Samuels Reads

Read-alike Guides - Jodi Picoult

2012-03-09T11:21:00.000-05:00

If you like the works of Jodi Picoult, you might enjoy one of these books:

Halfway House by Katharine Noel
Angie is a diligent student and all-star swimmer, but her entire world changes when it becomes apparent that she is mentally ill in a story of how families live through crisis. Noel considers the ways manic depression touches each member of the family with an uncanny ability to convey the disease as experienced by the patient.

Home Fires by Luanne Rice
Anne has just lost her young daughter in a tragic accident and her husband to another woman. With her world in upheaval, Anne returns to the secluded island hometown that her sister never escaped. A fire in the women's ancestral home drives Anne to rescue the one object she holds most dear and to be rescued by Thomas Devlin, a scarred firefighter with his own unfortunate past.

Mothers and Other Liars by Amy Bourret
Bourret also writes compellingly about sympathetic characters faced with agonizing ethical decisions. In this debut novel, Ruby never dreamed that she had done anything wrong by rescuing Lark, an infant abandoned at a truck stop. What decision will she make years later when she sees Lark's picture in the newspaper as a missing child?

Past the Bleachers by Chris Bohjalian
Bohjalian is another New England author who favors close examination of hot button issues in small town settings. After Bill Parrish loses his young son Nathaniel to leukemia, he fills the void in his life by coaching a local Little League team and becoming attached to a mute boy, Lucky, who eerily reminds Bill of his own lost son.

Save Me by Lisa Scottoline
A bestselling author of legal thrillers, Scottoline seems to excel at stand-alone domestic suspense as well. Volunteering at her daughter's school so that she can keep an eye on a bully, Rose faces a difficult choice when her daughter is tormented at the same time an explosion occurs in the cafeteria, a situation that causes Rose to be blamed for the bully's injuries.

Stolen by Susan Lewis
Lewis writes compelling, emotional tales about sensational subjects with understated execution. Lucy’s parents have always been there for her, and when she moves to the country to take over their thriving auction business, she knows she's made the right decision. Then, quite suddenly, she discovers a shocking truth that forces her to question everything she has ever known.

Testimony by Anita Shreve
A New England boarding school is rocked in the wake of a sex scandal in which participants were caught on videotape, a situation that derails the innocence and best intentions of students, parents, and others in life-shattering ways. Shreve offers sensitive portrayals of her characters in emotional stories with psychological depths.

A Theory of Relativity by Jacquelyn Mitchard
Readers with a preference for observing how families in turmoil deal with shocking situations will appreciate this novel of grieving grandparents locked in an anguished custody battle for the sole surviving daughter of parents lost in a car accident. Also try Mitchard’s The Deep End of the Ocean, Oprah’s first book club selection.

Truth and Consequences by Alison Lurie
University director Jane Mackenzie is dismayed when her injured husband falls for Delia, a beautiful writer who has recently joined the center's staff. The situation is complicated when Jane develops feelings for Delia's husband. Lurie explores what happens when the truth isn't always told, as well as the consequences of our every choice in this engrossing, wonderfully written novel.

While I Was Gone by Sue Miller
Miller’s stories have a more literary quality and delve more deeply into character's emotions. Here, Jo Becker is supremely content with her life, and she doesn't talk about the summer of 1968 when she walked away from another husband, another family and into a completely different identity only to be jerked back to her previous life after the brutal murder of her best friend.

Books by Picoult you shouldn’t miss:

My Sister’s Keeper
Conceived to provide a bone marrow match for her leukemia-stricken sister, teenage Anna begins to question her moral obligations in light of countless medical procedures and decides to fight for the right to make decisions about her own body. The drama unfolds from the points of view of Anna, her parents, the self-absorbed lawyer, the court-appointed guardian ad litem, and Anna’s troubled older brother.

Nineteen Minutes
Peter Houghton, an alienated teen who has been bullied for years by the popular crowd, brings weapons to his high school one day and opens fire, killing 10 people. Alex Cormier, the judge assigned to Peter's case, tries to maintain her objectivity as she struggles to understand her daughter, Josie, one of the surviving witnesses of the shooting.

Sing You Home
Ten years of infertility issues culminate in the destruction of music therapist Zoe Baxter's marriage, after which she falls in love with another woman. They want to start a family, but Zoe’s ex, Max, stands in the way. Picoult explores both gay rights and the legal aspects of fertility treatment in this novel, which includes a CD of folk songs she wrote with Ellen Wilber.

Samuels Says - "Which books feature your favorite mystery?"

2012-02-02T10:09:00.000-05:00

This month for our display, we asked the staff: "Which books feature your favorite mystery?" Here are our picks—we'd love to hear yours too!

Michal:

Vanish with the Rose by Barbara Michaels (LP F Mic)
Stitches in Time by Barbara Michaels (F Mic)
Wait for What Will Come by Barbara Michaels (F Mic)
Into the Darkness by Barbara Michaels (F Mic)

“I like Barbara Michaels!”

Code Orange by Caroline Cooney (YAF Coo)
Behind the Attic Wall by Sylvia Cassedy (JF Cas)
The Dollhouse Murders by Betty Ren Wright (JF Wri)
Skateboard Tough by Matt Christopher (JF Chr)
Locked in Time by Lois Duncan (YAF Dun)
I Know What You Did Last Summer by Lois Duncan (YAF Dun)

Ben:

Locked On by Tom Clancy (F Cla)
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (F Doy)
The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris (F Har)
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (F Lee)
The Godfather by Mario Puzo (F Puz)
The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy (F Cla)
Dracula by Bram Stoker (F Sto)
Red Dragon by Thomas Harris (F Har)
From Russia, with Love by Ian Fleming (F Fle)
Time and Again by Jack Finney (F Fin)

Joan 1, the Mystery Queen:

List of Authors—Agatha Christie (F Chr), Elizabeth George (F Geo), Spencer Quinn (F Qui), P.D. James (F Jam), Ellen Crosby (F Cro), David Rosenfelt (F Ros), Mary Higgins Clark (F Cla), Margaret Truman (F Tru)
The Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith (F Smi)
The Flavia de Luce series by Alan Bradley (F Bra)

Jeanne:

List of Authors—Deanna Raybourn (F Ray), Sue Grafton (F Gra), Lisa Lutz (F Lut), Patricia Cornwell (F Cor), Janet Evanovich (F Eva), Dorothy Cannell (F Can), Tasha Alexander (F Ale)
The Chet and Bernie series by Spencer Quinn (F Qui)
The Hank the Cowdog series by John Erickson (JF Eri)

Betty:

Baring Arms by Jo-Ann Power (F Pow)
Dog on it: a Chet and Bernie Mystery by Spencer Quinn (F Qui)
Play Dead by David Rosenfelt (F Ros)
Gone to the Dogs by Susan Conant (F Con)

Boo:

Where are They Now by Mary Higgins Clark (F Cla)
The Shadow of Your Smile by Mary Higgins Clark (F Cla)
First Grave on the Right and Second Grave on the Left by Darynda Jones (F Jon)
Embrace the Grim Reaper by Judy Clemens (F Cle)
Vineyard Shadows by Philip Craig (F Cra)
Emily and Einstein by Linda Lee (F Lee)
Knock by Catherine Coulter (F Cou)
Anything by: Agatha Christie or M.C. Beaton

Kristin:

The Case of the Missing Books: a Mobile Library Mystery by Ian Sansom (F San)
Silent in the Grave: a Lady Julia Grey Mystery by Deanna Raybourn (F Ray)
Nemesis and The Snowman from the Inspector Harry Hole series by Jo Nesbø (F Nes)
Where the Shadows Lie by Michael Ridpath (F Rid)
The Merlot Murders: a Wine Country Mystery by Ellen Crosby (F Cro)
In the Woods, The Likeness, and especially Faithful Place by Tana French (F Fre)
Grave Sight: a Harper Connelly Mystery by Charlaine Harris (F Har)
Heat Wave: a Nikki Heat Mystery by Richard Castle (F Cas)
Jar City: a Reykjavik Thriller by Arnaldur Indriðason (F Ind)
A Fatal Grace: a Three Pines Mystery by Louise Penny (F Pen)
And the classic… And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (F Chr)

Melissa:

Dog on it: A Chet and Bernie Mystery by Spencer Quinn (F Qui)

Great on Audio too!!

Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen (F Adl)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo: book one of the Millennium series by Stieg Larsson (F Lar)
Hercule Poirot’s Casebook by Agatha Christie (F Chr)
Devil’s Food Cake Murder: a Hannah Swensen Mystery with Recipes by Joanne Fluke (F Flu)
Crunch Time: a Goldy Schulz Mystery by Dianne Mott Davidson (F Dav)
Rain Fall: the John Rain Series by Barry Eisler (F Eis)
Killing Floor: a Jack Reacher Mystery by Lee Child (F Chi)
Any Ridley Pearson (F Pea) especially The Walt Fleming series
Killer Weekend: a Walt Fleming Mystery by Ridley Pearson (F Pea)
The Complaints by Ian Rankin (F Ran)
Any Jeffery Deaver (F Dea) especially The Lincoln Rhyme series
The Broken Window: a Lincoln Rhyme Mystery by Jefferey Deaver (F Dea)

Tamara:

Thud! : a Novel of Discworld by Terry Pratchett (F Pra)
Heat Wave, Naked Heat, and Heat Rises all by Richard Castle (F Cas)
The Secret of the Mansion: a Trixie Belden Mystery by Julie Campbell (JF Cam)
The Big Over Easy: a Nursery Crime Mystery by Jasper Fforde (F Ffo)
Shades of Gray by Jasper Fforde (F Ffo)

Tamara’s favorite authors:

Agatha Christie- All of hers, especially the Miss Marple Mysteries (F Chr)
Tamar Myers- Den of Antiquity series and most of the Pennsylvania Dutch Inn series (i.e. Too Many Crooks Spoil the Broth and No Use Dying Over Spilled Milk) (F Mye)
Diane Mott Davidson– the entire Goldy Schulz Mysteries series (i.e. Catering to Nobody) (F Dav)
Carolyn Keene– all the classic Nancy Drew Mysteries (JF Kee)
Jim Butcher– The Dresden Files series (F But)
Jasper Fforde– The Thursday Next series (i.e. The Eyre Affair) (F Ffo)
John J Lamb – The Bear Collectors Mystery series ( F Lam)
Rex Stout – The Nero Wolfe series (F Sto)
John Grisham– all

Joan 2:

Waking Hours by Lisa Wiehl (F Wie)
Don’t Breathe a Word by Jennifer McMahon (F McM)
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie: a Flavia De Luce Mystery by Alan Bradley (F Bra)
Soulless: a Parasol Protectorate Mystery by Gail Carriger (F Car)
The Merlot Murders: a Wine Country Mystery by Ellen Crosby
For Better, For Murder: a Broken Vows Mystery by Lisa Bork (F Bor)
Till the Cows Come Home: a Stella Crown Mystery by Judy Clemens (F Cle)
The Explorer’s Code by Kitty Pilgrim (F Pil)
Death on Tour: a Jocelyn Shore Mystery by Janice Hamrick (F Ham)
Haunted Ground: a Nora Gavin Mystery by Erin Hart (F Har)
The Distant Hours by Kate Morton (F Mor)
Real Murders: an Aurora Teagarden Mystery by Charlaine Harris (F Har)
Shakespeare’s Landlord: a Lily Bard Mystery by Charlaine Harris (F Har)
Grave Sight: a Harper Connelly Mystery by Charlaine Harris (F Har)
The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz (F Lut)
Embrace the Grim Reaper by Judy Clemens (F Cle)
Deja Dead: a Temperance Brennan Mystery (Bones) by Kathy Reichs (F Rei)

Reading Lists - Kristin on Nordic Crime Fiction

2011-12-08T17:29:00.001-05:00

Since Stieg Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo hit the United States, there has been a growing interest in Scandinavian crime fiction here. I've done a bit of reading in the genre, though I'm looking forward to doing a lot more. (I'm especially fond of Norwegian author Jo Nesbø.) I decided to put together a list for other fans of the genre, focusing on authors whose work we own here at Samuels.

The definition of "Scandinavia" in this case isn't quite accurate. From what I read, strictly speaking Scandinavia is only Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. However, Finland and Iceland are sometimes grouped with Scandinavia because of their historic and/or cultural ties, in which case they're more accurately called the Nordic countries. I've included them too.

This is just a brief, and by no means comprehensive, list. For more Nordic crime, I would recommend starting with Glass Key award winners. The Glass Key, named after the Dashiell Hammett novel, is given every year by the members of the Crime Writers of Scandinavia (Skandinaviska Kriminalsällskapet) to a crime novel written by a Danish, Finnish, Icelandic, Norwegian, or Swedish author. Each country's members put forth a candidate novel, making up the shortlist.

Now without further ado, I give you a briefly annotated list of Nordic crime fiction available at Samuels Library.

Denmark

Adler-Olsen, Jussi - His first (and so far only) book to be translated into English is The Keeper of Lost Causes, the first in a series about chief detective Carl Morck. The Copenhagen detective is recovering from what he thought was a career-destroying gunshot wound when he is assigned to Department Q, a newly created unit charged with solving cold cases. I haven't read this yet, but I like the sound of the cold cases, the twisty plot, and the touch of humor that Glass Key winner Adler-Olsen is said to possess.

Davidsen, Leif - Davidsen won the Glass Key for Lime's Photograph, a political espionage thriller about Danish expat Peter Lime, who makes his home in Madrid and his living as a paparazzo. Lime takes one photo too many and finds himself in prison; when he is released, it is to discover his wife and daughter have been murdered and his archives burned. Lime's suspenseful search for answers leads him to Moscow, Berlin, and his own past. Sounds exciting!

Høeg, Peter - I understand that Høeg's Glass Key winner Smilla's Sense of Snow is a must read in the genre. Smilla Qaavigaaq Jasperson is an unemployed glaciologist from Greenland living in Copenhagen. When her six-year-old neighbor falls to his death and no one is willing to suspect foul play, Smilla begins her own investigation. She is a rebellious, stubborn, tough, fearless Eskimo woman with an uncanny sense of direction, a love of Isaac Newton's theories, and a gift for mathematics. She treasures her aloneness, successfully hiding her vulnerability under a near-impenetrable facade of aggressiveness. What a character!

Jungersen, Christian - In Jungersen's only novel translated into English, The Exception, four women employed at the Danish Centre for Genocide Studies are receiving death threats. They suspect a Bosnian torturer and war criminal is the culprit, but then they discover that it could be someone in their very midst. Again, this is another book I haven't read yet, but it sounds like a masterpiece of psychological suspense.

Norway

Fossum, Karin - Fossum writes a series about Inspector Konrad Sejer. The second in the series and first to be translated into English, Don't Look Back, won the Glass Key. Here, the residents of a small village northwest of Oslo are torn asunder by the murder of a much-loved 15-year-old girl. Sejer, an aging, secretive cop still grieving for his late wife, must probe the psychological ticks of members of the seemingly idyllic community to solve the crime. I hear great things about this series.

Holt, Anne - Holt has written two series and several stand alone novels, though many haven't been translated. Her Stubo/Vik series follows the partnership of Norway police commissioner Adam Stubo and troubled FBI profiler Johanne Vik. Personally, I'm really looking forward to the first book to be translated into English from her Hanne Wilhelmsen series, which is coming out on December 27. In 1222, travelers on the Oslo to Bergen train are stranded by a blizzard in a decrepit hotel, where one of their number begins killing off the rest. I love a good locked room mystery!

Nesbø, Jo - I have to try not to get carried away when I talk about Nesbø's Harry Hole series. Hole is a classic loose cannon in the police force, with few close friends and unorthodox methods. He's a smoker and an alcoholic, always in the process of recovery or relapse, which puts his boss, Bjarne Møller, in difficult situations when he's forced to save his brilliant detective's job. In my opinion, Harry is one of the best-written characters I've ever read, and Nesbø's novels are intricately plotted, fascinating, and strongly written. The first in the series, The Bat Man, won the Glass Key. The first translated into English is The Redbreast.

Sweden

Jungstedt, Mari - I chose to include Jungstedt because her novels are set on the island of Gotland, which makes a nice change from Stockholm. The series features Detective Superintendent Anders Knutas and the journalist Johan Berg. (Jungstedt herself has worked as a journalist for many years.) In the title we own, The Inner Circle, students working on an archaeological dig to uncover an ancient Viking fortification become caught up in a web of horror when a young woman turns up dead, naked, and hanging from a tree, the victim of a ritual killing. Dark enough for you?

Läckberg, Camilla - Läckberg's American debut and first in the Erica Falck/Patrik Hedstrom series is The Ice Princess. After she returns to her small west coast hometown, Fjällbacka, biographer Erica Falck learns that her friend Alex was found in an ice-cold bath with her wrists slashed. She researches her friend's past in hopes of writing a book and joins forces with Detective Patrik Hedstrom, who has his own suspicions about the case. I like the premise of a professional and an amateur working together, plus it sounds like there may be a bit of romance. Also, there are many empty houses in the small village's off-season, and I've read that the quiet creates a chilling atmosphere in which silence drives suspense. Sounds awesome.

Mankell, Henning - Mankell won the inaugural Glass Key in 1992 for Faceless Killers, the first novel in his Kurt Wallender series, and was an international bestseller before Steig Larsson had been published. Inspector Wallander works in the southern town of Ystad, has few close friends, and is known for his less-than-desirable lifestyle—too much alcohol and junk food, too little exercise, and some anger issues. He investigates on a very personal level, throwing himself into catching criminals and going against the orders of his superiors to try to solve a case. In Faceless Killers, he finds himself coping with a wave of anti-foreigner sentiment when he is put in charge of the investigation into the brutal murders of an elderly couple.

Marklund, Liza - Some mystery/thriller readers might recognize Marklund as the coauthor of James Patterson's Postcard Killers. She has also written her own series about journalist Annika Bengtzon. In the American debut of the series, Red Wolf, a journalist is murdered in the northern Swedish town of Lulea during the freezing winter. Annika suspects that the killing is linked to an attack against an air base in the late sixties. Against the explicit orders of her boss, Annika continues her investigation of the death, which is soon followed by a series of shocking murders. With terrorism and communist splinter groups abounding, this sounds like quite an exciting read.

Sweden seems to dominate the Nordic crime genre, so I've only detailed a few authors here. Also try: Karin Alvtegen, Åke Edwardson, Kjell Eriksson, Lars Kepler, Åsa Larsson, Steig Larsson, Håkan Nesser, Leif Persson, Anders Roslund, Maj Sjöwall & Per Wachlöö, and Helene Turseten.

Finland

So far I haven't been able to find any Finnish crime authors in our collection, but they might be hiding from me! If you're looking for something from Finland, let me know!

Iceland

Arnaldur Indriðason - A two-time Glass Key winner, Arnaldur Indriðason has written a few stand-alone books and 11 novels featuring Detective Erlendur. (Icelanders are called by their first names since their second name is a patronymic.) In his American debut, Jar City, Erlendur Sveinsson investigates the murder of an elderly man named Holberg, who was found with a cryptic typed note reading, "I am HIM." Murder in Iceland is rare, and Erlendur is just coordinating his probe when two other crimes demand his attention: the assault of geriatric twin sisters in their home and the disappearance of a bride shortly after her wedding. Sounds like the type of moody, psychological, twisty Nordic mystery that we love!

Ridpath, Michael - Okay, so Ridpath is actually British, but I included him because I recently read his book Where the Shadows Lie, which takes place in Iceland. I thought he did really good research and the book felt Nordic, so it gets a special guest spot on the list. Sequestered to the Icelandic Police Force after a drug cartel puts a bounty on his head, former Boston detective and native Icelander Magnus Jonson is forced to confront difficult truths while investigating rumors about a priceless ancient manuscript. Norse mythology, Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, details of life in Reykjavik, stunning settings, an interesting detective... I thought this was a real winner, and I'm looking forward to the next installment, 66 Degrees North.

Samuels Says - "Which books give you that holiday spirit?"

2011-11-21T15:54:00.001-05:00

This month for our display, we asked the staff: "Which books give you that holiday spirit?" Here are our picks—we'd love to hear yours too!

Jeanne:
The Homecoming: a novel about Spencer’s Mountain by Earl Hamner (F Ham)
The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry, illustrated by P. S. Lynch (JF Hen)
Christmas with Southern Living (394.2 Chr)
Snowy Night with a Stranger by Jane Feather (Paperback Romance F)
A Wallflower Christmas by Lisa Kleypas (F Kle)
A Christmas Tapestry by Patricia Polacco (EF Pol)
Home for the Holidays by Johanna Lindsey
The Nutcracker – American Ballet Theatre and Mikhail Baryshnikov production
(Vid / DVD 792.8 Nut)

Joan 1:

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (JF Dic)
Christmas Jars and Christmas Jars Reunion by Jason Wright (F Wri)
The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans (F Eva)
The Christmas Books by Charles Dickens (F Dic)
The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry (F Hen)
Silent Night by Mary Higgins Clark (F Cla)
One Shenandoah Winter by T. Davis Bunn (F Bun)
A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg (F Fla)
Skipping Christmas by John Grisham (F Gri)
The Christmas Train by David Baldacci (F Bal)

Katie:

Country Living: Merry and Bright: 301 Festive Ideas for Celebrating Christmas from the editors of Country Living (745.594 Cou) “I really like this one”
The Golden Book of Desserts by Carla Bardi and Rachel Lane (641.8 Gol)
Christmas with Southern Living-2008 and up (394.2 Chr)
Everything Christmas by David Borden (394.26 Bor)
Simple Pleasures for the Holidays by Susannah Seton (394.26 Set)
Seriously Simple Holidays by Diane Rossen Worthington (641.568 Wor)
Swedish Christmas Crafts by Helene S. Lundberg (745.594 Lun)
American Christmas edited by Chuck Williams (641.5686 Ame)

Boo:

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (F Dic)
White Christmas (DVD and Vid F Whi)
Skipping Christmas by John Grisham (F Gri)
Six Geese a-Slaying by Donna Andrews (F And)
Christmas Gifts That Always Fit by James W. Moore (F Moo)
A Blue and Gray Christmas by Joan Medlicott (F Med)
A Chesapeake Christmas by Sheryl Woods (F Woo)
Hot Flash Holidays by Nancy Thayer (F Tha)
Seven Stars of Christmas by Claudia Martin (JS Mar)

Joan 2: I like when the story just happens to take place during a holiday!

