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Book Reviews 
Vagilantes by Julie Golden Don't shy away from this book! Pedophilia is not an easy topic. People shy away from it, because it's embarrassing, it's unpleasant, it's shameful. But, it is that very reticence of talking about it that let's these predators continue to do what they do--victimize children. Vagilantes is a novel that makes talking about it more acceptable--one that says: this happens to people, and they are not alone. Lest you get the idea that it's all a serious downer, let me describe the set up. It follows the journey of one woman who discovers that the victimizer of her own childhood has moved in next door--and he's still at it. Understandably, Rayanne's long buried memories and fears surface--leading her to want to stop this man from hurting kids--once and for all. And yet, there are moments of humor--Rayanne is likable. She begins to plot murder. But plots sometimes go awry, and an unexpected twist occurs. The events of Rayanne and her perpetrator becomes part of a larger story, when women in Boulder, Colorado band together to raise awareness, and prevent child sexual abuse. And like most such efforts it's not without the complications caused by differing personalities. You know the ones. Get a bunch of women together and sparks fly--especially when they care so much about a cause. Though these women never intended it...more pedophiles die. This book begins with suspenseful action and doesn't let up. Ms. Golden has created full, realistic characters with which readers will empathize. What happens to Rayanne is unexpected. Along the way, Golden drops little details of life in Boulder, that paint a vivid picture of what makes Boulder weird--but in a good way. This book is a good read, and a page-turner--I finished it in one night. I had to--it was that good. It's a powerful story. I won't forget it for a long time. Sue Campbell
Ape House by Sara Gruen Des Moines plays a starring role, or at least gets a mention, in numerous works big and small but perhaps none so intriguing as its role, or rather the role of one of its better kept secrets, the Great Ape Trust, in Sara Gruen’s latest novel, Ape House. No stranger to the world of human interaction with animals, Gruen also wrote Water for Elephants, the acclaimed novel and recent movie starring Reese Witherspoon. While the amazing abilities of the book’s main bonobo characters, Sam, Bonzi, Lola and Makena, may seem implausible to those not familiar with the Des Moines research facility, their uncanny ability to understand and communicate with humans is not far off the mark, say the scientists at Great Ape Trust who have read the book. Before being allowed to visit Great Ape Trust to research the novel, Gruen spent months studying linguistics and a system of lexigrams. Her research and subsequent study of the bonobos in Des Moines led to more than just a novel; Gruen says she formed lifelong friendships with the apes. Once understanding that the author’s depiction of the bonobos is pretty dead on, the reader can focus on the humans in the story: Isabel Duncan, a scientist working with the bonobos at the fictional Great Ape Language Lab in Kansas, and John Thigpen, a journalist whose life is seems to be heading in the wrong direction. John and Isabel eventually team up to figure out who kidnapped the apes in a dramatic explosion at the lab, creating a reality TV series about them. The brisk read is a series of tumultuous adventures, and the glue that holds it all together, barely, is the bonobos and their incredible ability to develop relationships with humans. Ultimately, the apes may be happier creatures despite the efforts of the hapless humans to muck up their world. Barb Palar
1493 by Charles Mann
Globalization is a bad word in some circles. The idea of looking past (or through) the political and physical boundaries that separate the human race into pockets and looking at the world as a one big machine can be daunting and frustrating. Yet, it really is unavoidable in our current circumstances and we know this whether we like it or not. Once upon a time, however, the global view was brand new. In the follow-up to his first book, 1491, Charles Mann takes a look at how the world was just after Columbus sailed the ocean blue, and turned the world from small, separate pockets of people into a global society. Using a combination of his own observations from traveling, extensive research and conversations with the foremost experts in relevant fields, Mann explores the process of globalizing the world. Using fascinating examples like malaria, rubber plants and parasites, Mann explores the swift changes that took place after that fateful voyage. Written in straightforward, but by no means dumbed down, language and filled with pictures and endnotes for further reading; this book takes the bits and pieces most already know and expands them into a much broader story, the wider picture so many miss in history class. The exchange of ideas, flora and fauna from place to place, the development of the global economy and the lasting impact these changes have had may sound like dry reading, but Mann does a superb job of engaging the reader. It is 500 of the fastest, most entertaining pages this science and history buff has ever read. Julie Goodrich
Sparrow Road By Sheila O’Connor
Twelve-year old Raine is confused when her mother moves them from the Milwaukee apartment they share with Grandpa Mac to a crumbling estate hours away. Her mother has mysteriously taken a summer job at the old mansion, a former orphanage that is now an artists’ retreat run by its stern owner, Viktor. Raine protests the new arrangements and suspects a secret is being held from her. Raine builds relationships with the artists, and they shower her with attention. Josie encourages her to explore the orphanage, and they make visits to the attic where remnants of orphans’ beds, toys, and drawings remain. Diego offers encouragement and advice and helps foster Raine’s talent at writing. Soon it’s revealed that Raine’s mother has brought her to the area because her father, who her mother has never spoken of, lives in the nearby town and wants to meet her. Raine must deal with the shock of this news, then with the range of emotions that surface as she meets her father. As Raine pieces together the history of the estate, she reassembles the history of her own life, its gaps and losses echoed by the orphans’ same. O’Connor offers a beautifully written middle-grade novel with a smart, loveable heroine. All of her characters are well-developed and varied, & you are easily drawn into the world at Sparrow Road. Raine has a hard decision to make that will affect her “good life” as she knew it, but O’Connor leaves you with a satisfying feeling of hope. Catherine Rihm
The Wise Man's Fear (Kingkiller Chronicles #02) By Patrick Rothfuss
Epic fantasy has always had a stigma, telling people your preferred genre is fantasy immediately invokes a label of ‘nerd.’ Times may be changing however, with the success of certain movies and TV shows, showcase the heartstopping drama, rich settings and truly memorable characters that populate some of the best-selling (and yes, nerdy) books around. If you would like to hop on the fantasy bandwagon, the Kingkiller Chronicles by the incomparable Patrick Rothfuss is a fantastic place to start. The Wise Man’s Fear is the second installment, following the second day of Kvothe’s story of his extraordinary life as a man, a hero, and a myth. Kvothe continues his tale of life at the University, where he is learning magic, much to determent of his pocketbook. Without giving too much away, Kvothe leaves the University without finishing his education and manages to find his way to the mythical fae people, where he learns much more than the University could teach him; about love, battle and what it will take for him to avenge his parents’ deaths. Rich with world-building, written with superb eye for detail and filled with humorous interludes and wonderful secondary characters, The Wise Man’s Fear is a thrilling ride through traditional fantasy; spiked with twists and unexpected takes on the expected plot devices. Like many fantasy series, there is a long wait between books for the Kingkiller Chroncles; luckily it’s the kind of book that can be re-read, with tons of new details lurking in the shadows. Julie Goodrich
Go the F**k to Sleep By Adam Mansbach In the world of parenting, bedtime should be an Olympic sport. The never-ending battle that so many dread is illuminated with biting, insightful wit in Adam Mansbach’s new book, Go the F**k to Sleep. Its small size and soft, pleasant illustrations make this book resemble a familiar children’s bedtime story. It isn’t. To be clear, this is not a book for children, but it would make an excellent gift for new parents or parents-to-be, as long as they are not easily offended. Curses grace every page of this delightful book and fittingly so, as there is little in life more frustrating than a sleepless child. The story is told in simple rhymes, featuring kittens, tigers and animals of all sorts- but the main character is a nameless, likely familiar, insomniac human child. The desperate parent who narrates the story is slowly losing their mind as the child does whatever it can to not sleep. It is a story as old as time- and side-splittingly funny, at least when it isn’t happening to you! For even more fun, try to audio book, read by Samuel L. Jackson. Be prepared to laugh harder than you have in a long, long time. There is something about his pained, frustrated voice that fits this book perfectly. His dramatic reading is full of pauses and sighs that elevate the already ridiculous book to new heights. Go the F**k to Sleep has hit the bestseller list by storm, and it isn’t hard to see why. Do yourself a favor and pick up the funniest book of the year. Julie Goodrich
Things We Didn’t Say By Kristina Riggles
