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?