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Book Reviews The Moses Expedition by Juan Gómez-Jurado
Now available in the United States, this thrilling international bestseller combines Nazi war crimes, ancient treasure, and modern terrorism. Travel through time and across the globe with this spellbinding story. Father Anthony Fowler, CIA and Vatican agent, is commissioned to recover a priceless relic from a former Nazi surgeon, dubbed the Butcher of Spiegelgrund, who has hitherto eluded all authorities. This sounds like the entire plot of an international thriller, but Fowler’s task occupies only the first chapter of this fast-moving novel. After completing his mission, a reluctant Fowler is entrusted with babysitting the reckless young reporter Andrea Otero on a secret archaeological expedition in the Jordanian desert. The relic Fowler has retrieved is a candle containing the key to the location of the Ten Commandments given to Moses and buried in the desert by desperate Jews countless generations earlier. Reclusive billionaire Raymond Kayn, whose fascinating past unravels throughout the novel, is funding and leading the expedition to find the Ten Commandments, aided by an assorted team of ambitious and sometimes unwilling recruits. During the grueling labor in intense heat, as patience withers and irritation flourishes, things start going wrong. As minor accidents make way for disaster, Otero realizes that a saboteur is in their midst. She and Fowler must discover the treasure while they’re still alive to do so. This novel combines fascinating history with modern issues and characters who are both original and believable. Meanwhile, Gómez-Jurado deftly explores the terrifying consequences of man’s insatiable, hate-fueled search for power. Erica Narwold House and Home by Kathleen McCleary
Ellen Flanagan had everything. She had the perfect house, two adorable daughters, a charismatic husband and a wonderful coffee shop that she owned. But, she had had enough. Her husband, the perpetual inventor, had added a second mortgage to their house and Ellen couldn’t take it anymore. She was fed up after 18 years of marriage and was about to lose it all. Even the house she loved so dearly. She couldn’t afford to keep the house so it went on the market and sold quickly to an urban socialite and her husband. Her house meant more to her than her marriage and she would stop at nothing to keep it. The memories that run through her mind are enough to pull her over the edge and she almost succeeds in burning her beloved house down. Ellen fears her life will never be the same if she loses her house and finds herself drawn to the new owner’s husband. After sharing a kiss, things go from bad to worse in a matter of minutes. Ellen fears her life will never be the same if she loses her house and finds herself drawn to the new owner’s husband. After sharing a kiss, things go from bad to worse in a matter of minutes. Michelle Pritchard Never Land: Adventures, Wonder, & One World Record in a Very Small Plane by W. Scott Olsemn
Join Olsen in the right hand seat of “Two Nine Bravo,” his tiny white & red aircraft, as he happily flies over prairies, rivers, roads, and barn tops. Beyond preflight routines, takeoffs, and landings, Olsen lyrically describes the allure of flying a small plane as an extension of himself, an intimate adventure with no boundaries. The restrictions of low altitude & slow speed as he pilots his small Cessna 152 are preferable to him, as they feed his curiosity by allowing a personal and unique view of the world below. You’ll learn more practical aspects of flying as well as the technique & language of pilots. By the end of the book, you’ll recognize a metar reading, have a decent idea of how to fly a roll, and understand the danger of a spin. Olsen also explores the history of flying and the stories that follow, including descriptions of what the first airmail pilots encountered in the early 1900s, an interview with a veteran pilot regarding his 42-year career, and excerpts from others’ philosophical writings on flying & exploration. Olsen even sets the mark for a world speed record in his Cessna, a graceful and silly jaunt at nearly 78 mph. And although he can poke fun at himself, it’s evident he’s passionate about his plane and in awe of the infinite reach flying provides. After reading this narrative, the next time you notice a small airplane flying above you may offer a wave…and understand why you’ll be honored with a dip of the wings on your behalf. Catherine Rihm Father of the Rain by Lily King
Father of the Rain is the touching and provocative chronicle of a daughter’s devotion to her alcoholic father. This beautifully-crafted story follows Daley Amory across three decades as she attempts to understand her father and craft the life she wants despite the imprint of his. Daley spends her summers swimming in her backyard pool, sneaking cigarettes with her friends, and trying to make her father laugh. Her charismatic and self-absorbed father, Gardiner, plays tennis at the country club and drinks martinis while blending perfectly into his shallow, bigoted, WASP world. The summer Daley turns eleven, her parents separate, forcing her to divide her loyalties between her increasingly volatile father and her mother, who offers a normal life. Daley adores her father but cannot accept his world. Then, when tragedy strikes and he remains distant, she chooses to avoid the man she wants to desperately to trust. Years later, Daley is about to begin a professorship at Berkeley and lease a charming cottage with her handsome, thoughtful boyfriend. However, her father’s alcoholism threatens his life, and she must choose between her agonizing loyalty to the man who represents everything she has come to loathe, and the promise of the life she desires. Will her attempts to rescue him destroy everything else? As Daley grows into adulthood and begins to understand her father, her memories reveal to the reader the history of their tumultuous relationship. The story unfolds gradually, portraying a father through his daughter’s evolving perspective. Father of the Rain is a powerful story of family, love, and heart-wrenching choices. Erica Narwold Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
Sometimes a story will just click with me and I’ll read until my eyes burn. The next thing I know the book is finished, but I can’t get it out of my head. It will end up haunting me for years, hovering in the back of my mind; Cutting for Stone is that kind of book. The story is a gripping, almost biblical saga of two brothers born in the fifties in an Ethiopian hospital. Their unexpected birth kills their mother and causes their father to abandon them. They are left in the care of two doctors who decide to raise them as their own. The ensuing story is almost like three books in one; a fascinating and wonderfully written medical memoir; a vividly real family drama, and a fascinating travelogue describing the culture and politics of Ethiopia. The writing and story are hypnotizing, told through the eyes of the elder brother, Marion. The story weaves through the tragedies and triumphs of the family and then follows when shifting politics send Marion to the US as a medical student. The story draws to a close in the city hospital where Marion learns about medicine, family and forgiveness. The rich, deep prose is breathtaking; Marion’s voice is so lyrical it's almost too easy to fall into the rhythm of the story. Verghese, a graduate of the Iowa Writers Workshop, is a true master. Cutting for Stone has left an indelible mark on me as a reader; if you miss it, you'll regret it. Julie Goodrich The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender
Rose Edelstein is about to turn nine, and as she takes a bite of the birthday cake her mother has made for her, she discovers she has a strange gift – she can taste the emotions of the person who prepared the food. As Rose tastes disappointment, despair, and emptiness in the cake, she realizes that her mother is not the happy person she presents to the world. Rose’s gift soon becomes a burden, and as she grows tired of angry cookies and guilty vegetables, she learns to rely on processed and packaged vending machine food just to keep from being overwhelmed by the emotions of adults. Meanwhile, her older brother Joseph fulfills his role in their dysfunctional family by disappearing for days at a time; her father, who has an irrational fear of hospitals, is barely present, and her mother continues her charade. Joseph’s best friend (and fellow physics geek) George becomes Rose’s touchstone throughout it all. As she copes with all the strangeness in her life, Rose also learns to accept her family for who they are. Aimee Bender has created a thoroughly original and entertaining work of magical realism. While I thought the story lingered on Joseph’s issues more than I wanted it to, I found myself realizing I was reading a page-turner. Bender ties it all up very nicely at the end, and leaves you wondering: what if you had Rose’s “gift?” Or even: what would the food you prepare reveal about you? Alice Meyer My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares
When Daniel transfers to her high school, Lucy is instantly attracted to the handsome, reflective stranger who seems mature beyond his years. Her attachment is obsessive and passionate, but sadly one-sided – or so she thinks. Daniel has loved Lucy since he first saw her, nearly 1,500 years earlier, while committing a horrible act that has haunted him across dozens of lifetimes. Daniel has “the memory,” the ability to remember every life he has lived and even recognize the souls of people from past lives. In every life, his only desire is to find the woman he calls Sophia – now Lucy – and earn her love. She, however, has an ordinary memory that cannot explain her soul’s eternal longing for Daniel’s. As this gripping and magical story unfolds, we learn of many of Daniel’s lives – those which shape him and those in which he briefly finds the soul he recognizes as Sophia, and perhaps convinces her to love him. However, Daniel is not the only person with the memory. The man who was once Daniel's cruel, sadistic brother is also traveling across time searching for Sophia, and he will stop at nothing to destroy their desperate chance at love, even as she begins to remember her past with Daniel. Will their two souls, only occasionally flung together over many lifetimes, always barely missing their destiny, ever truly be united? My Name is Memory is an achingly beautiful story of love and destiny that transcends tragedy and even death. Enjoy this captivating and inspiring new novel by the bestselling author of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Erica Narwold The Art of Devotion by Samantha Bruce-Benjamin
On the pristine beaches of a glittering Mediterranean island, Sebastian and Adora enjoy an idyllic childhood, playing hand-in-hand and rescuing stray dogs. Their mother, Sophie, absorbed with mourning her husband’s death, observes from a distance her children’s consuming, clinging love for one another. Decades later on the same island, Adora and her charming husband, Oliver, have a seemingly perfect existence, but Adora is consumed by guilt and grief over the horrible and tragic series of events that destroyed her beloved Sebastian. Genevieve, the daughter of Oliver’s business associate James and his wife, Miranda, longs to please Oliver and Adora. Adora, her beloved aunt, beautiful and sophisticated, loved by the perfect man, epitomizes Genevieve’s dreams for herself. Adora fills her emptiness with orchestrating every aspect of her impressionable protégé’s life. Miranda bitterly and helplessly allows her daughter to be swept up in Adora’s glamour, knowing their apparent perfection conceals a history of lies and betrayal. Long-hidden secrets finally surface when a handsome outsider arrives, triggering further lies and deceptions. Sophie, Adora, Miranda, and Genevieve each tell the story from their own perspectives, leaving the reader wondering what the truth really is. Is anyone truly innocent? Bruce-Benjamin reveals her plot dramatically, tantalizing the reader with shocking revelations bit-by-bit throughout the novel until all is exposed. The Art of Devotion is much more than a quick, entertaining read. This novel delves bravely and skillfully into the themes of love, perception, family, and what people will do to keep the one they love the most. Erica Narwold How High the Moon by Sandra Kring
Isabella “Teaspoon” Marlene is a 10 year old spitfire with far too much talent and energy for sleepy Mill Town, Wisconsin. After her mother takes off for Hollywood, leaving her in the care of her estranged boyfriend, Teddy, Teaspoon settles into life in 1950’s suburban America, but of course never quite fits in. Her nonstop observations and near-constant singing both annoy and astonish the small town residents. She is brutally honest, often embarrassingly funny and witty in the way only a child can be. Sandra Kring manages to bring Teaspoon’s voice out in every page of the book, so much so it nearly drowns out the secondary characters, all with their own stories that cross into Teaspoons, sometimes hilariously, sometimes painfully, but always with an important lesson for our wild Teaspoon. These secondary characters are what really make the story: the shy boy next door, the small town beauty queen with the world on her shoulders, the bratty neighbor kids and of course the loving but bumbling Teddy, have their own adventures, all seen through the unflinching eyes of Teaspoon. They all learn from each other, building their lives and learning what family really means. The writing is lovely, the language caught somewhere between child and adult, much like Teaspoon herself, without falling into many of the pitfalls that can occur when adults write as children. The story isn’t flashy or action-packed, but sweet and charming and filled with characters that jump off the page. It’s a great pick for a lazy summer afternoon. Julie Goodrich How Clarissa Burden Learned to Fly by Connie May Fowler