Kristina Riggle’s new novel opens as Casey is poised to walk out of her finance’s home, leaving Michael and his three children—and what she thought was going to provide her a fresh start in life. The spark in their relationship has already diminished; they hardly speak at all, much less about a wedding date. Michael is stressed by an ever-threatening layoff and a demanding father, and Casey struggles to hide her former self. And perhaps her move into his home was premature and the responsibility of helping to care for his children and form relationships with them as their soon-to-be stepmother is overwhelming. Before she can leave her ring and Dear John letter, Casey receives word that Michael’s 14-year old son Dylan is missing and temporarily abandons her plan. She stays with the family to keep vigil and help track Dylan down, and Michael’s tumultuous ex-wife tornadoes onto the scene, elevating the tension considerably. As Michael ventures out to find his son, Casey is left to battle with his ex-wife and his resentful teenage daughter, both of whom threaten to expose their newfound knowledge of the secrets of Casey’s past. With outlandish yet believable scenes, Riggle lends an honest, raw portrayal of a dysfunctional family in today’s world and the realistic challenges they can face. Alternating chapters of the different characters’ perspectives showcases their emotions and compels you to read on. Funny and sad, with predicaments seemingly irresolvable, this moving story still leaves you with a sense of hope. Catherine Rihm
Annoying By Joe Palca and Flora Lichtman
I once knew a woman who spent a day taking a licensing exam for her profession. When asked how the test was, she replied, “Annoying.” I remember thinking it was an interesting choice of words, and she never did explain what she meant. Nor did I ask. But help has arrived – Annoying (the book) explains to us in science-can-be-fun terms why we find the little irritations we encounter on a daily basis to be so, well, annoying. The authors even begin by stating that “unlike simple topics such as string theory…the science of what’s annoying is highly complex” because it draws on natural science, social science, and humanities. First up, of course, are cell phone conversations. Aside from the obvious, the authors take us through the three ingredients that form the basis of their theory: 1) We can only hear half of the conversations and our brains become frustrated trying to fill in the blanks; 2) They’re unpleasant; and 3) You don’t know when they’re going to end. Cell phone conversations meet all the criteria, although I’m still not sure about my friend’s test. The authors guide us through a complete sensory feast, taking on chili peppers, bugs, skunks, fingernails and chalkboards (do people really do that, or is it just the idea?), and more. There’s a discussion on annoyance as an emotion, why pleasures can turn into pet peeves, and how one person’s comfort is another’s annoyance. We all have our lists. Annoying fills my three ingredients for a good book: fun, relatable and informative. Alice Meyer
Junonia By Kevin Henkes Honoring his own traditional annual family trips, beloved children’s author Kevin Henkes’ new middle reader novel tells the story of Alice’s tenth family vacation to Sanibel Island. Each February since she was born, her parents take her from wintery Wisconsin to the Florida beach around the time of her birthday. This year will be extra-special since Alice is turning ten while they are there, and she hopes her wish of finding the elusive Junonia shell will be realized. Her excitement is dimmed since they arrive on the island to find their regular holiday lineup has changed. Alice is disappointed to learn some of her favorite people couldn’t make it, and although she looks especially forward to spending time with her mom’s friend Kate, she is frustrated to have Kate arrive with her new boyfriend and his unruly, moody 6-year old daughter, Mallory. Henkes deftly reveals the range of emotions young Alice confronts: she revels in a day spent alone with her parents, is awed by the Junonia birthday cake her mom made for her, and she lingers over her gifts … yet she must face her birthday party abruptly ending at the hands of Mallory, her grievance over her beauty mark, and the realization she may not find the Junonia shell. And, as much as she wants to preserve the comfort and closeness of her parents, newfound independence beckons. In rich, quiet language reinforced by his beach imagery and studded by delicate, simple line drawings heading each chapter, Henkes’ tender observations offer an authentic portrayal of a young girl nearing adolescence. Catherine Rihm
South of Superior By Ellen Airgood
South of Superior is food for the soul. It is set in a tiny Michigan town on the edge of Lake Superior, where life is lived day by day, paycheck by paycheck, and the people find grace and freedom in barely getting by. Readers will enjoy a laid-back story told with a fluid and remarkable writing style that conjures both landscape and characters beautifully. The author never requires the reader to endure any major grief or anguish; but simply showcases life. As a child of three, Madeline’s wild young mother abandoned her in a Chicago church basement. Madeline’s grandfather refused to take her in, leaving her instead to be raised by the woman who found her. Years later, Madeline is preparing for art school, marriage, and home ownership, but can’t escape the feeling that something isn’t right. She leaves this seemingly perfect life and travels to Michigan, in order to help her late grandfather’s girlfriend. The tiny Michigan town she uncovers is full of honest, hardworking people: a woman who makes a living selling fish and maple syrup, a man who owns a little pizzeria, two elderly sisters who once ran the only hotel in town. Yearning to discover her roots and make sense of her grandfather’s betrayal, Madeline instead learns acceptance, simplicity, and joy. This story is compelling, providing interesting events, and characters to root for (and root against!) I recommend this book for those looking for a quiet, lovely, life-affirming read. Laura Flaugher
The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer By Siddhartha Mukherjee
Witty, fascinating and complex; this book is riveting. Mukherjee takes a far deeper look at cancer than has ever been given to the general public; the awful but intriguing disease that has haunted the human race since the dawn of time. He discusses the evolution of the disease and the radical, sometimes unbelieveable ways it has been treated over the years. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, molecular biology, bioinformatics, immunology, epidemiology and supercomputers are just a few of the wide ranging topics that get touched upon as Mukherjee discusses all the ways cancer has affected our lives. Siddhartha Mukherjee is one of those rare scientists who is able to speak so passionately about a subject, but still hold his readers’ attention. It is so nice to be taught by someone so knowledgeable and so very easy to read. The heart-wrenching tales from his patients that pepper the historical bits not only bring the abstract into focus, they force the reader to understand more than just the science; they understand the true magnitude of this generation defining disease. 1 of 4 of us will experience cancer in our lives. We will fight and strive against this ancient foe with the help of oncologists, nurses and ever changing drugs. Any general will tell you that understanding the enemy is a major key to defeating it and so this book becomes the much-needed biography to help us conquer cancer. The Pulitzer Prize for non-fiction is justly deserved here; it would be a shame to miss it. Julie Goodrich
Bent Road By Lori Roy
Wanting to escape the riots developing in Detroit in the 1960s, Arthur Scott moves his wife Celia and three children to his hometown in Kansas. Arthur left the small Midwest farming town twenty years earlier after the mysterious death of his older sister, Eve. Although hoping for safer, less bleak surroundings, his family is immediately met with the isolation of the landscape and the harshness of life on a farm. They are soon greeted by tragedy and violence when a local girl goes missing and when it becomes evident that Arthur’s sister, Ruth, is being abused by her husband. The disappearance of the young girl, who resembles Eve, is a sharp reminder of her death and the secrets that surround it. And, because they both look like Arthur’s littlest daughter, everyone is on edge. Ruth’s husband is suspected in the girl’s disappearance as much as he has been held to blame for Eve’s death decades earlier. Arthur attempts to protect Ruth and his entire family from the dangers that seem to blow in across the plains. In her first novel, Roy deftly describes the sense of place and reflects the starkness of the area in the loneliness Arthur’s wife and children feel there and the dark fears, brutality, and family secrets that they confront. Roy’s many strong characters are very well-developed, and you are quickly drawn in to the lives of the Scott family; her story has elegant twists that bloom suspense, and the tenseness keeps you turning pages to the thrilling end. Catherine Rihm
The Honk and Holler Opening Soon By Billie Letts
One you might have missed… A wonderfully sweet and sad love story, The Honk and Holler Opening Soon, is Billie Letts sparkling follow up to the award winning, Where the Heart Is, her first novel. With her unique, quirky style, Letts brings the town of Sequoyah, Oklahoma to life; full of those hard-living, hopeful people that make small-town life such a barbed joy. Caney is the proprietor of the local diner, where a misunderstanding when he ordered the sign results in the eponymous sign that has long since become a local joke. In the twelve years since the opening, Caney hasn’t left the diner, choosing instead to serve the locals from his wheelchair while nursing the memories and wounds he’s suffered. Everything changes, however, when Vena Takes Horse appears, a thirtyish woman with Crow ancestry who pops up in town with a secret and a three-legged dog. Suddenly seeing things with fresh eyes, the town, Caney and the Honk and Holler all set about adapting to this woman and her unique outlook on life. It isn’t long before Caney realizes that love is within his reach and maybe hope isn’t such a bad thing. Along with the Vietnamese immigrant Bui, Vena teaches the town about acceptance, secrets and the true value of community. The story is heart-warming and real, with a subtle set of lessons wound throughout. If you value good, solid story-telling and a real, if happy, ending, this book is well worth your time. Billie Letts is a fantastic writer and this is one of her best. Julie Goodrich