Enchanted, Inc. series by Shanna Swendson (F Swe)
Till the Cows Come Home, the Stella Crown series by Judy Clemens (F Cle)
Embrace Me by Lisa Samson (F Sam)
Shakespeare’s Christmas by Charlaine Harris (F Har)
Home in Time for Christmas by Heather Graham (F Gra)
The Christmas Pearl by Dorothea Benton Frank (F Fra)
The Snow Globe by Sheila Roberts (F Rob)
Without a Backward Glance by Kate Veitch (F Vei)
The Last Noel by Michael Malone (F Mal)
Silver Bells by Luanne Rice (F Ric)
The Christmas Wish by Richard Siddoway (F Sid)
The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern (F Ahe)
The Next Queen of Heaven by Gregory Maguire (F Mag)
The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown (F Bro)
Coronets and Steel by Sherwood Smith (F Smi)

Kristin:

Skipping Christmas by John Grisham (F Gri)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling (YAF Row) Yule Ball!!
Ice by Linda Howard (F How)
Not Enough Beds! by Lisa Bullard (E Bul)
How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss (E Seu)
The Snowman by Raymond Briggs (E Bri)
+ The Snowman (JF DVD Sno), the 1982 animated version!
The Snowman by Jo Nesbø (F Nes)
Chocolat by Joanne Harris (F Har)
Shakespeare’s Christmas by Charlaine Harris (F Har)
The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman (YAF Pul)
Miracle on 34th Street (DVD F Mir)

Michal:

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (JF Dic)
Snow Angel by Jean Marzollo (E Mar)
Jan Brett’s Snowy Treasury by Jan Brett (E Bre)
Sam the Snowman by Susan Winget (E Win)

Melissa:

Christmas in the Adirondacks by William H. H. Murray (F Cassette Mur)
Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris (818.5402 Sed)
The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom (F Alb)
Christmas with Southern Living (394.2 Chr)

Ben:

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (F Dic)
How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss (E Seu)
The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore (J 811 Moo)
Nutcracker by E. T. A. Hoffmann (JF Hof)
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg (E All)
The Spirit of Christmas by Nancy Tillman (E Til)

Betty:

`Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore (E Moo)
Dashing Through the Snow by Mary and Carol Higgins Clark (F Cla)
The Christmas Train by David Baldacci (F Bal)
Any Martha Stewart holiday book!
Any current magazine!
Listen to some music on our Holiday CDs! (781.723)

Kathy:

Great Joy by Kate DiCamillo (E Dic)
The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry (F Hen)
It’s a Wonderful Life (DVD F Its)
Miracle on 34th Street (DVD F Mir)
The Santa Clause (DVD F San)
A Charlie Brown Christmas (JF DVD Cha)

Anna:

Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree by Robert Barry (E Bar)
All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor (JF Tay) “A great way to learn about Hanukah!”
The Twelve Days of Christmas illustrated by Jan Brett (J 784.4 Twe)
The Twelve Days of Christmas illustrated by Gennedy Spirin (J 784.6 Twe)
Silent Night, Holy Night: a Song for the World by Werner Thuswaldner (J 784.6 Thu)
Cats and Carols by Lesley Anne Ivory (J 784.6 Ivo)
Good King Wenceslas by J. M. Neale (J 782.28 Nea)
Santa Claus is Coming to Town by Fred Coots (J 782.42 Coo)
Any:
Holiday cooking and baking books
Holiday decorating and craft books
Christmas music books in 782s

Tamara:

The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry (F Hen)
A Foxfire Christmas by Eliot Wiggington (394.2 Fox)
Hogfather by Terry Pratchett (F Pra)
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (JF Dic)
Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie (F Chr)
The Penny Whistle Christmas Party Book by Meredith Brokaw (793.21 Bro)
The Flying Latke by Arthur Yorinks (E Yor)
Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett (YAF Pra)
The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder (JF Wil)
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens (F Dic)
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett (JF Bur)

DVDs :

The Santa Clause 1 and 2, Elf, Miracle on 34th Street, White Christmas, A Christmas Wish, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, It’s a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Carol, Christmas Child: a story of coming home, A Christmas Story, The Red Shoes, Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Frosty the Snowman, The Polar Express.

Christmas CDs:

Look for CD 781.723

What should YOU read next?

2011-11-10T10:32:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, a patron came to the reference desk and told me that she had just finished all seven books in Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. (That's quite an accomplishment—we're talking thousands and thousands of pages!) The eighth in the series has an anticipated publication date of sometime in 2012, but that's just too long to wait for a good book to read! That's why she asked me my all-time favorite question: "What should I read next?"

It can take a few minutes to find a book or two when you ask the reference staff for a recommendation, and probably some trial and error too. But our goal is for you to leave with another book that you're excited to read. In this patron's case, she left with two! She also inspired me to prepare an entire list of read-alikes for the next Outlander fan looking for a good read. (See our last post.)

The point of this little anecdote is to make sure you know that we want to help you—yes, you— find your next favorite book.The next time you're in the library and looking for a good book to read, ask for assistance at the reference desk. Give us a few minutes, and we'll send you home with something new to try. If you prefer, you can give me a few weeks, and I'll create an entire annotated reading list like I did for the Outlander reader.

Please come ask us for reading recommendations! We're waiting for you!

Read-alike Guides - Outlander

2011-11-09T15:27:00.000-05:00

If you liked Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, you might enjoy one of these books:

Devil Water by Anya Seton
Seton wrote several thick books with elements of appeal for Outlander fans—though no one book has everything. They are nicely paced, involving stories woven through with solid historic detail and attention to character. Here, Jenny, the daughter of the last Englishman beheaded for supporting the pretender James Stuart in the Jacobite Rebellion, goes to Virginia.

Into the Wilderness by Sarah Donati
Donati regards Gabaldon as her mentor; her work also has solid history, evocative settings, love between "outsiders," and strong characterization. In the first book of her saga, Elizabeth leaves England to teach in New York. When she meets Nathaniel, a white man raised as a member of the Mohawk tribe, their love causes a scandal that leads them to flee into the woods and into danger.

Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott
For early historical romance, try the classic Ivanhoe. At the time of the Norman Conquest, Ivanhoe returns from the Crusades to claim his inheritance and the love of Rowena. He becomes involved in the struggle between Richard Coeur de Lion and his Norman brother John. The gripping narrative is structured by a series of conflicts: Saxon versus Norman, Christian versus Jew, and men versus women.

A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux
Abandoned by her lover after a quarrel, Dougless Montgomery is stranded in rural England. The sudden appearance of Nicholas Stafford—a knight who died in 1564—begins a passionate affair that eventually takes Dougless back to the 16th century. Also try Legend, in which an antique wedding dress leads to 1873 Colorado.

Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
Sold into indentured servitude at the exotic Night Court as a child, Phèdre nó Delaunay faces a difficult choice between honor and duty as she deals with a world of conspiracy and betrayal. Adventure, action, romance, and steamy sex figure prominently in this sprawling, intricately plotted fantasy series.

Lord John and the Private Matter by Diana Gabaldon
John Grey, who befriends Jamie Fraser at Adsmuir prison in Voyager, has his own series set in the Outlander world. Here, upon his return from Scottish exile in 1757, Lord John pursues a traitor through London and across the seas, an endeavor that is complicated by a delicate family affair and his memories of the Jacobite Rising.

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Readers who enjoy Gabaldon’s detailed stories of everyday lives during extraordinary historical times should try this modern classic. Set in 12th century England, this epic of kings and peasants follows the lives, loves, dreams, and heartbreaks of Kingsbridge during the construction of a magnificent cathedral.

Quicksilver by Neal Stephenson
Set against the backdrop of the late 17th and early 18th centuries, Quicksilver tells the intertwining tales of three unforgettable main characters as they traverse a landscape populated by mad alchemists, Barbary pirates, and bawdy courtiers, as well as historical figures including Ben Franklin, William of Orange, Louis XIV, and many others.

The Skystone by Jack Whyte
A retired centurion and his former commander conquer enemies and establish an independent community in Britain, while also providing a possible origin for one of the greatest artifacts of Arthurian myth—Excalibur. "From the building blocks of history and the mortar of reality, Jack Whyte has built Arthur's world and showed us the bone beneath the flesh of legend," Gabaldon has written of this series.

Son of the Morning by Linda Howard
In this beloved time travel romance, ancient language translator Grace St. John finds a document that gives the location of a treasure that Niall of Scotland brought home as Guardian of the Treasure for the Knights Templar in the 14th century. She is transported to his time to protect the relics, including the Holy Grail. Niall is one sexy Scot in a class with Jamie Fraser!

Timeline by Michael Crichton
When elderly Yale history prof Edward Johnston travels back to his beloved 15th century and gets stuck, his assistants follow to the rescue. Crichton invests his story with terrific period detail, castles, sword-play, jousts, sudden death, bold knights-in-armor, and seductive ladies-in-waiting. There's also strong suspense as he cuts between past and present, where the time-travel machinery has broken. Will the heroes survive and make it back?

Time and Again by Jack Finney
Simon Morley, a young Manhattan illustrator, is selected by a secret government agency—presumably to test Einstein's theory that the past actually co-exists with the present—and finds himself transported to the year 1882 under hypnosis. There, he falls in love and refuses to change records for the government agency controlling his experiment. Written with style and elegance, this novel is boldly visionary yet romantic.

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
For a much different twist on time travel romance, try the story of Henry and Clare Detamble. Henry’s Chrono-Displacement Disorder forces him to travel against his will, causing him to visit Clare as a little girl and later as an aged widow and explain "how it feels to be living outside of the time constraints most humans are subject to." This novel is a beautiful, heartbreaking, timeless love story.

Read-alike Guides - The Help

2011-10-19T16:04:00.001-04:00

If you liked The Help by Kathryn Stockett, you might enjoy one of these books:

Backseat Saints by Joshilyn Jackson

After a gypsy predicts that Rose's violent husband will kill her, Rose grabs a gun and her dog Gretel and sets out on a cross-country escape, following messages that her missing mother has left for her and unraveling family secrets. Kathryn Stockett says, “I love reading about smart, flawed, and ultimately wise women, like Rose Mae.”

The Healing by Jonathan Odell

A plantation mistress takes a newborn slave child named Granada as her own. Meanwhile, her husband purchases Polly Shine, a slave woman known as a healer. Polly recognizes "the gift" in young Granada, and a domestic battle of wills ensues that raises tantalizing questions about who Polly Shine really is: a clever charlatan, a meddlesome witch, or a divine redeemer.

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

When artifacts from Japanese families sent to internment camps during World War II are uncovered during renovations at a Seattle hotel, Henry Lee embarks on a quest that leads to memories of growing up Chinese in a city rife with anti-Japanese sentiment. Ford writes earnestly and cares for his characters, who consistently defy stereotype.

The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom

Working as an indentured servant alongside slaves on a Virginia tobacco plantation, Lavinia, a seven-year-old Irish orphan with no memory of her past, finds her light skin and situation placing her between two very different worlds that test her loyalties. Like Stockett, Grissom narrates from multiple female perspectives.

Little Bee by Chris Cleave

This is a tale of the precarious friendship between an illegal Nigerian refugee and a woman from suburban London, told from the alternating and disparate perspectives of both women. He moves between alternating viewpoints with poignant prose and the occasional lighter note. A tense, dramatic ending and plenty of moral dilemmas add to a satisfying, emotional read.

Miss Ophelia by Mary B. Smith

In the summer of 1948, 11-year-old rural Virginia bookworm Isabel “Belly” Anderson goes to help her mean Aunt Rachel recover from surgery, because she wants to get away from home and take piano lessons from Miss Ophelia Love. A sharp observer of the mysterious doings of the adults in her life, the charming Belly learns a lot while she’s there.

Mudbound by Hillary Jordan

Two families, the white landowning McAllans and the Jacksons, their black sharecroppers, narrate this novel in six distinctive voices. The family stories include the faltering marriage of Laura and Henry McAllan, the mean-spirited family patriarch and his white-robed followers, and returning war heroes Jamie McAllan and Ronsel Jackson.

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

The stories of a small Cape Cod postmistress and an American radio reporter stationed in London collide on the eve of the United States's entrance into World War II, a meeting that is shaped by a broken promise to deliver a letter. Stockett called this book “a beautifully written, thought-provoking novel that I’m telling everyone I know to read.”

Second Nature by Jacquelyn Mitchard

Losing her father in a school fire that disfigures her face, Sicily is raised by a dynamic aunt who urges her to pursue a normal life, an effort that is influenced by her fiancé, a terrible drunken revelation, and an opportunity for a risky full-face transplant. “The characters are the sort that stay with you long after the last page is turned,” says Stockett of this “fascinating story.”

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

Like Stockett, See writes thought-provoking novels about women who use what little freedom they have to subvert the oppressive system in which they are forced to live. Her novels are compelling, layered, and character centered. In this story of female friendship set in 19th century China, an elderly woman and her companion communicate through a unique secret language.

Sula by Toni Morrison

At the heart of this novel by the beloved Toni Morrison is the bond between two women, a friendship whose intensity first sustains, then injures. Sula and Nel are both black, both smart, and both poor. Through their girlhood years, they share everything. When they meet again as adults, it's clear that Nel has chosen a life of acceptance and accommodation, while Sula must fight to defend her seemingly unconventional choices and beliefs.

Walk Like a Natural Man by M. Dion Thompson

Skip Reynolds, an 18-year-old Texas sharecropper, follows his dreams to L.A. He settles into a job as a dishwasher and begins the adjustment to urban life in the late 1930s. His aspirations of being the "bronze Errol Flynn" and improving on the Hollywood image of blacks are sorely tested by the compromises of Hollywood in the 1930s, when the most prominent black actor was Steppin Fetchit. How far will he go to realize his dream in this fascinating historical fiction novel?

Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Four slave women—Lizzie, Reenie, Sweet and Mawu—who are their masters’ mistresses, meet when their owners vacation at the same summer resort in Ohio. There, they see free blacks for the first time and hear rumors of abolition. During the final summer at Tawawa House, the women all have a decision to make—will they run? Heart-wrenching, intriguing, original, and suspenseful, this novel brings the unfortunate past to life.

Samuels Says - "It's Halloween... what should we read?"

2011-10-13T14:49:00.002-04:00

This month for our display, we asked the staff: "It's Halloween,,, what should we read?" Here are our picks—we'd love to hear yours too!

Ben

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (F She)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling (YAF Row)
Dracula by Bram Stoker (F Sto)
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson (F Ste)
Jaws by Peter Benchly (F Ben)
The Exorcist by William Blatty (F Bla)
Fear: 13 Stories of Suspense and Horror by R. L. Stine (YAF Sti)
Zombies vs. Unicorns compiled by Justine Larbalestier and Holly Black (YA Story Zom)
The Crucible by Arthur Miller (812.52 Mil)

Kristin

Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury (F Bra) - ”The absolute best Halloween-y book ever!”
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (F Mor)
First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones (F Jon)
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (F Har)
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters (F Wat)
Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris (F Har)
Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger (F Nif)
The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux (F Ler)
The Mercy of Thin Air by Ronlyn Domingue (F Dom)
A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb (YAF Whi)
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova (F Kos)
Mr. Was by Pete Hautman (YAF Hau)
The Radleys by Matt Haig (F Hai)
The Mummy by Anne Rice (F Ric)
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton (F Cri)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling (YAF Row) “Dementors! Plus I love the Halloween Feast!”
And of course: Dracula by Bram Stoker (F Sto), Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (F She), and The Island of Dr. Moreau by H. G. Wells (F Wel)

Cheryl

The Shining by Stephen King (F Kin)
The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe (F Poe)
Beastly by Alex Flinn (YAF Fli)
The Bride Finder by Susan Carroll (F Car)
Midnight Bride by Susan Carroll (F Car)

Kathy J

“I’ve heard that anything by Ted Dekker (F Dek) is pretty intense, but I’ve been too chicken to read them myself!”
Books by Frank Peretti: (F Per)
This Present Darkness
Piercing the Darkness
Oath
The Visitation
Prophet
Monster

Jeanne

Rules of Prey by John Sanford (F San)
The Stand by Stephen King (F Kin)
Red Dragon by Thomas Harris (F Har)
The Woodchipper Murder by Arthur Herzog (364.1523 Her)
Firebird by Janice Graham (F Gra)
The Dark Queen series by Susan Carroll (F Car)
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Retiring Early by Dee Lee (332.024 Lee)
Practice for the S.A.T.s, 1969 edition (378.1662 Pra)
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson (F Jac)
Anything in non-fiction 595.4 - 595.

Nicki

Anything by Edgar Allan Poe!
A Yankee Roams at Dusk by Paula Ann Kirby (133.1 Kir)

Boo

First Grave on the Right and Second Grave on the Left by Darynda Jones (F Dar)
Embrace the Grim Reaper and The Grim Reaper’s Dance by Judy Clemens (F Cle)
A Stranger is Watching by Mary Higgins Clark (F Cla)
Covenant with the Vampire by Jeanne Kalogrdis (F Kal)
A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris (F Har)
Waking the Witch by Kelly Armstrong (F Arm)

Michal

The Dead by Charlie Higson (YAF Hig)
Who’s There by Stephanie Tolan (YAF Tol)
Wait till Helen Comes: a Ghost Story by Mary Hahn (JF Han)
The Bermuda Triangle by Jacqueline Gorman (J 001.94 Gor)
Tailypo: a Newfangled Tall Tale by Angela Medearis (J 398.2 Med)
Stranger with My Face by Lois Duncan (YAF Dun)
Skeleton Man by Joseph Bruchac (JF Bru)
Dracula by Bram Stoker (F Sto)
The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson (133.1 Ans)
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving (JF Irv)

Joan 1

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (F She)
Carrie by Stephen King (F Kin)
The Vampire Chronicles series by Anne Rice (F Ric)
Dracula by Bram Stoker (F Sto)
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stenson (F Ste)
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (F Wil)
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (F Doy)
The Shining by Stephen King (F Kin)
The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe (F Poe)
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson (F Jac)
The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty (F Bla)
Coraline by Neil Gaiman (YAF Gai)

Joan 2

Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz (F Koo)
Graveminder by Melissa Marr (F Mar)
Wither by Lauren DeStefano (YAF Des)
White Cat by Holly Black (YAF Bla)
Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride (YAF McB)
Grave Sight by Charlaine Harris (F Har)
The Passage by Justin Cronin (F Cro)
The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff (YAF Yov)
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (F Lee)
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman (F Hof)

Jessica

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion (F Mar)
The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff (YAF Yov)
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan (YAF Rya)
The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong (YAF Arm)
Revenge of the Witch, from The Last Apprentice series by Joseph Delaney (YAF Del)
Tithe by Holly Black (YAF Bla)
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith (F Aus)

Tamara

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (YAF Gai)
Anything by Neil Gaiman (F Gai)
The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe (F Poe)
Firestarter and The Stand by Stephen King (F Kin)
Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice (F Ric)

Betty

The Ghosts of Charlottesville and Lynchburg by L. B. Taylor (133.1 Tay)
...especially Chapter 21: “ The Extraordinary Rocking Cradle”...it was my grandmother’s house!

Let us not forget DVDs!

The Sixth Sense, The Birds, The Shining, Psycho, When a Stranger Calls, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Addams Family, Sweeney Todd, The Others, Secret Window, The Mummy, To Kill a Mockingbird, Black Swan, Alice in Wonderland, Twilight, Nightmare on Elm Street, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Blade, Interview with the Vampire, and so many more...

Reading Lists - NPR's Top 100 Sci-Fi/Fantasy Novels

2011-10-04T10:36:00.000-04:00

It's been quite awhile since I posted a reading list! While I don't have any new staff-generated content, I do have an absolutely incredible list to share, created by NPR. According to NPR listeners, these are the top 100 science fiction and fantasy novels of all time. The number one spot went to Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, which shouldn't be a surprise to fantasy fans. Other top-ten titles include George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series and a perennial book lover's favorite, Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. Young adult and children's books, horror stories, and paranormal romance were excluded, which means several beloved series, including Harry Potter, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Sookie Stackhouse, aren't on the list. What you'll find is a list of science fiction and fantasy in their purest forms. View the complete list here:

Top 100 Science Fiction, Fantasy Books

Of course, this list might be more than a little bit overwhelming, especially for a new sci-fi or fantasy reader. So where should you start? The editors at SF Signal have made a fun and useful flow chart to help you pick a book from the list. You can find it here:

A Guide to Navigating NPR's Top 100 Science Fiction and Fantasy Books

Happy reading!

Samuels Says - "Which non-fiction books have instructed or inspired you?"

2011-09-12T11:28:00.051-04:00

This month for our display, we asked the staff: "Which non-fiction books have instructed or inspired you?" Here are our picks—we'd love to hear yours too!