In her newest work of fiction, Fowler takes you through one day with Florida novelist Clarissa Burden. On the morning of the summer solstice in 2006, the longest, hottest day of the year, Clarissa is standing at her kitchen window, watching her husband cavort in her garden with the naked women he’s hired as models for his photography…and who knows what else. Knowing her marriage is loveless & failing—& facing a bout of writer’s block—she is also afflicted with painful childhood memories of her abusive mother. As Clarissa leaves the house & sets out for the dump in a dilapidated truck piled high with trash, she encounters a series of characters & scenarios that in turn lead her toward momentous change. Although the narrative does meander & you may find yourself swirling in Clarissa’s inner monologue & wishing she’d jump to action a bit more quickly, these things do mirror the sweltering, swampy day that Fowler so adeptly describes. Her unique characters are memorable, from the spirits Clarissa encounters while stopping by a cemetery, to Cracker Bandit, a one-eyed motorcyclist, to Money Dog, member of the dwarf circus premiering in town. The poignant inclusion of a slightly intervening ghost family, who owned Clarissa’s home nearly two centuries before, is especially compelling. Spurred by all these—and an evening spent with a sexy, encouraging fellow writer—Clarissa finds the courage to confront her husband, setting into motion an even wilder string of events & just may change her life forever. Catherine Rihm The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
District Twelve, the mining district, is dangerous and life is hard. 16 year-old Katniss is the sole provider for her unstable Mother and young sister. She manages with the help of her best friend Gale, hunting illegally outside the fence surrounding their district. Then disaster strikes. Katniss is forced to go to the Hunger Games; along with a District Twelve boy she barely knows named Peeta. They will soon contend with twenty-two other children in the Games, a horrific battle to the death, played as entertainment for wealthy city-dwellers and a reminder to the peasants in the districts; there is no escape, no chance for rebellion against the government. The story is heart-wrenching, set in a dystopic remnant of North America. The culture seems alien at first, but becomes more hauntingly familiar as the story continues. Katniss and Peeta travel to the city and learn far more than they ever wanted to know about the truth of their world. They must also prepare to fight to the death in the Games. They must be strong, fast, smart and resourceful to pull it off. Winning means fame and fortune, but also means murdering the other contestants and eventually each other. The book is action packed and impossible to put it down. The writing is sparse and lovely, the characters flawed and real. The cliffhanger ending will leave you breathless for the sequel. The moral dilemmas faced by Katniss are horrific but endlessly fascinating. Ask yourself: how would you survive The Hunger Games? Julie Goodrich The Pioneer Woman Cooks by Ree Drummond
The Pioneer Woman Cooks is exactly what one would expect from Ree Drummond’s first foray into print; it’s a combination cookbook and photo essay of her life on a working cattle ranch, just like her blog. ThePioneerWoman.com receives 10,000 hits a day from people looking for her amazing recipes, spectacular pictures and the sweet stories of her life on the ranch. The recipes are stunning; each step is captured with photos, making even complex processes seem simple. None of the recipes are too difficult however; this is country food, meant to be served on paper plates and in huge portions. The book is divided into sections (like Supper and Dinner) and most of the recipes have a figure of a cowgirl or cowboy, indicating which dishes are perfect for starving ranchers (PW Potato Skins) and which are more suited to a cocktail party (Potato-Leek Pizza). Interspersed with all this deliciousness (don’t miss the Macaroni and Cheese) are funny stories and hundreds of pictures. The book is really a work of art. Be sure to read her fairytale-like switch from city girl to rancher’s wife. The story is so perfect for Hollywood it is being developed into a movie starring Reese Witherspoon. This book is easy to recommend for the yummy food and for the heartfelt stories and gorgeous pictures of the ranch that bring this book to life. Get two copies, one for the kitchen and one for the coffee table. But whatever you do, don’t skip the last page, trust me. Julie Goodrich The Ark by Boyd Morrison
Archaeologist Dilara Kenner is certain her father is dead. Missing since he disappeared while searching for the world’s greatest archaeological treasure – Noah’s ark – he has never been found. When Sam Watson, her father’s friend, suddenly requests an urgent meeting, she knows something is wrong. Sam has discovered some dangerous information at work; he asks for Dilara’s advice, only to be murdered before he can finish his unbelievable story: Dilara’s father actually found the ark, but was murdered before he could reveal his discovery. His murderers have somehow used his research to develop a plot to kill billions eight days hence. Her only chance of stopping them is to find and enlist help from Tyler Locke, a combat engineer who is somehow connected to a related project. Narrowly eluding several skilled attempts on her life, Dilara finds Tyler working on an oil rig off the coast of Newfoundland. When an assassin nearly blows up the oil rig, Tyler believes the beautiful archaeologist’s unlikely tale and commits to help her track down her father’s murderer. Tyler and Dilara, along with Tyler’s army buddy Grant, a former professional wrestler and expert engineer, embark on the adventure of their lives as they race to solve the mystery of the ark before it’s too late. With a perpetually twisting plot packed with high-stakes chases, monumental archaeological discoveries, espionage, religious fanaticism, bioterrorism, and fresh but plausible Biblical interpretations, The Ark is constantly exciting. Morrison deftly fuses the modern and the ancient to craft this unique and fascinating debut thriller. Erica Narwold Shoot to Thrill by P.J. Tracy
Shoot to Thrill, the latest of the Monkeewrench series, is a clever thriller featuring the lovable assortment of quirky computer geniuses. Monkeewrench teams with local and federal law enforcement to solve a slew of crimes that sound shockingly like today’s headlines. The FBI asks skilled hackers, including Monkeewrench, to help solve a horrifying and baffling series of murders. Several murders were videotaped in graphic detail and posted untraceably on the Internet, and Monkeewrench soon makes the more appalling discovery that all were forecast online before they occurred. With this information, they may be able to prevent future deaths – if they’re fast enough. The murders are spread across the country; are they the work of one traveling serial killer or several copycat killers? Meanwhile, Minneapolis homicide detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth are less than thrilled to investigate a seemingly routine drowning in the Mississippi River. However, as the case becomes more twisted and complicated, the novel explores the frightening impact the internet can have on crime as it brings potential killers together and provides resources for would-be terrorists. With its excellent character development, witty dialogue, twisty plot, and startling relevance to today’s internet-based society, Shoot to Thrill is a fascinating read. I couldn’t read fast enough to find out what happened. Even if you haven’t read the rest of the series, you will soon want to do so after thoroughly enjoying this exciting mystery. If you’re already a Monkeewrench fan, you will not be disappointed. Erica Narwold The Heights by Peter Hedges
Tim and Kate Welch are the only middle-class couple living in the Heights, an upscale Brooklyn neighborhood. Their lives are predictable and ordinary; Tim teaches history at a private school and feebly attempts to finish his dissertation, while Kate, who cares for their two young children, is preoccupied by diapers, messes, and the petty gossip of bored housewives. Their lives soon change dramatically with the arrival of a new neighbor, the mysterious, affluent, and glamorous Anna Brody. While the men fantasize hopelessly about her, the women compete for her friendship. Inexplicably, Anna draws the dazzled Welches into her sparkling circle, gushing over their cramped apartment, soliciting parenting advice, and cultivating their separate friendships. Meanwhile, Kate receives an offer to return to work full-time for a new charitable foudnation. Tim quits his job to care for their sons while Kate dons heels and suits and sets out to change the world. The Heights is a subtly funny account of the startlingly real struggles of an ordinary couple. Hedges’ commentary on relationships and society is thoughtful but not overpowering. Through masterful character development and humorously absurd anecdotes, Hedges provides fresh insight into a world both fascinating and mundane. Told from Tim’s and Kate’s alternating perspectives, The Heights is relevant to both men and women. Like many of the best writers, Hedges does not tidily wrap up all loose ends at the novel’s conclusion; instead, he creates an ending both authentic and satisfying. Thought-provoking, clever, and honest, The Heights is the best book I’ve read recently. Erica Narwold Keeping Watch: 30 Sheep, 24 Rabbits, 2 Llamas, 1 Alpaca, & a Shepherdess with a Day Job by Kathy Sletto
Moving to an 80-acre farm & inheriting a spinning wheel, along with her love for all animals—with a particular weakness for those with quirks & flaws—finds Kathy Sletto with an ever-expanding & diverse flock of wool-producing livestock. As she & her husband face the demands of their day jobs, seasonal chores, & family, they realize—much to Kathy’s excitement—that she needs to quit her full time job in order to become their shepherdess. Their agreement is that their farm need turn a decent profit by the end of the year in order for them to keep the animals…& her beloved newfound shepherdess position. Her book takes you through the seasons of a year on their farm & introduces many of the animals—as well as neighbors, relatives, & colleagues—through delightful & humorous anecdotes that reveal their distinct personalities. Among others, you’ll fall in love with Lamp Chop, the lamb with an identity crisis who prefers humans & dogs to sheep; Tony, the humming alpaca with a passion for newborn lambs; & Steve, the wayward rabbit who is ever-escaping from his cage, only to be found mimicking road kill alongside the drive. From drought to breeding issues, challenges arise, & Kathy must begin to work part-time to veer the farm from financial loss. As the year closes & winter settles in, its clear that she values their small farm lifestyle & all it entails, & you’ll be crossing your fingers that they’re in business another year. Catherine Rihm So Much For That by Lionel Shriver
Shep Knacker had it all figured out. If you retire to a third world tropical country, your money will last longer and you can go there earlier. He sold his business and his home, only to find himself working for his old company and still renting a home ten years later. Finally he’s ready to go – with or without his wife and son. But Glynis comes home one day with devasting news. A silversmith by trade, she was exposed to asbestos in art school and has been diagnosed with mesothelioma. And although she had no idea Shep was planning his getaway, it’s now clear that they need to stay where they are for the health insurance. What follows is a tale of health insurance hell as Shep watches his retirement fund applied to deductables, co-payments, out-of-pocket and out-of-network expenses for Glynis’ care. The medical drama is compounded by Shep’s best friend Jackson, who has a daughter who suffers from a rare genetic disease, and Shep’s father who requires long-term care. Even in light of recent health care reform, Lionel Shriver has crafted an all-too-real narrative that skewers the system and the corporations that run it. The characters are flawed and not totally sympathetic and for the most part have caused their own problems - particularly Jackson, who can tend to get annoying with his diatribes. And while Glynis is initially portrayed as an angry and unhappy woman who failed to live up to her potential, her eventual submission to her disease as her friends abandon her is heartbreaking. A satisfying – if predictable – ending will give you a lot to think about. Alice Meyer The Tale of Halcyon Crane by Wendy Webb
