52 Weeks 52 Books ~ SOMEONE ELSE'S LOVE STORY ~ Week Ending December 30, 2013

Happy New Year, and amazingly, the end of a year of weekly book blogging!

The title is the first tip off that this love story might not be the one that you expect--after all, how many love stories start with a shooting at a convenience store, between a man with Asperger's, grieving over great personal loss, and a young woman who has a charming and genius three year old son, the result of a sexual assault.  This lovely southern fiction tale reminds the reader that love is at once fragile and strong, enduring and often surprising.  ~ Katherine

"I fell in love with William Ashe at gunpoint, in a Circle K."  First line of SOMEONE ELSE'S LOVE STORY.
 
"For single mom Shandi Pierce, life is a juggling act. She's finishing college; raising her delightful three-year-old genius son, Nathan, aka Natty Bumppo; and keeping the peace between her eternally warring, long-divorced Christian mother and Jewish father. She's got enough to deal with before she gets caught in the middle of a stickup in a gas station mini-mart and falls in love with a great wall of a man named William Ashe, who steps between the armed robber and her son to shield the child from danger.

Shandi doesn't know that her blond god has his own baggage. When he looked down the barrel of the gun in the gas station he believed it was destiny: it's been exactly one year since a tragic act of physics shattered his universe. But William doesn't define destiny the way other people do. A brilliant geneticist who believes in science and numbers, destiny to him is about choice.
Now, William and Shandi are about to meet their so-called destinies head-on, making choices that will reveal unexpected truths about love, life, and the world they think they know." ~ from the publisher

A FAVORITE MYSTERY SERIES FROM SUZANNE

Something Borrowed Someone Dead Agatha Raisin, Bk 24
Author: M. C. Beaton

The 24th book in the series and I'm still hooked! The characters continue to grow and if you've followed the series from the beginning you realize how close they've become. I highly recommend this book if you're an Agatha Raisin fan.  ~ Suzanne

Gloria French was a jolly widow with dyed blond hair, a raucous laugh, and rosy cheeks. When she first moved from London to the charming Cotswolds hills, she was heartily welcomed. She seemed a do-gooder par excellence, raising funds for the church and caring for the elderly. But she had a nasty habit of borrowing things and not giving them back -- just small things, a teapot here, a set of silverware there. So it's quite a shock when she is found dead, murdered by a poisoned bottle of elderberry wine. Afraid the murder will be a blight on the small town, parish councilor Jerry Tarrant hires private detective Agatha Raisin to track down the murderer.

But the village is secretive and the residents resent Agatha's investigation. Of course, that doesn't stop the ever-persistent Agatha from sticking her nose where no one wants it -- especially as the list of suspects grows. And, as if it isn't enough that Agatha's ex has reentered the picture, the murderer is now targeting Agatha!

CLASSIC BOOKS SO SHORT YOU HAVE NO EXCUSE NOT TO READ THEM

I just ran across this post on Huff Post Books on amazing short classics.  There are quite a few that I never read, and didn't realize they were under two hundred pages--some are even under one hundred pages.  Like so many readers, it gets harder and harder to find time to read, and it's exciting to think that you can experience a classic you always meant to read in just a few hours or a day.  I've always meant to read Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Frankenstein, just to name a few. Oh yes, and Oh Pioneers! and Ethan Frome. All of these are under 600 total pages, still shorter than Donna Tartt's The Goldfinch which is almost 800 pages, currently on best seller's lists and one of my favorite books of the year.

Check out the list.....do you see any you would consider reading, especially given the length?  ~ Katherine

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE HOLIDAY BOOK?

The library has had holiday books on display for the past few weeks, and heaven knows there is no shortage of them!  There are quite a few popular adult authors write books specifically about Christmas, either as a spinoff of a series or as a standalone book:  Debbie Macomber, Thomas Kinkade, Anne Perry, Richard Paul Evans, and Donna VanLiere, just to name a few.  The challenge each year is to decide which ones to buy.  This year, some of the books added to our collection included CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS and CALL ME MRS. MIRACLE by Debbie Macomber, A NANTUCKET CHRISTMAS by Nancy Thayer, and SILENT NIGHT by Robert Parker.

My favorite Christmas book remains SKIPPING CHRISTMAS by John Grisham. When it looks like Luther and Nora Krank will be alone for Christmas, they joyfully decide to skip the holiday altogether and arrange a Caribbean cruise.  No navigating crowded malls, no fruitcake, no elaborate house decorating project, no Christmas tree, and no rooftop Frosty the Snowman. But, plans often go awry, and the Kranks discover that skipping Christmas isn’t half as easy as they’d imagined, and they rediscover the joys in spending the holidays with family and friends. It's a classic tale made modern, and a funny look at the chaos that has become part of our holiday tradition. P.S.  Skip the movie, read the book!  ~ Katherine

52 Weeks 52 Books ~ TIME FLIES ~ Week Ending December 23

TIME FLIES was the perfect book for a busy time of year--light, funny and, for baby boomers, it gives the reader an opportunity to reminisce about high school memories, class reunions and music from the 70's, with a bit of seriousness thrown in--entertaining chick lit.  ~ Katherine