Boo

Windows 7 by Joyce Cox Preppernau (005.446 Pre)
A Bitter Sweet Season: Caring for our Aging Parents-and Ourselves
by Jane Gross (306.874 Gro)
We are Their Heaven: Why the Dead Never Leave Us by Allison DuBois (133.91 Dub)
Skyland: The Heart of the Shenandoah National Park by George Pollock (975.594 Pol)
The Great Valley Road of Virginia: Shenandoah Landscapes edited by Warren Hofstra (975.5 Gre)
The Book of Quotes compiled by Barbara Rowes (808.8 Boo)

Melissa

Holy Bible (220.5 Hol)
Where have all the Leaders Gone? by Lee Iacocca (303.3 Iac)
Carrots Love Tomatoes: Secrets of Companion Planting for Successful Gardening by Louise Riotte (635 Rio)
Draw Me a Tree: What the Tree You Draw Reveals About You by Ethel Johnson (158.2 Jo)
Almost Christian: What the Faith of our Teenagers is Telling the American Church by Kenda Creasy Dean (277.3 Dea)
Drive: the Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel Pink (Overdrive Ebook)
Stop Getting Ripped Off: Why Consumers Get Screwed, and How You Can Always Get a Fair Deal by Bob Sullivan (381.34 Sul)
Tips for the Lazy Gardener by Linda Tilgner (635 Til)
Heaven is for Real: a Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back by Todd Burpo (133.901 Bur)
Universal Design for the Home by Wendy Adler Jordan (728 Jor)
Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki (332.024 Kiy)
The Post American World by Fareed Zakaria (303.49 Zak)
Show Me How: 500 Things You Should Know, Instructions for Life From the Every Day to the Exotic by Lauren Smith (640 Smi)

Ben

Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank (Bio Frank Anne)
The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli (320.1 Ma)
Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller (812.52 Mil)
The Double Helix by James D. Watson (572.86 Wat)
Autobiography of Mark Twain by Mark Twain (Bio Twain Mark)
The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African by Olaudah Equiano (Slave Narratives 920 Sla)
Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston (796.522 Ral)
Stonewall Jackson–the Man, the Soldier, the Legend by James I.Robertson Jr. (Bio Jackson Stonewall)

Kathy J.

The Bible
Author Max Lucado
Betty Crocker’s Cookbook by Betty Crocker

Michal

The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Alison Weir (942.052 We)
Frommer’s Bermuda 2004 by Dawn Porter (917.29 Por)
Bermuda Guide by Ron Charles (917.29 Ch)
The Holographic Universe by Michael Talbot (530 Ta)
An Embarrassment of Mangoes: a Caribbean Interlude by Ann Vanderhoof (917.29 Van)
The Life of Elizabeth I by Alison Weir (Bio Elizabeth I)
Home Herbal by Penelope Ody (615.321 Od)
Gardening for Fragrance by Ann Bonar (635.968 Bo)
Trees and Shrubs for Fragrance by Glyn Church (635.968 Chu)
Aromatherapy for Mind and Body by David Schiller (615.321 Sch)

Kristin

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson (500 Bry)
You Were Always Mom’s Favorite by Deborah Tannen (306.875 Tan)
Three Weeks With My Brother by Nicholas Sparks and Micah Sparks (813.54 Spa)
Generation Kill by Evan Wright (956.7044 Wri)
Waiting on a Train by James McCommons (385 McC)
This Book is Overdue! By Marilyn Johnson (027 Joh)
Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind by Ellen Brown (813.52 Bro)
Death and the Virgin Queen by Chris Skidmore (942.05 Ski)
A Voyage Long and Strange by Tony Horwitz (970.01 Hor)
Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horwitz (973.7 Ho)
Taylor’s Guide to Bulbs by Barbara Ellis (635.94 Ell)

Joan 1

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (940.54 Hil)
Stolen Lives: Twenty Years in a Desert Jail by Malika Oufkir (Bio Oufkir Malika)
Until Tuesday: A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him by Luis Carlos Montalvan (362.4 Mon)
Lost City of Z: a Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon by David Grann (918 Gra)
Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi (820.9 Naf)
River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey by Candice Millard (918.1 Mil)
Personal History by Katharine Graham (Bio Graham Katharine)
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson (371.822 Mor)
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote (364.1 Cap)
Overdiagnosed: Making People Sick in the Pursuit of Health by Gilbert H. Welch (616.074 Wel)
Eat This, Not That by David Zinczenko (613.25 Zin)
In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan (613 Pol)
The Wild Trees: a Story of Passion and Daring by Richard Preston (585 Pre)

Jessica

How to (Un)Cage a Girl by Frances Lia Block (YA 811 Blo)
Girls to the Front by Sara Marcus (305.4 Mar)
Earth: Then and Now by Fred Pearce (779.361 Pea)
Mid-Atlantic Gardener’s Guide by Andre Viette (635.9 Vie)
Curly Girl: More than Just Hair by Lorraine Massey (646.724 Mas)
Exit Through the Gift Shop (DVD 751.7 Exi)
Food, Inc. (DVD 338.1 Foo)
Walmart: the High Cost of Low Price (DVD 381.149 Wal)

Jeanne—“Would have starved without” Joy of Cooking
The Joy of Cooking by Irma Rombauer (641.5 Rom)
Crockett’s Victory Garden by James Underwood Crockett (635 Cr)
Mammals of the Carolinas, Virginia, and Maryland by William David Webster (599.09 We)
Trees of North America by C. Frank Brockman (582 Br)
American Sterling Silver Flatware by Maryanne Dolan (739.2 Dol)
The Pleasures of Cross-Stitch (746.443Ple)
Cheese Primer by Steven Jenkins (641.313 Jen)
Lonely Planet: Corsica by Oda O’Carroll (914.495404 Oca)
Birds of North America by Chandler Robbins (598.2973 Ro)
The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders by Lorus and Margery Milne (595.7097 Mil)

Katie

The 150 Healthiest 15 Minute Recipes on Earth by Jonny Bowden (641.555 Bow)
Your Beautiful Wedding on Any Budget by Todd Outcatt (395.22 Out)
Simple, Stunning Wedding Showers by Karen Bussen (793.2 Bus)
Don’t Throw it Out by Lori Baird (640.41 Bai)
Herbs and Spices: the Cook's Reference by Jill Norman (641.657 Nor)
American Christmas edited by Chuck Williams (641.5686 Ame)
Wedding Cakes You Can Make by Dede Wilson (641.8653 Wil)
Get Married Without a Hitch by Lisa Helmanis (395.22 Hel)
Why Don’t Penguins’ Feet Freeze? (500 Why)
The Itty Bitty Kitchen Handbook by Justin Spring (641.5 Spr)

Jan

The Cleaner Plate Club by Betty Bader (641.5 Bad)
The Makeup Wake Up by Lois Johnson (646.726 Joh)
Garden Stone by Barbara Pleasant (717 Ple)
Inside the Not So Big House by Sarah Susanko (728 Sus)
Singer Sewing Essentials (642.2 Si)
Almost Vegetarian by Diana Shaw (641.5636 Sha)
Mark Bittman’s Kitchen Express by Mark Bittman (641.555 Bit)
Newman’s Own Cookbook by Paul Newman (641.5 Ne)
Root Cellaring by Mike and Nancy Bubel (641.452 Bu)
Shop Smart, Save More by Teri Gault (640.73 Gau)
Grow Vegetables by Alan Buckingham (635 Buc)
Guide to Virginia Vegetable Gardening by Walter Reeves (635 Ree)
Deer Proofing Your Yard and Garden by Rhonda Hart (635.0496 Har)
The Plant Propagator’s Bible by Miranda Smith (631.53 (Smi)
The 20th Century Year by Year by Charles Phillips (Oversize 909.82 Twe)

Joan 2

Life at the Edge and Beyond by Shonda Schilling (616.85 Sch)
Look Me in the Eye: My Life With Asperger’s Syndrome by John Elder Robison (362.196 Rob)
Stop Walking on Egg Shells by Paul T. Mason (616.85852 Mas)
Smart But Scattered by Peg Dawson (649.15 Daw)
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot (612.027 Skl)
Your Kids and Sports by Michael Koehler (796.083 Koe)
Rae: My True Story of Fear, Anxiety and Social Phobia by Chelsea Rae Swiggett (YA 618.9285 Swi)
Hannah: My True Story of Drugs, Cutting and Mental Illness by Hannah Westberg (YA 618.9285 Wes)
My House is Killing Me by Jeffrey May (616.97 May)
The 5 Minute Face: the Quick and Easy Makeup Guide for Every Woman by Carmindy (646.72 Car)
No Lye: The African-American Women’s Guide to Natural Hair Care by Tulani Kinard (646.724 Kin)
Fix it and Forget it Cookbook by Dawn J. Rank (641.5884 Ran)
Unmarried Parents’ Rights by Jacqueline D. Stanley
The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game by Michael Lewis (Bio Oher Michael)

Tamara

Last Chance to See by Douglas Adams (591.529 Ad)
Storms of My Grandchildren by James Hansen (363.738 Han)
Great British Cooking: a Well Kept Secret by Jane Garney (641.5941 Gar)
When Gadgets Betray Us by Rob Vamosi (004.46 Vam)
Stitch-n-Bitch by Debbie Stoller (746.432 Sto)
Teach Yourself Visually, Knits and Crochet (746.43 Tea)
Traffic by Tom Vanderbilt (629.283 Van)
On Writing: a Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King (813.54 Kin)
Foxfire books (any of them) (917.58)
Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards (741.2 Edw)
Why Does He Do That? by Lundy Bancroft (362.82 Ban)
Cake Mix Doctor by Anne Byrn (641.8653 Byr)
Heloise: Hints for All Occasions by Heloise (640 He)
Made by Hand by Mark Frauenfelder (BCD 339.4 Fra)
Julie and Julia by Julie Powell (641.5 Pow)
The Book of Games by Peter Arnold (794 Boo)
My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business by Dick Van Dyke (Bio Van Dyke Dick)
That’s Not All Folks by Mel Blanc (Bio Blanc Mel)
Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey (332.024 Ram)
The Between the Lions Book for Parents by Linda Rath (372.4 Rat)
Dangerous Book For Boys by Conn Iggulden (J 031.02 Igg)
Complete Book of Home Preserving (641.42 Com)
Canning and Preserving with Ashley English by Ashley English (641.4 Eng)
Bad Science by Ben Goldacre (500 Gol)

Reading Lists - Historical Fiction Set in France

2011-08-19T17:06:00.000-04:00

Historical fiction is set in the past, before the author's lifetime and experience. Through its serious respect for historical accuracy and details of time, place, and character, historical fiction enhances a reader's knowledge of past events, lives, and customs. This list consists of historical fiction novels set in France.

The Druid King by Norman Spinrad
Spinrad recreates the world of the Gauls, residents of the territory that would eventually become France. Dubbed the king of the Druids, Vercingetorix unites the disparate tribes of Gaul into a fighting force determined to prevent Julius Caesar from adding more of their lands to his already vast empire.

The Angel and the Sword by Cecelia Holland
While Charlemagne’s grandson, Charles the Bald, struggles to preserve the remains of his grandfather's empire from the Vikings, young princess Ragny of Spain seeks to avenge her mother's death and reclaim her throne by masquerading as the warrior Roderick the Beardless. The story, based on a French legend, blends action, suspense, romance, and history.

Beloved Enemy by Ellen Jones
Duchess of Aquitaine in her own right, Eleanor longs for romance and shared power with her husband. Her disastrous marriage to the monkish Louis of France is dissolved for failure to produce an heir, and she then marries Henry, Duke of Normandy, 11 years her junior but her equal in ambition and passion. Her husband will become Count of Anjou and King of England.

Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc by Mark Twain
Twain’s work was published as the memoirs of Joan’s page and secretary, Louis de Conte. He is presented as an individual who was with Joan during the three major phases of her life—as a youth in Domremy, as the commander of the army of Charles VII of France on military campaign, and as a defendant at her trial in Rouen.

The Confessions of Catherine de Medici by C.W. Gortner
Catherine is betrothed to Henri d'Orleans, brother of the sickly heir to the French throne, at 13. She heads to France with a hidden vial of poison, and after negotiating an uneasy truce with her husband's mistress, she matures into a powerful court presence. Three of her sons become king in succession as the widow Catherine wields increasing influence.

Queen Margot by Alexander Dumas
Dumas relates the stirring events of the last years of Charles IX's reign in the late 16th century. The marriage of Catholic Marguerite de Valois, Charles IX’s sister, to Protestant Henri de Bourbon, King of Navarre, took place during religious wars and intensified an already burning power struggle between two clans in the royal family.

Before Versailles by Karleen Koen
This engaging story is told by lady-in-waiting Louise de la Baume le Blanc. As Louis XIV assumes the responsibilities of governing France, he embarks on a love affair with his sister-in-law, triggering a scandal that is complicated by a finance minister's growing power and a mysterious boy with an iron mask.

To Dance with Kings by Rosalind Laker
Laker chronicles contact between five generations of "women with flower names," descendants of a fan maker, and the Kings of France—from Louis XIV, builder of Versailles, to the Louis who lost his head in 1792. The tale is comfy, dense, and undemanding, full of stalwart heroines and warming touches.

Becoming Marie Antoinette by Juliet Grey
This first installment of a planned trilogy imagines the early life of Maria Antonia Josepha Johanna of the Hapsburgs, who at the age of 10 learns from her mother, the ambitious Empress of Austria, that she is to leave her coddled life in the Austrian court to marry the dauphin of France. This volume ends with the dauphin becoming Louis XVI.

Abundance by Sena Jeter Naslund
Naslund traces the life of Marie Antoinette from her "birth as a citizen of France" at age 14 to her execution, told from her own point of view. The novel provides a wealth of detail as Toinette savors life at Versailles, indulges in hair and clothing rituals, gets acquainted with the French court, and experiences motherhood and loss. The outcome is known, but the account is riveting.

Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran
While the tensions rise between the royalty and the people, Marie is torn between two worlds. She tutors the king’s sister in wax sculpting while revolutionaries meet in her family’s salon. Marie, who will one day become Madame Tussaud, must perform a dangerous balancing act to find a way for her family to survive the coming revolution.

Victorine by Catherine Texier
While most of the action takes place outside of France, Victorine captures a piece of French colonialism. In 1899, Victorine leaves her husband and children to go to Indochina with another man and reinvent herself, though she finds herself as out of place in Indochina as she thought she was in Vendee. With lush, vivid description, Texier brings to life both the world around Victorine and the woman herself.

The World at Night by Alan Furst
Film producer Jean Casson is on the verge of developing his first real hit when his life is shattered by the Nazi drive through Belgium and into Paris. His long-brewing crisis of purpose gets him embroiled in an elaborate double-cross as he works undercover for the French and finds himself functioning also for the British and the Germans against his will.

Samuels Says - "Which books have your favorite exotic or foreign setting?"

2011-07-19T12:14:00.001-04:00

This month for our display, we wanted to match the theme of the children's Summer Reading Club. We asked the staff: "Which books have your favorite exotic or foreign setting?" Here are our picks—we'd love to hear yours too!

Melissa:

For added authentic ambiance try listening to one of our CDs while reading ~ Destination Mediterranean (781.62 Des). Or, for the truly adventurous, listen to Deep Roots and Future Grooves (781.63 Dee)
Three Ways to Capsize a Boat: an Optimist Afloat by Chris Stewart (910.45 Ste)
Mediterranean Summer: a Season on France’s Cote d’Azur and Italy’s Costa Bella by David Shalleck (641.5092 Sha)
Whose Panties are These? : More Misadventures from Funny Women on the Road edited by Jennifer Leo (910.4 Who)
The Athena Project by Brad Thor (F Tho)
Bicycle Diaries by David Byrne (796.6 Byr)
Chocolat by Joanne Harris (F Har)
The Tour de France Companion: a Nuts, Bolts and Spokes Guide to the Greatest Race in the World by Bob Roll (796.62 Rol)
Best European Fiction 2010, Best European Fiction 2011 edited by Aleksandar Hemon (SC Bes)
Round Ireland in Low Gear by Eric Newby (914.17 Ne)
The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Place by Eric Weiner (910.4 Wei)
Smilla’s Sense of Snow by Peter Hoeg (F Hoe)
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde (F Ffo)
Murder in the Palais Royal by Cara Black (F Bla)
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (F Chr)
The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith (F Hi)
Neither Here nor There: Travels in Europe by Bill Bryson (914.0455 Bry)
Shadow Divers: the True Adventure of Two Americans who Risked Everything to Solve one of the Last Mysteries of WWII by Robert Kurson (940.5451 Kur)
The Enchantment of the World series, especially Slovenia, Croatia, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, and Italy!! (All located in juvenile non-fiction.)

Jeanne:

The Rose Café: Love and War in Corsica by John Hanson Mitchell (944.966 Mit)
Dark Road to Darjeeling by Deanna Raybourn (F Ray)
The Pillars of Hercules: a Grand Tour of the Mediterranean by Paul Theroux (910.918 Th)
Light of the Moon by Luanne Rice (F Ric)
Crocodile on the Sandbank, the first book in the Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters (F Pe)
House of Daughters by Sarah-Kate Lynch (F Lyn)
Juliet by Anne Fortier (F For)
Amandine by Marlena DeBlasi (F De B)
Nights of Rain and Stars, Tara Road, and Scarlet Feather all by Maeve Binchy (F Bin)

Anna:

The All-of-a-Kind Family series by Sydney Taylor (JF Tay)
The Queen of Water by Laura Resau (YAF Res)
The Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Savage Carlson (JF Sav)
The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax, the first in the Mrs. Pollifax series by Dorothy Gilman (F Gil)
The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack (E Fla)
The Adventures of Tintin series by Herge (JF Her)
Dragon and Thief: a Dragonback Adventure, first book in the series by Timothy Zahn (F Zah)
Assassin, first book in the Lady Grace Mysteries series by Grace Cavendish (JF Cav)
I, Juan de Pareja by Elizabeth Borton de Trevino (JF Tre)
The Diamond of Drury Lane, first book in the Cat Royal Adventure series by Julia Golding (YAF Gol)
Under a War-Torn Sky by Laura Elliott (YAF Ell)
Far North by Will Hobbs (YAF Hob)
Wild Man Island by Will Hobbs (YAF Hob)

Joan 1:

A Caribbean Mystery by Agatha Christie (and other exotic titles by her - F Chr)
The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar (F Umr)
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (F Kin)
In the Woods by Tana French (F Fre)
The Number One Ladies’ Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith (F McC)
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (F Hos)
Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi (820.9 Naf)
Stolen Lives: Twenty Years in a Desert Jail by Malika Oufkir (Bio Oufkir Malika)
Life of Pi by Yann Martel (F Mar)
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by C. Alan Bradley (F Bra)

Jessica:

The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling (YAF Row)
The Los Angeles setting of Francesca Lia Block’s books (YAF Blo)
The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander. The Book of Three is the first one. (JF Ale)
Inu Yasha by Rumiko Takhashi Ani-manga (YAF Tak)
The Sevenwaters series by Juliet Marillier. Daughter of the Forest is the first one. (F Mar)
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (JF Car)
The Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger. Soulless is the first book in the series. (F Car)
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margie Stohl (YAF Gar)

Boo:

There’s Something About Tropez by Elizabeth Adler (F Adl)
Sailing to Capri by Elizabeth Adler (F Adl)
The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells (F We, Classic Paperbacks)
As the Crow Flies by Jeffrey Archer (F Arc)
The Lake House by James Patterson (F Pat)
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (F Gru)
Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift (JF Swi)
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss (JF Wys)
Alice Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (JF Car)
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares (YAF Bra)

Kristin:

Dark Road to Darjeeling and The Dead Travel Fast by Deanna Raybourn (F Ray)
In a Sunburned Country (919.404 Bry), Notes From a Small Island (914.104 Bry), and Neither Here Nor There (914.0455 Bry) all by Bill Bryson
Anything... by Michelle Moran (Nefertiti, The Heretic Queen, Cleopatra's Daughter, and Madame Tussaud - F Mor)
Faithful Place and In the Woods by Tana French (F Fre)
Blue Latitudes: Boldly Going Where Captain Cook has Gone Before by Tony Horwitz (910.92 Hor)
The Invention of Hugo Cabret: a Novel in Words and Pictures by Brian Selznick (JF Sel)
Cause Celeb by Helen Fielding (F Fie)
The Tattoo Artist by Jill Ciment (F Cim)
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (YAF Zus)
Morgan’s Run by Coleen McCullough (F McC)
The Pillars of the Earth, World Without End, and Fall of Giants by Ken Follett (F Fol)
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton (F Cri)
The Snowman by Jo Nesbø (F Nes)
The Millennium Trilogy by Stieg Larsson (F Lar)

Shall I go on???

Tamara:

Nicholas and Alexandra by Robert K. Massie (920 Mas)
The African Queen by C.S. Forester (F For)
Baghdad Without a Map, and Other Misadventures in Arabia by Tony Horwitz (915.604 Hor)
Death Comes as the End and Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (F Chr)
The Case of the Missing Books: a Mobile Library Mystery by Ian Sansom (F San)
Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne (JF Ver)
The Spy Who Came in From the Cold by John Le Carré (BCD Le C)
My Life in France by Julia Child (Bio Child Julia)
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson (JF Ste)
The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck (F Buc)
Robinson Crusoe by Daniel DeFoe (JF DeF)
Shakespeare...of course! (822.33)
Dune by Frank Herbert (F Her)
Strata by Terry Pratchett (F Pat)
The Blue Fairy Book and The Green Fairy Book edited by Andrew Lang (J 398 Lan)
The Voyages of Dr. Dolittle by Hugh Lofting (JF Lof)
Neverwhere and Stardust by Neil Gaiman (F Gai)
Blowing My Cover: My Life as a CIA Spy by Lindsay Moran (Bio Moran Lindsay)
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell (JF O'De)
The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta Trapp (782.42162 Tr)
Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren (JF Lin)
Heidi by Johanna Spyri (JF Sp)

...maybe ask her for the rest!