Raised by a single father, Hallie has always believed that her mother perished in a fire that destroyed their home when she was just five years old. She is shocked and bewildered when she receives a letter from her mother, who was alive until very recently. Compelled by a desperate need for answers, Hallie travels to her mother’s home on a remote Great Lakes island, completely unaware of the terrible and unbelievable secrets she will uncover. Grand Manitou Island’s stately Victorian mansions and cobblestone streets traversed by horse-drawn carriages provide the perfect backdrop for a modern-day gothic novel. The residents are oddly hostile, Hallie’s mother’s elderly housekeeper is aloof and mysterious, and strange things are beginning to happen. Through her search for what truly happened on the island thirty years earlier, Hallie will discover her family’s dark, yet fascinating heritage. In the process, she will learn what it means to be Halcyon Crane. This is a story of how “truth seeks the light of day, needs it just like we need air, and so it finds ways to seep out of the sturdiest, most skillfully hidden boxes—even those buried deeply in the hearts of the dead” (p.4). Although not usually a fan of ghost stories, I immensely enjoyed The Tale of Halcyon Crane. With intriguing characters, a vivid setting, and gripping storytelling, this novel contains the ideal blend of sinister and charm. Erica Narwold The House of Tomorrow by Peter Bognanni
When I find my favorite book of the year by March it has to be pretty special, and Des Moines native Peter Bognanni doesn’t disappoint in his first novel The House of Tomorrow. We meet 16-year-old Sebastian Pendergast with suction cups strapped to his hands and knees as he is attempting to scrub the panels of the geodesic dome he lives in with his Nana, a disciple of R. Buckminster Fuller. She is homeschools Sebastian in Fuller’s futuristic principles, and on weekends the dome is available for tours. It is during one of these tours that Nana suffers a stroke, and it falls upon the “tourists” – local harried mom Janice Whitcomb and her son Jared – to get Nana to the hospital and see that Sebastian is cared for. The Whitcomb family has their own set of problems: Janice’s husband has left her, Jared recently had a heart transplant, and both he and his sister Meredith act out in ways to conceal their insecurities. As Sebastian tries to fit in with the family, he discovers the wonders of grilled cheese sandwiches, friendship, and first love. Central to the plot is the punk rock band that Sebastian and Jared form. Your older and wiser self will chuckle at the delusions these two have about their band, and their debut performance at a church talent show will have you laughing out loud. Rich, complex and refreshing all at once, The House of Tomorrow is a must-read. Bognanni’s characters and dialogue simply sparkle, and the careful reader will find all sorts of hidden gems in its pages. Alice Meyer The Postmistress by Sarah Blake
The Postmistress is a riveting story of three women thrust into the realities of war and heartbreak. Frankie Bard is an overseas correspondent reporting on the war. Her crackling correspondence brings the stories of war to the Cape Cod town of Franklin, Massachusetts. Her daily reports of the bombings around London are harsh reminders that war is looming closer to the United States. Iris James hears Frankie’s reports nightly and fears the war is only months away from the shores of the United States. Iris is the postmistress of Franklin. She delivers the mail and keeps the secrets of the townspeople she sees everyday. Iris has a secret of her own as she feels drawn to Harry, a watchman who keeps watch over the shores of Franklin. Another pair of Frankie’s listeners is Will and Emma Fitch. They have recently married and Will feels drawn overseas to help the wounded. That is Emma’s worst fear. He promises within six months he will return, but she has a feeling that he will never come back home. What happens next brings all three women together in a shocking way. Frankie and Iris both deliver the news to people who need to hear it and Emma’s fear is receiving the news she doesn’t want to hear. The Postmistress is a story that reveals everyday happenings even in the midst of a war. Michelle Pritchard Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda
When Kavita gives birth to another girl, her heart breaks once again for the daughter she will never be allowed to know. In her remote Indian village, Kavita’s precious child is simply not valuable. With courage sparked by her desperate love for her daughter, whom she names Usha, after the dawn, Kavita travels to Bombay to offer Usha her only fragile chance at life. San Francisco Pediatrician Somer Thakkar’s only dream, after years of caring for other women’s children, is to give birth to her very own child. After another devastating miscarriage, however, she learns that it is too late. She reluctantly agrees to her husband’s suggestion that they adopt a child from his home of Bombay, India. Secret Daughter is the story of two mothers, each utterly unaware of the other, whose lives are irrevocably linked by Usha, the daughter they share. It is also the story of their daughter, who must learn to reconcile her mixed heritage and accept her identity. Most of all, Secret Daughter is a poignant and inspiring story of the strength and love of mothers everywhere. Gowda’s first novel explores the universal themes of motherhood, family, and identity. Her writing is characterized by beautiful, vivid description, and the story’s changing points of view enable the reader to grasp the wide range of emotions and struggles experienced by the masterfully crafted array of characters. Secret Daughter is a unified, moving, and deeply satisfying novel. Erica Narwold A Year on Ladybug Farm by Donna Ball
With their children grown and their husbands gone, Cici, Lindsay, and Bridget decide to leave their jobs, start over, and make a life-altering decision. They decide to uproot themselves and head out to the Shenandoah Valley. They find a run-down mansion, buy it, and decide to restart their lives there. After much contemplation they decide to restore Ladybug Farm to its former glory. Little did they know of the troubles and catastrophes that lay ahead of them. They encounter a friendly deer that won’t go away, a few sheep to take care of, a ghostly inhabitant, and a garden thief who turns out to be a boy living on their property. Along with all of that they encounter numerous battles while restoring the old house, including no heat, no air conditioning, and ladybugs everywhere. This heartwarming story tells of three friends who decide to chart a new path in their lives and the changes that happen to them and the house throughout the year. Should they stay there when the year is up or give up and call it a good try? This is a beautiful story of the power of friendship through all the adversities of living on Ladybug Farm. Cici, Lindsay, and Bridget come to find out the most important things in their lives are right there in front of them. Michelle Pritchard Little Bee by Chris Cleave
Author Chris Cleave is right – Little Bee is a special story that I must tell you about. The first thing I noticed about this striking novel is the narrator’s unique voice. The story begins as Little Bee, a sixteen-year-old Nigerian refugee detained in England, tells the reader, “Most days I wish I was a British pound coin instead of an African girl.” This intriguing opening promises a thoughtful, surprising, and unsettling novel, which is exactly what Cleave delivers. The novel alternates between Little Bee’s story and that of Sarah O’Rourke, the British woman who, years before, had made an impossible decision on a Nigerian beach that saved Little Bee’s life and changed her own irrevocably. All the characters, however minor, are clearly drawn individuals with their own stories. Punctuating the tragedy and horror that must accompany the tale of an African refugee are the antics of Sarah’s endearing four-year-old son, Charlie. He both lightens the novel’s mood and, in his innocence, asks heartbreakingly significant questions. The other refugee girls are beautiful, vivid characters who infuse life and humor into the novel. Moving and provocative, Little Bee is a riveting and masterfully crafted novel that deftly juxtaposes Sarah’s and Little Bee’s utterly different experiences while establishing the desperate need for human connection. You will continue pondering the implications of this novel long after you have read the final page. Erica Narwold Irreplaceable by Stephen Lovely
How many people does it take to replace a heart? Iowa City author Stephen Lovely delves into the complexities of organ transplants and those affected by them in his debut novel Irreplaceable, now in paperback. We meet Isabel only briefly, riding her bicycle on a country road, racing home to beat a storm, when she is struck and killed by a truck driven by Jasper. Isabel’s husband Alex, dealing with his grief over the loss of his wife, cannot reconcile with her wish to be an organ donor. As Alex and Isabel’s mother, Bernice bond over their shared loss, they also disagree about letting the recipient of Isabel’s heart, Janet, into their lives. They also have to redefine their relationship when Alex allows himself to move on and let another woman become part of his life.
Lovely capably juggles the intersecting stories of each character, and it’s not always pretty. The novel was inspired by his time spent working in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and also give an insider’s view of what it is like to be waiting for an organ donor. Irreplaceable is thought-provoking and makes a good selection for book clubs. Alice Meyer The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks
The last thing seventeen-year-old New Yorker Ronnie Miller wants to do is spend her summer in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, with her dad and annoying little brother. Ronnie has not spoken to her dad since her parents’ divorce three years earlier and has no interest in developing a relationship with the man who abandoned her family. Steve, Ronnie’s father, is a former concert pianist who has retreated to his hometown in search of meaning and inspiration as he crafts a beautiful stained glass window for a local church. He wants nothing more than to reconnect with his beloved daughter, despite her anger and rebellion. Ronnie is surprised to find herself attracted to Will, a local boy who would definitely not be her type in New York City. She experiences true happiness as her relationship with Will blossoms throughout the summer, but she must discover whether their love is more than just a summer fling. Meanwhile, a tragic revelation will test her devotion to what truly matters. Once again, Nicholas Sparks has masterfully created a tender story of love, self-discovery, and taking responsibility for one’s choices. His portrayal of Ronnie’s tumultuous thoughts and emotions is both authentic and moving, and Steve’s unconditional love and respect for his children is poignant and inspiring. The Last Song is a touching story of a young woman’s struggle toward maturity and her father’s longing for restoration in their lives. It is a story of hope, faith, and most importantly, the power of love. Erica Narwold Happy by Alex Lemon
Alex Lemon’s new memoir Happy is gritty, real, open, and amazing. When I heard him read a portion of this book out loud, I felt electrified, emotional, and wanted to pick up more than my one allotted free copy. I didn’t of course (although now that I’ve read the entire book, I’m quite sure Alex would have loaded a couple free extras into his bag.) That said, I’m certainly giving this book to both of my edgy wordsmith brothers. The investment will be well worth it. Happy (Alex Lemon’s nickname) entered college in the Fall of 1996. He was the catcher for the Minnesota college’s baseball team, lived in the dorms, partied with his friends, and lived the general crude and fun life of a college boy. This same year he began to suffer vertigo, couldn’t see well, and threw up blood in the shower. He delved deeper into drugs and alcohol until he could no longer ignore his symptoms. Finally, upon going to the doctor, he learned his brain was bleeding; he had an aneurysm. This memoir takes you through his recovery, second aneurysm, and finally his brain surgery and recovery. As you might guess from the book cover and the subject matter, the story isn’t “happy,” but it is real. The writing is punchy and poetic, bringing you into Alex’s world. The most poignant part of the book for me is written in a different style than the rest of the book, but it truly captures the essence of Alex’s story and personality. “…I look up to see Ma and Bob and Dad and Lindy it is morning and they are there terrified already grieving and I feel guilty for all of it and roll my IV with me to pee one last time my father says behind me is that a tattoo on his back I weep in the mirror and then say good-bye the nurse asks me to sit in the wheelchair so she can take me away the good-bye clangs inside me …I don’t get a chance to say I am wonderful under these streetlights just plain good screaming into the antiseptic air …this is the end thank you it’s been a blast I love all you…or even as the dark bag of the anesthesia zippers me up get to whisper my welcome to the tumbling and crushing and delivering black.” You can’t afford to miss reading this fabulous new writer. Laura Flaugher The Book of Night Women by Marlon James