"Years ago, Melanie followed her husband, Kurt, from the New England beach town where their two young sons were thriving to the suburbs of Atlanta. She’s carved out a life as a successful metal sculptor, but when Kurt leaves her for another woman having the tools to cut up their marriage bed is small consolation. She’s old enough to know that high school reunions are often a big disappointment, but when her best friend makes her buy a ticket and an old flame gets in touch to see whether she’ll be going, she fantasizes that returning to her past might help her find her future…until her driving phobia resurfaces and threatens to hold her back from the adventure of a lifetime.Time Flies is an epic road trip filled with fun, heartbreak, and friendship, and explores what it takes to conquer your worst fears…so you can start living your future." ~ from the Publisher

52 Weeks 52 Books ~ THE ART OF HEARING HEARTBEATS ~ Week Ending December 16, 2013

If you’re in the mood for something to restore your faith in love, try The Art of Hearing Heartbeats.  It spans the decades between the 1950s and the present, and is set primarily in Burma. It's a fairy tale of a love story between two unlikely people who are separated for almost all of their adult lives.  It's also a testament to those who are disabled (one suffers from temporary blindness, the other from a deformity), and shows how their lives are enriched rather than limited, both by their determination to live full lives, as well as their willingness to trust each other. ~ Katherine

"When a successful New York lawyer suddenly disappears without a trace, neither his wife nor his daughter Julia has any idea where he might be...until they find a love letter he wrote many years ago, to a Burmese woman they have never heard of. Intent on solving the mystery and coming to terms with her father's past, Julia decides to travel to the village where the woman lived. There she uncovers a tale of unimaginable hardship, resilience, and passion that will reaffirm the reader's belief in the power of love to move mountains." ~ from the Publisher

that is set in Burma and spans time from the 1950′s to the present. It is the gorgeous telling of a love story that will touch your heart and have you believing in true and everlasting love. - See more at: http://darlenesmoliak.booktrib.com/reviews/the-art-of-hearing-heartbeats/#sthash.WPTEt29z.dpuf

JUST FOR FUN

With all the stresses of this time of year (shopping, snow storms, cranky people), it's time for something light.  How many of these books do you recognize?

This was supposed to be one of the easiest ones, and I read it, twice, but couldn't guess the cover.  In fact, I only guessed two of them, and one I hadn't even read.

Take a look and some guesses. How many did you get? Any surprises?

Famous book covers as seen on iOS7

52 Weeks 52 Books ~ THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE ~ Week Ending December 9, 2013

THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE was my first Neil Gaiman book, and it was a strange and often chilling journey into childhood dreams--and nightmares.  Because it is a story about children and seen through the eyes of a child, it seemed to be more of a juvenile book--but not one that you'd want to read to children. It's myth, fantasy and horror, a fairy tale.  It's the reality of the helplessness of childhood, and some very astute views of adults:

“Grown-ups don't look like grown-ups on the inside either. Outside, they're big and thoughtless and they always know what they're doing. Inside, they look just like they always have. Like they did when they were your age. Truth is, there aren't any grown-ups. Not one, in the whole wide world.” 

 and

 "Adults follow paths. Children explore. Adults are content to walk the same way, hundreds of times, or thousands; perhaps it never occurs to adults to step off the paths, to creep beneath rhododendrons, to find the spaces between fences."  

Highly recommended!  ~ Katherine

"Sussex, England. A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. Although the house he lived in is long gone, he is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock, and her mother and grandmother. He hasn't thought of Lettie in decades, and yet as he sits by the pond (a pond that she'd claimed was an ocean) behind the ramshackle old farmhouse, the unremembered past comes flooding back. And it is a past too strange, too frightening, too dangerous to have happened to anyone, let alone a small boy.
Forty years earlier, a man committed suicide in a stolen car at this farm at the end of the road. Like a fuse on a firework, his death lit a touchpaper and resonated in unimaginable ways. The darkness was unleashed, something scary and thoroughly incomprehensible to a little boy. And Lettie—magical, comforting, wise beyond her years—promised to protect him, no matter what." ~ from the Publisher

WHAT DO THESE THREE BOOKS HAVE IN COMMON?

POWER FOODS FOR THE BRAIN by Neal D. Barnard, M.D.

"Could your breakfast or lunch be harming your memory? Are you missing out on the foods that could prevent Alzheimer's disease?

Everyone knows good nutrition supports your overall health, but few realize that certain foods-power foods-can protect your brain and optimize its function, and even dramatically reduce your risk of Alzheimer's Disease. Now, New York Times bestselling author, clinical researcher and health advocate Dr. Neal Barnard has gathered the most up-to-date research and created a groundbreaking program that can strengthen your memory and protect your brain's health."


HEALING IS POSSIBLE by Neil Nathan, M.D.