Joan 2:

Becoming Finola by Suzanne Strempek Shea (F She)
The Heroines by Eileen Favorite (F Fav)
The Forgotten Garden and The House at Riverton by Kate Morton (F Mor)
Chasing Rainbows by Rowena Summers (F Sum)
Coronets and Steel by Sherwood Smith (F Smi)
Death on Tour by Janice Hamrick (F Ham)
The Explorer’s Code by Kitty Pilgrim (F Pil)

Read-alike Guides - Bill Bryson

2011-06-23T10:23:00.000-04:00

If you like the witty, informative works of Bill Bryson, you might enjoy one of these books:

Blue Latitudes by Tony Horwitz
Horwitz is know for a casual but informative tone in his fact-filled, steadily-paced nonfiction. As the subtitle of this work suggests, Horwitz boldly goes where Captain Cook has gone before—tracing Cook’s three voyages between 1768 and 1779 that mapped a previously uncharted third of the globe. Fascinating and fun!

Cod by Mark Kurlansky
Kurlansky’s works span a large range of topics. He presents history with a celebratory tone and uses plenty of humor; he also immerses himself in the subject, providing insight into matters whose connection seems remote until he delves into them. Cod is a history of the fish that has led to wars, stirred revolutions, sustained economies and diets, and helped in the settlement of North America.

Did Adam and Eve Have Navels? by Martin Gardner
Readers who enjoy Bryson’s science writing might like this book. Gardner, a master debunker of scientific fraud and pseudoscience, takes on Freud’s dream theory, numerology, reflexology, and the Heaven's Gate cult, among other assaults on reason and rational thought. He presents a witty and erudite rejection of outrageous superstitions masquerading as science.

The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner
Part foreign affairs discourse, part humor, and part twisted self-help guide, this book takes the reader from America to Iceland to India in search of happiness, or, in the author's case, moments of "un-unhappiness." The book uses a mixture of travel, psychology, science and humor to investigate not what happiness is, but where it is.

The Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux
Bryson credits Theroux, who in 1975 set the standard for provocative travel accounts with personal reflections, as one of his influences. Rich with characters and adventure, this travelogue takes readers on a fascinating and entertaining journey on classic trains and routes, such as the Orient, Mandalay, and Trans-Siberian Expresses.

My Family and Other Animals by Gerard Durrell
Travel and animals dominate the writing of naturalist Durrell, topics that offer scope for his quirky humor, accessible erudition, flights of fantasy, and astute observations. This book combines the natural history of Corfu with the less conventional history of his own family. Humor and accurate scientific detail characterize this charming tale.

Packing for Mars by Mary Roach
Science writer Roach travels widely to gather material for her side-splittingly funny books. Like Bryson, she makes complex subjects accessible to lay readers. Space is a world devoid of things that humans need to live, and Roach explores the irresistibly strange universe of space travel and life without gravity.

Pecked to Death by Ducks by Tim Cahill
Cahill is an adventurer, willing to meet any physical challenge—and try any food—in the country he explores. While his exploits may be more extreme, Bryson readers will enjoy his companionable style. Here, Cahill chronicles many adventures, from guzzling beer in Australia to a tour of the oil-well fires in Kuwait to bear watching in Yellowstone.

The Sinner’s Grand Tour by Tony Perrottet
Known for his explorations of historic salaciousness, Perrottet puts a new twist on the grand European tour—from the Marquis de Sade’s castle and Casanova’s Venice to Britain’s Hellfire sex clubs of the 1700s and the Vatican’s pornographic art. This mix of quirky historic tales and traditional travelogue makes for an entertaining, informative, and strangely tasteful narrative.

Travels with Alice by Calvin Trillin
Another Midwestern transplant (but to New York City rather than England) travels to Europe with his wife and daughters in search of interesting food and adventures. Trillin’s accounts of fine (and not-so-fine) eating resonate with insights into people and places. His conversational and playful style. ability to put himself into the story, and wonderful self-deprecating humor should please Bryson fans.

Books by Bill Bryson that you shouldn’t miss:

The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid
Bryson recalls growing up in the middle of the last century (the 1950s) in the middle of the country (Des Moines, IA). His alter ego, the Thunderbolt Kid, born of his love for comic-book superheroes and the need to vaporize irritating people, serves as an astute outside observer of life around him. In addition to nostalgic memories, Bryson’s usual meticulous research is evident here.

A Short History of Nearly Everything
Bryson takes the reader on a scientific odyssey from the Big Bang to the rise of civilization. Reflecting his gift for making science comprehensible yet fun, he tells the story of the discoveries and people that have shaped our understanding of the universe in such a way that even those with no knowledge or interest in science can enjoy it.

A Walk in the Woods
"Walking is what we did," Bryson says, as he and a friend attempt to walk the Appalachian Trail from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mount Katahdin, Maine. He laces his narrative with gobbets of trail history and local trivia, highlighting the natural pleasures, human eccentrics, and offbeat comforts of the Trail. Of course, one stop is Front Royal, which makes this a must-read!

Samuels Says - "Which book has the villain you love to hate?"

2011-06-16T13:19:00.000-04:00

This month for our display, we asked the staff: "Which book has the villain you love to hate?" Here are our picks—we'd love to hear yours too!

Boo:

Annie Wilkes from Misery by Stephen King
The Wicked Witch from The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
The White Witch from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Scrooge from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Shere Kahn from The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling

Jeanne:

Catherine de Medicis from The Dark Queen series by Susan Caroll
“Black Jack” Randall from the Outlander series
The evil Isadora in Casting Spells by Barbara Bretton

Jessica:

Draco Malfoy from the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling
Leck from Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Somerled from Wolfskin by Juliet Marillier
The Homunculi from Full Metal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa
Mad Cow Disease from Going Bovine by Libba Bray
Gollum from the Lord of the Rings by J.R. R. Tolkien

Melissa:

Mrs. Hilly from The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Bill Sikes from Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larson
Annie Wilkes from Misery by Stephen King
The Keepsake by Tess Gerritsen (sound recording)
The Burning Wire by Jeffery Deaver (MP3 format)
The Shining by Stephen King

Katie:

Snape; Voldemort; Draco all from the Harry Potter series by J.K.Rowling
Sir Leigh Teabing from The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
Camerlengo from Angels and Demons by Dan Brown
Gollum from The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Nuala from Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater
Ursula, the Sea Witch from The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Anderson
Cruella de Ville from The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith
The Volturi from The Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyer

Joan 1:

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Follow the River by James Alexander Thom
The Princess Bride by William Goldman
The Lovely Bones by Alia Sebold
The Confession by John Grisham
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie (anything else by her too)

Kristin:

Voldemort; the Malfoys, and Bellatrix Lestrange from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
The Capitol citizens from The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins
Sauron and his minions from The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien
Captain Hook from Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
The murderer in Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard
The priest in The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
Lucinda from Time Windows from Kathryn Reiss
Mrs. Coulter from The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman
Aunt Redd from The Looking Glass Wars trilogy by Frank Beddor
All the baddies but especially "Auntie Em"/Medusa from the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan
The original evil vamp from Dracula by Bram Stroker

Tamara:

Bleak House, Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, and A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
The Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe
Hamlet and Macbeth by William Shakespeare
Murder on the Orient Express and Curtain by Agatha Christie
Thief of Time and Sourcery by Terry Pratchett
The Client by John Grisham
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice
Firestarter and The Stand by Stephan King
The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café by Fannie Flagg
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Joan2:

Haunted Ground by Erin Hart
Mudbound by Hillary Jordan
The White Cat by Holly Black
The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O’Farrell
Grave Sight; book one of the Harper Connelly series by Charlaine Harris
Real Murders; book one of the Aurora Teagarden series by Charlaine Harris
Odd Thomas; The Darkest Evening of the Year; Dark Rivers of the Heart; One Door Away from Heaven; all by Dean Koontz
Deja Dead; book one in the Temperance Brennan series by Kathy Reichs– The Bones T.V. show!
The Bourne Identity; book one of the Jason Bourne series by Robert Ludlom
The Fetch by Chris Humphreys
Open Season by Linda Howard
A Child Called “It” by Dave Pelzer

Kathy J.:

Nicolae Carpathia from the Left Behind series; and The Rising series, both by Tim LaHaye

Read-alike Guides - Gone with the Wind

2011-05-23T09:43:00.000-04:00

If you liked Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, you might enjoy one of these books:

Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
It is 1864, and Inman escapes from a war hospital and starts walking back to Cold Mountain in order to reach Ada. Meanwhile, Ada struggles to save her mountain farm with the help of Ruby, an illiterate but efficient farmer. Like GWTW, Frazier’s novel is character-driven, dramatic, romantic, and has a strong sense of place.

Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak
The epic novel of Russia in the throes of revolution and one of the greatest love stories ever told follows Yuri Zhivago, physician and poet. Zhivago wrestles with the new order and confronts the changes cruel experience has made in him, as well as the anguish of being torn between the love of two women. For another classic, epic Russian romance, try Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina.

East of Eden by John Steinbeck
This sprawling and often brutal novel, set in the rich farmlands of California's Salinas Valley, follows the intertwined destinies of two families—the Trasks and the Hamiltons—who helplessly reenact the fall of Adam and Eve and the poisonous rivalry of Cain and Abel. Steinbeck does for 20th century California what Mitchell did for 19th century Georgia.

Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor
Abandoned pregnant and penniless on the streets of London, Amber St. Clare manages (by using her wits, beauty, and courage) to climb to the high position of Charles II’s favorite mistress. Among courtiers, noblemen, whores, and highwaymen, from the Great Plague to the Fire of London, she remains, in her heart, true to the one man she loves and can never have.

Heart of the West by Penelope Williamson
Clementine is a proper Bostonian lady until she literally bumps into Gus McQueen and elopes with him to Montana. The land controls her fate and that of her two friends, a prostitute/landowner and a Chinese picture bride. Williamson brings to life the lost and fading ideal of the American frontier as Mitchell did for that of the genteel South.

House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
A portrait of American manners and morals at the turn of the century offers the saga of Lily Bart, who lacks one requirement for marrying well in New York society—her own money. Wharton shows the restricted choices for wealthy women. Lily’s relationship with Shelden somewhat echoes Scarlett's inability to recognize her love for Rhett.

Peachtree Road by Anne Rivers Siddons
Lucy will never become the demure Southern lady her family requires—while her older cousin is too shy and bookish, a far cry from the suave, gregarious Southern gentleman he's expected to be. This is the story of two people cursed by blood and birth, set against the turbulent growth of a great Southern city.

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
The classic novel of romantic suspense finds the second Mrs. Maxim de Winter entering the home of her mysterious new husband and learning the story of the house's first mistress, to whom the sinister housekeeper is unnaturally devoted. The young Mrs. De Winter, struggling to find her identity and consumed by love, is a timeless heroine.

Shades of Gray by Jessica James
Set in Virginia during the volatile period of the Civil War, Shades of Gray chronicles the clash of a Confederate cavalry commander with a Union spy as they defend their beliefs, their country, and their honor. This Civil War love story illuminates the fine line between friends and enemies at a time when traditions and principles were worth defending at all costs.

The Touch by Colleen McCullough
Scottish-born Alexander Kinross writes home from the Sydney gold fields for a bride, marrying his young cousin Elizabeth, who struggles with her husband’s ex-madam mistress and illegitimate son. Also set in the 1860s (though a world away), this saga is about the lively personalities and explosive situations that shaped Australia. (McCullough’s classic The Thorn Birds is also a must-read.)

Beyond GWTW

Scarlett by Alexandra Ripley
In the sequel authorized by the Mitchell estate and set during Reconstruction, Scarlett chases Rhett to Charleston. His continued rejection causes her to flee first to Savannah and then to Ireland in search of her roots, where she falls in love with the people and way of life.

Rhett Butler’s People by Donald McCaig
McCaig’s work chronicles the life and times of Rhett, disowned son of a cruel South Carolina planter. This reimagining fleshes out Rhett’s back story and replays famous GWTW scenes from his perspective.

The Wind Done Gone by Alice Randall
In the unauthorized parody, Cindy, Scarlett’s mulatto half-sister, describes her life as a plantation slave and relates how she made her way to Atlanta to become the mistress of a white businessman.

Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind by Ellen F. Brown and John Wiley, Jr.
This biography of the novel documents the writing process, reception by the publishing industry, its cultural importance, the iconic film adaptation, and much more.

Samuels Says - Which book character would you most like to go on a date with?

2011-05-16T16:49:00.000-04:00

This month for our display, we asked the staff: "If you weren’t married, or otherwise engaged… and age was just a state of mind... Meaning no disrespect to all the wonderful men in our lives… In a world of fiction… Just for fun... Which book has the character you would most like to go on a date with?" Here are our picks—we'd love to hear yours too... both men and women!

Alex Cross novels by James Patterson
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater
Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding
Carry on Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lathem
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris
Dog on it! by Spencer Quinn
The Dresden novels by Jim Butcher
Embrace the Grim Reaper by Judy Clemens
Emma by Jane Austen
Evernight, Stargazer, and Hour Glass by Claudia Gray
Falling Home by Karen White
Fame by Karen Kingsbury
The Flame and the Flower by Kathlynn Woodiwiss
Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Heat Wave by Richard Castle
Henry the Eighth: the King and his Court by Allison Weir
The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy
Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
Inspector Rutledge series by Charles Todd
James Bond novels by Ian Fleming
The Knowland Retribution by Richard Greener
Maximum Ride series by James Patterson
Merlin Trilogy by Mary Stewart
Mitch Rapp novels by Vince Flynn
Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks
The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz
One for the Money by Janet Evanovich
Orchids and Diamonds by Rosalind Laker
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Outstretched Shadow by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory
The Outsider by Penelope Williamson
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Austen and Smith
The Princess by Lori Wick
Princess Bride by William Goldman
Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier
Redemption by Karen Kingsbury
The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff
Rose in Bloom by Louisa May Alcott
Same Sweet Girls by Cassandra King
The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy
Shiver and Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
Son of the Shadows by Juliette Marillier
Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire novels by Charlaine Harris
Sophie's Heart by Lori Wick
Sugar Pavilion by Rosalind Lake
The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett
This Heart of Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
To Catch a Thief by David Dodge
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
Walt Fleming novels by Ridley Pearson
Water for Elephants by Sarah Gruen
The Wayfarer Redemption by Sara Douglass
The Wedding Officer: a Novel of Culinary Seduction by Anthony Capella
Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan
Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskill (movie only)

Reading Lists - Beyond Twilight (YA Fantasy for Adults)

2011-05-16T15:20:00.001-04:00

Several (adult) staff members here at the library love to read books from the young adult section, especially fantasy novels. Of course we've read a lot of vampire books (because let's face it, a lot of vampire books have been published lately!), but we've also branched out a lot too—in fact, one of us predicted that angels would be the next big thing before they became the next big thing.

We're often trying to think of recommendations for patrons with the same reading tastes, and we decided to come up with a list of some of our favorites. Though it's difficult to describe the plot and why we liked a book in so few words, trust us when we say, "These books are good!" Our list grew much more quickly than we anticipated, so we finally had to stop with the shocking total of 39 books. Of course, that means there are more where these came from...

Part 1—Paranomal Romance Standards

Vampires

Evernight by Claudia Gray
Sixteen-year-old Bianca, a new girl at the sinister Evernight boarding school, finds herself drawn to another outsider, Lucas, but dark forces threaten to tear them apart and destroy Bianca's entire world. Why we love it: Not just one but two huge plot twists, quick read, fresh take on the themes of “coming of age” and dealing with the undead,” exciting, Bianca’s sexy friend Balthazar.

Marked by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
Sixteen-year-old Zoey Redbird is Marked as a fledgling vampyre and joins the House of Night where she will train to become an adult vampyre. Why we love it: New twists, great characters (friends, family, and enemies), clique drama, Native American element, realistically fun and witty dialogue, cool tattoos, vampyres have their own religion (worship of the goddess Nyx), Zoey’s one-of-a-kind kitty Nala.

Persistence of Memory by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
Diagnosed with schizophrenia as a child, 16-year-old Erin has spent half of her life in therapy and on drugs, but now must face the possibility of weird things in the real world, including shapeshifting friends and her "alter," a centuries-old vampire. Why we love it: Mental illness; mind-sharing; a helpful, magical guy friend; creative; more creatures than just vampires; dramatic.

Weres

Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause
Having fallen for a human boy, Vivian, a beautiful teenage werewolf, must battle both her packmates and the fear of the townspeople to decide where she belongs and with whom. Why we love it: Classic! Klause makes werewolves cooler than vampires, who Vivian ends up with, interesting ending, dark but very human, saw the movie.

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
Grace Divine learns a dark secret when a childhood friend returns, upsetting her pastor-father and the rest of her family. At the same time, there are strange things happening in their tiny Minnesota town. Why we love it: Just plain good—faith element, family dynamic, artists, paradoxes, suspense/mystery—we could gush forever!

Need by Carrie Jones
Depressed after the death of her stepfather, Zara goes to live with her grandmother in small town Maine, where new friends tell Zara the strange man she keeps seeing may be a pixie king, and that only "were" creatures can stop him from taking souls. Why we love it: Maine, gold pixie dust, Zara supports Amnesty International, most awesome grandma ever.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
In all the years she has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house, Grace has been particularly drawn to an unusual yellow-eyed wolf who has also been watching her with increasing intensity. Why we love it: Reminiscent of Twilight, but we couldn’t put it down—we laughed, we cried, and we fell in love with a hunky wereboy!

Faeries

Tithe by Holly Black
Sixteen-year-old Kaye, who has been visited by faeries since childhood, discovers that she herself is a magical faerie creature with a special destiny. Why we love it: Intriguing, dark, no cookie-cutter characters (they’re troubled, malevolent, etc.), masterfully portrays the allure and terror of the Fae world, shows the ugly side of life and growing up.

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
Aislinn, who has the rare ability to see faeries, is drawn against her will into a centuries-old battle between the Summer King and Winter Queen, and the survival of her life, her love, and summer all hang in the balance. Why we love it: A bad guy who wants to be good, tattoos, living in a train, several stories to follow, interesting faerie mythology, caring male friend, wicked AND lovely!

Wings by Aprilynne Pike
When a plant blooms out of 15-year-old Laurel's back, it leads to the discovery that she is a faerie and that she has a crucial role to play in keeping the world safe from the encroaching enemy trolls. Why we love it: A love triangle with a very tough choice for Laurel, different faerie mythology (petal wings that sprout in spring and die away in autumn, caste system, unique talents...) Interesting!

Angels

Fallen by Lauren Kate
Suspected in the death of her boyfriend, 17-year-old Luce is sent to a Savannah, Georgia, reform school where she meets two intriguing boys and learns the truth about the strange shadows that have always haunted her. Why we love it: Angels and a human heroine might be the only ones able to save the world, the librarian has an important role, creepy gothic school with a pool in the church, dark tone.

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
Nora has always been cautious in her relationships, until Patch, who has a dark side she can sense, enrolls at her school. Is it his voice in her thoughts? What is the V-shaped scar on his back? Why we love it: Suspense, romantic tension, funny BFF, Nora has a personality, yummy bad boy Patch—“unputdownable” and at the top of our list!

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
Sixteen-year-old Clara Gardner's purpose as an angel-blood begins to manifest itself, forcing her family to pull up stakes and move to Jackson, Wyoming, where she learns that danger and heartbreak come with her powers. Why we love it: Sibling relationship, Wyoming, love triangle (team Tucker!), supernatural girl with a goal, huge surprise ending, very well-written characters.

Part 2—Miscellaneous Paranormal Romance

Beastly by Alex Flinn
A modern retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" from the point of view of a vain Manhattan private school student who is turned into a monster and must find true love before he can return to his human form. Why we love it: Old story reborn, showcases the importance of morality and the power of love, excellent characterization (with both physical and emotional metamorphosis).

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
In a small South Carolina town, 16-year-old Ethan is powerfully drawn to Lena, a new classmate with whom he shares a psychic connection and whose family hides a dark secret that may be revealed on her sixteenth birthday. Why we love it: Poetry, Southern Gothic atmosphere, Civil War history, complex mythology, boy’s point of view, strong descriptions, cool librarian, small town feel.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Suddenly able to see demons and the Darkhunters who are dedicated to returning them to their own dimension, 15-year-old Clary Fray is drawn into this bizzare world when her mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a monster. Why we love it: Plot twists, good laugh-out-loud dialogue, complex romance, interesting characters and mythology.

Evermore by Alyson Noël
Since the car accident that claimed the lives of her family, Ever can see auras and hear people's thoughts, and she goes out of her way to hide from other people until she meets Damen, another psychic teenager who is hiding even more mysteries. Why we love it: California, tulips, great dialogue, engaging back story, sisters, no creatures—just a cool psychic girl.

Firelight by Sophie Jordan
When 16-year-old Jacinda, who can change into a dragon, is forced to move away from her community of shapeshifters and start a more normal life, she falls in love with a boy who proves to be her most dangerous enemy. Why we love it: Strong heroine, love/hate sister relationship, romantic leads endanger each other, and oh yeah—she turns into a dragon! A dragon!

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
Orphaned Mary seeks knowledge of life, love, and especially what lies beyond her walled village and the surrounding forest, home of the Unconsecrated, aggressive flesh-eating people who were once dead. Why we love it: Page-turner, hope, depressing but enthralling, highlights consequences of a break with conformity, The Village + I Am Legend.

Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride
Sam LaCroix, a Seattle fast-food worker and college dropout, discovers he is a necromancer, part of a world of creatures and a threat to another necromancer’s lucrative business of raising the dead. Why we love it: So funny, male lead that boys can relate to, surprise ending, talking head in a bowling bag!

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
After learning that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea, Percy Jackson transfers from boarding school to Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for demigods, and becomes involved in a quest to prevent a war between the gods. Why we love it: Funny, plenty of action, realistic dialogue, more friendship than romance, great for boys.

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
When a dark prophecy begins to come true, 16-year-old Evie of the International Paranormal Containment Agency must try to stop it and uncover its connection to herself and the alluring shapeshifter, Lend. Why we love it: Refreshing heroine who gets excited to do normal teenage stuff, vampires and faeries plus original supernatural beings keeps things interesting.