Bossypants By Tina Fey
Poignant, memorable, startlingly deep and above all, laugh-out-loud funny; Tina Fey’s brilliant memoir is a gloriously fun read. The book winds its way through her surprisingly normal childhood in Pennsylvania, through her early days in comedy and finally up to her hilarious representation of Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live. In between the vignettes on her career, Fey shows bits and pieces of her charming family and doesn’t hesitate to broach the topics that mean the most to her. Women in comedy, in particular, is something Fey speaks about with humor of course, but also the kind of down-to-earth feminism that is seriously lacking in the entertainment industry. Recounting the difficult moments in her career and the delight she found in changing women’s roles in comedy is where Fey’s writing shines. It’s not just her career either, her comments and opinions on motherhood and the life of a working mom really hit home. She explains the ridiculousness of Hollywood, breastfeeding advocates and Republicans in a rich, gut-busting style that makes you think while you roll on the floor laughing. This book showcase the comedy genius that made her a star but she retains so much humanity you can’t help but want to be her best friend. Fey is funny, sweet and smart: "I would not trade any of these features for anybody else's. I wouldn't trade the small thin-lipped mouth that makes me resemble my nephew. I wouldn't even trade the acne scar on my right cheek, because that recurring zit spent more time with me in college than any boy ever did.” Love it! Julie Goodrich
Mothers and Daughters By Rae Meadows
Meadows’ new novel presents the story of three generations of women; she interweaves their tales convincingly. As their stories alternate, we have the opportunity to see each woman as both children and adults and perceive how their lives are shared and connected. Samantha is a new mother, caught off guard by the way motherhood has changed her, altered her relationship with her husband, and preys upon the desire she once had for her work. We meet Iris as she prepares to die. Immobilized by cancer, she spends her time reflecting on her life and dealing with the emotions she’s before now chided. Sam, pregnant with the granddaughter Iris will never meet, stays with her until the end, and Iris has a shocking plan for her final moments. The most compelling and well-developed story is of Iris’s mother, Violet. At the turn of the century, 11-year old Violet is neglected by her mother and joins the urchins on the streets of NYC until she decides to board an orphan train to head West in the hopes of a better life. Nearly a year after Iris dies, Sam goes through a box of her mementos, and she is reminded of how little she knew of her mother and grandmother. While we learn the secrets these three women kept, little was revealed between them. Meadows skillfully portrays how the histories of these women affect and shape one another; it’s intriguing to realize how the various choices these women made impacted each other’s lives. Catherine Rihm
A Visit from the Goon Squad By Jennifer Egan
Quirky and deep are not adjectives that usually apply to the same book. Neither is lyrical, punk-rock, cheeky, sweet, sad and subversive. All of these and more apply to Jennifer Egan’s A Visit from the Goon Squad; a cunningly wrought set of intertwined stories of music, nostalgia, passion and the sneakiness of time... Highly deserving of the copious amounts of praise from critics, including the just awarded Pulitzer Prize for fiction, this book hits just the right combination of literary flair and universal emotion. This line from the opening chapter hooked me instantly and then it got even better: “I’m always happy,” Sasha said, “Sometimes I just forget.” Julie Goodrich
A Stranger in Mayfair by Charles Finch
This absorbing mystery set in cold and rainy Victorian England features Charles Lenox, a wealthy amateur detective. He lives in a quintessential mansion in the most fashionable section of England, equipped with roaring fireplaces, well-stocked drink tables, and stacks of books and maps. He has unimpeded access to all the high-society homes and exclusive clubs in England. The highly-likeable Lenox darts around town with his dashing protégé Dallington (a young and somewhat debauched ladies man), sips clandestine hot-chocolate with his new wife, and gives direction to his precise butler turned Parliamentary clerk Graham (after all, busy Lenox has just been elected to Parliament as well.) The enticing mystery is the question of who murdered a young footman in the servant’s alley of the wealthy Starling home. The suspects include Mr. Starling, who is himself a member of Parliament, his two sons, one slothful the other eager, an exacting housewife, a crazy uncle, a respected butler, and any number of other servants. The sparse clues include a gold signet ring, a very nice suit, and the dead man’s scraped up knuckles. Lenox (and Dallington) have their work cut out for them. The succulent, sumptuous imagery in this novel is magnetic. The delectable charm and cozy settings inspire lengthy reading sessions as much as the unfolding of the riveting mystery does. A Stranger in Mayfair is the fourth book in the “Lenox series.” While it can be read on its own, I wholeheartedly recommend reading each and every book in the series. Laura Flaugher The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag by Alan Bradley
Falling in love with Flavia de Luce is easy to do. Fans of The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie will be happy to find this sequel now in paperback. If you’ve never met Flavia before, you’re in for a treat. Your prior acquaintance is not required in order to start reading The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag. Flavia is the plucky, self-appointed crime solver of her rural English town. She lives in a shabby, old mansion, the third floor of which boasts a fully functional chemistry lab. Flavia spends much of her time here analyzing evidence and concocting pranks (think injecting chocolates with a less than sweet filling to take a condescending older sister down a peg or two.) The rest of her time is spent furiously pedaling around town on her bike to spy on people and perform her investigations. Flavia embodies the independent, intelligently-funny kid we all wish we could have been (think breaking into the library to do some urgent research, outwitting a lead detective, or sneaking into the coroner’s office to observe a dead body without fear.) Her innocence and impudence will have you rooting for her all the way. Snappy dialogue is punctuated with moments that will have you chuckling out loud. The mystery is a delightful puzzle, full of possible suspects, and enough twists to keep you guessing until the end. Can’t get enough of this little whippersnapper? Look for the next book in the series A Red Herring Without Mustard just released in hardcover. Laura Flaugher Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
As we move from the season of hearty soups and stews, it’s also time to take a break from heavy reading. Attachments fits the menu perfectly. Beth and Jennifer are friends and co-workers at a newspaper. When they’re not reviewing films or editing copy, they communicate with each other by highly personal and brutally honest email. Lincoln works the night shift in the IT department. His job is to read emails that have been flagged for inappropriate content. He’s has two master’s degrees but is still nursing a broken heart from college. He lives with his mother and meets friends for Dungeons & Dragons marathons on weekends. As Beth’s and Jennifer’s emails are constantly flagged, Lincoln comes to know all about them – Beth’s boyfriend and his commitment issues; Jennifer’s husband and their pregnancy issues; the Cute Guy in the office (Lincoln himself). He soon realizes he is falling for Beth, but he can’t exactly tell her that he’s been reading her emails all this time. We’re along for the ride as the novel alternates between the emails and the narrative. Ultimately, this is Lincoln’s story as he starts having a social life, gets an apartment, and eventually comes clean to Beth. The characters are likeable and we wish them well. Then there’s the subtext of how we tend to email the person in the next cubicle rather than speak with them, and the fact that we give up all privacy when we login at the workplace. Attachments will put a spring in your step. Alice Meyer Literary Miscellany: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Literature by Alex Palmer
Lord Byron, a notorious laxative-gobbler, suffered from anorexia nervosa. Honore de Balzac drank 50 cups of coffee on a typical day. Edgar Allan Poe earned only $9 for The Raven. Louisa May Alcott was addicted to opium; so, too, was Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Mark Twain smoked between 20 and 40 cigars every day. Kurt Vonnegut managed the first Saab dealership in America. These tidbits and dozens like them appear in “Literary Miscellany” by Alex Palmer. The book may not include everything you want to know about literature, but it includes a surprising plenty. Divided into three sections – Writers, Readers, Works – “Literary Miscellany” ranges from Juvenal to Janet Evanovich, from Sophocles to Stephen King. Focusing on the “unusual aspects of great works and great authors,” Palmer begins with the bards of ancient Greece and travels to the bestseller lists of today. He even draws comparisons between Homer and Jay-Z. This entertaining work traces the origins of genres such as autobiography and memoir, satire and ode, children’s literature and gothic fiction. Topics include literary villains, censorship trials, fictional detectives, film adaptations, and famous last words (James Joyce died asking, “Does nobody understand?”). If you delight to discover that “How to Win Friends and Influence People” was the first paperback to sell one million copies or that Samuel Butler insisted that Homer was an adolescent Sicilian female, “Literary Miscellany” is for you. Owana McLester-Greenfield Earth (the book): A Visitor's Guide to the Human Race by Jon Stewart