The Book of Night Women is brilliant and riveting, but please allow a strong word of caution: obscene language, and cruel, graphic scenes are rife throughout this novel. The gritty detail is essential as Marlon James paints a living, moving picture of slave life using vivid characterization. Set in the late 1700s, the book depicts life on a cotton plantation in Jamaica. Black magic (obeah) is widely practiced and feared. Slaves are treated like animals by their owners and by each other. The main character, Lilith, is a headstrong mulatto slave, who kills a cotton picker that comes to “visit” her. For her protection she is swept off to the main house where she lives in the kitchen basement and begins working with the house staff. Inside the house Lilith begins to meet others like her: daughters of the white overseer, children of rape. These women are joined in an uneasy truce. They meet secretly, planning a massive slave revolt to be coordinated with revolts on many Jamaican plantations. As the novel draws to its climax and the revolt is inevitable, other relationships are formed and the idea of love is questioned. Lilith is taken as a slave and lover of a white man. She finds herself in a strange position of willing protector and secret-keeper of a woman she despises. And finally, she struggles to trust the woman who has become a mother-figure to her. This novel is intimate and deeply moving. For mature audiences only! Laura Flaugher House and Home by Kathleen McCleary
Ellen Flanagan had everything. She had the perfect house, two adorable daughters, a charismatic husband, and a wonderful coffee shop that she owned. But she had had enough. Her husband, the perpetual inventor, had added a second mortgage to their house and Ellen couldn’t take it anymore. She was fed up after 18 years of marriage and was about to lose it all. Even the house she loved so dearly. She couldn’t afford to keep the house so it went on the market and sold quickly to an urban socialite and her husband. Her house meant more to her than her marriage and she would stop at nothing to keep it. The memories that run through her mind are enough to pull her over the edge and she almost succeeds in burning her beloved house down. Ellen fears her life will never be the same if she loses her house and finds herself drawn to the new owner’s husband. After sharing a kiss, things go from bad to worse in a matter of minutes. A riveting first novel by Kathleen McCleary, this is one you won’t be able to put down until the outcome is revealed. Will Ellen lose everything that means so much to her or will she finally realize what’s most important in her life? This is a very dramatic book with powerful details. It is well worth the time it takes to read it. Michelle Pritchard A Year on Ladybug Farm by Clare O’Donohue
With their children grown and their husbands gone, Cici, Lindsay, and Bridget decide to leave their jobs, start over, and make a life-altering decision. They decide to uproot themselves and head out to the Shenandoah Valley. They find a run down mansion, buy it, and decide to restart their lives there. After much contemplation they decide to restore Ladybug Farm to its former glory. Little did they know of the troubles and catastrophes that lay ahead of them. They encounter a friendly deer that won’t go away, a few sheep to take care of, a ghostly inhabitant, and a garden thief who turns out to be a boy living on their property. Along with all of that they encounter numerous battles while restoring the old house, including no heat, no air conditioning, and ladybugs everywhere. This heartwarming story tells of three friends who decide to chart a new path in their lives and the changes that happen to them and the house throughout the year. Should they stay there when the year is up or give up and call it a good try? This is a beautiful story of the power of friendship through all the adversities of living on Ladybug Farm. Cici, Lindsay, and Bridget come to find out the most important things in their lives are right there in front of them. Michelle Pritchard A Drunkard's Path by Clare O’ Donohue
Nell settles into her new life at Archer’s Corner. She has finished her first quilt and is preparing for her first date with Police Chief Jesse DeWalt. This second book in the Someday Quilts Mysteries is just as mesmerizing as the first book was. On the night of her first date with Jesse she is stood up, but Jesse has a good reason for not showing up for their date. A murder has been committed and he is on the investigation to solve the murder. Nell comes to realize that she just has to be patient. Nell decides to take some drawing classes from an artist that has just come to town. Oliver White is a famous artist who falls for Nell’s grandmother. Nell is none to happy about the union and feels that something is not quite right about why Oliver White has shown up in Archer’s Rest. When a second body is discovered close to Nell’s grandmother’s house, Nell’s sleuthing abilities get the best of her and she enlists the help of the Friday Night Quilt Club. Things start to unravel in Nell’s relationship with Jesse as she finds herself entwined in the murder investigation. Will her relationship withstand the interruptions or will Nell be left all alone once the murders have been solved? Be prepared to not be able to put this book down until you finish the very last page. It is a provocative and intriguing second book for Clare O’ Donohue. Michelle Pritchard The Lover's Knot by Clare O’Donohue
Nell Fitzgerald is thrilled to receive a wedding quilt made especially for her by her grandmother. She finds her joy is short-lived as her fiancé calls off the wedding. Nell flees from New York to Archer’s Rest for some comfort and healing and stays with her grandmother. Her grandmother owns a quilt shop and the shop is pretty much the hubbub of the city of Archer’s Rest. Nell enjoys the small town and looks to find her new path in life after her cancelled wedding. Nell finds herself drawn to the local handyman until she discovers he has been murdered in her grandmother’s quilt shop as he was doing remodeling for the little store. The local detective works to find clues into the murder and Nell finds herself falling for the detective. She tries to solve the murder by piecing together her own set of clues much to the chagrin of the detective. Does Nell let her heart speak for itself or does she let the clues to the murderer ruin her chance at real love? The first book in the delightful Someday Quilts series was a joy to read. It moves quickly through the story and the author paints a wonderful picture of the life in a small town. Once you start reading this book you will not put it down until the final page is read. Michelle Pritchard The Financial Lives of the Poets by Jess Walter
Matt Prior quit his job as a business journalist to start a website combining his two passions: investment advice and poetry. Unfortunately, poetfolio.com never quite took off and he was forced to return to his old job, only to be laid off four months later due to his lack (and loss) of seniority. He has a balloon payment due on his mortgage, two kids in private school, and a wife who spends her evenings reconnecting with her high school sweetheart on Facebook. When a late-night run to a convenience store for milk ($9 a gallon!) gets him involved with some questionable characters and illegal activities, Matt thinks he has found the solution to his woes. He plans to start selling drugs to his cohorts who miss their 1970’s college years, and as it turns out the market is good. He’ll quit once he digs his way out of debt. A series of twists and turns keep this fast-paced book from becoming a “Weeds” or “Breaking Bad,” and Walter’s humorous prose is both poignant and biting. The contemporary issues of the economy, the newspaper business, and social media make this a story that the most law-abiding readers can relate to. Ultimately, this is a story about choices, as Matt reflects on all the bad choices he has made in his life while trying to teach his young sons to make good ones. As a bonus, readers are treated to Matt’s good (and bad) poetry. Alice Meyer Ghost a la Mode by Sue Ann Jaffarian
Granny Smith is well known for her apple pies in the town of Julian, California. She’s also known for murdering her husband and being hung by a group of townspeople. Not everyone knows this, but Granny was framed. She was murdered. For more than 100 years her spirit has been searching for a family member to clear her name. She hits pay dirt when her great, great, great grand-daughter Emma Whitecastle attends a séance. As Granny begins to appear to Emma, and against some heartfelt wishes from her family, she decides to take a trip to Julian, California to clear Granny’s name. Trouble ensues as Emma gets closer to finding out what happened to Granny Smith. What really happened to Granny and the others who Emma met in the cemetery? Emma becomes her own detective to try and solve the mystery. As she explores the area cemetery she encounters a few ghosts along the way. After a few scary attempts on Emma’s life, the mystery starts falling into place. There is a sprinkling of history throughout this book about the California Gold Rush and a freed slave who was really from Julian, California. This book is full of fun, mystery, suspense and even a little dash of romance. As this new series begins, be prepared to sit a spell and dive into this wonderful book. Michelle Pritchard Knit the Season by Kate Jacobs
This is the third book in the Friday Night Knitting Club Series. I found it truly amazing. The story continues after the death of Georgia who was the owner of Walker and Daughter Yarn Shop. Dakota, Georgia’s daughter, is now the owner of the yarn shop along with the help of Peri, one of the original members of the Friday Night Knitting Club. Throughout the years Dakota has grown up and is now looking forward to expanding the yarn shop to include a knitting café. She decides over Christmas break from school to do an internship at a local hotel. The rest of the family is planning on a trip to Scotland to visit other family members. Dakota’s father surprises her with a ticket to Scotland but Dakota is undecided about whether to do the internship or go to Scotland. She must decide what is most important, further her career or spend Christmas with her family. The story weaves back and forth through the past and present and brings to light what Georgia was really like as a person. Dakota sees different aspects of her mother while others have told her different stories about what Georgia was like as a friend. She finally she’s what her mother Georgia was really made of through the conversations with friends and family. Through many twists and turns in the lives of the Friday Night Knitting Club girls, you find that you cannot put this book down until you read the whole story. Michelle Pritchard Coop by Michael Perry
Author Michael Perry is on a roll. His memoirs Population 485 and Truck: A Love Story have enjoyed bestseller status, and multiple honors and awards. His latest memoir Coop: A Year of Poultry, Pigs, and Parenting recently scooped up the Midwest Booksellers 2009 Award for Best Non-Fiction. I’ve been listening to my co-workers sing Perry’s praises for three years and after laughing through his speech at a recent conference with tears rolling down my cheeks I decided that even though I’m strictly a fiction girl, I simply had to read his work. Perry was raised on a Wisconsin farm amidst a large, rambling family. He and his new wife Anneliese have a dream of living simply, gardening, and raising chickens. So, they pack up Anneliese’s daughter Amy and move to their own farm. As he begins to prepare for his own livestock and for impending fatherhood (Anneliese is also expecting a baby,) Perry’s memories take him back to milking cows, sheering sheep, and stacking firewood with his own father. One story in particular recounts the high-entertainment of waiting for the artificial inseminator to come to the farm. Reading this excerpt to my step-father, who is a farmer, had him nodding with understanding and then rolling with laughter. Perry also recounts the quiet, satisfying moments, which often included working in the dark with his dad. Perry has the talent to poignantly capture tender feelings and relate heart-felt moments with grace in addition to the laugh-out-loud humor. Laura Flaugher Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah
The time is 1974. The coolest girl has just moved in across the street from Kate and she wants to be Kate’s friend. They enjoy each other’s company that summer and vow to remain best friends forever. Thus begins the TullyandKate saga. From that point on they were inseparable. Kristin Hannah’s story about these two friends is a heart-wrenching saga of two friends, who through the years have dealt with jealously, anger, resentment, and hurt. Yet they have remained friends for 30 years. Their story is one you don’t want to put down. They have weathered the storms of friendship until one thing happens that may destroy it all. This book is a page-turner to say the least. I could not stop reading until I found out if everything turned out okay for these two friends. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself inside the pages of their lives because you have come to care for them so much. This is a book that is meant to be on your bookshelves to be read again and again and to know the true strength and loyalty of friendship. As tragedy looms over the end of the story, one can’t help but realize how important true friendship really is. So, pull up a cozy chair and a hot cup of coffee and be prepared to read this book from cover to cover. Michelle Pritchard The Scrapbook: A Novel of Friendship and Love by Peggy B. Baker