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink
In late nineteenth-century New York state, wealthy 16-year-old twins Lia and Alice Milthorpe find that they are on opposite sides of an ancient prophecy that has destroyed their parents and seeks to do even more harm. Why we love it: Fighting sisters (one mostly good, one mostly evil), strong secondary characters, great plot, different paranormal abilities.

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff
Mackie Doyle knows that he replaced a human child when he was an infant. When a friend's sister disappears, he goes against his family's and town's deliberate denial of the problem to confront the beings that dwell under the town, tampering with human lives. Why we love it: Disturbing and gruesome yet beautiful story; pure, refreshing lead character; power of love and selflessness.

The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong
After Chloe starts seeing ghosts and is sent to Lyle House, a mysterious group home for mentally disturbed teenagers, she soon discovers that neither Lyle House nor its inhabitants are exactly what they seem, and that she and her new friends are in danger. Why we love it: Non-stop action, fun and exciting, great creepy scenes.

The White Cat by Holly Black
When Cassel Sharpe discovers that his older brothers have used him to carry out their criminal schemes and then stolen his memories, he figures out a way to turn their evil machinations against them. Why we love it: Family dynamics, male protagonist, tragic love, good and evil are jumbled up, attention-holding, silly but brilliant concept (two words—supernatural mafia).

Part 3—Alternate Worlds/Sci-Fi

Alternate World Fantasy

Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta
On the cusp of manhood, Finnikin reluctantly joins forces with an enigmatic young novice and fellow-exile, who claims that her dark dreams will lead them to a surviving royal child and a way to regain the throne of Lumatere. Why we love it: Complex characters, world building, good old-fashioned young-man-on-a-quest fantasy, surprises.

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
Accompanied by her shape-shifting daemon, Lyra Belacqua sets out to prevent her best friend and other kidnapped children from becoming the subject of gruesome experiments in the Far North. Why we love it: Allegory, the importance of truth, friendship, talking polar bears, witches, parallel worlds, adventure and suspense, physical manifestation of the soul.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore
In a world where some people are born with extreme and often-feared skills called Graces, Katsa struggles for redemption from her own horrifying Grace, the Grace of killing, and teams up with another young fighter to save their land from a corrupt king. Why we love it: Emotional journey, epic fantasy, believable characters, strong and inspiring female lead, disturbing villain, swords, two different eye colors.

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
After the suspicious death of her mother in 1895, 16-year-old Gemma returns to England (after many years in India) to attend a finishing school where she becomes aware of her magical powers and ability to see into the spirit world. Why we love it: Well-written, Victorian era, good and evil are confused, fear, excitement, atmosphere.

Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Eldest of three sisters in a land where that is considered to be a misfortune, Sophie is resigned to her fate as a hat shop apprentice until a witch turns her into an old woman and she finds herself in the castle of the greatly feared wizard Howl. Why we love it: Unique and involved concept with a well-woven plot, laugh-out-loud sarcasm, a real gem.

The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor
Cast out of Wonderland by her evil aunt Redd, young Alyss Heart finds herself living in Victorian Oxford as Alice Liddell and struggling to keep memories of her kingdom intact until she can return and claim her rightful throne. Why we love it: Fun and action-packed, new take on a beloved tale, steampunk, detailed characters/character development.

The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan
When 15-year-old Will is rejected by battleschool, he becomes the reluctant apprentice to the mysterious Ranger Halt and winds up protecting the kingdom from danger. Why we love it: Action and adventure, great fun for all ages and genders—knights, archers, Vikings!

Science Fiction

The Angel Experiment by James Patterson
After the mutant Erasers abduct the youngest member of their group, the "birdkids" (who are the result of genetic experimentation) take off in pursuit, also struggling to understand their own origins and purpose. Why we love it: Wings, first love, darkly brooding Fang, future science seems possible, kids controlling their destiny.

The Fetch by Chris Humphreys
After exploring a sea chest full of runes and a journal belonging to his deceased grandfather, 15-year-old Sky summons the old man's ghost, who teaches him how to travel through time and space. Why we love it: Corsica, male protagonist, dark and mysterious, evil grandpa, runestones add a unique touch.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
In future North America, Panem’s rulers maintain control through a TV survival competition, pitting teens from each district against each other. Katniss's skills are tested when she voluntarily takes her younger sister's place. Why we love it: Eerily possible future, social commentary, love triangle, tough girl, nail-biting suspense, pure AWESOME!

Skinned by Robin Wasserman
To save her from dying in a horrible accident, 17-year-old Lia's wealthy parents transplant her brain into a mechanical body. She must make the transition from leader of the rich, shallow girls at school to mechanical outcast. Why we love it: Seems like a possible future (believable and realistic), girl trying to find herself, sister relationship, the best character development, inspires moral debate.

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
Just before their 16th birthdays, when they will be transformed into beauties whose only job is to have a great time, Tally's best friend runs away and Tally must find her and turn her in, or never become pretty at all. Why we love it: Fun invented language, social commentary fits modern society, utterly captivating world-building, strongly developed characters, exciting.

Unwind by Neal Shusterman
In a future world where those aged 13 to 18 can have their lives "unwound" and their body parts harvested for use by others, three teens go to extreme lengths to uphold their beliefs—and, perhaps, save their own lives. Why we love it: Current headlines projected into future, heart-pounding suspense, biting social commentary, not too much romance, realistic feel.

Samuels Says - What is the funniest book you have read?

2011-04-22T14:57:00.001-04:00

This month we started a new type of Staff Selections display/reading list. We asked everyone on the library staff: What is the funniest book you have read? Here's a list of the books that make us laugh out loud!

Adult Fiction

Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (F Ada)
Walking Across Egypt by Clyde Edgerton (F Ed)
Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich (F Eva)
Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination by Helen Fielding (F Fie)
I Still Dream About You by Fannie Flagg (F Fla)
Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (F Gai)
Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik (F Lan)
The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz (F Lut)
Practical Demon Keeping by Christopher Moore (F Moo)
This Heart of Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (F Phi)
Dog on it: a Chet and Bernie Mystery by Spencer Quinn (F Qui)
To Fetch a Thief by Spencer Quinn (F Qui)
Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates by Tom Robbins (F Rob)
Miss Julia Speaks her Mind by Ann B. Ross (F Ros)
The Case of the Missing Books by Ian Sansom (F Sam)
The Hot Flash Club by Nancy Thayer (F Tha)
Assault With a Deadly Glue Gun by Lois Winston (F Win)

Adult Non-fiction

Why My Third Husband Will be a Dog by Lisa Scottoline (814.54 Sco)
Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris (814.54 Sed)
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson (917.4 Bry)
In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson (919.404 Bry)
Belle Weather: Mostly Sunny with a Chance of Scattered Hissy Fits by Celia Rivenbark (available as a downloadable audiobook on OverDrive)
Help! I’m Laughing and I Can’t Get Up by Liz Higgs (library does not own)

Young Adult Fiction

Going Bovine by Libba Bray (YAF Bra)
Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones (YAF Jo)
The Great Turkey Walk by Kathleen Karr (YAF Kar)
Hold me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride (YAF McB)
Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison - and the rest of the series (YAF Ren)
The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt (YAF Sch)

Easy Fiction

Nibble, Nibble Jenny Archer by Ellen Conford (E Con)
Duck for President by David Cronin (E Cro)
More Bears by Kenn Nesbitt (E Nes)
Epossumondas Saves the Day by Coleen Salley (E Sal)
The Great Fuzz Frenzy by Janet Stevens (E Ste)
Morris’s Disappearing Bag by Rosemary Wells (E Wel)

Reading Lists - Romantic Suspense

2011-04-01T10:55:00.000-04:00

The romantic suspense story is related to the Gothic novel. The heroine is usually a female who finds herself in a dangerous situation while the hero serves as both her protector and love interest.

Blue Smoke and Murder by Elizabeth Lowell
Private information collector and reluctant bodyguard Zach Balfour is hired to protect wilderness expert Jill Breck, a river guide with ties to the art world. Zach realizes his charge is in more danger than previously known, a situation that pits them against the ruthless multi-million-dollar Western art circuit.

Close to You by Christina Dodd
Up-and-coming TV reporter Kate Montgomery lands a high-paying job in Austin, where she acquires a stalker who may hold the key to unanswered questions about her past. Kate never suspects that a powerful figure is pulling her strings behind the scenes—or that Teague Ramos, her new bodyguard, will turn her life upside down, both professionally and personally. (PB)

Hurricane by Karen Harper
As a hurricane bears down on the residents of southwest Florida, forcing them to evacuate, Julie Minton and Zack Brockman, a former Navy SEAL, must race against time to find their missing children. Julie and Zack have more than Mother Nature to worry about, however, as they find themselves in the path of dangerous enemies who use the storm’s devastation their own evil ends.

Killing Her Softly by Beverly Barton
Accused of murdering his lover, defense attorney and notorious womanizer Quinn Cortez vows to prove his innocence to Annabelle Vanderley, the victim's cousin, but his quest for the truth causes the untimely demise of several more ex-lovers. Falling for Quinn, Annabelle wonders just how close she may be to a twisted psychopath (PB)

Now You See Him by Stella Cameron
After the man Ellie Byron sent to prison escapes, two murders occur, emulating a best-selling author's crime novels. Bookseller and former witness Ellie must team up with attorney Joe Gable to catch a killer when the third crime novel is released. As she and Joe grow closer, she must let him in on the hidden secrets of her past.

On the Run by Iris Johansen
The CIA put Grace Archer and her young daughter, Frankie, under protective custody on a small horse farm in Alabama. When their cover is blown, the CIA wants to use the two as bait to smoke out Marvot, an old enemy. The only person who can protect them is Jake Kilmer—a rogue agent, Grace’s estranged lover, and Frankie’s father.

Open Season by Linda Howard
Daisy Ann Minor realizes that at 34, she's a stereotypical librarian with old-fashioned clothes and mousey brown hair, so she turns herself into a party girl, declaring open season on manhunting. Late one night she sees something she's not supposed to see and finds herself the target of a killer. Daisy turns to Jack Russo, the sexy Chief of Police, for help.

Played by Barbara Freethy
A legendary diamond comes into the auction house where art historian Christina Alberti works, and two thieves, one of them her father, want the gem. FBI Agent J.T. McIntyre is determined to catch the thief who destroyed his family, and he won't let anybody stand in his way, not even the beautiful Christina, whose secrets make him wonder which side she's on. (PB)

Pursuit by Karen Robards
Jessica Ford is a young D.C. lawyer whose life is thrown for a loop when she survives a car wreck that kills the first lady and finds her own life in danger. In steps Secret Service agent Mark Ryan. As bodies start piling up, Jessica and Mark have no one to turn to except each other. The conspiracy points to some very high places, and the duo realize the key to saving their lives is locked away in Jessica’s memories.

The Rivals by Joan Johnston
Teton County sheriff’s deputy Sarah Barndollar is working a missing child case, and the victim is the U.S. Attorney General’s daughter. Things becomes more dangerous when Sarah realizes a serial kidnapper and murderer might be responsible. With the help of Drew De Witt, the attorney general’s sexy cousin, Sarah works through the puzzling clues while fighting a mesmerizing attraction to him.

Smash Cut by Sandra Brown
Julie Rutledge believes that the accidental shooting of her friend was actually orchestrated by the victim's depraved nephew Creighton. She seduces defense lawyer Derek Mitchell to prevent him from representing Creighton in court. Julie becomes the prime suspect in the murder, and Derek, who wants to believe in her innocence, realizes that the nephew is a psychotic movie buff who enjoys acting out violent film plots.

Twice Kissed by Lisa Jackson
When her twin sister disappears, Maggie McCrae, determined to find the truth, steps into her shoes and discovers her twin's dark side, leading her down a path of revenge, betrayal, and deceit. It also leads her into the arms of the only man she ever loved—and her sister’s ex-husband—Thane Walker. Thane could be Maggie’s best hope, but he might be a cold-blooded killer.

Twisted by Andrea Kane
Former FBI Special Agent Sloane Burbank works as an independent consultant, using her specialized skills to train law enforcement and private organizations in crisis resolution. When her childhood friend disappears and the woman's parents beg for her help, Sloane takes the case—even though her ex-lover Derek Parker is the FBI agent in charge.

Reading Lists - Locus Award Winners for Best Fantasy Novel

2011-03-12T11:04:00.000-05:00

Each year, the readers of Locus magazine vote for their favorite science fiction, horror, and fantasy books, among other categories. Ballots are sent in the February issue of Locus, along with a recommended reading list featuring titles published during the preceding year.

Lavinia by Ursula K. Le Guin (2009)
In The Aeneid, Virgil's hero fights to claim the king's daughter, Lavinia, with whom he is destined to found an empire. Lavinia herself never speaks a word in the poem. Le Guin gives Lavinia a voice in a novel that takes the reader to the half-wild world of ancient Italy, when Rome was a muddy village near seven hills.

Making Money by Terry Pratchett (2008)
In the 32nd installment (yes, you read that correctly!) of Pratchett’s Discworld series, prisoner-turned-postal worker Moist von Lipwig tackles a new assignment in a different branch of the government. He is directed to oversee the printing of Ankh-Morpork's first paper currency, a job with unexpected challenges. Pratchett is known for his fast-paced, laugh-out-loud novels.

The Privilege of the Sword by Ellen Kushner (2007)
Anticipating nothing more than a conventional life and marriage among the city's high society, young Katherine Talbert is stunned when her uncle, the Mad Duke, hands her a sword, relegates her to boy's clothing, and sends her on an adventure-filled odyssey of self-discovery. This story’s plot and style are in the swashbuckling tradition of Dumas.

Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman (2006)
Fat Charlie is the son of Anansi, the trickster god, whose embarrassing taunts and untimely death cause a lot of problems for young Charlie. His trouble is multiplied when he meets the brother he never knew—Spider gets him fired, sleeps with his fiancée, and gets him arrested in this romantic screwball comedy seasoned with murder, magic, and ghosts.

Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold (2004)
Three years free of the madness that kept her imprisoned in her family’s castle, Ista, Dowager Royina of Chalion, is finally released from her last remaining duties by the death of her mother. She undertakes a pilgrimage, but doesn’t get far before she is overtaken by trouble, sorrow, need, and a host of other adversities.

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin (1997)
In the first of Martin’s A Song of Fire and Ice saga, the kingdom of the royal Stark family faces its ultimate challenge in the onset of a generation-long winter, the poisonous plots of the rival Lannisters, the emergence of the Neverborn demons, and the arrival of barbarian hordes. Intrigue, action, romance, and mystery abound in this saga.

The Innkeeper’s Song by Peter S. Beagle (1994)
Lukassa drowns but is abducted by an ethereal sorceress with golden eyes. As Tikat braves a long and dangerous trek to find the lover whose death and resurrection he witnessed, he meets three women—each of whom hides a secret, and who each undertake impossible missions.

Seventh Son by Orson Scott Card (1988)
The first installment of the Tales of Alvin Maker takes place in the Northwest Territory in the late
18th century. Alvin is the seventh son of a seventh son and heir to great powers that he must learn to use and control. In the tradition of T. H. White's Sword in the Stone, Card mixes historical figures and imaginary ones, fantasy and philosophy.

Soldier of the Mist by Gene Wolfe (1987)
In 479 B.C., Athens and Sparta have defeated the invading Persians. Latro, a Latin-speaking mercenary with the Persian army, has suffered a head wound and lost his memory; he can't remember from one day to the next. Every night he records the previous day's events on a scroll, which he must read the next morning to rediscover his circumstances and who his companions are.

Trumps of Doom by Roger Zelazny (1986)
In the sixth of the classic Amber Chronicles, Corwin, Prince of Amber, is exiled to Earth because of an ancient feud with his brothers. He must battle his way back to the perfect world of Amber, the center of reality. Like the rest of Zelazny’s series, Trumps of Doom features heroic fantasy figures combined with kinetic action and a cliff-hanging conclusion.

Job by Robert A. Heinlein (1985)
After he firewalked in Polynesia, the world wasn't the same for Alexander Hergensheimer, now called Alec Graham. As natural accidents occurred without cease, Alex knew Armageddon and the Day of Judgment were near. Somehow he had to bring his beloved heathen, Margrethe, to a state of grace, and, while he was at it, save the rest of the world in Heinlein’s “comedy of justice.”

The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley (1984)
Bradley’s Avalon series reworks the Arthurian legend with greater focus on the supplanting of the Earth Mother religion by male-dominated Christianity. Morgaine is a priestess of Avalon, seat of the Great Goddess. She falls pregnant with Arthur’s son during fertility rites, later turning against him when she thinks he has betrayed the old ways.

The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien (1978)
Tolkien began writing these legends in 1917, decades before the publication of The Lord of the Rings. Two brief tales, which outline the origin of the world, precede the title story about the Silmarils—three brilliant, jewel-like creatures who are desired and fought over. Two final short tales follow to round out the history of the Third Age.

Reading Lists - Hugo Award Winners for Best Novel

2011-03-10T14:40:00.000-05:00

The Science Fiction Achievement Awards, or Hugos, are selected annually by popular vote of the World Science Fiction Society. Established in 1953 and named for Hugo Gernsback, an early science fiction publisher, the awards are given for the best science fiction and to individuals for contributions to science fiction writing, art, and publishing.

The City & The City by China Miéville (2010)
Twin southern European cities Beszel and Ul Qoma coexist in the same physical location, separated by their citizens' determination to see only one city at a time. Inspector Tyador Borlú of the Extreme Crime Squad roams through the intertwined but separate cultures as he investigates the murder of Mahalia Geary.

The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi (2010)
In a future of rising water levels, bioengineered plagues, widespread food shortages, and retrotechnology, calories have become currency. An encounter between Anderson Lake, AgriGen's "calorie man" in Bangkok, and Emiko, a genetically engineered member of the New People (and titular “windup girl”), sets off a cataclysmic chain of events.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (2009)
While a killer murders his family, a baby pulls himself out of his crib and toddles out of the house and into the night. Finding his way into an ancient graveyard, the baby is discovered by a caring couple who just happen to be dead. Under their care, baby "Nobody" is raised among the dead in order to protect him from the murderer, who relentlessly pursues him. (YAF Gai)

The Yiddish Policeman’s Union by Michael Chabon (2008)
In a world in which Alaska, rather than Israel, has become the homeland for the Jews following World War II, Detective Meyer Landsman and his half-Tlingit partner Berko investigate the death of a heroin-addicted chess prodigy. Raucous, decidedly impolite, and stylistically arresting, this book is a brilliantly engaging read.

Spin by Robert Charles Wilson (2006)
After witnessing the onset of an astronomical event that has caused the sun to go black and the stars and moon to disappear, Tyler, Jason, and Diane learn that the darkness has been caused by a time-altering, alien-created artificial barrier and that the sun will be extinguished in less than forty years.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman (2002)
A convict called Shadow is flung into the midst of a supernatural fray of gods such as Odin, Anansi, and a multitude of other ancient divinities as they struggle for survival in an America beset by trends, fads, and constant upheaval. They are joined in this struggle by such contemporary deities as the geek-boy god Internet and the goddess Media.

To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis (1999)
In 2057, Ned Henry goes back in time to 1889 to study the Coventry Cathedral for a wealthy American who wants to build a replica. This novel is the grand result of taking an excursion through time, adding chaos theory, romance, plenty of humor, a dollop of mystery, and a spoof of the Victorian novel.

Blue Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson (1997)
In the final installment of the Mars trilogy, Mars has declared independence from Earth, but it still faces problems—an impending ice age, a search for religious meaning, and immigration. New medical discoveries enable people to live 200 years, causing overpopulation on Earth; the Martians object to being swamped by Earthmen.

A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge (1993)
In a far future interstellar society, intelligence is limited by a mind's location in the universe. A scientific experiment gone awry disrupts this situation, causing widespread destruction and chaos. Refugees who may have the secret to saving civilization fall into the hands of a medieval race of aliens, and the quest is on for an oddly assorted band of rescuers to save the refugees.

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card (1986)
A desperate Earth command resorts to genetic experimentation in order to produce a tactical genius capable of defeating the alien “buggers.” So likable but determined "Ender" Wiggins, age six, becomes Earth's last hope. In a dramatic, brutal series of war games and computer-fantasies, Ender is forced to realize his military genius and to rely on nothing and no-one but himself.

Neuromancer by William Gibson (1985)
Case was the hottest computer cowboy cruising the information superhighway. Then he double-crossed the wrong people, who caught up with him in a big way and burned the talent out of his brain. Banished from cyberspace, trapped in the meat of his physical body, Case courts death in the high-tech underworld until a shadowy conspiracy offers him a second chance and a cure.

Gateway by Frederik Pohl (1978)
In this adventure, earthmen try to unlock the secret of the Heechee Gateway, an asteroid created by a long-gone civilization that provides instantaneous passage to the far reaches of the universe. Prospectors venture to unknown destinations, mindful that only one in three will survive, but the financial rewards for a successful return are stupendous.

Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang by Kate Wilhelm (1977)
Having foreseen and planned for the worldwide devastation of war and pestilence, the landed Sumner family of Virginia have assured themselves physical survival through a perilous cloning experiment, but they are hard-pressed to provide for a meaningful human future. This novel is sweeping, dramatic, and rigorous in its science.

Reading Lists - Magical Realism

2011-02-24T14:14:00.000-05:00

Magical realism is a genre in which magical elements are blended into a realistic atmosphere in order to access a deeper understanding of reality. Unusual events—a rain of flowers, a priestly levitation, or a sudden transformation, for example — are presented as marvelous parts of the everyday, and surprisingly credible in the context at hand. The genre is largely associated with Latin American writers of the late 20th Century.

The Boy with the Cuckoo-Clock Heart by Mathias Malzieu
Saved from death with a grafted clock for a heart, little Jack is warned never to fall in love lest his fragile clock-heart break. Despite this warning, Jack falls in love, and he must flee from home when his emotions stir him to violence. His quest is a beautifully written tale of love, filled with vivid metaphors and fantastical inventions.