A hilarious new book from Emmy winner, Oscar host and Daily Show anchor, Jon Stewart; Earth is a nonstop laugh from cover to cover. A superb follow-up to his bestselling America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction, Jon Stewart ably shows the comedic genius and insightful commentary for which he has become so famous. Set in the form of a narrative to extraterrestrial visitors who land here after the humanity tears itself apart, Stewart pulls no punches as he describes civilization to the aliens. All of our foibles, inconsistencies and strangeness are on display- from environmentalism to parenthood, cities to religion. Nothing is sacred and nothing is off-limits. Full of pictures, graphs and sidebars; this book is a visual delight, upping the hilarity to new levels. This is also an excellent title to listen to on audio book, as Stewart and a whole cast (familiar to those who watch the Daily Show) are wonderfully funny and the dry, text-book like tone just adds to the laughs. In fact, it’d be a great book to both read and listen to, as the experiences are just as funny the second time around. While this is obviously a book of satire and humor, it holds a much deeper message. It’s this dark, ominous look at the near-future; where we are headed as a species, a society, a world- that truly makes this a must-read. The premise itself is a comment on the fact that no one is around to meet the aliens- we’ve destroyed ourselves. It’s a strong message for such a funny book. Julie Goodrich Dead Witch Walking By Kim Harrison
Kim Harrison’s first entry into her wildly popular Rachel Morgan series; Dead Witch Walking is a dark, fantastical romp through a twisted alternate world. Instead of heading to the moon, earth scientists focused on bio-engineering instead. Naturally, this led to a major screw-up and a virus got out, nearly wiping-out the human race. In the meantime, the Inlanders- (witches, vampires, werewolves and other magical sorts) came out into the open and filled in society. Into this strange world we are introduced to smart-talking Rachel Morgan, witch and runner for the paranormal police department, the FIB. It is not an easy job, nor is Rachel all that fond of the place, in spite of being their best runner. One thing leads to another and she ditches the job, which results in a price on her head and no where to go. Throw in a brooding roommate, hilarious secondary characters and a non-stop pace and you’ve got this powerhouse of book, ready to knock you off your feet. Tons of snappy, sparkling dialogue and action scenes speeding along the narrative, the back story and surprisingly detailed alternate history that Harrison has built almost seems to sneak in, fleshing out the story without stalling it. In sum, this book combines the best of both worlds- solid, pitch-perfect writing and awesome thrills and chills to keep readers of all kinds interested. It is a great time, part Harry Potter, part Xena: Warrior Princess and all fun. A great start to a wonderful series. Julie Goodrich The Fates Will Find Their Way By Hannah Pittard
Hannah Pittard’s stunning, quiet debut novel begins with the disappearance of teenager Nora Lindell. When she goes missing on Halloween evening, the news filters through her eastern town, and the young boys she left behind are forced to conjecture as to what happened to Nora that night. Pittard deftly used the cumulative voice of Nora’s male classmates to narrate her captivating story, and this unique format makes for a bright, fresh read and a creative tool to offer the reader the different perspectives the characters have on what became of Nora. Someone saw her get into a beat-up car driven by a man whose description always changes. Someone else saw her at the bus station. She left willingly. She was abducted. She is believed to be living in Phoenix, the mother of twin girls. Someone else saw her with the children at an airport in Arizona. And wasn’t that a glimpse of her on the news, sitting in a café in Mumbai? Even as these boys grow into men, marry, and have families, the memory of Nora’s disappearance lingers and continues to affect them as they go about the routine of their daily lives, imagining scenarios of her fate. Appearances by Nora’s younger sister spark both the plot and the imaginations of the boys. Pittard’s language and descriptions are spot on, so clearly expressing over the course of the novel the steady grip Nora has on the memory and imaginations—on the lives—of these boys. Catherine Rihm Three Seconds by Anders Roslund and Borge Hellstrom
One member of the Swedish writing duo of Roslund and Hellstrom is a former convict; the other is an investigative journalist. Their experiences and insider knowledge have resulted in a gritty heart-thumper of a thriller, Three Seconds. For nine years, former thief Piet Hoffman has served the Swedish Police Service as an undercover agent. Successful because of his criminality, he finally penetrates the highest ranks of Wojtek Security, a front for the Polish Mafia. Trusting in his handler’s assurances of immediate extraction should the situation turn dangerous, Hoffman agrees to a perilous plan: He will enter a maximum-security prison posing as a Wojtek confederate and will thwart the Mafia’s attempt to control amphetamine sales within Swedish prisons. Events do turn deadly. Targeted by Polish inmates and “burned” by self-serving Swedish politicians, Hoffman is everyone’s quarry. A desperate three seconds will mean the difference between survival and oblivion. Three Seconds is excellent on several levels. It fascinates with its disclosures about Swedish drug trafficking and prison life. (The reader learns, for example, that amphetamines nestle in the tulips of flower arrangements sent routinely to prison wardens.) The novel shimmers with its authors’ outrage at the corruption prevalent among Swedish politicians, police brass, and prison officials. And Three Seconds leaves the reader gasping at its startling plot twists, including one of the most ingenious survival strategies depicted in contemporary crime fiction. Owana McLester-Greenfield Hypothermia by Arnaldur Indridason
Arnaldur Indridason is to Nordic crime fiction what John Sanford or Michael Connelly is to American. An award winner and top seller in his native Iceland, Indridason is the author of a series of police procedurals featuring Detective Inspector Erlender Sveinsson. Hypothermia is the sixth work in this exceptional, gripping series. Detective Erlender is a haunted man. He is haunted by his failed marriage and its results – a vengeful ex-wife, an estranged son, and a drug-addicted daughter. He is equally haunted by the loss of his younger brother, who vanished decades earlier in a violent snowstorm. Guilt and grief have created Erlender’s obsession with missing-person cases. In Hypothermia, Erlender pursues not only the missing but the otherworldly. His investigation into the apparent suicide of a wealthy wife leads him to séances, ghostly warnings, and a husband with a history of experimenting on the dead. To his horror, Erlender learns that death due to hypothermia may be other than accidental. That chilling discovery propels the detective into the past, back to the case of the popular college student whose disappearance has taunted Erlender throughout 30 years of police work. Indridason’s outstanding Erlender series quickly becomes habit-forming. Iceland’s bone-chilling temperatures and killing blizzards are the perfect setting for the author’s bleak crime stories. And his guilt-ridden, dogged detective is perfectly suited to this pitiless landscape. Owana McLester-Greenfield The Lake of Dreams By Kim Edwards
Kim Edwards, author of the acclaimed The Memory Keeper’s Daughter, presents her second novel. It features Lucy Jarrett, who returns home to upstate New York when she receives word her mother was in a minor car accident. Lucy is confronted by the changes that have taken place in her family & in their town, & her surroundings conjure memories of the tragic evening her father died. She encounters her high school boyfriend & must face those elements of the past as well. Lucy discovers old papers locked in the cupola of her childhood home and is compelled to research their history. Her curiosity is further sparked when she notices a connection between them & the design in stained glass windows recently resurrected from a chapel on nearby land. The journey Lucy takes to understand the history behind what she’s found reveals a long sequestered family story. The new information permits her to think about her father’s death and her past in a fresh way. It sheds light on the reasons why she left town after her father’s accident and why she has since wandered country to country, pushing herself career-wise & distancing herself in relationships. Edwards provides a compelling and entertaining story with plenty of rich detail that prevents one from getting lost as Lucy pieces together her ancestry and as multiple surprises are exposed. Edwards finishes the puzzle in a persuasive way so that one can believe Lucy’s discoveries allow her to move forward, empowered and grounded in the future by news from the past. Catherine Rihm The Wolves of Andover by Kathleen Kent
The Wolves of Andover is a historical fiction treat. Its compelling action and mystery complement the author’s ability to subtly uncover the tender layers of her characters. In the novel, rough-hewn Martha, with her quick tongue, severe facial expression, and ropy black hair, joins her cousin’s Massachusetts household in 1673. Her straight-forward and hardworking ways quickly become the backbone of the family and frame this tense page- turner. As she prepares for the birth of her cousin’s third child and “puts the house to rights,” Martha discovers that traitors to the King of England are living in her village, “hiding in plain sight.” Four bloodthirsty men are making their way across the Atlantic with evil plans for these traitors, who not only fought against, but eventually beheaded the King. As these despicable men draw near, Martha becomes closer to their main intended target. She reveals the full account of this man’s story from his days as a teenager serving in the King’s guard to his life as a man who wielded the fateful axe. This exciting novel is the most entertaining way to delve into history. The story follows the sordid happenings in England during the reign of King Charles the First and in 17th century New England. Many characters are based on actual people, including the stalwart but lovely Martha, Oliver Cromwell, and Thomas Blood. Fans of The Heretic’s Daughter will be excited to see that The Wolves of Andover is a prequel to this earlier work. Laura Flaugher Lord of Misrule By Jaimy Gordon
