on George Washington Crosby’s final hours of life as he lies in a hospital bed in the middle of his living room. Crosby’s memories and thoughts take center stage. As the reader we go along for the ride which slowly unfolds. The descriptions of nature, George’s childhood and many random experiences are all exquisitely brought to life by the language of the author.

Stacey: The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelley is one of the Newbery Honor books for this year. It’s one of those magical books that can accurately transport a reader back in time to 1899 Fentress, TX but is equally engaging on a personal level. Callie, her many brothers, her Mom and Dad, and especially her Grandfather, are unique characters with lovable quirks, but this is really Callie’s story of exploring Mr. Charles Darwin’s ideas of science and evolution with the help of her Grandfather. Will Callie be able to break free of what society expects from a young woman of her day or will her spark be stifled by having to conform? Plus there a plenty of scenes to make you laugh-out-loud!

Chris: The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris. The “unnamed” is an unknown illness that plagues the protagonist, Tim Farnsworth. It’s an illness that compels him to stop whatever he’s doing and to start walking. He will leave in the middle of the night, the middle of a court case, the middle of his marriage to do what he must—walk. And when he can’t take another step, sometimes months later (allowing for a few naps along the way), he’ll call home for help. As unusual as this illness is, I believed it was real, because everyone in the book did. Throughout the story you see the love and commitment Tim and his wife, Jane, share as well as the love and understanding his daughter, Becka, provides, but you worry about how long it can be sustained. Early on, you lose hope that Tim will ever be cured and that the family will ever be able to return to the charmed life they led before page one. I loved the author’s first book, Then We Came to the End, so I’m going to write this off as the second-novel-syndrome and look forward to Ferris’ third.

Julie: Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson is another look by the award-winning author at a difficult topic. Being 18 is tough enough – school, fitting in, parents who don’t understand – but Lia must also 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, her story is heartbreaking but not without hope.

Dori: The Informers by Juan Gabriel Vásquez . When Gabriel Santoro publishes a book about Jewish refugees to Columbia during the 1930s, his father’s angry reaction shocks him. After his father becomes ill and dies in a car accident, he digs deeper into the past, uncovering facts that will destroy his father’s reputation. Questions of the sins of the past, silence vs. truth-telling and the effects of war and exile dominate this beautifully written novel.

A lovely list of literary fiction all for you! And the next time? We’ll be happy to provide you with a lovely list of … graphic novels! According to the American Heritage Dictionary a graphic novel is defined as: a novel whose narrative is related through a combination of text and art, often in comic-strip form. They do say a picture is worth a thousand words and now we’ll be able to judge for ourselves!

— Stacey

P.S: Would you like to enjoy another special celebration of the literary kind? Ocoee Middle School and Full Sails Education Media Design & Technology program made this super entertaining YouTube video I can’t stop watching. You go kids! Readers of the future unite!!

Have we Met Before?

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There’s nothing more exciting than finding a new author to enjoy. For this month’s genre book discussion everyone selected authors who’d recently (somewhere in 2009) been published for the first time. I think this is something we try to do on a regular basis, find new authors to embrace, but it was nice to hear about so many new voices all at one time. So here’s what everyone read:

Ann: A Beautiful Place to Die by Malla Nunn has recently been nominated for the Edgar Award in the Best Novel category. Set in South Africa in 1952 just as the Apartheid laws are being placed in effect, this debut novel features Detective Sergeant Emmanuel Cooper, who’s called to a remote village of Jacob’s Rest to investigate a dead body. The body turns out to be that of the local policeman and member of the powerful Pretorius family. As Detective Cooper investigates, he finds that Captain Pretorius led two lives, and unearths a lot of dirty secrets throughout the town. The book brings to the forefront racist Afrikaners, Zulu customs, and the low status of women. It’s definitely not comparable to the No. 1 Ladies Detective series, but more in line with the dark works of Arnaldur Indriðason and also reminds me of Tom Rob Smith’s Child 44.