Chocolat by Joanne Harris
When the beautiful and mysterious Vianne moves to Lansquenet and opens a chocolate shop across from the church, the inhabitants of the tiny village find themselves torn between the solemn law of religion and the joyful rewards of Vianne's confections. Harris' writing conveys a multitude of images and captures the self-absorption of small-town life in France.

The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen
Emily goes to Mullaby, NC hoping to solve the riddles surrounding her mother's life. But the moment she enters the house where her mother grew up, Emily realizes that mysteries in Mullaby are a way of life. Wallpaper that changes with mood, a sweet scent to call one home, and boys who glow in the moonlight will make readers jealous they can't live in this magical world.

The Gravedigger by Peter Grandbois
Juan Rodrigo, a gravedigger in a small village in Andalucía, hears the voices of the dead and recounts their tales for the villagers. A gifted storyteller, Juan interjects lessons in understanding and forgiveness in his stories. Juan’s compassionate nature is put to the test when his daughter Esperanza falls in love with a young Gypsy boy.

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende
This is a strong, absorbing Chilean family chronicle and meditation on a people and nation victimized and brutalized by their past. It begins with Esteban, the patriarch of the wealthy Trueba family, who mistreats and abuses those beneath him until he falls under the spell of young Clara (who has the gifts of telekinesis and soothsaying).

Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
Tita is expected to spend her life waiting on Mama Elena and never to marry. When her beloved Pedro becomes engaged to Tita’s sister, they manage to communicate their affection through the dishes Tita prepares for Pedro and Pedro’s rapturous appreciation. Eventually, Tita's culinary wizardry unleashes uncontrollable forces, with surprising results.

Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie
Saleem Sinai is born at the stroke of midnight on August 15, 1947, making him exactly contemporary with the life of India-as-a-nation. All of the "midnight children" are equipped with powers of telepathic communication, foresight, and heightened individual sensoria—Saleem's gift is the ability to literally smell change.

The New Moon’s Arms by Nalo Hopkinson
On a fictional Caribbean island, Calamity has reached midlife and major changes are in store for her. A hot flash magically produces a pin she lost in childhood, marking the return of her special power for finding lost things, which she hasn’t had since childhood. When Calamity’s power turns up a lost toddler, she takes him in and her life changes more.

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
This is the foremost novel of the genre and one of the great books of the 20th Century. It’s the history of a multigenerational family and its town, the Buendias of Macondo. As each generation plays out its inheritance and destiny, the Buendias and their village lose both solitude and innocence. García Márquez’s storytelling celebrates man's creative abilities in the face of inevitable catastrophe.

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender
Discovering in childhood a supernatural ability to taste the emotions of others in their cooking, young Californian Rose Edelstein grows up to regard food as a curse when it reveals everyone's secret realities. How she and others learn to cope—or not, as the case may be—is the small, sad story Rose shares in this bittersweet coming-of-age novel.

The Red Garden by Alice Hoffman
In interrelated stories, Hoffman traces the multi-generational story of wintry Blackwell, a fictional Massachusetts town, from 1750 to the present. Her characters—from town founder Hallie Brady to the visiting Johnny Appleseed—are richly diverse and vivid. Linking them all is an extraordinary garden, where the greenest plant grows red and the answers to life's mysteries can be found.

Tomato Rhapsody by Adam Schell
The core of this tale is the forbidden love of a Jewish tomato farmer and a rich Catholic girl, who live in a village full of eccentrics who speak in rhyme, celebrate the Feast of the Drunken Saint, and live a life untouched by the passage of time. Tradition, religion, and good taste collide in a story about the courage to pursue love and tomato sauce.

When Autumn Leaves by Amy Foster
In the tiny town of Avening in the Pacific Northwest, life hums with a peculiar sort of energy. Some call the town enchanted; others call it quirky. The town witch and wise woman, Autumn is ready to retire and must find a replacement from among the locals, strong men and women whose stories are both heartwarming and heartbreaking.

Staff Selections - Jessica, Circulation

2011-02-23T12:53:00.000-05:00

I love getting lost in new worlds and believing the unbelievable. The Young Adult section is my home away from home.

Favorite author? I wouldn’t be who I am today if I hadn’t discovered Francesca Lia Block as a teenager.

What are you reading now? Sapphique by Catherine Fisher – it’s the sequel to Incarceron, a great dystopian steampunk fantasy. I’m also skimming through The Digital Photography Companion to prepare for my new camera.

What have you read recently? The Lost Saint by Bree Despain (it’s the sequel to The Dark Divine and I loved it!); volume one of Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya; The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa (fluffy and groan-inducing at times, but enjoyable); Wired by Robin Wasserman; Paranormalcy by Kiersten White (very promising start to a series).
What is your favorite classic? There are few things I adore more than Lewis Carroll’s Alice books - seriously, it’s like my family and boyfriend, then the Cheshire Cat! The Lord of the Rings spawned my love of reading (really, it was the movies that did it, but I’m here to promote books).

What is your favorite series? Love, love, love Harry Potter - I’m one of those people that waited in line at midnight to get the last book. The Sevenwaters trilogy by Juliet Marillier is amazing and had a huge impact on me. I think the Prydain chronicles by Lloyd Alexander is an oft overlooked gem. The Hitchhiker’s Guide books are brilliant and hilarious, if you can wrap your head around them. Death Note, Fullmetal Alchemist, Alice 19th, and Vampire Knight are some of my favorite manga series.

What are your favorite recommendations? Graceling by Kristin Cashore; The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan; Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl; Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You by Peter Cameron; Neverwhere & Stardust by Neil Gaiman; The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery; Howl's Moving Castle & Fire and Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones; the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare; the Twelve Kingdoms books by Fuyumi Ono; Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith; The Book of Dead Days by Marcus Sedgwick; A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray; Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta; The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner; Sabriel by Garth Nix; Beastly by Alex Flinn; Holly Black’s books.....I really could keep going on and on.

I have slight otaku tendencies, which means I'm super into manga - with awesome artwork and great stories, what more can you want? ^_^

Read-alike Guides - The Pilot's Wife

2011-01-17T12:00:00.004-05:00

If you liked The Pilot’s Wife by Anita Shreve, you might enjoy one of these books:

Caught in the Light by Robert Goddard
Photographer Ian Jarrett, on assignment in snowy Vienna, meets and falls in love with a mysterious woman—and then she disappears. Edgier than Shreve's writing, this novel still offers similar appeal: strong characters in extreme circumstances, a compelling story of obsession, polished prose, and psychological undercurrents.

Come Sunday by Isla Morey
Abbe Deighton tries to cope after her daughter’s death in an accident. She leaves Hawaii to return to her home in South Africa, where she must examine her relations with people she loves and come to terms with secrets from her past. With beautiful storytelling, Morley’s first novel is stunningly authentic, mature, and full of conviction.

A Crime in the Neighborhood by Suzanne Berne
As an adult, Marsha reflects on the summer of 1972. She was 10 years old, obsessed with the murder of a local boy and her new neighbor, and thought she had found a link. Berne’s first novel is a thought-provoking, character-driven work with seamless narrative structure, an extraordinary sense of lightness and suspense, and a deeply affecting conclusion.

The Deepest Water by Kate Wilhelm
In this haunting, disturbing story, Abby Conners investigates her father's death—and possible murder. The feel of the story, the atmosphere, layers of meaning, and psychological elements all create strong appeal. Abby must re-evaluate all of her safe assumptions about life as she probes for hidden messages in her father's last novel.

The Law of Bound Hearts by Anne LeClaire
Years after a terrible rift separates sisters Libby and Sam, they are forced to come to terms with the event that drove them apart when Libby needs a kidney transplant. What drove them apart, and can they forgive each other? LeClaire is a master of minutiae—from a lover’s touch to the random tenderness children can show to parents.

The Life You Longed For by Maribeth Fischer
Fighting to preserve the life of her mysteriously ill three-year-old son, Grace finds herself accused of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy and is targeted with suspicion by everyone around her. Like Shreve, Fischer has a knack for crafting a suspenseful plot while exploring deeper familial issues, such as intimacy and grief.

Never Change by Elizabeth Berg
Myra Lipinsky, a 51-year-old visiting nurse, has been content to be a self-appointed spinster—until the man she adored in high school is struck by an incurable brain tumor and returns to New England to die. Berg delivers a bittersweet novel that serves as a gentle reminder to "only connect."

Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult
Picoult offers sensitive portrayals of characters and explorations of life's intimacies in emotional stories with psychological depths. Plain Truth relates the story of a young woman lawyer who escapes to Amish country to rest from her frantic life but finds a case that captures her, as she defends a young Amish girl, accused of murdering her illegitimate child.

Without a Backward Glance by Kate Veitch
Abandoned by their mother on Christmas Eve 1967, the four McDonald children grow up with questions about the past, but as their father progresses into dementia and James encounters their mother again after nearly forty years, old wounds are reopened and individual secrets come to light. Brisk pacing and a compassionate take on human failing make this an absorbing novel.

The World Below by Sue Miller
After being diagnosed with tuberculosis in 1919, a young woman is sent to a sanitarium. where she rediscovers the pleasures of unfettered youth and falls in love with a doomed man. This novel offers the elegant, evocative prose, strong characterizations, and storylines in the past and present that distinguish the work of both Miller and Shreve.

Also by Anita Shreve:

Eden Close
A young man recalls his life-long passion for his neighbor, Eden Close, and his anguish over the tragedy that separated them. Shreve's evocative prose, elegiac voice, and faithful attention to her likable hero's emotions render him believable and give this romance a weight superior to most in the genre. Flashbacks also add to this sensitive exploration as characters struggle to obtain the ever elusive happy ending.

The Weight of Water
A photographer accepts an assignment to document a murder/suicide case from the late 1800s. However, as she is drawn into that story, her own life is about to fall apart in a fashion frighteningly similar to that case. Parallel story lines, layers of meaning embedded into events in both centuries, and secrets hidden and discovered make for a satisfying read.

A Change of Altitude
In a novel of stunning language and striking emotional intensity, Margaret and Patrick have been married just a few months when they set off on a great adventure—a year living in Kenya. Following a horrific accident on Mount Kenya, Margaret struggles to understand what happened there and how these events have transformed her and her marriage, perhaps forever.

Read-alike Guides - U is for Undertow

2011-01-17T12:00:00.003-05:00

If you liked U is for Undertow by Sue Grafton, you might enjoy one of these books:

Backhand by Liza Cody
For an English slant, try the Anna Lee Mysteries, featuring another loner P.I. and feminist. Ex-cop Lee, who works for a British security firm, is often involved in more violent cases than Millhone, Here, Lee zips from London to the Florida Keys in search of missing designer clothing, and she teams up with a handsome American at an exclusive tennis club to solve a murder.

Clean Break by Val McDermid
Kate Brannigan, English kick-boxer and Rudyard Kipling fan, is another tough yet funny detective who appears in fast-paced mysteries with snappy dialogue and relatable characters. In this outing, Brannigan chases down art thieves (with possible mob involvement) in Italy while unraveling a nasty case of product tampering in her homeland.

Death at the Wheel by Kate Flora
When smart, independent, sharp-tongued series detective Thea Kozak is introduced to a sweet young widow whose husband died in a horrific accident at a local race track, she becomes sucked into the accident-turned-murder investigation. Flora’s well-drawn characters, snappy dialogue, and breakneck pace will thrill Grafton fans.

Edwin of the Iron Shoes by Marcia Muller
Muller’s series featuring tough and resourceful but vulnerable P.I. Sharon McCone is a must read. They feature a similar hard edge, some humor, investigative details, and more recently, a romantic interest. In the first, Sharon is at odds with the San Francisco Police Dept. but is determined to stay on the case of a murdered small-time antique dealer.

Indemnity Only by Sara Paretsky
Fans of gritty, urban detective stories may like Paretsky’s heroine, V. I. Warshawski, though be warned that she writes with a more feminist slant and graphic violence than Grafton does. On V.I.’s first outing, the job she is hired to do puts her up against the worst of Chicago's white-collar criminals in a fight to save an innocent young girl’s life.

Liberty Falling by Nevada Barr
Loner and National Park Service Ranger Anna Pigeon is posted to parks around the country. In addition to braving the dangers associated with her job, Pigeon must confront her own personal demons, and her tough exterior but inner vulnerability make her a good match for Millhone. In Liberty Falling, Pigeon visits her ill sister and investigates a murder on Ellis Island.

Lie Down with the Devil by Linda Barnes
In her latest outing, Boston private detective Carlotta Carlyle’s life is becoming complicated as she investigates a secret murder indictment against her fiancé, Sam Gianelli, as well as the killing of her most recent client, a nervous bride-to-be. Carlotta is a smart, sassy, fearless witty woman.

The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler
Californian Chandler is the classic precursor to today’s hard-boiled mysteries. Here, series detective Philip Marlowe catches a case involving a war-scarred drunk and his nymphomaniac wife. A psychotic gangster's on his trail, he's in trouble with the cops, and corpses are piling up. This is an evocative look at the glamour and underside of 1950s LA.

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich
This series, although lighter in tone than Grafton’s, also features a sassy heroine known for her smart-mouth dialogue. In the first title, Stephanie Plum—out of work and money—becomes a bounty hunter, and her first assignment is to track down a former vice cop on the run for murder. Grafton fans will love the outstanding characters and riveting plot.

Shakespeare’s Landlord by Charlaine Harris
Lily Bard has a cleaning business in Shakespeare, Arkansas, One night she discovers the body of her landlord in a garbage bag. An unlikely detective, she sets out to clear her name when she becomes a suspect. Much of the darker tone in this series comes from Lily’s grim past. A colorful cast characters in the form of small town inhabitants should appeal to Grafton’s readers.

Also by Sue Grafton:

A is for Alibi
In the book that started it all, womanizing divorce lawyer Laurence Fife was poisoned and second wife Nikki was convicted. When Nikki gets out of jail, she hires private detective Kinsey Millhone to find the real killer. “A” is for Alibi provides a wonderful introduction to Kinsey, a great series heroine who is tough, funny but not too cute, and liberated but not too loud about it.

O is for Outlaw
More than halfway through the alphabet, Kinsey is haunted by her past when an encounter with her first husband and a mysterious undelivered letter reveal new information about an old unsolved murder. She soon finds herself investigating her ex-husband’s recent and “accidental” death. Grafton adds depth to this outing through unexpected details of Kinsey's past.

Writing Mysteries
In this handbook written by the Mystery Writers of America and edited by Sue Grafton, a veritable who’s who of the mystery writing elite contemplate every aspect of penning a mystery—research, outlines, vivid villains, creating a series hero, characterization, amateur sleuths, convincing dialogue, depiction of violence, specialty genres, overcoming writer’s block, and more!

Read-alike Guides - James Patterson

2011-01-17T12:00:00.001-05:00

If you like the mystery and suspense novels of James Patterson, you might enjoy one of these books:

The Big Picture by Douglas Kennedy
Ben Bradford finds his perfect life falling apart when his wife begins having an affair with a neighbor, Gary. Ben kills Gary in a moment of murderous madness and decides to cover up the crime and steal Gary’s identity. Crossing states and states of mind, Kennedy’s original novel will appeal to fans of Patterson’s fast pacing.

The Devil’s Teardrop by Jeff Deaver
Parker Kincaid, retired FBI agent and the country’s top forensic document examiner, pursues an emotionless assassin planning to wreak havoc on D.C. at four-hour intervals until midnight on New Year's Eve. Deaver is a master of plot twists, detection often enhanced by forensic details, menacing atmosphere, psychological overtones, and a nightmare quality.

Fall from Grace by Phillip Clyde
Like the Women’s Murder Club, the Jane Candiotti mysteries are fast-paced, action-filled thrillers featuring women as investigators and set in San Francisco. When a beautiful socialite turns up brutally murdered, Jane throws herself into an investigation that uncovers the sordid secrets of the city's most powerful families, including those of the victim's estranged husband.

Middle of Nowhere by Ridley Pearson
For suspense with more depth, try Ridley Pearson. In this Lou Boldt and Daphne Matthews novel, many of the Seattle police are on a sick-out and Lou realizes that a series of robberies and assaults are somehow connected to the strike. Pearson is a great choice if you like series detectives, bleak outlooks, and psychological implications.

Mortal Fear by Greg Iles
Iles writes more elegantly, but he tells equally complex stories of hard suspense with plot twists, contemporary settings, alternating viewpoints, and graphic violence. Here, a serial killer is targeting customers of an erotic online service, and Harper Cole devises a deadly plan to impersonate his murdered lover online, hoping to lead the killer out into the open.

No Time to Die by Grace F. Edwards
When her close friend becomes the victim of a bizarre murder, Mali Anderson decides to launch her own investigation to find a serial killer, despite the warnings of her police detective boyfriend. Fans of Alex Cross should like grad student Mali Anderson. Like Patterson, Edwards combines first- and third-person narration in her mysteries.

Rules of Prey by John Sandford
For similar hard-edged suspense, with strong language and graphic violence, try the Lucas Davenport series. In the first title, Lieutenant Lucas Davenport is determined to track down a diabolically clever serial killer who leads a double life, carefully picks out his female victims, and taunts the police with notes signed "Maddog."

The Surgeon by Tess Gerritson
Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles team up to head off serial killers in fast-paced, compelling thrillers that fans of the Women's Murder Club might enjoy. In the first series title, a female heart surgeon is terrorized by a serial killer in Boston who has the same MO as a killer who attacked her during her internship years in Savannah.

Tell No One by Harlan Coben
If you’re looking for a page-turner, look no further than Harlan Coben; start with Tell No One. It's been eight years since Dr. David Beck's wife was murdered by a serial killer, and he receives a message containing a phrase only his wife should know. Either someone is playing a sick joke, or his wife is still alive. After being warned to tell no one, Beck sets out in a desperate search which leads him toward a deadly secret.

Vertical Run by Joseph Garber
Enjoying a satisfactory career and life, David Elliot is astounded when his boss tries to shoot him one morning, an event that triggers an inexplicable series of attempts on his life through the next 24 hours. Good thing he's a Vietnam vet with advanced training who handily remembers his hand-to-hand combat, marksmanship, and booby-trap-setting skills. This is a great read with a breakneck pace.

Also by James Patterson:

The Angel Experiment
A group of genetically enhanced kids who can fly and have other unique talents are on the run from part-human, part-wolf predators called Erasers in this exciting science fiction thriller. Crossing the country to save their youngest from scientific sadists and to track down their histories (were they born from parents or test tubes?), Maximum “Max” Ride and her “flock” wind up in New York City's sewers. (YAF Pat)

The Dangerous Days of Daniel X
Fifteen-year-old Daniel's secret abilities have helped him survive. He has followed in his parents' footsteps as the Alien Hunter, exterminating beings on The List of Alien Outlaws on Terra Firma. When he faces his first of the top ten outlaws, the very existence of Earth and another planet are at stake. With signature plot twists and first-person narration, this is a fun superhero narrative. (YAF Pat)

Witch & Wizard
Torn from their parents in a society increasingly controlled by the government, 15-year-old Wisty and her 18-year-old brother Whit are incarcerated in a totalitarian prison where they discover they have incredible supernatural powers. The ruling regime will stop at nothing to suppress life, liberty, music, books, art, magic—and the pursuit of being a normal teenager. (YAF Pat)

Reading Lists - Culinary Memoirs

2011-01-17T12:00:00.000-05:00

Culinary memoirs are a branch of food writing in which the personal story of a great chef, struggling home cook, or knowledgeable foodie is explored. Like other food writing, culinary memoirs focus on the importance, preparation, consumption, or meaning of food — often including recipes or other types of suggestions.

52 Loaves by William Alexander
Alexander chronicles his attempts to bake the perfect loaf of bread, including growing, harvesting, and milling his own wheat. During his quest, he attends a kneading conference in Maine, spends time in a French monastery, and goes to Morocco. His bright writing highlights a pleasing variety of comical misadventures. As Alexander sums up, "Bread is life.”

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver
Best-selling novelist Kingsolver and her family moved from Arizona to Virginia to undertake an experiment. The family joined the locavore movement, which promotes eating only what is locally raised, grown, and produced. Part memoir, part how-to, and part agricultural education, this book is both timely and entertaining, especially for residents of the Southern Appalachian region.

The Apprentice by Jacques Pépin
The popular television cooking show host traces his rise from an intimidated thirteen-year-old apprentice to a famous chef, recounting his work under prestigious teachers, his journey to America, and his experiences with contemporaries. This is a fast-moving, warm, richly written memoir. Pépin’s life is a joy to read about, and not just for his fans.

Born Round by Frank Bruni
New York Times restaurant critic Bruni traces the unlikely path to his profession and offers an honest exploration of his lifelong struggle with food. Although this memoir is often funny, it is also a powerful, book about desire, shame, and self-image. Bruni's painfully honest, tartly humorous life story will also be a hit with anyone who has struggled with the numbers on the scale.

The Cloak and Dagger Cook by Kay Shaw Nelson
In a 1950s spy’s world of secrecy, food makes appealing and harmless conversational fodder. Combining personal memories, travel narrative, and food writing, Nelson shares her life traveling the globe as a CIA operative, gathering recipes, and amassing confidential intelligence in Greece, Italy, Korea, Lebanon, France, Libya, Germany, and beyond.

A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg
Author of the internationally famous blog Orangette, Molly Wizenberg recounts a life with the kitchen at its center. From her mother's pound cake, a staple of summer picnics during her childhood in Oklahoma, to the eggs she cooked for her father during the weeks before his death, food and memories are intimately entwined.

I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti by Giulia Melucci
This delectable memoir follows New Yorker Melucci through failed relationships from college to midlife, detailing the recipes she used to reel the men in, sustain the romances, then comfort herself when they fizzled out. Anyone who has wondered, "Will I ever find Mr. Right?" will appreciate this sprightly work.