Jaimy Gordon has landed in the winner’s circle with Lord of Misrule, garnering a National Book Award for her powerful novel about the seamy side of horse racing. Through four claiming races and one year, readers are pulled into the bleakness of Indian Mound Downs, a last-chance track for has-been horses. On the backs of Mr. Boll Weevil, Little Spinoza, Pelter, and Lord of Misrule ride the few remaining dreams of the novel’s main characters. Greenhorns Maggie Koderer and Tommy Hansel begin the year with optimism and a get-rich-get-out scheme that quickly turns deadly. Medicine Ed, longtime groom and sometimes conjurer, is willing to gamble his potent “goofer dust” to secure a trailer for his retirement. The old gypsy and hotwalker, Deucey Gifford, has luck enough for only one horse. Two-Tie, a blacklisted loan shark, sees in Maggie his last opportunity for redemption and escape. Menacing all of these down-and-out residents of the backside of the track is Joe Dale Bigg, lead trainer and petty mobster, who despises the very horses he commands. These hapless characters become immediately real through Gordon’s mastery of racetrack language. The lingo of the Downs makes an alien world both familiar and unforgettable. Lord of Misrule deserves its prestigious prize. The novel is superb in its depiction of the soul-killing business of claiming races. Fittingly, the final settings are a rendering plant and a mental institution. Owana McLester-Greenfield The Name of the Wind By Patrick Rothfuss
With plenty of clichés filing out this thick book- the epic journey, the revenge quest, the dragon and even the oft-used formula of a story within a story- it would seem to be a blip book. A blip book? That’s my personal term for books that read once and forgotten. However, The Name of the Wind by the exceedingly talented Patrick Rothfuss is far more than a typical, mindless, fantasy novel. None of the familiar devices used seem old or worn. Every aspect, from the characters, to the world-building to the plot itself seems fresh and new. This book, the first in a projected trilogy, is full of action, adventure and the kind of characters that jump of the page. The tale begins in that fantasy institution, an inn. We meet the seemingly ordinary innkeeper; rough, grouchy and a little too innocent. Soon, the innkeeper is spilling his guts to a chronicler, recounting the deliciously complex story of his childhood. With a hearty dose of tragedy along the way, the young man we now know as Kvothe (pronounced like ‘quothe’) starts to become something much more than ordinary. This is a wonderful book, a great example of literary skill making something extraordinary out of a common, well-used form. For those who think they don’t like books with magic and dragons, or those who think genre fiction is repetitive and poorly written; this could be a bridge into the wide, weird and wonderful world of fantasy fiction. Julie Goodrich The Sherlockian By Graham Moore
Fans of Arthur Conan Doyle and his immortal detective will be delighted withThe Sherlockian by Graham Moore. A century separates the novel’s two narratives, with each plotline offering readers a suspenseful Sherlockian mystery to unravel. In 1900, Arthur Conan Doyle is at ease in his luxurious country mansion. Although the reading public remains outraged, after seven years, over Sherlock Holmes’ death at the Reichenbach Falls, Conan Doyle refuses to resurrect the sleuth he grew to despise. Only when a letter bomb explodes in his library and that bomb is linked to a murdered young bride is the writer catapulted from his complacency. Ignored by Scotland Yard, Conan Doyle recruits Bram Stoker as his Watson. The dark secrets of their frenetic search for a serial killer Conan Doyle commits to his daily journal. That crucial diary disappears. Unseen after 1900, it becomes “the Holy Grail of Sherlockian studies, worth a fortune.” In 2010, Harold White becomes, at 29, the youngest member ever inducted into the Baker Street Irregulars, the pre-eminent organization devoted to the study of Sherlock Holmes. When a fellow Irregular is found dead soon after announcing that he has discovered the elusive diary, Harold assumes the role of the revered detective and pledges to solve the mystery of the dead scholar and the twice-stolen diary. The Sherlockian is an ingenious work. Teasing readers with clues derived from the original stories and novels, The Sherlockian teems with historical references and fascinating trivia about the world’s greatest consulting detective. Owana McLester-Greenfield 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus by Charles C. Mann
In the same vein as the hugely popular Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond, this interesting history discusses the newest finds with regard to the indigenous peoples of America before the arrival of the Europeans. With an easy reading style and an involving narrative, Charles Mann takes the reader through the development of the native cultures and what it meant for them when Columbus and the many that followed interrupted the evolution of their cultures. This book takes a heavy look at the newest studies and excavations that seek to answer the questions that abound about what these continents were like before they were discovered by the white man. This eye-opening new evidence challenges the idea that before Europeans, Native tribes were sparse, backward and underdeveloped. There is vast evidence, for example, that the vast forests of South America were man-made. There is also some interesting research into the philosophical traditions in the Aztec empire that suggests they could rival their European counterparts. Mann is attempting to give a clearer picture of the Native Americans than many receive, even in higher education. This picture allows us to see not only what life was like when Columbus landed, but the vastness of the culture and how it was built. These cultures were highly civilized and complex; there were large cities with organized agriculture, advanced science and intense politics. These continents were not wildlife preserves with a few people, but thriving cultures. It’s this window into the past that makes this book a must read for any fan of history. Julie Goodrich Every Dead Thing by John Connolly
Dark, gruesome and wickedly plotted, this is a classic crime story with a deep, melancholy twist. NYPD detective Charlie Parker comes home to a horrific scene- the murdered and mutilated corpses of his wife and daughter. Leaving his life in blue behind, he devotes his time to finding the killer. Parker is flawed, as all the best literary detectives are and is consumed with guilt. The specter of his failure to protect his family hangs heavy throughout the book. On the surface, the plot seems like a typical serial killer hunt, but there are many more threads, pulling tight, as the plots align and destiny seems at hand. Parker’s introspective, wavering mental state adds to the almost supernatural atmosphere of the story. That atmosphere is brought even deeper as Parker travels to New Orleans, the queen of spooky cities, to discover what he can about the ‘Traveling Man’ the man who killed his family. This first book by Irish journalist John Connolly is a twisted, elegant ride.. Written with a measured pace and subtle, brilliant prose; this is the mystery book for people who don’t like mysteries. It will also appeal to the wide swath of mystery fans looking for something new and just a bit different. Lucky for us, Connolly didn’t stop here; this is only the first of the Charlie Parker novels, but even as a stand-alone, the beauty of the prose and rich storytelling of Every Dead Thingwill resonate with readers of all types. Julie Goodrich Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters by Barack Obama
The history of thirteen amazing, talented, important Americans is told in lovely, flowing prose by the leader of the free world. Illustrated by the incomparable Loren Long, award winner for his fantastic Otis, this dreamy but powerful letter is a top seller this holiday season for many good reasons. Beginning with the line, “Have I told you lately how wonderful you are?” and continuing on this lovely, positive note, the book tells the tales of historical heroes such as Georgia O’Keefe honored for her creativity, Jackie Robinson chosen for his bravery, Sitting Bull portrayed as a healer and Abraham Lincoln, picked to show the importance of family. There are lessons here, and stories to be told, but the text is simple and short, rather than intense or preachy. There is a light, rhythmic quality to the writing that touches on important topics and times in history without being dull. It truly captures the imagination. This gorgeous book, filled with subtly beautiful pictures, would be a wonderful addition to any young child’s library. The graceful, almost old fashioned artwork suits the cadence of the words perfectly and retains enough complexity that it will take more than one or two reads to really appreciate the beauty Loren Long has created. Regardless of politics or the position of the author- this book was actually written before he was president- this powerful book can show children how the contributions of a single person can inspire millions, change the course of history or even just fuel the imaginations of children. Julie Goodrich Simple Times: Crafting for Poor People By Amy Sedaris