"... In Healing Is Possible, Dr. Nathan identifies the twelve major imbalances in the body that often contribute to chronic and/or complex illnesses, such as chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia. Unfortunately, these balances are often overlooked or ignored by mainstream medicine. By identifying and treating these imbalances-which he calls the "Big Six" and "Little Six"-symptoms often improve or resolve completely. 

THE AUTISM MOM'S SURVIVAL GUIDE (FOR DADS TOO!) by Susan Senator

"Given the daily challenges of raising a child with autism, it’s easy for parents to lose themselves and for their overall quality of life to plummet. Susan Senator interweaves the voices of autism parents, researchers, and professionals to offer guidance and encouragement on how to find happiness and fulfillment in the midst of the struggles of raising an autistic child. Topics include: how to handle feelings of despair and hopelessness; finding fun, even during turbulent times; caring for your marriage; and finding a balance between accepting your child as he or she is and seeking new treatments."

So what do these books have in common? They are part of a new health and wellness collection, generously provided by a grant from New Milford Hospital.  The collection is located on the small bookshelf by the end computer behind the reference desk.  

If you're out tonight, stop by the library at 7:00 p.m. to hear about the healing benefits of acupuncture, and about the new health database, also provided by New Milford Hospital:  Consumer Health Complete.

(Note:  Book descriptions provided by publishers) 

TIRED OF LISTS?

As much as I love lists of books (best books of the year, best mysteries...literary fiction.....nonfiction), they're not always the most fascinating reading.  It's kind of like eating vegetables, if you're not a vegetable fan, they're necessary but not your most favorite food on the plate.  NPR has been putting out some of my favorite book lists, and according their website, they have published more than 80 year-end book lists — the best book club books, the best cookbooks, the best gift books, the best guilty pleasures. And they decided it was time to change it up--do something completely different. 

Check out their website and see what you think.  It's a lot more fun--you can see the dust jackets and click to a review. You can combine lists, and if you want a "printable" list, you can get that also.  Personally, I love it!  ~ Katherine

A MYSTERY TITLE RECOMMENDATION FROM SUZANNE

Maisie Dobbs - Maisie Dobbs, Bk, 1
Author: Jacqueline Winspear

"I loved the characters, the history and the way the author drew you into Maisie's journey. For a first in the series, I found the story kept my interest as it developed the characters."  ~ Suzanne

Maisie Dobbs isn't just any young housemaid. Through her own natural intelligence -- and the patronage of her benevolent employers -- she works her way into college at Cambridge. When World War I breaks out, Maisie goes to the front as a nurse. It is there that she learns that coincidences are meaningful and the truth elusive. After the War, Maisie sets up on her own as a private investigator. But her very first assignment, seemingly an ordinary infidelity case, soon reveals a much deeper, darker web of secrets, which will force Maisie to revisit the horrors of the Great War and the love she left behind.

52 Weeks 52 Books ~ SILVER STAR ~ Week of December 2, 2013

Jeannette Walls' first two books, GLASS CASTLE, about her childhood growing up with highly dysfunctional parents, and HALF-BROKE HORSES, "real life" fiction about her grandmother, were both bestsellers,and darlings of book clubs.  Her newest book, SILVER STARS, is definitely fiction, although the subject matter is similar--children with generally more sense of than the adults around them, doing their best to make mature decisions and take the high road.  This book felt more like young adult fiction, told from the point of view of a twelve year old, on the same topic. I'd like to see Jeannette Walls write about something else!  ~ Katherine

"Being a single mother is never easy, but for Charlotte Holladay, a wannabe folk singer in 1970, raising her 15- and 12-year-old daughters, Liz and Jean (aka “Bean”), is more than she can handle. Known for dropping out when things get tough, Charlotte’s latest spell of parental abandonment attracts police attention and the girls flee California rather than face being placed in foster care. A cross-country bus trip lands them on the doorstep of their only relative, the previously unmet Uncle Tinsley, and their arrival proves to be as much of a shock for the reclusive widower as it is for the girls themselves. As the trio learns to coexist, Liz and Bean try to fit into the small southern town. With money tight, they land jobs with mill foreman Jerry Maddox, an overbearing brute who runs roughshod over the town’s residents and takes advantage of Liz’s trusting nature, with devastating results"  ~ Booklist

Best Books of 2013?

Another list.......

100 Notable Books of 2013 from the New York Times Book Review.

Two of my favorites of this year (which isn't over, by the way, NYTBR), is Donna Tartt's THE GOLDFINCH and THE WAVE by  Sonali Deraniyagala. Both a tale of struggling to survive, after great personal loss, one fiction, one nonfiction.  And each dealing with guilt, in their own ways.

What have you read this year that you recommend?

TWO NEW REVIEWS FROM SUZANNE

I have two books this week. The first is a cozy mystery set in Victorian England. I liked the characters immediately and thought it was a good mystery. I already have the second book in the series in my bookshelf. 