Julie & Julia by Julie Powell
Powell recounts how she escaped the doldrums of an unpromising career by cooking every recipe in Julia Child's 1961 Mastering the Art of French Cooking, a year-long endeavor that transformed her life. Her writing is feisty and unrestrained, especially as she details killing lobsters, tackling marrowbones, and cooking late into the night in an effort to eat well and enjoy life.

My Life in France by Julia Child
Here is the captivating story of Julia Child's years in France, where she fell in love with French food and found "her true calling." Filled with her husband's beautiful black-and-white photographs as well as family snapshots, this memoir is laced with wonderful stories about the French character, particularly in the world of food, and the way of life that Julia embraced wholeheartedly. Bon appétit!

Service Included by Phoebe Damrosch
Damrosch, former waiter at the four-star New York City restaurant Per Se, details her career as a waiter, describing the intimate workings of restaurant table service at its best. Tales of critics and celebrities spice up the memoir with a few tips on how to earn a waiter's respect sprinkled throughout. Her romance with the sommelier completes this youthful, exuberant memoir.

The Spice Necklace by Ann Vanderhoof
While sailing the Caribbean, the author tracks goats in the hills of the Dominican Republic, gathers nutmegs in Grenada, makes searing-hot pepper sauce in Trinidad, crams for a chocolate-tasting test at the University of the West Indies, and sips moonshine straight out of hidden back-country stills. Add great people, island traditions, and breezy, evocative prose, and this is a must-read.

Stuffed by Patricia Volk
Volk explores the lives of her Austrian-Jewish-American family, including profiles of her father, a restaurateur and inventor, and her grandmother, who won the 1916 trophy for "Best Legs in Atlantic City." The larger-than-life members of Volk’s New York restaurant family leap off the pages of her stylishly written memoir. In a restaurant family, "you're never full, you're stuffed,"

Whatchagot Stew by Patrick McManus
In a fond, frequently hilarious recollection of his Depression-era childhood in Idaho, humorist McManus introduces a cast of characters whose recipes are found in the volume's second half. His memoir includes dozens of down-home recipes from his mother and grandmother, outdoorsmen pals, other friends, and his coauthor sister.

Staff Selections - Joan 2, Reference

2011-01-01T12:00:00.000-05:00

What is your favorite genre? Fantasy and sci-fi. That's all I read for many years. The longer the series, the better! When working in the library, I started branching out. Now I read a little of everything! My favorite discovery is the Young Adult section. My best advice is not to be afraid to explore the Children's side of the library!

Who are your favorite authors? Robert Jordan, George R.R. Martin, Juliet Marillier, Jennifer Fallon, Kathy Reichs, Dean Koontz, Charlaine Harris, Kate Morton, Mercedes Lackey, Sara Douglas, Lisa Lutz, and Alice Hoffman (especially her Young Adult novels).

What are you reading now? Enchanted, Inc. by Shanna Swendson and Seer of Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier.

What have you read recently? Coronets and Steel by Sherwood Smith, Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier, Miss Julia Speaks her Mind by Ann B. Smith, Fallen by Lauren Kate, and The Demon’s Parchment by Jeri Westerson.

What is your favorite classic? Alexandre Dumas’ The Three Musketeers series and The Count of Monte Cristo. Ah, Aramis and Edmond Dantés, my first loves!

What is your all time favorite series? I have been reading Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series since the first book, Eye of the World, was published in 1990. Over the decades I actually worried that either Jordan or I would die before he finished! He passed away several years ago after the eleventh book. Brandon Sanderson was selected to complete the series, which will total fourteen. I just completed Towers of Midnight, number thirteen, and loved it! Odd Thomas is a series of books by Dean Koontz—part thriller, part paranormal, part humor, all great. Charlaine Harris has many great series; I love her Harper Connelly series, which starts with Grave Sight.

What is your all time favorite book? That’s a tough question, I hate to leave anybody out! Five Smooth Stones by Ann Fairbairn, The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O’Farrell, Illumination by Terry McGarry, and A Man Rides Through by Stephen R. Donaldson. I have to include The Wayfarer Redemption series by Sara Douglass, even though we do not have the entire series in our collection. I’ll have to work on that, because it is awesome!

What are your favorite recommendations? The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz (a quirky, funny mystery series), Charlaine Harris’ Aurora Teagarden and Lily Bard series, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley, One Second After by William Forstchen, The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton, Becoming Finola by Suzanne Strempek Shea, The Heroines by Eileen Favorite, The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss (because everyone should have at least one romance novel!), The Obsidian Trilogy by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory, The Wolfblade Trilogy by Jennifer Fallon, Holder of Lightning by S.L. Farrell, The Runelords by David Farland. I love the Young Adult section. It is full of talented authors that offer a somewhat quicker, easier read—but do not confuse “quick and easy” with “childish!” Here are some of my favorites: Skinned by Robin Wasserman, Trickster’s Choice by Tamara Pierce, The Fetch by Chris Humphreys, Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr, The Dark Divine by Bree Despain, The Maximum Ride series by James Patterson, The White Cat by Holly Black, Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken, Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, and Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta. A great non-fiction book, the only one I’ve ever read cover to cover, is The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. The 5-Minute Face: the Quick and Easy Makeup Guide for Every Woman by Carmindy is another good one. My last recommendation, Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, is important because it made me laugh out loud! I would never, ever have read it if my friend hadn’t suggested it. That’s why I love my B.L.U. Tuesdays book club so much — it’s all about the recommendations!

Staff Selections - Tamara, Children's

2010-12-01T12:00:00.000-05:00

What is your favorite genre? Fantasy, sci-fi, mystery, history, and science.

Who are your favorite authors? Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, Douglas Adams, Agatha Christie, and Patrick F. McManus.

What are you reading now? City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, and Knitting Rules by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee.

What have you read recently? City of Bones and Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare, Maze Runner by James Dasher, The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, Becoming Queen Victoria by Kate Williams, They Also Served: American Women in World War II by Olga Gruhzit-Hoyt, Enigma: Battle for the Code by Hugh Sebag-Montefiore, and A Fine and Pleasant Misery by Patrick F. McManus.

What is your favorite classic? Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, and Catch-22 by Joseph Heller.

What are your all time favorite books/series? I love the Discworld series, the Johnny Maxwell series, and the Bromeliad trilogy all by Terry Pratchett. Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series is fantastic. I really enjoy Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files, and the Pennsylvania Dutch mystery with recipes series by Tamar Myers is a lot of fun! The Thusday Next series and the Nursery Crimes series, both by Jasper Fforde, are very clever. Time and time again I come back to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll and the Wizard of Oz series by Frank L. Baum.

What are your favorite recommendations? The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy, The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde, Julie and Julia: My Life of Cooking Dangerously by Julie Powell, and Becoming Queen Victoria by Kate Williams. For the kids I suggest the Elephant and Piggy books by Mo Williams and Skippyjon Jones by Judith Schachner.

Read-alike Guides - The Pillars of the Earth

2010-11-24T12:00:00.000-05:00

If you enjoyed The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, you might enjoy one of these books:

Alfred and Emily by Doris Lessing
In this combination memoir and alternative history, the author re-imagines the lives of her parents if World War I had not happened and also relates the facts of their lives in the wake of the war's devastation. This personal meditation on family, war, and memory will especially appeal to fans of Follett’s newest, Fall of Giants.

Annapolis by William Martin
Annapolis follows two families though eight generations in a sweeping historical family saga. Each generation of Staffords has sent at least one son to sea since the Revolutionary War; the Parrishes, on the wrong side of the war, lost their Annapolis house to the Staffords and are still trying to get it back. Like Follett, Martin’s smooth storytelling brings history to life.

Caribbean by James A. Michener
In one of Michener’s many epic novels, he traces Caribbean history from the 15th century to the present, including the cannibalistic Caribs, the decline of the Mayan empire, Columbus, piracy, Rastafarians, revolutions, and nationalism. Intricate plotting, accurate historical detail, and generations of engaging characters will appeal to fans of Follett’s historical novels.

The Forest by Edward Rutherfurd
Rutherfurd’s epic sagas are also sweeping tales that follow multiple families. The Forest chronicles the lives of five families over centuries of British history, starting in 1099. Also try his Sarum, Russka, London, New York, The Princes of Ireland, and The Rebels of Ireland, all epics in a variety of historical settings.

The Heaven Tree Trilogy by Edith Pargeter
Like Pillars of the Earth, this trilogy takes readers to 13th century England and a family of master stone carvers helping to build a cathedral. Politics play an important role, and historical detail adds to the author's storytelling skill. Pargeter’s well-drawn characters and fascinating descriptions create powerful tales of British history.

Morgan’s Run by Colleen McCullough
McCullough (The Thorn Birds) pens a tale of Australia's first settlers, based on the life of one man. Richard Morgan makes the awful journey from the top of 18th-century England's middle-class to one of society's lowest echelons, the first Australian penal colony. Vivid description and a strong protagonist make this a compelling read.

North and South by John Jakes
The rice-growing Mainses of South Carolina meet the iron-producing Hazards from Pennsylvania at West Point in 1842. Readers who like multiple plot lines and characters may enjoy this classic about the American Civil War, its causes, consequences, and effects on history and the lives of individuals.

Pompeii by Robert Harris
When an aqueduct fails, Roman engineer Marius Primus heads to the slopes of Mount Vesuvius to investigate, only to come face to face with an impending catastrophe—the eruption of the volcano in A.D. 79. Readers who especially enjoyed the technical detail of Follett’s cathedral building will appreciate Harris’s rich historical details and scientific minutiae.

Regeneration by Pat Barker
Fans of Follett’s Fall of Giants may also like Regeneration, with its elegant writing and engrossing story. It also describes the experiences of both historical and imagined characters during the first World War. The stage is set at Craiglockhart Hospital in Scotland, where Dr. Rivers cares for shell-shocked, despairing officers grappling with the aftereffects of bearing witness to combat's horrifying results.

Trinity by Leon Uris
Uris writes passionately about the tragedy of Ireland—from the famine of the 1840s to the Easter Rising of 1916—in a powerful and stirring novel about the loves and hates, defeats and triumphs of three families. The Larkens, the Hubbles, and the Weeds (Catholic hill-farmers, Presbyterian industrialists, and British aristocracy, respectively) populate this terrible and beautiful drama.

Also by Ken Follett:

World without End
Follett’s companion to The Pillars of the Earth takes place two centuries after the building of the elaborate Gothic cathedral in Kingsbridge. From 1327 to 1361, a web of ambition and revenge places the city at a crossroads of commerce, medicine, and architecture. The lives of two men and two women are braided together from childhood, and they will live to see prosperity and famine, plague and war.

Fall of Giants
In the first book of his new trilogy, Follett follows the fates of five interrelated families—American, German, Russian, English, and Welsh—as they move through the world-shaking dramas of World War I, the Russian Revolution, and the struggle for women's suffrage. The Century Trilogy will ultimately follow these families through the entire 20th century.

Jackdaws
In addition to historical epics, Follett also writes historical suspense and espionage thrillers. Start with Jackdaws, in which Special Operations agent Felicity “Flick” Clairet goes undercover to destroy the German lines of communication on the eve of World War II. An all-woman team dubbed the Jackdaws is trained to aid her in this very difficult mission.

Staff Selections - Boo, Circulation

2010-11-01T12:00:00.000-04:00

What is your favorite genre? Mystery, classics, romance, and history—fiction and non-fiction.

Who are your favorite authors? Mary Higgins Clark, Nancy Thayer, Claire Cook, and James Patterson.

What are you reading now? Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert; Ladies of the Lake by Haywood Smith; and The Beast in the Garden by David Baron.

What have you read recently? Beachcombers by Nancy Thayer, The Outer Banks House by Diann Ducharme, Where Are You Now? by Mary Higgins Clark, There’s Something About St. Tropez by Elizabeth Adler, Life’s a Beach by Claire Cook, and Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik.

What is your favorite classic? I really enjoy the classics—I can’t pick just one! The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving, Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, The Adventures of Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, The Call of the Wild by Jack London, Brer Rabbit and the Tar Baby: the Stories of Uncle Remus by Joel Chandler Harris. I read folktales and Mother Goose. I can’t leave out my favorite character…...Boo, of course, from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

What is your all time favorite book/series? Nancy Drew series by Carolyn Keene, Hardy Boys series by Franklin W. Dixon, Uncle Wiggily and his Woodland Friends by Howard R. Garis, Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends series by W. Awdry, Arthur series by Marc Brown, Berenstain Bears series by Stan & Jan Berenstain, Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney, Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien, and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series by Ann Brashares.

What are your favorite recommendations? Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, Schindler’s List by Thomas Keneally, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells, and anything about the history of Skyline Drive and Shenandoah National Park. I also recommend these authors:

Nora Roberts, Danielle Steele, Emilie Richards, Nicholas Sparks, Mitch Albom, Eric Carle, Richard Scarry, and David Pilkey.

I have sweet memories of being read to as a child, later reading to my own children.Whatever one chooses to read, reading keeps the mind active! I do enjoy being around all these books! Just wish I could read more!

Staff Selections - Michal, Youth Services Librarian

2010-10-01T12:00:00.000-04:00

What is your favorite genre? Fantasy!

Who are your favorite authors? Carrie Ryan and Rosalind Laker.

What are you reading now? I am re-reading Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen.

What have you read recently? Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White, A Hole in the World

by Sid Hite, Spells by Aprilynne Pike, and The Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan.

What is your favorite classic? Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen, Daisy Miller and Other Stories by

Henry James, To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf, A Little Princess and The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne, The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot,

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, The Adventures of Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, and Dracula by Bram Stoker.

What is your all time favorite book/series? Wings by Aprilynne Pike, The Forest of Hands and Teeth

by Carrie Ryan, The Witches by Roald Dahl, Who’s There? By Stephanie S. Tolan, Orchards and Diamonds by Rosalind Laker, Lost Souls by Poppy Z. Brite, Tithe: a Modern Faerie Tale by Holly Black, Time for Andrew: a Ghost Story and Wait Till Helen Comes: a Ghost Story both by Mary Downing Hahn.

What are your favorite recommendations? See my choices above, I recommend them all, along with the following. Young adult fiction: The Dirt Eaters by Dennis Foon, Stranger with My Face by Lois Duncan, Flight #116 is Down and Code Orange both by Caroline B. Cooney, Soldier’s Heart: a Novel of the Civil War by Gary Paulsen, Skinned by Robin Wasserman, The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt, Persistence of Memory by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. Juvenile fiction: Wringer by Jerry Spinelli, The Music of Dolphins by Karen Hesse, Einstein Anderson: Science Detective series by Seymour Simon, The Royal Diaries Series by various authors (especially Marie Antoinette: Princess of Versailles). Easy fiction: Mucky Pup by Ken Brown, Martin Waddell picture books, Frog and Toad series by Arnold Lobel, Nate the Great series by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat. Adult fiction: Stitches in Time by Barbara Michaels, Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller, I Am Legend by Richard Matheson. Adult non-fiction: Gardening for Fragrance by Ann Bonar, The Holographic Universe by Michael Talbot, A Natural History of the Senses by Diane Ackerman, Henry VIII: the King and His Court by Alison Weir.

Read-alike Guides - Eat, Pray, Love

2010-09-20T12:00:00.000-04:00

If you liked Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, you might enjoy one of these books:

Enlightenment for Idiots by Anne Cushman
A disillusioned freelance writer travels to India to write a how-to book on enlightenment. Cushman writes with wit and knowledge of her subject, evoking an India that fills the senses and stirs the spirit even as it occasionally turns the stomach, You will laugh with and root for Amanda as she comes to terms with her messy life. (F Cus)

Hold Me Tight and Tango Me Home by Kate Morton
Like Gilbert, Morton is a divorced woman who chooses to recover by embracing life. She learns about life from tango lessons—love and loss, how to follow and lead, how to live with flair, and how to take risks and find out what you really want. She also explores the culture, history, music, moves, and beauty of the Argentine tango. (793.3 Mor)

How Starbucks Saved My Life by Michael Gates Gill
A former executive loses his job and develops a brain tumor. He takes a job at Starbucks under a young black manager, whose positive character helps him heal and understand the value of respecting others. This is a moving tale of a privileged person whose life falls apart but who is able to pull himself up again. (647.95092 Gil)

The Motion of the Ocean by Janna Cawrse Esarey
Janna and Graeme go on an unusual honeymoon—a 17,000-mile, two-year voyage across the Pacific. Follow their quest to resolve the uncertainties so many couples face—how to know if you've found the One; how to balance couplehood and selfhood; and whether to jump ship or navigate together when the waters get rough. (910.9164 Esa)

Now is the Time to Open Your Heart by Alice Walker
A woman reaching mid-life shrugs off all she has done in order to discover who she might be. Kate has been profoundly unhappy for some time, dreaming of rivers, until she takes off for the Colorado and the Amazon. This story resonates with spirituality, the feminine, and exotic travel. (F Wal)

Tales of a Female Nomad by Rita Golden Gelman
Nearly 25 years ago, Gelman left behind her lifestyle and marriage to begin a world odyssey that continues to this day. Using a well-paced and fluid writing style, she describes observing orangutans in the rain forests of Borneo, canoeing in Indonesia, eating psychedelic mushrooms in Mexico, and skirting landmines in Nicaragua. (910.4 Gel)

A Thousand Days in Venice by Marlena De Blasi
Chef and food writer De Blasi chronicles her relationship with Italian bank manager Fernando and her move from St. Louis to Venice to marry him. She recounts her effort to adjust to marriage and a new country, binding her love of Fernando to her love of food in one delicious narrative. (945.31 De B)

Three Weeks with My Brother by Nicholas Sparks
Bestseller Sparks and his brother take a three-week spiritual journey to the world’s most holy sites in an attempt to cope with their grief over the deaths of their parents and only sister. “I began to think of the trip less as a journey around the world than a journey to rediscover who I was and how I developed the way I did,” says Sparks. (813.54 Spa)

Traveling with Pomegranates by Sue Monk Kidd
Kidd and her daughter, Ann Kidd Taylor, describe their introspective, New Age odysseys together to Greece, Turkey, and France as Sue grappled with midlife challenges and writer's block and Ann struggled with heartbreak and post-college career questions. They also find a new understanding and appreciation of each other. (818 Kid)

Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes
Poet and travel writer Mayes describes her experiences in Tuscany during the restoration of her country villa. In her mind, cooking, gardening, tiling, and painting are never chores, but skills to learn, arts to practice, and activities to enjoy. Above all, Mayes’ observations about being at home in two very different cultures are sharp and wise. (945.5 May)

Also by Elizabeth Gilbert:

Committed
Continuing the personal narrative begun in Eat, Pray, Love, Gilbert chronicles how the United States government gave her and her Brazilian-born lover, Felipe, an ultimatum—marry or Felipe cannot enter the country again—and how she tackled her fears through research and personal reflection on the institution of marriage. Written in conversational, easy-going style, this tale is intriguing and insightful. (306.81 Gil)

The Last American Man
Gilbert explores the meaning of manhood through the life of Eustace Conway, a countercultural man who lives in a teepee in the Appalachian mountain wilderness. She excels at capturing Conway's inflexibility and inability to keep friends, his "man of destiny" monomania, and his superbly honed, altogether rare skills. (813.54 Gil)

Stern Men
In Gilbert’s only novel to date, a spunky young woman born into the midst of a feud between two factions of Maine lobstermen, attempts to negotiate an end to the conflict. The coming-of-age tale is peppered with lobster lore and a cast of sly villains and oddball characters. Authentic dialogue and atmosphere lights up this entertaining, thought-provoking romp. (F Gil)

Staff Selections - Katie, Circulation

2010-09-01T12:00:00.002-04:00

What is your favorite genre? I'm not picky. If a book can make me laugh, cry, and/or teach me something... then it gets my vote, regardless of author, genre, subject, etc.

Who are your favorite authors? I’m slightly obsessed with any and all works by Maggie Stiefvater (Likewise, I enjoy ~~stalking~~ reading her blog: Words on Words). I’m also fond of J.K. Rowling, Ellen Hopkins, Shel Silverstein, Dr. Seuss, and Amy Krouse Rosenthal.

What are you reading now? The Book of Container Gardening by Malcolm Hillier, Eat Right 4 Your Type by Peter D’Adamo, Linger by Maggie Stiefvater, and Easy Elegance: Creating a Relaxed, Comfortable, and Stylish Home by Atlanta Bartlett.

What have you read recently? Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater; The Complete Herb Book by Jekka McVicar; Beastly by Alex Flinn; and Eat Cheap, but Eat Well by Charles Mattocks.

What is your favorite classic? The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams – sad, but oh so touching.

What is your all time favorite book/series? The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold; The Cook’s Herb Garden by Jeff Cox; Shiver, Lament, and Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater; Small Spaces: Maximizing Limited Spaces for Living by Elizabeth Wilhide; Angus, Thongs, and Full-frontal Snogging (and the rest of the Georgia Nicholson Confessions, too!) by Louise Rennison; Eat This, Not That! 2010 by David Zinczenko; Hello, Cupcake! by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson; Evernight by Claudia Gray; The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons by Dan Brown; The Healthy Lunchbox by Rallie McAllister; Fairest and Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine; Big Ideas for Small Spaces by Christine Brun-Abdelnour; Twilight by Stephenie Meyer; [the nest] Home Design Handbook: Simple Ways to Decorate, Organize, and Personalize Your Space by Carley Roney; Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling, Don’t Throw It Out: Recycle, Renew, and Reuse to Make Things Last by Lori Baird; and Crank by Ellen Hopkins.

What are your favorite recommendations? See my all time favorites, I recommend them all! I’m frequently on the children’s side of the library shelving and so I’ve racked up a rather long list of cute and clever books that you’re never too old [or too busy] to flip through. Amongst my favorites are: Runny Babbit by Shel Silverstein; Baby Food, Fast Food, and Dog Food by Saxton Freyman; Spot It by Delphine Chedru; Duck! Rabbit! and Spoon by Amy Krouse Rosenthal; and Not a Stick by Antoinette Portis.