In the words of humorist Amy Sedaris, “Being poor is a wonderful motivation to be creative.” With that statement in mind, dive into her wonderful new book, Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People. The follow-up to her best-selling, I Like You, Sedaris’ new book complements and expands on the crafts and projects of her entertaining first book and is filled with her special brand of over-the-top humor. The photo spreads in this artful book are absolutely amazing. It isn’t surprising to learn a team of crafters and designers went into the design. While many of the crafts depicted garner more laughter than an actual desire to make them, it is that whimsical, crazy humor that makes this book so great. For example- ‘Poor Man’s toffee’ consists of boiling a can of condensed milk for a few hours and eating the result right out of the can. To beautify this dish, Sedaris recommends removing the label from the can. There is the lovely, ‘Rusty Nail Wind Chime’ and the useful, ‘Decorative Fly Strips.’ The recipes include angel food cake, a variety of crock-pot delights and even sausage. True to the title, most the recipes and crafts are made with found or super cheap materials. In these difficult economic times, this type of cheap crafting and the celebration of the “joy of poverty” is hard to beat. It would make a great gift for a crafter or fan of Sedaris, either sibling. Buy one for yourself too; after all you’ll never know when you’ll need a salt igloo or tinfoil bracelet! Julie Goodrich Merit Badges By Kevin Fenton
Minnesota author Kevin Fenton’s intelligent book offers a unique style, superbly built characters, and a refreshing dose of humor. Fenton’s debut novel follows four friends from junior high into their forties. Each of these four strong voices narrates the book, with the narrator changing each chapter. Each chapter has a title that is the name of a Boy Scout merit badge and its requirements; this wittily sets the scene for the tender story to follow. The friends meet as teens in the small town of Minnisapa, Minnesota as they wade their way through junior high. Their characters are so expertly developed that if you don’t recognize yourself in one of them, they’ll easily call to mind someone that they remind you of. Slow is a teenage father figure, smart and responsible; he watches over everyone else. Quint dives into self-destructive rebellion after he learns of his father’s death, turns to drugs and drinking, & inevitably meets up with the law. Chimes is the mainstay—laid back, fairly untroubled, steady; he grounds the others. Barb simultaneously vies to be one of the boys while bucking against them; she gets out of the town to escape it yet soon hustles right back to its security. A masterful blend of the funniness and the type of gut-wrenching pain that can crop up as you make your way through life, Fenton’s novel shows that as hard as it was for the four to get through life in Minnisapa, it just may be the best place for them still. Catherine Rihm Storm Front (The Dresden Files #1) by Jim Butcher
The only wizard in the Chicago phone book, Harry Dresden is half hard-boiled PI and half Merlin the Magician. With a wry sense of humor and a fantastic cast of characters, the first entry into the long-running series is a blast from page one. Action, adventure and mystery, what’s not to like? Working in his part-time role as weirdness consultant to the Chicago PD, Harry takes on a gruesome case that is obviously steeped in magic, the bad kind. Detective Karen Murphy handles the mundane side of things and Harry tracks down fairies, vampires and mob bosses; trying to get to the bottom of things before he loses more than just his paycheck. The story is a fun little mystery and the world Butcher has created is just real enough to believe, with enough of a twist to make it fun. However, the real star is Harry and his cadre of friends and associates. All the characters are well-drawn and fully fleshed out, with quirks and attitudes that jump off the page. Harry’s downtrodden pessimism has just enough hope to make him truly endearing. Detective Murphy’s women-in-a-man’s-world attitude makes her easy to cheer for and the friendship she has with Harry is a real and fallible. This book is a winner, highly recommended to anyone who loves mysteries, magic or thrillers. The series is a bestseller for a reason. Its hard resist lines like, “…just because you're paranoid doesn't mean that there isn't an invisible demon about to eat your face.” Julie Goodrich Instructions By Neil Gaiman
Instructions is a poem, intended to tell the reader, "everything you'll need to know on your journey." Be that a journey through a fairy tale, a dream, a story or even just through life. It is a wonderfully whimsical poem, filled with adventure and excitement, told with an enchanting rhythm and style that quickly envelops the listener. It is one of the most amazing children’s poems ever written. Illustrated by the incomparable Charles Vess, the accompanying illustrations bring the poem to life. From the wooden gate at the beginning of the journey to the colorful animals and characters met along the way; the charming castle and fantastical garden- the artwork whisks the reader into the poem and enhance the wonderfully lyrical words. The world of the poem isn’t a particular land or place, but it contains bits and pieces of familiar tales and stories, as it tries to elicit the general feeling of a fairy tale without narrowing itself to one. That feeling of an old, timeless tale pervades the poem and the beautiful pictures.
Neil Gaiman is an international treasure, regularly crossing genres with his enormous talent and brilliant style. He has managed to enchant the hearts and minds of millions through his incredible variety of works. In Instructions he once again informs and teaches while entertaining in a book that is really suitable for all ages. After all, the chief lesson of the story applies to everyone, young or old- “Trust dreams, trust your heart and trust your story.”
Julie Goodrich At Home: A Short History of Private Life by Bill Bryson
History buffs, trivia fans, and the out-and-out curious will delight in Bill Bryson’s At Home: A Short History of Private Life. An interest in his own home – an 1851 former rectory in a sedate English village –prompted the Des Moines native to create this examination of household life during the last 150 years. As stated, his intention was to “write a history of the world without leaving home.” Acting as tour guide and teacher, Bryson conducts readers through his sprawling Victorian home, spouting absorbing historical facts as he ambles along. Drawing room, scullery, dressing room, library – every area illustrates the author’s thesis that “houses aren’t refuges from history. They are where history ends up.” Moving with Bryson from room to room, readers learn about the origin of the spice trade, the introduction of fuse boxes, the evolution of inexpensive books, and the modernization of toilets. Readers learn that fashionable men once wore six-inch spike heels and that Thomas Jefferson grew 23 different types of peas. Readers learn that, for decades, ice was America’s second-largest crop. Readers learn about buttons and burial grounds, about Beau Brummel and bat guano. In fact, readers learn a great deal in “At Home. The tour through Bill Bryson’s home is a tour through decades of domestic life. The author is a likable, lively, loquacious host, easily envisioned in tweed coat and carpet slippers. Readers will be charmed by his house and fascinated by his history lessons. Owana McLester-Greenfield Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary By David Sedaris
In this hilariously strange and insightful collection of fables, David Sedaris transfers his trademark wit and charm from humans to animals. Using his talent for exposing foibles and faults in painfully humorous ways, Sedaris has managed to make some wickedly dark and honest statements about humanity using animals for characters. The Squirrel and The Chipmunk, for example, is a bleak look at racism where a chipmunk’s family talks her into breaking up with a squirrel because he isn’t like them. The Mouse and the Snake is a grotesque parable about a mouse who keeps a snake as a pet, with a predictable ending. The Parenting Storks is a dark and disturbing view of modern parenting with a vividly drawn ending. The illustrations through out the book are wonderfully amusing and a little chilling, which fits the stories perfectly. Ultimately, the tales in this book are stark observations of human weakness and the wide-range of shortcomings found in everyday situations and interactions. The style is definitely different than past Sedaris works, but the tone and style we know and love are still present. It almost seems as thought the translation to fictional animals, as his writing device has made the work even more distilled and honest. Humanity is not always pretty, and using animals as stand-ins, Sedaris is able to expose that darkness with startling clarity. These stories are not for the faint of heart, but there is a haunting wisdom to be found here, that is worth the cringe-worthy moments. Julie Goodrich Stork By Wendy Delsol
Following the adventures of the spunky Katla as she adjusts to life in Norse Falls, Minnesota; Stork is a fun and quirky read from a great new local author, Wendy Delsol. Firmly in the ‘young-adult’ category that is so popular these days, this breezy story begins with the 16-year old main character missing her action-packed life in LA. Unfortunately for her, she’s stuck in the freezing north of Minnesota, where her fashion sense gets her stares instead of admiring looks. Add in a few social hiccups, including a run in with the popular boy in town and a weird connection to the apple delivery boy and Katla really feels out of place. The strangeness takes on a whole new level when Katla learns she is a ‘Stork,’ a member of a society that's responsible for choosing to whom a baby will be born. Combining lots of wonderful Norse mythology with humor and a bit of romance, Stork is a quick, pleasant read suitable for preteens and teens, especially girls. The writing is sharp and funny with a style that will appeal to the younger generation for sure. However, there is enough substance and creative world-building to capture the attention of adults as well. The unusual bits of magic and interesting uses of mythology are really were this book shines. Delsol has a fantastic imagination and all of the characters have plenty of realism and depth. I am already excited for the sequel. It’s really great to have such a talented author here in Des Moines. Julie Goodrich Bury Your Dead By Louise Penny