       ~ From Suzanne

The Inspector and Mrs Jeffries - Mrs. Jeffries, Bk 1
Author: Emily Brightwell

IS THERE A DETECTIVE IN THE HOUSE? She keeps house for Inspector Witherspoon... and keeps him on his toes. Everyone is astonished by the inspector's Scotland Yard successes - but they don't know about his secret weapon. In fact, even he doesn't know about his secret weapon... because she's as ladylike as she is clever. No matter how messy the murder or how dirty the deed, Mrs. Jeffries' polished detection skills are up to the task... proving that behind every great man there's a woman - and that a crime-solver's work is never done...

This book I wasn't so sure about and ended up loving it. You end up rooting for Queen Victoria and her demon fighting skills! ~ Suzanne

Queen Victoria Demon Hunter
Author: A. E. Moorat

London, 1838. Queen Victoria is crowned; she receives the orb, the scepter, and an arsenal of bloodstained weaponry. If Britain is about to become the greatest power of the age, there’s the small matter of the undead to take care of first. Demons stalk the crown, and political ambitions have unleashed ravening hordes of zombies even within the nobility itself.

But rather than dreams of demon hunting, Queen Victoria’s thoughts are occupied by Prince Albert. Can she dedicate her life to saving her country when her heart belongs elsewhere?

With lashings of glistening entrails, decapitations, zombies, and foul demons, this masterly new portrait will give a fresh understanding of a remarkable woman, a legendary monarch, and quite possibly the best demon hunter the world has ever seen.

Thanks for sharing your reviews, Suzanne!

THE KEEPER OF LOST CAUSES, and Top Crime Novels of All Time

We just read THE KEEPER OF LOST CAUSES by Jussi Adler-Olsen in our mystery group, "Book 'Em!--and I'm into his second book, THE ABSENT ONE as I write this.  THE KEEPER OF LOST CAUSES was given starred reviews by three of the four top review sites--and a definite thumbs up by our book discussion group, and is the first of the Department Q series. 

Carl Morck used to be one of Copenhagen's best homicide detectives. Then a hail of bullets destroyed the lives of two fellow cops, and Carl--who didn't draw his weapon--blames himself. So a promotion is the last thing he expects. The new Department Q is a department of one, and Carl's got only a stack of Copenhagen's coldest cases for company. When Carl demands an assistant, he gets a lot more than he bargained for--a mysterious Muslim named Hassad who dons rubber gloves to clean thoroughly, makes bad coffee, drives like a madman, and acts like a Syrian Sherlock Holmes. Carl is content to put his feet up and do little or nothing, but Assad digs into the case files. He locates valuable bits of information, smoozes with the secretaries, and goads Carl into acting like a detective. This unlikely pair soon become wrapped up with a challenging cold case--the disappearance five years earlier of Merete Lynggaard, a beautiful, talented, and dedicated young politician. Did Merete fall overboard while she was a passenger on a ferry? Did she commit suicide? Or did someone abduct her? Is she really dead?  This is Scandinavian crime fiction at its best.

Just for fun, I ran across a list of the 101 Top Crime Fiction Novels of All Time, and found I've only read about 20 percent of them.  Take a look--how many have you read?  Do you think anything is missing?  I would have liked to see THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO there. What do you think?

~ Katherine

52 Weeks 52 Books ~ THE ROSIE PROJECT ~ Week Ending November 25, 2013

“But I’m not good at understanding what other people want.’
‘Tell me something I don’t know,’ said Rosie for no obvious reason. I quickly searched my mind for an interesting fact.
‘Ahhh…The testicles of drone bees and wasp spiders explode during sex.”
― Graeme Simsion, The Rosie Project

THE ROSIE PROJECT by Graeme Simsion  

Don Tillman is a brilliant scientist, but hopeless at social interactions. Determined to find a wife, Don develops a sixteen page questionnaire for “The Wife Project.” When Rosie Jarman walks in with her “Father Project, ” Don quickly discounts her as a candidate for his lifelong partner, but is caught up in helping her find out who her biological father was. As Don narrates the book in first person, the reader gets to share in the challenges he faces in dealing with Asperger's Syndrome, trying to navigate many situations that unsettle his scientifically calculated approach to daily existence. This novel is a wonderful tale of two very different people developing a relationship and how they accommodate each other's uniqueness. The ending may leave you with questions about the outcome of the Father Project, but the Wife Project seems pretty well settled.  Look for a sequel.......  ~ Katherine

Earth from Space and More Coffee Table Books

EARTH FROM SPACE by Yann Arthus-Bertrand

For lovers of "coffee table books," EARTH FROM SPACE is a magnificent and telling book about our changing planet. 

"From space, Earth is a magnificent sight, splashed with vivid colors, patterns, textures, and abstract forms. Views from above can also provide telling information about the health of our planet. To help us understand the more than 150 breathtaking satellite photographs in Earth from Space, Yann Arthus-Bertrand, an aerial photographer and devoted environmental activist, discusses the impact of deforestation, urban sprawl, intensive farming, ocean pollution, and more. Using high-resolution imagery, we can monitor the evolution of vegetation around the Chernobyl nuclear disaster site, snow loss on Mount Kilimanjaro, and the health of migratory bird populations. Earth from Space’s compelling selection of satellite images raises important questions about our future, while also showcasing the planet’s beauty—leaving no doubt that it is something crucial to protect."  ~ From the Publisher

Madagascar. Near-infrared is often used to detect vegetation, which may appear in the final image as red, such as the mangrove trees here along the Betsiboka River's estuary. Nearby rice and cassava plantations are in lighter red, yellow and pink.