Emma and Natasha have known each other since the day they were born. They were literally born in the same hospital to two mothers who were also friends. As their friendship grows they each live their separate lives until Emma becomes sick. Their lives are thrown together through the tragedy of cancer and through a family secret that could tear them apart forever. Only when they realize the truth, does it really test their friendship almost beyond its limits. Through this tear-jerking journey of their friendship, you can also sense the hope that lies in each of us to overcome adversity and become stronger because of it. This is a wonderful story of how a scrapbook can bring together the loss and peace of a loved one that has gone. A box of tissues is good to have close as you delve into the lives of these two friends, the memories they share and the secrets they don’t share. It will cause you to see the importance of your own friendships, because life’s twists and turns can change things in a moment. This book also helps you realize the importance of keeping memories alive through scrapbooking. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat as you read through the pages about the lives of these two friends, their families, and the memories they create throughout their lives. Michelle Pritchard Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr
Recommended for ages 12 and up. Sara Zarr caught my attention with her first novel Story of a Girl. She followed that up with Sweethearts and her third novel Once Was Lost is quickly becoming one of my favorites. Zarr’s teen-aged girls are not upbeat and cheery, not rich or popular, just normal teens. As the pastor’s daughter, Sam has never been truly accepted with others her age. She’s been covering for her alcoholic mother for months, but with her mom’s removal to rehab, Sam feels abandoned and lonely. Her clueless father and secretive friends add to her torment. After a local girl is kidnapped, the town’s hopelessness and frustration add to and reflect Sam’s own secret feelings. This novel was impossible for me to put down. I yearned for Sam to be understood and noticed. The book is being marketed to teens, but seriously adults, you’ll love it too. Laura Flaugher The Evolution of Shadows by Jason Quinn Malott
Reading this slim and deeply moving novel is the perfect way to spend several cozy Fall evenings. It is intricate, but through the use of spare, poetic language. It reveals the gentle yet animalistic characteristics of love between man and woman, and between friends. In short, it is a work of art that will appeal to both men and women. Lian travels to Bosnia in search her former lover who disappeared 5 years ago during the Bosnian War, while working as a photo-journalist. She is now traveling with his former interpreter and mentor to find him. All three struggle with the ghosts that this journey uncovers, as they remember their relationships with Gray, the horrors of the war, and work through the conflicts in their own lives. The mystery of Gray’s disappearance and his secret relationship with Lian provide intrigue and make this novel a page-turner, while the exploration of inner-conflict, relationships, and love give it breadth and intellectual satisfaction. Laura Flaugher The Cry of the Sloth by Sam Savage
The dark side of the writing life is explored in the character of Andrew Whittaker through his correspondence over the course of a 4-month period. The literary magazine that he edits is third-rate at best, his wife has divorced him, his mother is dying and he is missing pieces of his childhood, the tenants who occupy his properties would like improved living conditions – the list goes on. Yet he still thinks of himself as above it all, even as we watch his descent. That’s not to say that Savage doesn’t inject plenty of humor into his first novel after Firmin. Whittaker’s accounts of his run-ins with the local literati and his made-up letters (Complete with anagram/pseudonyms) to the editor are prize-worthy; Savage’s way with language is refreshing in an old-school sort of way. You might even want to keep a dictionary handy as you read this. Alice Meyer Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Shiver is a must-read for this winter. So snuggle up with a blanket, a cup of cocoa, and this wintry tale to warm up a long afternoon or a lonely evening as the days grow shorter and the temperature drops. When Grace was a little girl, she was dragged from her tire-swing into the nearby woods by a pack of hungry wolves. The only thing she remembers from the attack are the yellow eyes of the wolf that protected her. Since that day Grace has watched this wolf and slowly she has fallen in love with him. Years later, the town is in a panic as another wolf attack has taken place. The hunt is on to rid the forest of these beasts. Afraid for her wolf’s safety, Grace rushes home and finds a boy in her yard with a gun-shot wound. When she looks into his eyes she knows that it’s him. Werewolves change when the temperature gets cold, Sam explains. What better excuse for two new sweethearts to be close than the need to stay warm. Sam and Grace spend days together jumping out of the bleak, white, winterscape into the warm cab of her used Bronco, where only the two of them exist. This heart-warming love story is punctuated by mystery, jealousy, and adventure. The story is told from Grace and Sam’s alternating view points, and includes a wonderful cast of characters. Don’t be left out. Read this New York Times bestseller and welcome winter with this fierce, magical tale. Laura Flaugher Laura Rider's Masterpiece by Jane Hamilton
If you saw Jane Hamilton when she was in town last spring, you heard her talk about her writing classes being filled with: 1) students who want to write, and 2) students who want to get published. Laura Rider is one of the latter – in fact she doesn’t even like to read, because books are "too wordy." She’s determined to get published, however, and devises an elaborate scheme involving her husband, a public radio talk show host, and bogus email to fashion her plot. In the end, Laura gets a lot more than she bargained for. In a departure from her previous dark, issue-laden works, Hamilton has created a farce that will have you laughing out loud. Laura’s musings (If Holden Caulfield had had access to Prozac, would there still be a Catcher in the Rye?) reveal the mind of quirky yet manipulative woman who goes after what she wants at all costs. It’s a good quick read for a dreary day. Alice Meyer Labor Day by Joyce Maynard
Thirteen-year-old Henry lives with his mother who rarely ventures out of the house. His father has a new wife and baby, and his step-brother is everything Henry’s not – handsome, athletic, and popular. On Labor Day weekend, when he and his mother are shopping for new pants for school (his fault for growing so much), a stranger approaches and asks for help. They take Frank home, later to find out he’s an escaped convict. But as they absorb him into their lives, he seems to offer a kind of normalcy that is new to Henry and brings life back to his mother. When the inevitable happens, all of the characters are better for it. Maynard capably keeps the story believable through all the ups and downs, and the voice of Henry is both pure and wise. Ultimately, Labor Day is a story about love, trust, betrayal and forgiveness. Alice Meyer That Old Cape Magic by Richard Russo
The son of two academic snobs, Griffin thinks he’s pretty content with his job, his dream home, his wife and daughter. His father has recently died and it falls to him to scatter the ashes, which he plans to do while on a trip back to Cape Cod to attend a wedding. This is also the place where he spent his childhood summers, and when a conversation with his wife alters everything he ever believed, he is forced to examine his past. But how much of the past is really just your own version of it? How reliable is memory? And why does it have so much power? Russo’s latest delivers a good story with his characteristic down-to-earth prose, wry humor, a few anvils and a hopeful ending. Alice Meyer The Last Train From Paris by Stacy Cohen
Painting and women consumed the waking hours of Jean-Luc, a young dilettante living in German-occupied Paris during WWII. When he agrees to work on the background for the upcoming ballet, he falls in love with Natasha, a Russian ballerina, who hides a terrible secret. They have a brief time together, when fate steps in, featuring the German commandant who takes Natasha as his lover. Fearing for the life of Jean-Luc, Natasha plays along, hoping she can survive. Jean-Luc, desperate to recover Natasha, joins forces with the French Resistance as the Allies close in. What will become of them? Read the exciting story of these two lovers in war-torn Paris. Sharon Carey Ruined: A Ghost Story by Paula Morris
How boring could it be? Stuck in the Deep South for the school year, away from her friends in New York City, her dad on assignment on the other side of the world, but Rebecca is so wrong. Not only does she live across from a famous New Orleans cemetery, but it comes with the warning from her wacky taro-card-reading aunt, never to go there after dark. So what does Rebecca do? Enter the cemetery after dark to spy on some of the snobs from her school. While there, she gets sucked into a voodoo curse that has lasted over 150 years. The ghost she meets is at the heart of it all. Rebecca begins a roller-coaster ride that has a surprise ending you could never anticipate. Happy reading! Recommended for young adults. Sharon Carey Ruined: The Gollywhopper Games by Jody Feldman
Recommended for grades 4-6 Gil’s father has been wrongly accused by his boss and lost his job. His family is in big trouble. Gil has one chance to win this contest and regain what was lost. Can he do it? Are the games impossible to win? Are his fellow contestants out to get him? Read this fast-paced account of incredible pressure to perform well enough to become the champion. You’ll be cheering for Gil. Sharon Carey Missing Mark by Julie Kramer
Looking for a fun summer read? Minneapolis TV news reporter Riley Spartz is intrigued by a classified ad: “For Sale - Wedding Dress, Never Worn.” Turns out the groom has disappeared. She’d like to cover the story on the news, but it’s sweeps month and there are more pressing issues. Namely, the theft of Minnesota’s largest bass from a local aquarium. Riley persists in her investigation, however, and after dealing with a drug-sniffing dog, the bride, her mother, and their rare affliction, an animal rights group and a neighbor who holds 24-hour garage sales, she finally gets her answers. Kramer has created a fun, funny, and smart character in Riley, whom we first met in Stalking Susan. Much of the inspiration and background comes from Kramer’s own experience as a news producer, and some of the more interesting parts take place behind-the-scenes in the newsroom. What makes a story newsworthy? Why do some missing persons cases get more coverage than others? What are the ethics and legalities involved? Missing Mark covers them all. Alice Meyer My Life in France by Julia Child with Alex Prud’homme
AAAHHH, Julia Child-the insatiable and quirky chef who has endeared herself into our hearts. This lovely book is about her life in France after she and Paul married. Paul has been transferred to France because of his job. Julia spends her days exploring the markets and learning the way of the French. She discovers that she needs to find something else to do with her time besides shop and drink coffee. Julia sets off on a quest to attend the Le Cordon Bleu School. She finds in herself a new passion for cooking. At six foot two inches, she is the tallest and only girl in a class full of servicemen. Julia shows that she can stand on her own and wins the hearts of everyone with her delightful dishes (with a few mishaps in between.) Throughout the years in France, Julia taught cooking classes and eventually wrote Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Reading this wonderfully written homage to the life of Julia Child and her husband Paul will have you wishing for some of the delicious dishes that Julia Child created. Bon Appetit!!!! Michelle Pritchard South of Broad by Pat Conroy
Pat Conroy, author of My Losing Season and The Prince of Tides, has written an epic novel set in Charleston, SC, rich in description of setting and characters who all meet each other on Bloomsday. The epicenter of them all is Leo, aka the Toad. He is the unlikeliest hero, leading them through 20 years of lasting friendships that survive scandal, murder, death, disease, and hurricanes together. It portrays their relationships that survive through the 60’s class struggle between established families and mountain hillbillies, black and white, famous and infamous, all pivoting around the lynchpin, Leo.