Louise Penny never fails to surprise. In her most recent Chief Inspector Gamache mystery, the Canadian author creates not one but three equally significant plot threads. As Penny unravels that threefold strand, she topples her heroic main character from the pedestal she has crafted for him throughout five previous novels. The surface plot finds an emotionally shattered and physically wounded Gamache recuperating in Quebec City. His recovery is short-circuited when he is asked to investigate a murder that threatens to ignite the smoldering tensions between the English and French populations of that divided city. A second plot line, conveyed through wrenching flashbacks, reveals an earlier terrorist attack on a crucial Canadian dam. The mistakes Gamache makes while pursuing the terrorists have devastating consequences – for a young Surete agent, for Gamache’s homicide team, and for the Chief Inspector himself. In the third plot line, Gamache begins to question his handling of a murder case he closed six months earlier. Haunted by his recent errors in judgment, the Chief Inspector sends his second-in-command back to the village of Three Pines to re-examine evidence that led to the imprisonment of the local bistro owner. With this astonishing move, Louise Penny, in essence, rewrites her previous novel, “The Brutal Telling.” Readers will savor this newest addition to a highly acclaimed series. A beautifully descriptive style, complex characters, emotionally charged scenes, and unexpected twists are Penny’s constants. If her protagonist must now be seen as a flawed and fallible leader, he remains a profoundly admirable man. Owana McLester-Greenfield Manhood For Amateurs: The Pleasures and Regrets of a Husband, Father, and Son By Michael Chabon
Pulitzer-prize winning novelist Michael Chabon presents his second collection of essays, a volume of autobiographical pieces showcasing his reflections on being a husband, a father, and a son. He offers personal insight into his childhood, writing about growing up in the 1970s in suburban Maryland & comparing those unfettered times with his own children’s experience in Berkeley, California today. There are candid stories of drugs and sex, beautiful reflections on religion and writing, wry and witty observations on the expectations of gender in terms of family roles and responsibilities. Almost all of the essays are humorous, and each is wholly insightful Chabon arranges the book into sections housing themes such as Strategies For the Folding of Time, where he discusses Legos & Captain Underpants; Styles of Manhood, in which he takes on carrying a man-purse, or murse—his version of a diaper bag; and Studies in Pink & Blue, a piece where he contemplates the differences between his sons and daughters—indeed, men and women—as they all sit drawing at the kitchen table. He describes himself as a passionate amateur, someone devoted to exploring the imaginary world and oneself, and is so pleased to join his wife in raising their four children to be likeminded in their enthusiasm for connecting with the world and all it offers. And his writing here points always to his passion for his family. Look also into his wife’s book, Ayelet Waldman’s Bad Mother—simultaneously out in paperback this past May—for another response to parenthood and marriage. Catherine Rihm Mockingjay By Suzanne Collins
The final book in the bestselling Hunger Games Trilogy explodes off the first page and doesn’t let up until the subdued but ultimately satisfying epilogue. Even more so than first two books, this stunningly well-written finale is full of action and adventure, heartbreaking moral questions and the kind of twists that take your breath away. Having once again survived the arena and emerged victorious, Katniss is taken to District 13, the shadowy league of rebels who no one knew existed. The only problem it, Peeta isn’t with her. Caught by the capitol, Katniss can barely keep herself together, let alone lead the rebels as she is being asked to. Still in turmoil about her feelings, Katniss must take up the mantel of the Mockingjay and become the symbol of the rebel movement- it is the only way the uprising stands a chance. Together with the questionable rebel leaders and some old friends, Katniss must decide what is really important and make some soul wrenching sacrifices along the way. Katniss and the reader are taken on a nonstop emotional rollercoaster as the story thunders to its conclusion. The twists and turns develop the already strong story even more and the characters become even more complex. The ethical issues and political themes become even broader as an entire nation fights for survival. The fight of the individual against oppression takes a backseat this time to the plight of humanity under tyranny and what it really means to be free. This is a fantastic conclusion to a must-read trilogy. Julie Goodrich Bryant & May Off the Rails by Christopher Fowler
Arthur Bryant and John May are back in another of Christopher Fowler’s addictive “Peculiar Crimes Unit” mysteries. Bryant and May Off the Rails is the eighth novel to feature “London’s most senior detectives,” the elderly and unlikely partners who spearhead the Home Office’s Peculiar Crimes Unit. Bryant is a disheveled, gaunt, “disreputable old salmon” who lives in the past and deals in facts. May is a dapper, techno-savvy, one-time ladies man who handles “the messy human stuff.” As “Off the Rails” opens, the Peculiar Crimes Unit is in disgrace for allowing a serial killer to escape custody. Relegated to a dilapidated warehouse, the PCU faces an ultimatum: Recapture the “King’s Cross Executioner” (aka Mr. Fox) within six days, or the Unit will be disbanded. Complicating the detectives’ search is a spate of murders in the King’s Cross tube station. What links the deaths of a young mother, a hapless junkie, a university student, and a bar manager? What meaning lies behind the Unit’s only clue – a Victorian symbol denoting both lunacy and anarchy? Are the new murders the work of Mr. Fox, or are Bryant and May dealing with another, more fearsome predator, a giant bat-like creature said to haunt the Underground? In “Off the Rails,” Fowler once again creates an array of convincing characters and a suspenseful, intricate plot. The author once again displays his impressive knowledge of London past and present, this time capturing the shadowy world of the Underground and bringing that menacing labyrinth vividly to life. Owana McLester Greenfield Mr. Peanut by Adam Ross
With Mr. Peanut, Adam Ross has written a marvel of a debut novel. On one level, Mr. Peanut is a suspenseful murder mystery, and questions confound the reader. Did David Pepin really murder his wife, Alice? Or is he guilty only of endlessly fantasizing about killing her? Did Pepin hire Mobius, the enigmatic assassin, to engineer Alice’s death? Is Mobius real or a sinister product of David’s obsession? Even more puzzling, why would Pepin wish to rid himself of the woman he so clearly adored? One of two detectives determined to solve the Pepin riddles is Sam Sheppard. Yes, he is that Sam Sheppard, the real-life, one-time doctor who – in the sensational trial of the 1950s – was convicted of killing his own wife, Marilyn. (Sheppard, exonerated after spending 10 years in prison, was impetus for The Fugitive television series. On a deeper level, Mr. Peanut uses a predominantly male viewpoint to examine the love-hate tension that defines marriage. Depictions of the tortured marriages of Pepin and the two case detectives raise additional disturbing questions: Can any marriage be truly happy? Are hatred and violence the inevitable consequences of love? Resting upon the story within a story framework, Mr. Peanut offers the reader haunting vignettes and provocative themes, along with telling references to Alfred Hitchcock movies, M. C. Escher drawings, and the Mobius strip. This novel is dark and intricate and extraordinary. Adam Ross is certainly a writer to watch. Owana McLester Greenfield Room by Emma Donoghue
Room is a dazzling work. A large part of the author’s achievement lies in her creation of Jack, the five-year-old narrator of the novel. For his entire life, Jack – along with his mother – has been locked in the 11’ x 11' soundproofed, lead-reinforced Room of the title. For Jack, Room is a complete world. It is a home in which each object is named and loved – Bed, Rug, Rocker, Watch. Whatever Jack can see and touch is real; all else is “TV.” Because of Ma’s inventiveness, Jack’s days are a satisfying routine of education and activity. In the structure and security that Room provides, Jack enjoys an almost perfect happiness. For Ma, however, Room is a horror – a cell in which Old Nick, abductor and rapist, has imprisoned her for seven years. Enduring continual abuse and unpredictable tortures, Ma protects Jack and tries, impossibly, to raise him as a normal child. Fear of abandonment by their suddenly jobless captor compels Ma’s process of “unlying” – telling Jack the truth about their situation – and planning their Great Escape. In Room, Donoghue does much more than examine the consequences of an unspeakable crime. Heartbreaking and exhilarating by turns, the novel explores the subjective definitions of home and happiness, as well as the courage required to adapt and prevail. Further, this haunting work illuminates the extraordinary sacrifices parents and children make for each other in the name of love. Room has been nominated for the Man Booker Prize. Owana McLester Greenfield Silencing Sam by Julie Kramer