Yann Arthus-Bertrand is the founder of GoodPlanet, an organization dedicated to preserving the environment, and the award-winning author of more than forty books, including the international bestseller "Earth from Above." He is a traveler, photographer, and former hot-air balloon pilot, and is world renowned for his astonishing photography books. His seminal work, "Earth from Above", has been published in numerous languages and was the basis for a worldwide photo exhibition. Arthus-Bertrand's work regularly appears in "Geo, Life, National Geographic", and "Paris-Match."

Looking for more coffee table type books? We have a few on our center display.  And.... Check out HuffPost Books article on 15 Gift-Worthy books! 

~ Katherine 

52 Weeks 52 Books ~ 419 ~ Week Ending November 18, 1013

419 by Will Ferguson

How far would you go for revenge?

"A car tumbles through darkness down a snowy ravine. A woman without a name walks out of a dust storm in sub-Saharan Africa. And in the seething heat of Lagos City, a criminal cartel scours the Internet, looking for victims. Lives intersect. Worlds collide. And it all begins with a single email: "Dear Sir, I am the daughter of a Nigerian diplomat, and I need your help..." 

Most of us have received those scam emails, and hopefully promptly deleted them, but Ferguson's novel tells the tale of one elderly man who got caught up in a Nigerian email swindle scheme.  In Canada, it is determined that Laura Curtis’ father has committed suicide after he's lost his home and life savings to a scammer.  Ferguson ties together the story of Laura's quest for revenge with the Lagos scammer who snared Laura’s father and is in the clutches of a local crime syndicate, as well as a young pregnant woman who has fled her desert home looking for safety and a young storyteller's son from Nigeria who is trying to survive the political and social troubles of Nigeria's oil-soaked delta. The title, “419,″ is the article of the Nigerian Criminal Code dealing with fraud, and especially known for e-mails asking for assistance involving the theft of a large sum of money out of Nigeria. Winner of the 2012 Giller Prize, and a good read.  ~ Katherine

52 Weeks 52 Books ~ MY STORY ~ Week Ending 11/11/13

MY STORY by Elizabeth Smart

More than a decade after her kidnapping from her Salt Lake City home by ersatz street preacher Brian David Mitchell and his wife, Wanda Barzee, Elizabeth Smart tells her tale of almost a year of captivity, and finally, rescue and retribution, and how she physically and mentally survived her ordeal. She tells a compelling story of why she waited for rescue rather than trying to escape (Mitchell made it clear that he would go after her family), and how she never fell under any kind of "Stockholm Syndrome." Elizabeth Smart has been able to take her mother's advice to reclaim her life.  Even though many months were stolen from her, the future is hers, and the choice to live it fully and happily, is her choice to make.  She's gone on to college, marriage and has created a foundation to prevent and stop predatory crimes.  ~ Katherine

THE PHYSICK BOOK OF DELIVERANCE DANE and DANCE OF THE WINNEBAGOS ~ REVIEWS

Thank you to Suzanne for sending in two book reviews!

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane
Author: Katherine Howe

Harvard graduate student Connie Goodwin needs to spend her summer doing research for her doctoral dissertation. But when her mother asks her to handle the sale of Connie’s grandmother’s abandoned home near Salem, she can’t refuse. As she is drawn deeper into the mysteries of the family house, Connie discovers an ancient key within a seventeenth-century Bible. The key contains a yellowing fragment of parchment with a name written upon it: Deliverance Dane. This discovery launches Connie on a quest—to find out who this woman was and to unearth a rare artifact of singular power: a physick book, its pages a secret repository for lost knowledge.

As the pieces of Deliverance’s harrowing story begin to fall into place, Connie is haunted by visions of the long-ago witch trials, and she begins to fear that she is more tied to Salem’s dark past then she could have ever imagined.

I really liked this book. Although I didn't find it scary, I did find it very interesting.


Dance of the Winnebagos Jackrabbit Junction Mystery - Volume 1
Author: Ann Charles
Note: Coming soon to The Brookfield Library

From the Multiple National Award-winning Author of the Deadwood Mystery Series! "Ann Charles delivers laugh-out-loud dialogue, unforgettable characters, and pulse-pounding suspense." ~Vicki Lewis Thompson, New York Times Bestselling Author When Claire's grandfather and his army buddies converge in the Arizona desert to find new wives, it's her thankless job to keep them out of trouble with the opposite sex. But when she finds a human leg bone and partners with a reluctant geotechnician to dig up secrets from the past, trouble finds her. If she doesn't stop digging, she could end up dead.

I really enjoy this author. She makes mysteries interesting and very funny. There's a nice element of romance which I normally don't like but I think she writes it very well. 