Carol: A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick was my debut novel pick. Sure I was drawn in by its bestseller status, but once I started reading, I couldn’t put this one down. Goolrick has delivered an original, very sensual, and gripping read. This book has it all–love, passion, hate, revenge, poison and plenty of twists, turns, and suspense. Readers meet the lonely Ralph Truitt in 1907, as he waits for a train. Turns out Ralph is awaiting a very special delivery, the arrival of a reliable wife. Catherine Land has come to remote Wisconsin in answer to his advertisement. Although Ralph immediately realizes that Catherine is not who or what he expected, he is charmed by her beauty, and he asks her to go to St. Louis to bring home his son who hates him. Catherine, however, has secrets and dark plans of her own, but nothing will turn out as either of them plans.

Chris: The Selected Works of T. S. Spivet by Reif Larson. Tecumseh Sparrow Spivet, a 12-year-old genius, is a dedicated cartographer. So dedicated that he makes maps for all of the places he sees, the people he meets, and most everything he witnesses or even reads about. Why? He wants “to figure out how the whole thing fits together.” When the Smithsonian becomes aware of his work, they think it’s the work of a grown man and want to honor him with the prestigious Baird Award. When T.S. shows up to accept the award as the 12-year-old that he is, the President of the Smithsonian is taken aback. But he quickly decides that this youngster is the best thing that can happen to the Smithsonian and to science and to the future of science, so they roll with it. And if you want more quirkiness, meet T.S’s family. This is an engaging story, further enhanced by side bars of maps, illustrations, etc. throughout.

Emma: The Cradle: A Novel by Patrick Somerville. It’s 1987 and young pregnant Melissa sends her husband on a mission to retrieve an antique cradle taken by her mother Caroline when she abandoned her husband and daughter years ago. The search isn’t simple since Caroline has remarried twice and is out of the country. 10+ years later a second story revolves around a middle-aged couple, Renee and Bill, whose son is voluntarily joining the army and heading to Iraq. Renee is particularly unhappy with his decision fearing that she will lose another son. Eventually the two stories connect.

Evelyn: Veracity by Laura Bynum. In 2045 in a world where uttering a “red-listed” word could result in your death, Harper Adams is a monitor for the government. Because of her psychic abilities, Harper can “see” people’s auras and emotions that they may be trying to hide. When her daughter Veracity’s name becomes red-listed, Harper chooses to work with an underground resistance to fight for freedom. The book has been described as a blend of Orwell’s 1984 and The Handmaid’s Tale. When I first read the jacket of this book, I knew instantly that I had to read it. I knew it had potential to be great, I wasn’t let down. One of the best books I’ve read in a long time. This one will stay with you. Highly recommend.

Dori: Starvation Lake by Bryan Gruley. Nominated for an Edgar Award for Best First Novel, this dark story begins when Detroit Times reporter Gus Carpenter returns to work for his small hometown newspaper in Michigan after being let go from the Times. Gus’s youth was dominated by his years as goalie for the local hockey team, whose infamous coach had supposedly drowned in a snowmobile accident years earlier. When his snowmobile suddenly reappears, Gus and the local police reopen the case, uncovering secrets that shake up the town and Gus’ perception of his past.

Rosemary: The Marriage Bureau for Rich People by Farahad Zama is a sparkling and heartwarming debut novel, which also explores the more serious issues of modern life in India. Mr. Ali has too much energy to spend the day with the other retired men at his mosque, and he is definitely getting on his wife’s nerves at home. He cooks up the brilliant idea to start a marriage bureau for the wealthy of his city. The bureau quickly becomes a success, and soon he must hire an assistant. With Mrs. Ali’s help, he hires the quiet and smart Aruna, a young Brahmin woman whose family is experiencing financial troubles. The lives of Mr. and Mrs. Ali and Aruna become entwined with their clients as they face the challenges of arranging the perfect match.

Stacey: Descent into Dust: the extraordinary adventures of Emma Andrews, Victorian lady and vampire hunter by Jacqueline Lepore. While visiting her cousin Roger and his family, young widow Emma Andrews finds herself and another houseguest Valerian Fox become engaged in a fight against a powerful, evil vampire. This book is the first in a trilogy and, if the next two books are the similar, readers will find engaging characters who are as good with their clever minds as they are with their deadly weapons.

Did you find someone new to embrace? A book or an author who intrigues you now? Me too! But leave a little room on your book pile so you can be ready to read literary fiction, the next genre, with us! Literary fiction can be described as often prize-winning, character driven, uniquely stylized, and technically complex. Go on now, get busy and read!

—Stacey