Describing himself as a “natural-born loser,” Leo is the one we grow to love, cheer, wish to emulate, and wistfully wish we had as a friend. This is one of those books that leaves the reader richer for the pleasure of it and yearning for a sequel. Sharon Carey While I’m Falling by Laura Moriarty
While I’m Falling, this remarkable new work by Laura Moriarty, is another great read by the same author who wrote The Rest of Her Life. It is told primarily from the point of view of a college student attending a state university, living in the dorm, majoring in a subject area far from her comfort level, who learns her parents are divorcing. She is trapped on many levels both personal and academic. When an ice storm brings everything to a head, her resulting decisions begin a series of events that create a fall down a slippery slope of unforeseen consequences. She learns to view her mother with new eyes, as they work through the challenges dealt them by circumstances beyond their control. Besides crafting a believable story, Laura also shows us a side of ourselves that is easily relatable through her writing. This one was hard to put down. Sharon Carey Of Bees and Mist by Erick Setiawan
Delve into the magical world of bees and mist and you just might discover that you identify with the story being told. You’ll certainly be thinking about it for weeks to come. Teenaged Meridia inhabits a home of freezing cold temperatures and infuriatingly foggy mists. Ghosts appear in her mirrors. The stairways shorten and lengthen maliciously, depending upon how quickly she needs to climb or descend them. And her parents all but forget she exists, except when her father is expressing his disapproval. Following this murky childhood existence, Meridia marries and moves into the home of her in-laws: the house of bees. This harsh environment leaves little room for love, leisure, or mistakes. The magic is just as strong here, with roses that grow uncontrollably, chocking out anything that dares come near. Bravely investigating a strange buzzing noise, Meridia discovers a swarm of bees surrounding her father-in-law. How then, with all this magic, can you be expected to identify with this story? Of Bees and Mist is a clever and entertaining portrayal of marriage and family. Meridia discovers how both her mother and mother-in-law have created these strange worlds of bees and mist, making their husbands and children’s lives a misery. Meridia continues to unravel mysteries as she discovers who her absent parents really are, battles the bees that threaten her marriage, and struggles to find a balance that incorporates no nasty magic in her own household. This fabulous, mythological world is created by Erick Setiawan. This is his first novel and I like to imagine his inspiration comes from a wild childhood in Indonesia (he was born there) and his wonderfully eclectic Chinese parents (they are Chinese); however after reading this novel, my imagination may have run away with itself. Laura Flaugher The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe
If being a descendant of two women from the Colonial Witch Trial era is reason enough to write a modern-day version of casting spells, Katherine Howe is the woman for the job. She tells the tale of graduate student Connie Goodwin studying Early American history who spends the summer trying to bring order to her grandmother’s long abandoned cottage in Massachusetts. Interspersed with the story are flashbacks to the life of Deliverance Dane, accused of witchcraft in 1692. Connie discovers clues that lead her closer and closer to a missing book that holds the key to far more than she dreams. Add to this a turn of events that hints of a deadly spell, and her search turns desperate. As more and more clues unfold, Connie realizes that she is the only one who can save the day. This is a page turner that is hard to put down right up to the surprise ending. Sharon Carey Seeping Up Glass by Carolyn Wall
Life seemed to ask more of Olivia Harker than anyone could bear. Living on a ridge near a small town in Kentucky during the depression, tending to her crazy mother, raising her grandson alone, it was all she could do to feed her family and run her little store. Now Olivia discovers the town around her is wrapped up in a deception that no one dares talk about because death follows those who ask too many questions. But when her family is threatened, Olivia decides to take action. As clues to her past drop into place, Olivia is drawn deeper and deeper into a terrible secret. She does not know if she will survive. Sharon Carey The Food of a Younger Land by Mark Kurlansky
What did people eat before the proliferation of fast food restaurants and the catch-of-the-day wasn’t flown in from the coasts? They ate what was seasonally and locally available, and this book describes regional cuisine in all its mouth-watering glory. Based on research from the Federal Writers’ Project (created in the 1930’s as part of the WPA), the book is as much a travelogue and cookbook as a commentary on society and culture. Regional rivalries are apparent: Manhattan or New England clam chowder? What state claims to have invented Kentucky’s famed mint julep? And should the mint be crushed or not? The WPA writers had free reign over what they could include in the project, from New York City diner slang to a poem entitled “Nebraskans Eat the Weiners.” Kurlansky does a fine job of putting it all together like a wonderful museum collection. Recipes are included, though some are in the “grandma’s cooking” category of “mix all ingredients and bake.” Alice Meyer The Lace Makers of Glenmara by Heather Barbieri
It was a close-knit group of middle-aged women in a dying village along the coast of Ireland. They’d been together for years, sharing life’s challenges and small rewards, sewing beautiful lace for linens and tea towels, taught by their grandmothers. One of the women offers a room in her house to Kate, a bedraggled young American tourist who arrives at their village wet and tired. As the women take Kate into their inner circle and teach her their craft, she brings changes no one could have forseen, not just in their lace, but in their personal lives as well. Read how Kate and the lace makers of Glenmara come together to help each other find hope and healing again. Sharon Carey Tomato Rhapsody by Adam Schell
Tomato Rhapsody is a treat for book-lovers. The brilliant blending of prose is as delectable as its name suggests. While you savor this hilarious, farcical comedy, you’ll meet villains, fools, dukes, and priests as they gather on the stage of a provincial Tuscan village in the 16th century. This is a tale of forbidden love. Our hero is Davido, an Ebreo (Jewish) tomato farmer betrothed to an undesirable skinny-ankled girl. Enter Mari, a Christiana olive farmer, who struggles against her scheming step-father with a fiery and strong-willed disposition. When Davido brings his suspicious fruit to the village market, the two spot one-another and cupid strikes. As his tomato awaits the approval of the fickle mob, so too does the newfound love of Davido and Mari. This novel is delightful, peppered with Italian words and rhyme, full of passion, insight, and an explosion of good taste and excitement in the end. It is a feast for the mind that will delight your senses and tickle your funny bone. Laura Flaugher Emily the Strange: The Lost Days by Rob Reger
Recommended for young adults and edgy grown-ups Lovely goth girl Emily made her first appearance on a sticker to promote a skater-inspired clothing line called Cosmic Debris. Since this strange birth, her life has been chronicled in several comic books and most recently several young adult novels. She has inspired clothing designed by Chanel, Marc Jacobs, and Helmut Lang. There is even rumor that she will star in an upcoming movie. Clearly, others find this peculiar heroine as interesting as I do. Emily is an imaginative, independent 13 year old with a penchant for science. Her room houses an antigravity machine and an apothecary kit, and she has designed her very own golem (a kind of robot.) She speaks bluntly, and doesn’t have time to worry about being cool, which of course makes her the coolest. She also travels with her constant companions: 4 cats. The Lost Days tells of her experience waking on a park bench with amnesia. No one in town seems to recognize her. Her only possessions are: Did I mention she likes to make lists? Emily uses the notebook to keep track of her days and draw pictures of her surroundings as she tries to solve the mystery of who she is and why she’s in this crazy town where there is only one tree and everything is painted beige. This very singular adventure requires her brilliant mind and eccentric creativity. If you flip through the book and read a couple pages, I guarantee you’ll be hooked. Laura Flaugher Horse Soldiers: the Extraordinary Story of a Band of U.S. Soldiers Who Rode to Victory in Afghanistan by Doug Stanton
When the United States entered the fight against the Taliban in Afghanistan, it was with a small group of special forces on a covert mission to help the local warlords retake control of their country. Horse Soldiers tells the story of American soldiers who were not just a fighting force, but also anthropologists, diplomats, and social workers. They became as one with their allies, riding mountain-bred horses over terrain that boasted narrow mountain ledges where death was a stumble away. When the Taliban prisoners of war temporarily gain control of their prison, all is almost lost. Read this gripping account as exciting as any suspense thriller. Sharon Carey Resilience by Elizabeth Edwards
Elizabeth Edwards is one of the most interesting political figures in our world today. Her book, Resilience, portrays a woman who has faced numerous adversities in life and has come to terms with how to deal with them. Time after time she has displayed strength and grace through the things life has thrown at her. Elizabeth’s attitude on how she has dealt with blow after blow is amazing, yet everyday she approaches life with a positive attitude. Read this book and you will admire her even more. Michelle Pritchard Killer Pizza by Greg Taylor
Recommended for grades 4-6
What great luck! Turning 14 with a whole summer ahead and a job making pizza! This could turn out to be the beginning of a career as a chef, who knows? Who would have thought this pizza restaurant was a front for something far more frightening! A secret organization formed for the sole purpose of hunting down and neutralizing monsters that have invaded our society. One stab, and they could take over your body, causing you to become one of them. Who will ultimately survive?
Read Killer Pizza. Once you take a bite, you won’t want to put it down!
Sharon Carey Audition by Barbara Walters
Barbara has lived an extraordinary life. This awesome biography portrays the life of a woman who becomes a household name despite all of the odds against her. She broke into television when women were meant to stay home. Barbara encountered so much opposition, but she never gave up. She even encountered opposition from many of her on screen co-workers while off camera. She knew being a reporter was what she wanted to do. Her life story is one of sacrifice, triumph, heartbreak, and glory. This book is hard to put down and you won’t until the very end. Michelle Pritchard Borderline by Nevada Barr
Start with a relaxing float trip vacation down the Rio Grande River at Big Bend National Park. Add flash floods, three teenagers, a dying woman, a newborn baby, and a sniper, and you have the basis for another Anna Pigeon adventure. As a park ranger, she has the knack of continually getting herself into the deadliest circumstances. In addition, we meet a too-tightly-strung woman that is running for governor of Texas and her entourage. What do all these people have in common? Too much for them to all survive. Nevada Barr continues to entertain her fans with eloquent descriptions of her national park settings and intriguing characters. Read her latest fast-paced mystery set in Texas along the border of Mexico. Sharon Carey The Girls From Ames by Jeffrey Zaslow
The importance of female friendships is proven and demonstrated in The Girls from Ames. This book is more than just a peek into the lives and friendships of eleven women from Ames, Iowa. It is the true story of these friends, based upon extensive research and interviewing that reveals some of the most intimate and sensitive aspects of these women’s lives. This interview is performed and relayed with moving clarity by Jeffrey Zaslow, the coauthor of famed inspirational book The Last Lecture. Mr. Zaslow jokes in the introduction to his book about being a man trying to understand the intricate nature of female friendship. He also points out that this is exactly what makes him the right man for the job: “I was often inquisitive in ways a female interviewer would not have been . . . my outsider’s curiosity helped enrich the story you’re about to read.” And right he is. His perspective brings new light to what makes up and sustains these relationships. The size of this group of friends is astonishing! What an accomplishment it must be to form friendships with so many others, to watch them form friendships with each other, and most importantly, to sustain these friendships for nearly 40 years. Zaslow prods deeply into who these women are, how they frustrate and motivate one another, and how they sustain each other. It is an emotional and inspirational story of true friendship. Laura Flaugher A Map of the Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell
Recommended for grades 7-9 Nate Bradley has tragically died in a car accident. Now his younger sister, Cora, has to deal with the results. Her parents are zombies, she has no life with overly-restrictive rules, and to make matters worse, she has to start high school where Nate had earned his bad-boy reputation. When her best friend ditches her, life gets even worse. To complicate matters even more, her brother’s friend, Damian, is in her art class. Filled with teen angst, adolescence, and a broken family, Cora does a remarkable job recovering her sense of self, and helping her family move on with their lives. Sharon Carey Dog on It by Spencer Quinn
Chet and Bernie have been through a lot together. Both have had ups and downs in life, but they’ve kept each other going. They’re at their best when they’re working a case. Private Eye jobs usually meant shadowing wayward husbands. A simple missing daughter sounded easy to solve. Teenagers sometimes forget to call and show up a few hours late. But suddenly there was a lot more involved. Being a private detective on this case could turn deadly; much is riding on Chet being there for Bernie. Chet is a talented dog and he’s telling the story. If you’re a dog person and you love mysteries, Chet’s your man (oops) dog. Sharon Carey A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny
It started out so perfect. A trip to their favorite get-away, Manoir Bellechasse, a rustic old lodge with gourmet cuisine, a beautiful setting on a lake with forest all around. They had planned a quiet weekend to celebrate their wedding anniversary, but when circumstances changed, they learned nothing was as it seemed. Read this latest mystery set in Canada starring Chief Inspector Gamache, a combination of Hercule Poirot and Sherlock Holmes, assisted by his own Watson-like devoted assistant. Penny gives clues along the way, but it takes a super-sleuth to solve this case. Are you ready for a great read? Sharon Carey The Painter from Shanghai by Jennifer Cody Epstein
The talented heroine of The Painter from Shanghai was shockingly thrown into the real-world at the young age of twelve. Her uncle, heavily addicted to opium and in severe debt, sold her to a “flower house,” where her name was blatantly changed to Yuliang, meaning good jade. Her years living as a commodity allowed her only one friend before she too was taken away. Yuliang was eventually freed from servitude. During her new life she discovered an all-consuming desire to draw and paint. Her courage and tenacity lead her to enter first the schools of art and then the business of art at a time when women were not taken seriously in any professional field. Her shocking nude paintings caused much scandal and changed the history of art. "For it is her face, after all—her own face, untouched by shame or makeup—that makes the painting so outright revolutionary. She’s taken Manet and outdone him by a step; she stares down the tabloids, the whispers, the academy, dressed only in the nude truth of her talent. She dares it to order her to redress." The storyline follows Chinese politics, the upheaval in 1920s France, and the emergence of feminism. This novel beautifully depicts a strong woman capable of fulfilling her desires and pursuing her own path. Laura Flaugher Hands of My Father by Myron Uhlberg
Growing up deaf in NYC during the Great Depression never allowed Myron Uhlberg’s parents to experience a sense of neighborhood or family. It falls on their son, Myron, to be the bridge between their lives and the rest of society. Myron learns at an early age how much his father depends on him to be a conduit for understanding. In this humorous, sometimes poignant real-life story of Myron’s life, the reader catches a glimpse of how he tells his father about the world around them, radio, boxing, and baseball. It’s a great coming of age story and a wonderful picture of the relationship between father and son. Sharon Carey The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a wonderful whirlwind of a Swedish mystery. With a very game-of-Clue setup, the central story features an aging corporate tycoon trying to solve the mystery of his niece’s disappearance some 40 years prior. The Swedish island whereupon the Uncle’s mansion lies was cutoff from the mainland at the time of her disappearance, leaving a list of suspects limited to the eccentric family members and various servants present at the time. In his quest to solve this mystery, our tycoon arranges to have the recently defamed journalist, Mikael Blomkvist take on the case. Blomkvist’s Professor Plum personae adds a determined, growley, and loveably disheveled element to the book. His preoccupation with redeeming his reputation is the key to his involvement in this case. Our tycoon promises to reveal secret information about Blomkvist’s foe as payment for his investigation. To complete this trio of stories, private investigator Lisbeth Salander is brought into the mix. This tough, independent, and socially stunted woman brings excitement, danger, and technology to the storyline. Her computer hacking abilities add new life to the classic game of Clue. You’ll find yourself fully involved in the lives of Larsson’s characters, while constantly asking yourself: Was it Colonel Mustard in the library with the knife? Laura Flaugher Black Bodies and Quantum Cats by Jennifer Ouellette
Taken from a series of science journals, Ms. Ouellette has assembled a collection of chapters that explain discoveries in physics. She has written these using humorous examples to illustrate her scientific point gleaned from TV programs or movies familiar to her readers. She is neither stuffy nor boring. It is an entertaining yet informative read. Sharon Carey Fudge Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke
Hannah Swenson is a daughter, sister, girlfriend, cookie entrepreneur, and fearless sleuth in this series of murder mysteries that take place in a small Minnesota community. Between juggling her cookie shop, two equally appealing suitors, and a demanding cat, Hannah solves each case in the nick of time with the help of her friends and plenty of “Swedish plasma” (coffee). Included in each book are the recipes for the sweet treats that keep her in business. If you enjoy this mystery, she has written eight others you may devour. Sharon Carey Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
This lovely story follows two socially outcast children: Henry, a Chinese boy and a Keiko, a Japanese girl on the fringe of falling in love during the beginning of America’s involvement in WWII. The two must battle not only America’s hatred due to their Asian descent, but Henry’s family prejudice against the Japanese. Their young love and innocent rebellion sweep through Seattle’s streets and jazz clubs, and later follow the girl and her family to a Japanese interment camp. Desperate to see Keiko, Henry finds his way to the desolate camp to sneak visits with her. Told from Henry’s reflective perspective 40 years later, this book is heartwarming and hopeful. Laura Flaugher Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Such is the story of Claire, WWII battlefield nurse, who is vacationing in Scotland with her husband after the war. She is transported into the midst of conflict between England and Scotland. Claire meets Jamie, a teenage outlaw wanted by the English, and protected by his clan. They are thrown together to begin an unlikely romance that spans the centuries and 6 volumes. If you like history, violence, passion, and humor, read the Outlander series and grow to love Jamie and Claire and a host of others. Sharon Carey Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston
Kelley Winslow wanders into Central Park to practice her lines as Titania (the Faerie Queen in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream) when she finds herself inside the continuation of this true Shakespearian story. During her magical night in Central Park, Kelley saves a horse from drowning and meets a handsome stranger who sweeps her off her feet. She returns home only to find that the horse has followed her and taken up residence in her bathtub. In addition to this inconvenience, her romantic hero is now exhibiting stalker behavior. Just as Kelley comes to terms with the reality of the faerie world, she is presented with evidence of her own secret faerie lineage. Does she possess magical powers? What’s up with the clover necklace her aunt gave her? Kelley must soon battle the forces that threaten her birthright, her crush, and the mortal world. This is perfect for readers who love fantasy. Pick up a copy of A Midsummer Night’s Dream too if you really want inspiration. Laura Flaugher People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
The novel is based upon the real-life uncovering of the Sarajevo Haggada. A Haggada is a book describing the Israelite exodus from Egypt, and during Passover it is used as a guide during the symbolic Seder meal. The famous Sarajevo Haggada was uncovered in the early 21st century. Geraldine Brooks, was present during its restoration, inspiring her to write this novel. People of the Book begins as Hanna Heath, rare-book expert and conservator is called in from Australia to examine the newly uncovered Haggada in war-torn Sarajevo under heavy security. She takes samples of items she finds in the book, such as a wine stain, a white hair, and an insect wing. As she examines them, the story plummets into history to the time when these items first made their way into the book: Spain during the Inquisition, Venice in the early 17th century, Bosnia during WWII. The poignant narratives of those who created, used, and protected the Haggadah are interspersed with Hanna’s own story of loss, separation, and reconciliation. The book is a warm and loving work of art that chronicles the history of the Jewish people, and promotes the hope of future generations. Laura Flaugher Gollywhopper Games by Jody Feldman
Recommended for grades 4-6 Gil’s father has been wrongly accused by his boss and lost his job. His family is in big trouble. Gil has one chance to win this contest and regain what was lost. Can he do it? Are the games impossible to win? Are his fellow contestants out to get him? Read this fast-paced account of incredible pressure to perform well enough to become the champion. You’ll be cheering for Gil. Sharon Carey The Somnambulist by Jonathan Barnes
Get ready to be swept away by this sinister, comical tale filled with delicious characters, and an outlandish plot. The Somnambulist is impossible to put down, mixing humor and cynicism with macabre drama reminiscent of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde or Frankenstein. The story opens in a seedy part of London during the 19th century. The narrator describes the very unusual death of a degenerate actor. Enter Mr. Edward Moon, a magician who has an unnatural ability to solve bizarre crimes. His assistant is a hulking, bald, mute, known as “the Somnambulist.” Together they must not only solve this murder, but uncover and disarm the deeper coup threatening the entire city of London. Joining Mr. Moon and the Somnambulist in this quest are Mr. Cribb, a man who travels backward through time; the Prefects, assassins who dress as English schoolboys and exchange witty banter; and the late poet Mr. Samuel Coleridge. The narrator himself is one of the most cheeky characters. Jonathan Barnes is a wordsmith, sprinkling words like pertinacity, vertiginous, and waggishness throughout the book as if they are commonplace occurrences in conversation. Don’t worry, you won’t need a dictionary; the prose are carefully crafted, so meaning can be easily gathered through the context. In fact, this book makes you feel more clever just for having read it. Laura Flaugher The Plague of Doves by Louise Erdrich
The Plague of Doves is densely packed with characters whose lives are endlessly intertwined. It explores the dynamic between the whites of the town and the Ojibwe people of the reservation who intermarry, hate, love, kill, and form deep friendships. My two favorite characters are Mooshum and Shamengwa. These elderly, Ojibwe brothers love to drink and hassle the town priest, resulting in laugh-out-loud hilarity. Their humor is balanced with breathtaking tenderness and complexity. Shamengwa’s violin music has particular significance. “The inside became the outside when Shamengwa played music…The music was feeling itself. The sound connected instantly with something deep and joyous. Those powerful moments of true knowledge that we have to paper over with daily life. The music tapped the back of our terror, too. Things we’d lived through and didn’t want to ever repeat. Shredded imaginings, unadmitted longings, fear and also surprising pleasures. No, we can’t live at that pitch. But every so often something shatters like ice and we are in the river of our existence. We are aware. And this realization was in the music, somehow, or in the way Shamengwa played it.” I highly recommend this book if you want something thought-provoking, substantial, and sensuous to read. Laura Flaugher Marie-Therese: Child of Terror by Susan Nagel
The French Revolution began as the royal family inspired the hate of the poverty-stricken French public. After enduring shocking public uprisings, life-threatening encounters, and foiled attempts to flee the country, the whole royal family was thrown into a filthy prison. Marie-Therese was only thirteen. She remained in a room alone for much of the time, forced to speculate about the deaths of her family members, who had indeed been executed. When she was finally released over three years later, she was undoubtedly changed. This is wherein the mystery lies. Theorists have speculated that another woman took her place in public, while the real Marie-Therese went into hiding. Because they had not seen her for 3 years, people had to compare her image to portraits of her as a girl. Stories of a “dark countess,” living in Germany convinced many that the real princess had left her public life behind. The public Marie-Therese continued to live a remarkable life, most of it in exile from France. Her constant battle to return to France makes for very exciting reading. This true story is punctuated with excerpts from letters, speeches, and memoirs and includes a fantastic section of color paintings and photos. Every well-stocked home library or interesting coffee table deserves a copy of this book. Recommended for historians and drama-lovers alike. Laura Flaugher The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff
After her own scandalous actions, which include trying to maneuver a biplane to rundown a rival, Willie Upton returns to her hometown in shame and possibly pregnant. Looking for a diversion from her troubles, Willie begins digging into the history of her town to determine the identity of her birth-father. Her search uncovers the crazy actions and secrets of her ancestors. This book is a fascinating mix of the truth (real pictures and historically based characters); the fantastic (a lake monster named Glimmey and a woman who possesses telepathic fire-starting capabilities); and the literary (an infusion of characters borrowed from James Fenimore Cooper, including a few from The Last of the Mohicans.) This is a very different story that beautifully communicates the author’s love for her hometown: “One Winter when I was an adult and very far from my hometown, I’d awaken every night, heartsore, haunted by my dreams of my calm little lake. I missed my village the way I’d miss a person. This book came from that long, dark winter; I wanted to write a love story for Cooperstown.” I’m sure you’ll relish these juicy, saucy, and heartfelt stories about the monsters of Templeton. Laura Flaugher Girls of Riyadh by Rajaa Alsenea
By American standards the book is a light read that could easily be classified as a teen novel. The narrator of the story is a woman who sends out an email every Friday to recipients in Saudi Arabia detailing a story about the life of one of her four friends. Gamrah marries a man chosen by her family and is then shipped off to America. Sadeem falls in and out of love. Lamees studies to become a doctor. And Michelle angrily fights against the cultural constraints that bind Saudi women. I found myself eagerly awaiting each new “email.” The soap opera flavor of the book is well balanced with intelligent text and insightful thoughts about the very real social issues facing the Arab world today. For a true vision of Saudi life from the lips of one of their own, read Girls of Riyadh. Laura Flaugher The Pirate's Daughter by Margaret Cezair-Thompson