~ Reviews from Suzanne

52 Weeks 52 Books ~ BIG BROTHER ~ Week Ending November 4, 2013

Are we our brother's keeper?  

When Pandora, a successful entrepreneur living in Iowa with her stepchildren and her financially unsuccessful, "addicted to exercise" husband, arrives at the airport to pick up Edison, her older brother, he's gone from a very attractive slim and hip guy to a morbidly obese man in a wheelchair.  

What do you do? What can you say?  Do you ignore the elephant in the room?

Her brother, a talented jazz musician has been in a downward career spiral for some time, and overate in a "big" way to deaden his personal pain. He and Pandora grew up in Hollywood in a very visible, dysfunctional family. Their mother may have committed suicide, and their father, a washed up television star, contacts them every so often to gleefully criticize any failures and ignore any accomplishments. 

But Pandora has always adored her brother, and wants to save him, and she's faced with a choice. She can try to change the path her brother has taken, find out the real reason he's over eating, and force him to go on a diet with her support, or she can drive him back to the airport and let him get on with the destruction of his body and his life. One choice may destroy her marriage, the other her brother.  

Lionel Shriver, a National Book Award finalist So Much for That and author of the international bestseller We Need to Talk About Kevin, writes about marriage, family ties and obesity with wit and sensitivity.  She tackles an issue that is extremely personal, yet socially obvious and ostracizing. And she throws in a plot twist that you don't see coming.  ~ Katherine

" Let no man thirst for lack of Real Ale." — Toast on a matchbook from Commonwealth Brewing, Massachusetts

 “Next to music beer was best.” — Carson McCullers, The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter

Don't miss our beer brewing class this Friday, starting at 7:00 p.m. here at the library.  The class will be led by Mark and Tess Szamatulski, owners of Maltose Express Home Brew and Wine Making Supply store in Monroe, CT for more than 20 years, and they will cover following a recipe, sanitizing, wort cooling, fermentation, and more.  Samples of homebrew will be served. The program is free to those attending, but there is an age requirement of 21+.  Please register if you are planning to attend.

Tess Szamatulski is the author of two beer recipe books:  

• Clone Brews : Recipes for 200 Commercial Beers
• Beer Captured : Homebrew Recipes for 150 World Class Beers 

Copies of her books will be available for purchase at the program, or you can check them out at the library, along with additional beer recipe titles already in our collection.

To get in the spirit of the event, here are some great literary quotes about beer from Flavorwire!

Are These the 13 Most Underrated Books?

Lists of books are always entertaining.  Several of my favorite books are on this list, and there are some I've been meaning to read forever.  Some of them are unfamiliar, which gives more credence to the idea that they are underrated, right?

Check out the list.  Do you agree?  Disagree?  Do you have a sleeper favorite that should be included? What is it?

 Are These the 13 Most Underrated Books?

A Few Seemingly Random Titles

Can you guess what these books have in common?

They are all featured this week on our DearReader online book site. 
 

With 5 minutes a day and an email address, you can join one (or more!) of DearReader’s FREE online book clubs!

 

 

For one week, you can sample books, and decide if you want to read them.  From there you can request them from the library, or choose to purchase them. 

 

There are 12 categories/genres of books.  Something for everyone!  Click here for DearReader.

In the spirit of Halloween, past

A few literary grave stones and markers. I love Dorothy Parker's "Excuse My Dust."

Happy Halloween!

I remember as a teen reading PSYCHO in a dark unfamiliar basement in Seattle and being totally unnerved by it.  And when I first moved to Connecticut, and read Dan Simmon's SUMMER OF NIGHT, I started to look very differently at all the very old buildings around me and imagining all kinds of horrors.  And, Stephen King's PET SEMATARY really scared the heck out of me--the cat on the cover and in the story--very creepy!  And if THE SHINING scared you, be sure to check out Stephen King's newest book, DOCTOR SLEEP, a sequel to his 1977 book.

What kind of horror books do you like? Or vividly remember?

Check out this list:

Flavorwire's 50 Scariest Books of all time!

http://flavorwire.com/419194/the-50-scariest-books-of-all-time/view-all/

Agree?  Disagree? What did they miss?

52 Weeks 52 Books ~ Chickens in the Road - Week Ending October 28, 2013

Chickens in the Road: An Adventure in Ordinary Splendor by Suzanne McMinn

Have you ever thought of giving up urban life and heading down to the farm?  Romance writer Suzanne McMinn did just that following a divorce, and uprooted herself and her three reluctant children to rural West Virginia, near her father's and grandparent's family roots.  She settled into a poorly insulated, drafty old family home, which one of her kids dubbed "Slanted Little House," started a daily blog about farm life, and fell in love with "52." They purchased 40 remote acres and built a farm home, acquiring chickens, ducks, goats, pigs, a donkey and cows, along with the usual domestic animals.  She started a blog about her farming adventures which gained a large following and provided income to help sustain the farm.  Even through there were missteps along the way, she grew and learned about life on a farm--dealing with the animals, the land, the cold winters, and a deteriorating relationship with 52, made all the more difficult because of her financial dependence on him.  Suzanne's ability to grow and develop her independence along with her ultimate farming success makes this a heartwarming memoir, and tells the back story behind her daily blog posts and photos at Chickens in the Road.  Warning:  her blog is very addicting and a great start to the day!