Minnesota mystery writer Julie Kramer is back with the third installment of the Riley Spartz series. In “Silencing Sam,” Riley, an investigative reporter for a Minneapolis TV station, has her hands full right off the bat. A headless corpse has turned up in the city, her boss puts the new reporter on the case, and she has a run-in with a gossip columnist from the newspaper. Things go from bad to worse for Riley when the gossip columnist is murdered. Not only were there witnesses to her run-in with him, but she has no alibi for when the murder took place. Her Homeland Security boyfriend was out of town on a hush-hush case himself and Riley cannot prove that she simply went to bed early that night. She secretly investigates both cases, but wonders where the new reporter is getting his information. Meanwhile, on the Iowa-Minnesota border, mysterious things are happening on a wind farm. Who has the grudge – environmentalists concerned about the turbines’ effects on the bat population? Residents who don’t want the turbines on the landscape? Farmers who feel left out because they did not get turbines on their property? A former TV news reporter herself, Kramer shines with her timely behind-the-scenes newsroom stories. When a consultant insists that all news staff establish Facebook pages, the race is on among the reporters to see who can acquire the most friends. Internal and external competition, youth vs. age, secret fact-gathering and some fun subplots make this a good read while there is still deck time. Alice Meyer The Quickening by Michelle Hoover
Enidina Current is weeding her new farm rows by hand when a strange woman calls to her from the fields. Enidina, heavyset and sturdy, covered in soil, faces Mary Morrow, birdlike and delicate, wrapped in a gold-threaded shawl. It is the turn of the century as Michelle Hoover’s first novel opens, and the two women are meeting as neighbors, living less than half a mile from one another on adjacent Midwest farms. They have little in common, differing not just in physique but in temperament and beliefs. Enidina turns to her land, animals, and family, matched by her husband Frank, with his easy ways, humor, and staunch work ethic. Mary is uncomfortable in the rural setting, immerses herself in the local church with religious fanaticism, and is at odds with her husband Jack, who ardently works their farm and fumbles with his raw, violent nature. Yet the women are bound by the times, and as the Great Depression looms—their livelihoods and families further threatened by weather and other events—they struggle through these hardships and tragedies as much as they struggle with one another. The women share the narrative, and Hoover deftly creates their separate worlds and describes with intensity how they battle between needing one another for comfort and help during trying times of loss and conflict and bucking this reliance as secrets and betrayal surface. Ames, Iowa native Hoover delivers an emotional debut novel based on her great-grandmother’s journal; it pulls you immediately and fully into the lives of these two women. Catherine Rihm Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
The second book in the bestselling Hunger Games Trilogy, Catching Fire is a deep, emotionally charged book with wonderfully complex character development and a fast paced plot. Full of moral quandaries and achingly stark writing, it takes this already brilliant series to a whole new level. Crowned as the first pair of victors in the 74th Hunger Games, Peeta and Katniss have become world famous celebrities for their star-crossed love story. Katniss struggles with the reality of that love story throughout the book, challenging her feelings at every turn. Starting when they spend weeks traveling to the other districts on their victory tour, things begin change. They learn about their world and what it really means to be under the Capitol’s thumb. Meanwhile things have changed drastically back home in District 12 and not in a good way. When her best friend Gale is gravely hurt, Katniss is thrust into even more moral and emotional turmoil as she wrestles with what is real, what is right and what has to be done. Conspiracies and romance, ethical dilemmas and heart pounding action; Catching Fire has something for everyone. This series may be marketed towards young adults, but the charming characters, political overtones and sharp writing will appeal to adults and children alike. Catching file is a worthy sequel, filling out the story and deepening the reader’s connection to the characters. It matches The Hunger Games perfectly, including the almost painfully wrenching cliff hanger at the end. Julie Goodrich One More Theory About Happiness by Paul Guest
At the age of twelve, Paul Guest was injured in a bicycle accident while celebrating at a teacher’s home with other gifted students at the end of the school year. Misguided efforts at first aid resulted in surgeries and physical therapy that did nothing to save him from quadriplegia. Now 27, Guest is an accomplished poet. But in this work of prose, he offers up his story of his past, present and future with a candidness that does not ask for sympathy or admiration. He simply lays it out – the dashed hopes of getting better, the intimacy of having aides tend to every need, the hurriedness of bus drivers pulling up to the stop only to tell him the chairlift is broken (which happens more than you might imagine). He tells us that “disability isn’t about the loss of control as it is about the transferal of it.” Guest goes off to college, then graduate school, and on to becoming a published poet and college instructor. And while each stage of his life comes with its own set of challenges, he addresses them with startling insight. His emergence as a poet and writer is a story in itself – the first poem he writes doesn’t mean what he thinks it means, but he is able to draw something out of it. He can’t just jot down a though or an idea as it comes to him; something most of us take for granted. The memoir doesn’t contain any poems, but I’ll be seeking out “My Index of Slightly Horrifying Knowledge” to read more. Alice Meyer The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan
In the first literary offering from well-loved film director, Guillermo Del Toro, The Strain delivers the kind of face paced action and fantastical horror one expects from a Hollywood master. As is so often the case though, the written story goes much deeper than anything the silver screen can deliver. The Strain is an impressive feat with vivid scenes and smooth writing and a great addition to the horror genre. The first in a proposed trilogy, the story starts with a creepy Eastern European folk tale about a feeble man who disappears, only to return strong and healthy with no explanation. That tale quickly becomes much more haunting as the action begins in the present day and a plane landing at JFK turns into a national mystery as all the people on board are dead. Dr Ephraim Goodweather of the CDC begins to investigate the incident, but soon it becomes clear the issue is not just limited to a few people on a plane. Soon Dr. Goodweather, with the help of Abraham Setrakian, a pawnshop owner and holocaust survivor, is drawn into an epic battle against a disease out nightmares. Written very much like an action movie script, but still retaining the extra depth of a novel, this book is full of brisk, sharp writing and snappy characters who quickly earn sympathy as they fight to save the world. Attention-grabbing from the first page, The Strain is difficult to put down and makes for a great vacation read, just not a plane! Julie Goodrich The Passage by Justin Cronin
The Passage is the big blockbuster book of the summer with good reason. It’s a huge 700+ pages and even bigger in terms of action and great storytelling. Peppered with endearing characters, a surprisingly fast pace and crisp writing, The Passage is everything you could want in a summer read. The Passage opens with the sad story of a little girl from Iowa, told in the hauntingly stark prose Cronin does so well. From this short tale, the reader is launched into a near-future that is almost too plausible, until a secret government project goes awry. Suddenly, life on earth is forever altered by the horrific destruction wrought by a science experiment gone wrong. Those left to strive and endure in the post-apocalyptic world and their trials make up the bulk of the story. It is these well-developed characters and their epic journey that really hooked me. Their voices served to intensify the action scenes and provided a depth that lifted a good story into a classic I know I’ll re-read. Set to be turned into a movie, this book has earned a huge following already and I urge you not to skip it. It may seem like a daunting task but it is well-worth the effort. Rich and complex, but written with a deceptively simple style; full of action but still character driven; beautiful writing with a hearty dose of science; this book really can appeal to anyone. Besides, you wouldn’t want to be the only one who hasn’t read it, would you? Julie Goodrich The Murder Room: The Heirs of Sherlock Holmes Gather to Solve the World’s Most Perplexing Cold Cases by Michael Capuzzo
Mystery lovers, true-crime fans, and anyone looking for a fascinating read will be fascinated by The Murder Room, a mesmerizing account of the men who solve the world’s most puzzling and sinister crimes. The book recounts the history of the Vidocq Society, an elite group of detectives, FBI agents, criminologists, and the like, who meet regularly over a sumptuous lunch to mull over long-unsolved murders. Named for legendary French detective Francois Vidocq, after whom Conan Doyle modeled Sherlock Holmes, the Vidocq society was the brainchild of three investigators who themselves are quirky and intriguing enough to seem fictional. William Fleischer is a former FBI agent haunted by the unsolved murder of a young nameless boy; Frank Bender is a tremendously gifted forensic sculptor who seems to speak with the dead; and criminal profiler Richard Walter is a lanky, chain-smoking incarnation of Sherlock Holmes, who can look at a crime scene and accurately predict details about the murderer. Troubled by the overwhelming number of unsolved murders – and uncaught murderers – these three crime-fighters embarked on a quest for truth and justice, easily recruiting the elite of their profession. The book chronicles many of their darkest, most difficult cases and their remarkable success in uncovering the murderers. Capuzzo is a skillful storyteller, weaving the stories of the detectives together with accounts of the crimes and investigations, including abundant facts and quotes from the investigators. Sometimes disturbing but always spellbinding, The Murder Room delves into the consciousness of the most depraved criminals and their shrewdest opponents. Erica Narwold 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 |
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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.