The author, Margaret Cezair-Thompson, was born in Jamaica and her writing captures the flavor of the island through her authentic descriptions of the land and the people — you’ll have to trust me on this one; I read this book while I was there. Her descriptions of the houses, the Poinciana trees, the strong coffee, the jerk, and the dialect she uses all portray the true Jamaica. The book is filled with fantastic and exciting events that span several classes in Jamaica. Flynn’s wild parties include characters like Truman Capote and strange events like driving a car into a swimming pool. This playing of the rich and famous is balanced with the dirt-poor and dangerous life of Flynn’s daughter May, who lives with many other children in a tenement yard. Add to that her great-grandmother Oni, who lives in the bush and practices “obeah,” a form of magic or witchcraft, and you have a diverse sampling of Jamaican society. This variety creates an enchanting story that will keep you absorbed all the way through. Laura Flaugher The Street of A Thouand Blossoms by Gail Tsukiyama
The Street of A Thousand Blossoms by Gail Tsukiyama is the story of two brothers who come of age in Japan during World War II. This book is about men living life — moving from boyhood to manhood, struggling with trials and heartbreaks, and enjoying the small victories life offers. As their lives are affected by the war, we are able to see what Japan and its people went through from a very intimate perspective. The story follows the brothers for 30 years. Kenji becomes an artist, making masks for Japan’s famous Noh theater. His older brother Hiroshi becomes a powerful and famous Sumo wrestler. “… his youthful agility had rekindled a national passion for sumo wrestling. In a country devastated by atomic bombs that flattened cities and scarred their spirits, Hiroshi’s speed and strength had helped to revive the pride of his nation with every victory.” Tsukiyama’s language, characterization, and storytelling is detailed and delicate. This is a wonderfully interesting story about culture and people. It is well worth the read. Laura Flaugher Peony in Love by Lisa See
Peony in Love is based on ancient Chinese beliefs about death, marriage, women, and the hierarchy of the home. The way Lisa See weaves love into the harshness of this tradition is stunning, beautiful, and heartbreaking. As we follow Peony’s love, the novel continues to highlight the emergence of women in society through their presence in public and through their writing. The book also explores the idea of love, particularly “mother-love.” In this strict environment the showing of love is non-existent and the feeling of love is secret, even the love a mother has for her daughter. Peony wrestles to reconcile this hidden, but ever-present emotion. If you like historical fiction, culture, or stories of strong women this book is for you. Peony in Love is spectacular. Laura Flaugher Little Klein by Anne Ylvisaker
"Harold was recognized as part of the Klein Boys when he was with his brothers, but on his own he was anonymous. His chin did not clear the counter at Gamble Hardware, and he often lost his place in the line at Candy's Candies when people overlooked him." Harold, or as everyone calls him, Little Klein, leads a frustrating life, constantly ignored, until the day he stumbles upon a stray dog. This dog LeRoy pays attention to Little Klein when no one else will. He becomes Harold's best friend and even starts to sleep on his bed to ward off nightmares. Living in the late 1940s in a tiny rural town, the four rowdy Klein boys and LeRoy seek out adventure, build things, fish, and swim in the river. Finally a catastrophic event takes place, leaving Little Klein the opportunity to finally convince everyone to see past his smallness and recognize him a the hero he truly is. Laura Flaugher Christopher's Ghosts by by Charles McCarry
An American citizen living in Berlin, Christopher is the son of a woman whose beauty has provoked the undesired attention of a very powerful Nazi. Christopher’s family is under constant surveillance and must endure countless interrogations at the hands of a self-obsessed, ranting secret policeman. Christopher falls in love with a girl who is a quarter Jewish and must then fight the secret police to protect and hold onto her. This book focuses on the everyday lives of Germans who were not Jewish during the Nazi regime. It details the constant suspicion of each other and the fear German people felt. The novel also explores postwar Germany with a divided Berlin, discussing the Russian recruitment of the Nazis after the war and revealing the “ghosts” that remain for those who survived the Nazi oppression. Laura Flaugher The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella
Samantha Sweeting is a work-obsessed young adult about to make partner at the top law firm in London. Her equally work-obsessed mother and brother have both just cancelled their plans for her birthday dinner, leaving her to be serenaded by the wait staff as she sits alone at a fancy restaurant. Her apartment is a mess, she hasn’t seen the sun in years, and her cleaning lady wants to know if she’s collecting Chinese takeout boxes for a reason. Being a lawyer is her life. When her job is suddenly in jeopardy, Samantha flees London and finds herself in a daze on the doorstep of a large country house. The home-owners mistake her for their new housekeeper and Samantha, unable to communicate clearly, never corrects them. As things look worse for her in London, she decides to continue the charade and try her hand at housekeeping. This big-city girl, who doesn’t know how to turn on an oven or iron a shirt, has a tough time ahead of her. With the help of the hunky gardener she pulls it off and begins learning to enjoy life. This book includes a little romance, some mystery, and a few laugh-out-loud moments. If you’re looking for a quick, light read, this is the book for you. Laura Flaugher The World to Come by Dara Horn
Horn introduces readers to the thief and protagonist of the novel in the very first chapter of the book, a middle-aged former child prodigy by the name of Benjamin Ziskind, a man whose physical infirmities have directed his life on an interesting path. The narrative thread then jumps around, following different episodes in the lives of various members of the Ziskind family tree. Location changes as well, with the reader spending time with Benjamin's maternal grandfather in a Russian orphanage in the 1920s, with it then whisking the reader off to the jungles of Vietnam to follow along with Benjamin's father. All the while, the novel asks the reader to ponder the meaning of the idea “the world to come,” and how certain choices in life are capable of molding a person into who they do or do not want to be, and how one can go about changing. The World To Come is an involving read, one that begins to fly by once the reader gets into the meat the story. It becomes one of the those special books that is difficult to put down as one tries to discover the fate of characters like Benjamin, his sister Sara, her husband Leonid, and Benjamin's love interest Erica. Some of the answers are satisfied by book's ending, while others will leave the reader with answers that will have to be decided by the reader themselves. Even with a lack of traditional resolution, The World To Come does not prove any less satisfying a tale. Instead, it allows the reader to discover more about themselves as they ask themselves what the book really meant. If somehow you missed out on this wonderful offering by Dara Horn, take the time to go back and explore The World To Come , as it truly is one of the most enjoyable and involving books of 2006, with a unique story idea loosely based on a real event. More likely than not, one will decide that The World To Come was well worth the time and effort. For those interested in other works by Dara Horn, the author does have a website at www.darahorn.com. Katelyn Wazny A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon
Haddon’s brilliant talent for showing his character’s idiosyncrasies and faults while not rending the character unbelievable and ridiculous is again on display. The voice that worked so well in his writing of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time makes the situations of all the central characters very understandable. The reader will find relatable moments to each of characters as they all ask themselves the basic question of “Why am I here, and what do I want out of life?” The book’s pacing is good, with chapters alternating between the viewpoints of the various family members. It makes the plot all the more striking when you can see how the characters each try and deal with the struggles everyday life in their own way. In his first novel truly aimed at an adult audience, Haddon’s voice for each of the characters is spot on. One should be warned however, as a A Spot of Bother really is an adult novel aimed at an adult audience, so the novel is much stronger in its adult language and content than the author’s previous offering. Much like his past work, A Spot of Bother has a slightly open ending. The events of the book are not packaged neatly, and not all issues have been resolved. But one does get a sense of where the characters are now heading, and this proves deeply satisfying in the sense that it’s always nice to have a vague hint of where one’s life is heading. For fans of Mark Haddon’s first novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, A Spot of Bother is a must-read. The story is engaging, the pacing is quick, and the tale itself has been artfully crafted by the author. For all fans of good storytelling, A Spot of Bother is well worth the time to sit down with. Katelyn Wazny |
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What do you do when your life goes exactly according to plan? If you’re Jack Griffin, the answer is: Change the plan.
The Painter from Shanghai artfully explores the moving true-story of Pan Yuliang, a talented and controversial painter from the early 20th century. Classified as fiction, this novel was heavily researched and bases much of its story on historical facts. 
What would happen if there existed a portal to an earlier time? What would you do if you unknowingly passed through it?
Looking for a fabulous teen novel? Craving another book like Twilight? Wondrous Strange is a teen novel about the faerie world that will soon be climbing the bestseller charts. 
People of the Book is just plain good. When this novel was released in hardcover, my bookstore coworkers realized that those whose specialties ran from fiction to mystery to history all equally loved this book.
The Plague of Doves is earthy and rich, filled with delicious prose. Set in a small, rural North Dakota town and a bordering Native American reservation, the story spans nearly 200 years. By the time you finish reading this book you’ll feel like you are a part of this tiny settlement of people.
Stories of royalty have fascinated the world for centuries. Marie-Therese is not well known. She is eclipsed by her mother, Marie-Antoinette, and by Napoleon, the usurper of her family’s power. This book tells the true story of her dramatic and tumultuous life.
I had so much fun reading The Monsters of Templeton, by Lauren Groff. This book about small-town life, family ties, and personal mistakes recounts the lives of fictional Templeton residents from the 1800s to present day. These hilarious and sometimes dark characters behave terribly; their lives are full of wonderfully entertaining scandals.
This sharp and witty book, Girls of Riyadh by Rajaa Alsenea, tells the fictional story of four young women in Saudi Arabia. The book was originally published only in Arabic and was immediately banned from Saudi Arabia because of its controversial (by Saudi standards) content. Due to the novel’s black-market success and to a desire to introduce a truer vision of Saudi life to the Western world, the author translated the novel into English. 
The Pirate's Daughter transports you to beautiful culture-filled Jamaica. It is a fictional tale that builds upon the facts of Jamaica’s history: Errol Flynn’s arrival in 1946 and the subsequent filming of his movie “Captain Blood,” independence from England in 1962, the riots in Kingston, and the influx of Cuban refugees after Castro’s army took over Cuba. 
If someone had told me I was about to read a book about war and sumo wrestling, I probably would have said no thanks, so I hope you’ll trust me when I say go ahead and read it anyway; you’ll be delighted. 
I am captivated by Peony in Love. Set in 17th century China, the story is told from Peony’s viewpoint and begins two days before her sixteenth birthday. Peony’s family is wealthy and has high standing in society. Her father shows his modernity by putting on an opera at his home that will be shown to both men and women. The women will “view” the opera from behind a screen, but the fact that men may be able to see their feet beneath this screen is borderline scandalous. Already betrothed, Peony falls in love with a man she meets accidentally and secretly at the opera.
This book is for anyone who has ever felt small, quiet, weak or overlooked. It is an adventurous, wholesome story, perfect for a pre-teen who needs some encouragement and fun. 
Espionage and intrigue—I love this! Christopher’s Ghosts, is a suspenseful, thought-provoking drama that uses the story of its characters to explore the history of Germany from World War II to the Cold War. It follows the story of Paul Christopher, beginning with his life as a young man pre-WWII in Germany, and picking up again after the war, as Christopher works for the newly-formed CIA.
For a fun, entertaining read you should try The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella. This is chick lit at its best, giving you laughs the whole way through.
In the onslaught of the holiday season, it's easy to forget to take time for one's self and curl up with a good book. With the holidays winding down, and winter settling in, take time to investigate one of the best new books of released in the fall of 2006, Dara Horn's novel The World To Come . A mystery story in more ways than one, this novel is far from the typical whodunit; instead, the reader is immediately given view of the theft of a priceless Marc Chagall painting by a former child prodigy convinced that the painting had once hung in his family's living room. The mystery of the book is instead a winding tale spanning several decades, exploring the history of the thief's family and the novel's titular question: what exactly is the world to come? 
For avid readers, the discovery of a talented, new face in a burgeoning book-world with the emergence of Mark Haddon was like stumbling upon a fabulous gemstone covered by gravel. Haddon made a splash with his debut novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Now the celebrated initial entrance is followed up by his latest offering A Spot of Bother.