So if you're thinking about the simple life (although personally I don't think simple and farming go together), read this first, and it might make your decision easier, one way or the other.  I thoroughly enjoyed this memoir, which includes some of her favorite recipes and craft ideas.  It would make a great gift, I plan on picking up copies for holiday giving.     ~ Katherine

52 Weeks 52 Books ~ BRING UP THE BODIES ~ Week Ending October 21, 2013

BRING UP THE BODIES by Hilary Mantel

This historical novel is the second in the trilogy about Thomas Cromwell,  King Henry VIII's closest confidant and Master Secretary. The first book, Wolf Hall, covers many years in Cromwell's life, but this book covers a little more than a year, and details the rise and fall of Anne Boleyn.  If you love your novels steeped in history, you should enjoy this series.  Both Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies won the prestigious Man Booker Award, and Hilary Mantel is adept at capturing the flavor of the times and the historical detail, as well as the people, from Cromwell to King Henry VIII, to Anne Boleyn and the powerful of the time.   ~ Katherine

"Though he battled for years to marry her—a story told in Wolf Hall—Henry is now disenchanted with Anne Boleyn. She has failed to give him a son, and her sharp intelligence alienates his old friends and the noble families of England. At a word from Henry, Thomas Cromwell is ready to bring her down. Over a few terrifying weeks, Cromwell ensnares her in a web of conspiracy, while the demure Jane Seymour waits her turn for the poisoned wedding ring. But Anne and her powerful family will not yield without a ferocious struggle, and to defeat the Boleyns, Cromwell must now ally himself with his enemies. What price will he pay for Anne’s head?" ~ From the Publisher

WINNER OF THE 2012 MAN BOOKER PRIZE
WINNER OF THE COSTA BOOK AWARD
SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE

Named One of the 10 Best Books of the Year by
The New York Times Book Review • The Washington Post • Publishers Weekly
Named a Best Book of the Year by
The New Yorker • Time • USA Today • The Economist • NPR • The Atlantic • Los Angeles Times • The Wall Street Journal • Chicago Tribune • Entertainment Weekly • The Daily Beast • Financial Times • The Christian Science Monitor • San Francisco Chronicle • Seattle Times •

52 Weeks 52 Books - THE GOLDFINCH - Week ending October 14

I read this book a few weeks ago, and it's one of those books you just can't stop thinking about, long after you've turned the last page.  And yes, it's long, almost 800 pages.  But oh, is it worth it.  I was lucky to have received an advanced copy, and lucky to have the time to savor it.   ~ Katherine

 THE GOLDFINCH by Donna Tartt

Chance puts thirteen year-old Theo Decker and his mother inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art when a bomb explodes, killing many, including his mother.  Theo had just had a life altering encounter with an edgy, fiery haired girl inside the museum before the explosion, and before he escapes the bombed building, he comforts a dying man who gives him an antique ring, asking him to return it to his family, and encourages him to rescue a very small, very famous painting, The Goldfinch.  Theo's theft of the painting sets his own tale in motion, and his fate is intertwined with the fate of the stolen painting.  He spends time living with a wealthy Park Avenue family with its own dark underbelly, and when his absent, alcoholic, gambling father shows up with his cocaine sniffing girlfriend, he's flown to Las Vegas to live in an almost deserted, abandoned housing tract. He eventually escapes back to Manhattan. The painting, which Theo knows he should have returned, is hidden and eventually thrusts him into the underbelly of the art world. 

Donna Tartt creates a brilliant cast of characters--from Theo to Hobie, a New York antique restorer to Boris, a troubled young Ukrainian teen who is Theo's Las Vegas neighbor and partner in crime.  The writing is spectacular, and the almost 800 page novel totally engrosses the reader in Theo's tale of fate and fortune.  I am a huge admirer of Tartt's other two novels, and I think this book should seal her reputation as a master at her craft. Don't pick it up unless you have some time to devote--it's impossible to put down.

OMG! Tomorrow is the Book Discussion and I Haven't Read the Book!

Is this ever a dilemma for you?  What do you do--miss the discussion and the camaraderie of the group?  Go, and confess that you haven't finished (or even hardly started) it?  Read a few reviews, check out the first few pages, the last few pages, and wing it?  

Here's some advice if you want to attend--and want to fake it:

7 Ways to Fake It at Book Club!

Thanks to Book Riot for some innovative ideas!

52 Weeks 52 Books ~ TOGETHER TEA ~ Week Ending October 7

TOGETHER TEA by Marjan Kamali

One of our patrons recommended and brought in this book for the library, and I enjoyed reading it while on vacation.  So much of what we know about the Middle East, is what we hear from the news media.  We have family friends who escaped Iran in the 90's and this book portrayed what I knew about the immigrants who were educated, and tried to find their way here in the states, living between our culture and the one they left behind.

Mina is twenty-five year, unmarried, and has given up her love of art to study business, a field encouraged by her parents.  Her mother is also obsessed with finding her a suitable husband, and after the latest matchmaking attempt fails, Mina decides to return to Tehran to learn more about herself, and her mother, Darya also decides to travel back to Tehran with Mina. Darya has struggled to fit in in America, and she misses her family and homeland. And so mother and daughter travel back to Iran to find it the same, and yet very different. In the present day oppressive situation, families and friends attempt to find moments of color and happiness, and Mina finds a man who just might be her perfect match.

The novel also travels back in time to tell the story of Mina and Darya's family living in Iran in the seventies during the revolution.  The author captures the sense of the place and time and how the daily life of Persians changed, and how difficult it was to escape and/or to stay behind. The author has done a fine job of showing the past and the present, and the difficulty, especially for older immigrants, of adjusting to a new culture and way of life, without losing their heritage.

        ~ Katherine

52 Weeks 52 Books - THE CUCKOO'S CALLING - Week Ending September 30, 2013

THE CUCKOO'S CALLING BY ROBERT GALBRAITH (aka J. K. Rowling)

By this time, most readers know that this book, the author's first venture into crime fiction, was actually written by J. K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series.  "The Cuckoo's Calling" introduces readers to Cormoran Strike, a London private detective with a famous rock star for a father, a complicated family, and a prosthetic leg to replace the one he lost in Afghanistan.  He is also coming off a bad breakup, and has just acquired a temporary secretary, Robin, who has always had a secret fascination with detective work, and their working relationships is one of the highlights of the book as they have great chemistry. 

Strike is asked to investigate the death of a young supermodel named Lula Landry (called “Cuckoo” by her friends), which was ruled a suicide. Her brother pays Strike handsomely to re-investigate the case, believing that she couldn't have taken her own life, and the journey takes them into the world of high fashion and famous people. 

It's a fun read, although it dragged a bit in places, and I thought it could have used another round of editing, and I still don't quite get the title.  The plot also took a few strange turns, and I'm not sure that Striker's conclusion could have resulted in his sifting of the clues that were provided.  But I really liked Strike and Robin and would probably read the next installment.

52 Weeks 52 Books ~ THE RETURNED by Jason Mott ~ Week Ending September 23, 2013

What if your dead relatives suddenly showed up on your doorstep, perfectly healthy and just as they were the day they died? What if it was your child or your mother or the family next door? Would you joyously welcome them back? Would life go back to what it was? And if they just kept coming, is there a limit to what the world of the living can accept, emotionally and physically?  A thought provoking question, and I enjoyed the personal aspects, even if the action part of the tale didn't appeal to me as much.  This book has picked up a lot of steam, and the story has been optioned by Brad Pitt's Plan B for an upcoming television series.      ~ Katherine

Harold and Lucille Hargrave's lives have been both joyful and sorrowful in the decades since their only son, Jacob, died tragically at his eighth birthday party in 1966. In their old age they've settled comfortably into life without him, their wounds tempered through the grace of time ... Until one day Jacob mysteriously appears on their doorstep—flesh and blood, their sweet, precocious child, still eight years old.

All over the world people's loved ones are returning from beyond. No one knows how or why this is happening, whether it's a miracle or a sign of the end. Not even Harold and Lucille can agree on whether the boy is real or a wondrous imitation, but one thing they know for sure: he's their son. As chaos erupts around the globe, the newly reunited Hargrave family finds itself at the center of a community on the brink of collapse, forced to navigate a mysterious new reality and a conflict that threatens to unravel the very meaning of what it is to be human.  ~ from the Publisher

Two Great Urban Fantasies from Suzanne

Silent Night Haunted Night - Nicki Styx, Bk 4
Author: Terri Garey

Another good installment of the Nicki Styx series. 

~Suzanne

 
Joe Bascombe is no stranger to desire, but when a sexy spirit begins haunting his dreams, he finds himself ensnared by dark passions. What he doesn't realize is that the devious demon and her two sisters, otherwise known as the Three Fates, are out to teach the woman he loves a lesson... 

Unwilling psychic Nicki Styx survived a near-death experience to find herself able to see and hear the dead, but she only has eyes for Joe. Together they've conquered evil spirits, saved lost souls, and beaten back the Devil himself, but they're about to learn that there are more things in Heaven and Hell than they ever imagined. As far as Nicki is concerned, Joe is the man of her dreams, but now they're at the mercy of the creature who's invaded his.

 
 

Priceless - Rylee Adamson, Bk 1
Author: Shannon Mayer

This is a new author for me and I just loved her writing. Ms. Mayer creates an interesting world of magic. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.  ~ Suzanne

"My name is Rylee, and I am a Tracker."

When children go missing, and the Humans have no leads, I'm the one they call. I am their last hope in bringing home the lost ones. I salvage what they cannot.

I'm on the FBI's wanted list. I have a werewolf for a pet, a Witch of a best friend, and I have no need for anyone else in my life.

But when a salvage starts to spin out of control, help comes from a most unexpected direction.