Staff Selections - Melissa

2010-08-01T12:00:00.000-04:00

What is your favorite genre? I like suspense, non-fiction, and clever or unique books.

Who is your favorite author? Bill Bryson hasn't let me down... yet!

What are you reading now? Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable by Seth Godin (downloadable book), 1 Corinthians (downloadable too!), How Did You Get This Number: Essays by Sloane Crosley, and Psychology Today, one of our circulating magazines.

What have you read recently? Best European Fiction 2010 edited by Aleksandar Hemon, Stop Getting Ripped Off: Why Consumers Get Screwed, and How You Can Always Get a Fair Deal by Bob Sullivan, Service Included: Four Star Secrets of an Eavesdropping Waiter by Phoebe Damrosch. Since I am a big fan of listening to books, I’ll include these books on CD that I have listened to: SuperFreakonomics: Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes, and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, Kerplunk!: Stories by Patrick F. McManus, Dog on it: A Chet and Bernie Mystery by Spencer Quinn.

What is your favorite classic? Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.

What are your all time favorite books/series? Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree by Robert E. Barry (along the lines of The Giving Tree, less the sad ending!), the Nancy Drew mysteries by Carolyn Keene, the Trixie Belden series by Julie Campbell and Kathryn Kenny, the Encyclopedia Brown series by Donald J. Sobol, and the Pippi Longstocking series by Astrid Lindgren (growing up I so tried to be like Pippi!). Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot mysteries and the works of Charles Dickens are favorites too. In juvenile non-fiction I love the Enchantment of the World series, especially the Slovenia and Croatia ones—shelving them led to a vacation there!

What are your favorite recommendations? Audio and downloadable books...to rest my eyes and feel like a kid being told a bedtime story! Our new Gale online resources, especially Books & Authors—it helps patrons find books they’ll like! Oh! You want titles and authors? Here goes: Revenant by Michael Punke, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Alexander Brown, The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton, The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale, Life of Pi by Yann Martel, Rigged: the True Story of an Ivy League Kid Who Changed the World of Oil by Ben Mezrich, The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom, An Hour Before Daylight: Memories of a Rural Boyhood by Jimmy Carter, Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich, Scratch Beginnings: Me, $25.00, and the Search For the American Dream by Adam Shepard, Heft on Wheels: a Field Guide to Doing a 180 by Mike Magnus, Super Crunchers: why thinking-by-numbers is the new way to be smart by Ian Ayres, Londonistan by Melanie Phillips, The Sociopath Next Door: How to Recognize and Defeat the Ruthless in Everyday Life by Martha Stout, Poisoned Nation: Pollution, Greed, and the Rise of Deadly Epidemics by Loretta Schwartz-Nobel, A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, and Kabul Beauty School: an American Woman Goes Behind the Veil by Deborah Rodriguez. For Fun: The Passion of Artemisia by Susan Vreeland, Year of Wonders: a Novel of the Plague by Geraldine Brooks, Wicked: the Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire, The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde, The Broken Window: a Lincoln Rhyme novel by Jeffery Deaver, The Uglies series by Scott Westerfield, and The Don’t Know Much About... series of books by Kenneth C. Davis. Authors I recommend are: Bill Bryson, Clive Cussler, Vince Flynn, Ridley Pearson, Patricia Highsmith, Brad Thor, and Barry Eisler.

Reading Lists - Westerns

2010-07-28T12:00:00.000-04:00

Primarily set in the Western U.S. from the end of the Civil War to the beginning of the 20th Century, Westerns feature the exploits of cowboys, scouts, Indians, gunslingers, and lawmen. The mythic feel of the West and the struggle to survive take precedence over historical accuracy.

The Big Sky by A.B. Guthrie
Guthrie explores the role of the West as a place for escape and redemption as young Boone Caudill flees his abusive father in Kentucky and becomes a wild mountain man in the rugged West. In addition to Caudill, The Big Sky introduces Jim Deakins and Dick Summers, three of the most memorable characters in Western American literature. (F, LP)

The Branch and the Scaffold by Loren D. Estleman
Estleman’s westerns, like his mysteries, are dark, gritty, and feature loners who operate under a personal moral code. He writes biographical westerns as well as a series featuring lawman Page Murdock. This sharp, funny novel is about Isaac C. Parker (1838–1896), the notorious federal “Hanging Judge” for Arkansas and the Indian Territory. (LP)

Broken Trail by Alan Geoffrion
In this Spur Award winner for best first novel, cowboy Print Ritter and his young nephew find adventure while driving horses to Wyoming, and they attempt to rescue five young Chinese girls from being forced into prostitution. Based on historical documents and more than five years of research, it is the basis for the AMC cable network's production of the same title. (F)

The Dark Island by Robert J. Conley
The Real People series combines powerful characters, gripping plots, and vivid descriptions of tradition and mythology. In the sixth title, Squani, the son of a Timuca woman raped by a Spaniard and taken in by the Cherokee, goes on a dangerous, painful journey of discovery that leads him to the Spanish and a confrontation with his heritage. (LP)

From Where the Sun Now Stands by Will Henry
Appreciation for the land and the people who live there—especially Indians—resonates in Henry’s novels. This classic Spur Award winner examines Nez Perce Chief Joseph, continually betrayed by a government with which he only wants peace. The tale is narrated by Heyets, an old man reflecting on memories of his youth. (LP)

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
Lonesome Dove, a Pulitzer Prize and Spur Award winner, is the ultimate Western adventure. Two former Texas Rangers hear rumors of opportunity in the newly opened territory, and they decide to head north. Their dusty trek is filled with troubles, violence, and unfulfilled yearning. This epic tale is descriptive with a relaxed pace. (F)

The Night Birds by Thomas Maltman
Maltman won a Spur Award for best first novel for the story of two generations of the Senger family. When Aunt Hazel is released from the state mental hospital, she brings a hidden part of the family history—an account of their involvement with the neighboring Dakota and its subsequent role in the Sioux uprising. (F)

The Pumpkin Rollers by Elmer Kelton
Kelton is known for his less-than-mythic heroes and elegiac tone. He writes of the disappearance of the West with great historical detail, complex characters, and evocative landscapes. Here, Trey McLean, a pumpkin roller (farmer), wants to become a cattleman, but he encounters frustration and danger on the way to his goal. (F, PB)

Sackett’s Land by Louis L’Amour
L'Amour employs Western landscapes, characters, and virtues, making them synonymous with the best American traits. His action-filled stories of the Sackett family cover 200 years of history. In the first book, set in the early 17th century, Barnabas Sackett is declared an outlaw in England and flees his homeland to seek adventure and fortune in the new land of America. (F, LP)

Shane by Jack Schaefer
Shane is the traditional Paladin hero, a man who rides into the community, rousts the badmen, and rides out again, bringing justice to a lawless land. Shane rides into the valley where Bob Starrett's family lives, and Bob, 15, tells about Shane's winning ways as he helps the homesteaders break the power of the Wyoming cattlemen. Shane has been a favorite Western for over 60 years. (LP, 813.54 Sch)

Tallgrass by Don Coldsmith
Coldsmith’s numerous novels focus mostly on Indian life during the expansion of the west. His stories capture the spirit of the West with evocative settings, characters, and themes. In the first of the Great Plains saga, white settlers begin to take away the lands of the Pawnee and other tribes after the Santa Fe trail opens. The novel covers nearly 300 years of history with seven loosely connected stories. (F)

Vengeance Valley by Richard S. Wheeler
Conned out of his money and land, Hard Luck Yancey stumbles upon black Telluride gold beneath a Sisters of Charity miners' hospital, a discovery that pits him against ruthless mining barons and greedy outlaws. A bookish mining engineer rather than a typical gunslinger, Yancey is an unconventional hero fighting for what is moral and right. (PB)

The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig
Doig’s realistic depiction filled with historical and landscape details, lyrical writing, and love of the land tie him firmly to the Western tradition. The Whistling Season looks back on Montana's storied past. Hired as a housekeeper on an early 1900s Montana homestead, the irreverent Rose endeavors to educate her employer’s sons. (F)

Read-alike Guides - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

2010-07-08T12:00:00.000-04:00

If you liked The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson, you might enjoy one of these books:

Blood Work by Michael Connelly
Eight weeks after a heart transplant saves his life, former FBI agent Terry McCaleb discovers that his new heart came from a murder victim, leading Terry to become involved in tracking down the killer. This first Terry McCaleb mystery is a character-driven, complex thriller. Terry, like Salander and Blomkvist, finds himself manipulated by outside forces.

Cover Her Face by P.D. James
In the first Adam Dalgliesh novel, Mrs. Maxie must contend with her son's sudden engagement to her new parlor maid at Martingale manor house, Sally Jupp. The next morning, the whole village is shocked by the discovery of Sally’s body. Like the Millennium trilogy, this character-driven series has a moody tone and delivers one compelling read after another.

The Devil’s Feather by Minette Walters
When five women are killed in Sierra Leone, journalist Connie Burns suspects a mercenary of acting out his sadistic fantasies. Her attempt to expose him is complicated by her experience as a hostage in Baghdad. This theme of contemporary evil confronted by a woman (who goes into hiding to solve a crime related to her own personal trauma) will be familiar to Larsson’s readers.

Faceless Killers by Henning Mankell
Fans of Swedish mystery fiction will enjoy this first series title. Inspector Kurt Wallander, a local Swedish police officer whose own personal life is falling apart, copes with a wave of anti-foreign sentiment when he investigates the murders of an elderly couple. Later in the series, stubborn Linda Wallander joins her father on the force as a rookie.

Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin
The Adelia Aguilar series features absorbing, detailed plotlines with intricate details, propelled by the tempestuous relationship between a brilliant but antisocial woman and her occasional lover. In the first novel, medical expert Adelia is sent to medieval Cambridge to exonerate Jewish prisoners accused of murdering four children.

The Redbreast by Jo Nesbo
From World War II to the present, this book follows the adventures of a freedom-seeking war martyr and an alcoholic police officer who is drawn into a mystery with past origins. Norwegian author Nesbo writes slow-building suspense using strong characters whose inner lives are slowly revealed, multilayered plots, and portrayals of the dark side of Scandinavian society.

Smilla’s Sense of Snow by Peter Hoeg
When her six-year-old neighbor falls to his death and no one is willing to suspect foul play, Smilla Qaavigaaq Jasperson starts investigating on her own. Danish author Hoeg offers an original, elegantly crafted, savage story. The plot is cryptically clever, beginning with an individual and ending with a discovery on a larger scale.

Stone’s Fall by Iain Pears
In this dazzling historical mystery, John Stone, financier and arms dealer, dies falling out of a window. The quest to uncover the truth behind his death plays out against the backdrop of Europe's first great age of espionage, high-stakes international finance, and the start of the 20th century arms race. With plenty of narrative twists, this is as engrossing as Larsson’s contemporary setting.

Straight into Darkness by Faye Kellerman
In 1929 Munich, Inspektor Axel Berg hunts for a serial killer as the pressure to find a scapegoat intensifies, and he must fight for fairness for the accused and even his own career. An intriguing protagonist, Berg is flawed yet compassionate and heroic, forced to confront enormous odds in brutal times. Politics, prejudice, and revenge form the backdrop for murder in this historical mystery.

Sun Storm by Åsa Larsson
When a body is discovered in her hometown, a young lawyer is called home to northern Sweden, only to become trapped in a web of betrayal, religious fanaticism, and death. Like Salander, Rebecka Martinsson is a strong but troubled lead female character. Åsa Larsson uses psychological insight to reveal her characters and builds to a violent, explosive ending that Stieg Larsson fans will love.

Also by Stieg Larsson:

The Girl Who Played with Fire
Millennium, the magazine Blomkvist publishes, is about to do a story exposing the Swedish sex-trafficking trade when the authors of the story are both murdered, and Salander’s fingerprints are found on the gun. Larsson jumps between Blomkvist’s attempts to investigate the murder (and, he hopes, prove Salander’s innocence) and Salander’s own efforts to tie the killings to her past.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest
Blomkvist again sets out to prove Salander innocent of murder. To do so he must expose a decades-old conspiracy within the Swedish secret service that has resulted in, among other travesties, a lifetime of abuse for Salander, whose very life threatens to expose the deadly charade. Larsson amps up the suspense and adds great courtroom drama to the trilogy’s stunning conclusion.

About Stieg Larsson - A leading expert on right-wing extremist organizations, Stieg Larsson was the editor-in-chief of an anti-racist magazine called Expo. He died in 2004. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was made into a film in Sweden in 2009, and an American version is set to be released in 2012.

Staff Selections - Jeanne, Reference

2010-07-01T12:00:00.000-04:00

What is your favorite genre? Historical fiction, home improvement and decoration, and l'amour, toujours l'amour.

Who are your favorite authors? Jayne Krentz (aka Amanda Quick), Mary Balogh, and Jane Austen.

What are you reading now? Green Home Improvement: 65 Projects That Will Cut Utility Bills, Protect Your Health, and Help the Environment by Daniel D. Chiras.

What have you read recently? Burning Lamp by Amanda Quick and Money-Wise Makeovers: Modest Remodels and Affordable Room Redos by Jean Nayar.

What is your favorite classic? Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Actually, I like all of hers! Also, The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.

What are your all time favorite books/series? Hank the Cowdog series by John R.Erickson, The Izzy Spellman series by Lisa Lutz, The Chet and Bernie mystery series by Spencer Quinn, The Arcane Society series by Amanda Quick and her alter ego–Jayne Krentz, The St. Leger series by Susan Carroll.

What are your favorite recommendations? My favorite authors to recommend are Maeve Binchy, Katie Fforde, Carl Hiaasen, Jennifer Crusie, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, and Lisa Lutz. Last, but certainly not least, I suggest Dr. Dog by Babette Cole. That’s the world’s best book!

Reading Lists - Bonnet Fiction

2010-06-03T12:00:00.000-04:00

“Bonnet fiction” is a term for Christian fiction that usually focuses on Amish or Mennonite communities. The plots often involve events that cause characters to reexamine their commitment to their faith, ultimately reaffirming their choices. Beverly Lewis is a popular author in this genre.

The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fisher
Choosing to forsake her feelings for an outsider and enter into a marriage of convenience, Amish Carrie faces huge consequences, as both she and her husband, Daniel, bring broken hearts and buried secrets into their relationship. This first novel is a welcome reminder that it is never too late to find your way back to God.

A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews
Nomi longs to escape the confines of her strict religious life just like her mom and older sister have. She's stuck in a backward Mennonite town ruled by an over- zealous pastor, and rebelling seems to be her only option. This episodic, introspective first novel is bold, tender, funny and intelligent, In a twist on the genre, Toews explores belief and belonging in a coming-of-age story.

Eyes at the Window by Evie Miller Yoder
Miller's moving debut relates the saga of Amish settlers in Ohio and Pennsylvania in the 19th century, when simple survival is a triumph. Seen through the eyes of eight characters who alternate chapters, the story centers on how the mysterious death of an infant in 1810 reverberates for the next 50 years. This is highly readable and anachronism-free historical Christian fiction.

A Gift of Grace by Amy Clipston
In the first of the Kauffman Amish Bakery series, Rebecca Kauffman's sister Grace, who left the Amish behind years earlier, is killed in an accident. Rebecca and her husband must raise Grace's two teenage English daughters in their Old Order Amish community. Complex relationships and cultural tension make A Gift of Grace a compelling read. The included recipes are an added bonus!

Leah’s Choice by Marta Perry
An Amish woman relies on her faith as she is courted by both Daniel Glick, widower and newcomer to Pleasant Valley, and Johnny Kile, her former fiancé, who seeks reconciliation after choosing to leave the community. Perry’s richly detailed, character-driven, heartwarming novel, the first in the Pleasant Valley series, is sure to become a reader favorite.

Levi’s Will by W. Dale Cramer
Running away in the middle of the night, 19-year-old William Mullet flees a dogmatic father, a pregnant girlfriend, and his Old Order Amish community in Ohio. It's 1943, and William enters an unfamiliar world, enlisting in the military, and begins living a lie that becomes more complicated with each turn. Will is a complex hero with complicated relationships, and his story is an original one.

A Man of His Word by Kathleen Fuller
When Amish wife Moriah Byler is abandoned by her husband, she fears that she'll never find a man of his word. What Moriah doesn't know is that Levi's twin, Gabriel, has loved her for years. The characters are well drawn and the plot involves a sweet but winning romance in the first Hearts of Middlefield novel.

The Outsider by Ann Gabhart
When one of Gabrielle's visions comes to pass and a doctor is brought in to save the life of a young man, a chain of events that challenge Gabrielle's loyalty to the Shakers is set into motion. The War of 1812 setting, two points of view, detailed descriptions of the Shakers and their stringent religious beliefs, and light touch of romance make a fascinating addition to the genre.

Plain Paradise by Beth Wiseman
When Linda discovers that she was adopted and that her mother, an "Englisher," wants to become a part of her life, her world is turned upside down and she begins to question God's plan for her. Wiseman’s vivid, lifelike characters populate entertaining, engaging, believable stories. Like the rest of the Daughters of Promise series, Plain Paradise is a real page-turner.

The Sommerfield Trilogy by Kim Vogel Sawyer
Twenty-three years ago, Marie left her Old Order Mennonite family and faith to begin a new life with Jep Quinn. But her husband's early death cut her dreams short. When her aunt leaves Marie a house and small café in Sommerfield, Kansas, she heads back home. Sawyer tells a good story with plenty of emotion and conflict. Her characters leap off the page and touch the reader's heart.

The Storekeeper’s Daughter by Wanda Brunstetter
Naomi helps her widowed father run a store, manage a household, and raise seven children. There is no time to think about courtship or having her own family, though her heart yearns for Caleb Hoffmeir. Naomi’s days continue unchanged—until the day her baby brother disappears from the yard. The first of Brunstetters’ Daughters of Lancaster County series is bittersweet but heartwarming.

When the Heart Cries by Cindy Woodsmall
In the first Sisters of the Quilt novel, Hannah Lapp wants to marry outside her Old Order Amish community. Before Hannah and Mennonite Paul Waddell can marry, tragedy strikes and Hannah faces losing her place in the community forever. A powerful, emotional writing style, subtle subplot, and shocking conclusion make this a great read.

A Widow’s Hope by Mary Ellis
Hannah Brown, childless and widowed after six years of marriage, needs a change. She sells her farm, puts her sheep on a truck, and heads to Ohio to live with her sister. The first in the Miller Family series is a gentle tale of renewed hope that puts readers in the middle of Amish life. Hannah’s flock of sheep adds a unique twist!

Staff Selections - Anna, Children's

2010-06-01T12:00:00.001-04:00

What is your favorite genre? Historical fiction, mystery, and young adult.

Who are your favorite authors? Agatha Christie, E. Nesbit, L.M. Montgomery, Will Hobbs, Jane Austen, Avi, Herge, Marguerite Henry, and Louis L'Amour.

What are you reading now? A Cold Treachery by Charles Todd.

What have you read recently? I Will Plant You a Lilac Tree by Laura Hillman and Random Harvest by James Hilton.

What is your favorite classic? Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Carry on Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham, Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White, The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss, and I, Juan de Pareja by Elizabeth Borton de Trevino. I guess you could say I love the classics!

What are your all time favorite books/series? Dragonback series by Timothy Zahn, The Mrs. Pollifax Mysteries by Dorothy Gilman, The Cat Royal Adventures by Julia Golding, The Lady Grace Mysteries by Grace Cavendish, Homer Price by Robert McCloskey, All-of-a-Kind Family series by Sydney Taylor, Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder, The Royal Diaries series, and Hank the Cowdog series by John Erikson.

What are your favorite recommendations? Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt, Rifles for Watie by Harold Keith, Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman, Big Red by Jim Kjelgaard, Animals in Translation by Temple Grandin, The Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Carlson, Mr. Tucket by Gary Paulsen, The Cay by Theodore Taylor, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin, Amos Fortune, Free Man by Elizabeth Yates. For the young children I recommend Too Many Frogs by Sandy Asher, Wet Dog! by Elise Broach, and Skippingjon Jones by Judy Schachner.

Staff Selections - Jan, Circulation

2010-05-01T12:00:00.000-04:00

What is your favorite genre? I am totally non-fiction! I love my COOKBOOKS and GARDENING books! I have even been known to check out a HOME IMPOVEMENT book or two!

What are you reading now? The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone, The Container Kitchen Garden by Anthony Atha, The 20 Minute Vegetable Garden by Thomas Christopher, Green Home Improvement by Daniel Chiras, Strong Women, Strong Backs by Miriam E. Nelson, and Encyclopedia of Crafts by Martha Stewart.

What have you read recently? COOKBOOKS: Julia’s Kitchen Wisdom by Julia Child, Kitchen Express by Mark Bittman, Vegetarian and More: Versatile Vegetarian Recipes with Optional Meat by Linda Rosensweig, The Harvest Eating Cookbook by Keith Snow, and Too Many Tomatoes, Squash, Beans, and Other Good Things by Lois Landau. GARDENING: Grow Organic by Doug Oster, 100 Garden Tips and Time Savers by Walter Chadoha, Month-by-Month: What You Need to do Each Month to Have a Beautiful Garden by Andre Viette, The Kitchen Garden by Norma Coney, The Rodale Book of Composting by Rodale Press, and Root Cellaring by Mike Bubel

What is your favorite classic? The Bible. It has it all: history, drama, love stories, poetry, self-help, and so much more! I prefer The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures–Reference Edition. It is an acclaimed rendering of the Hebrew and Greek texts, with helpful footnotes, maps, and appendices.

What other features of the library do you enjoy? I enjoy reading the latest magazines. At home, when I’m not reading, I enjoy relaxing with a good DVD or CD. The library has a great selection of both. I like Horatio’s Drive, Lewis and Clark, Inside Grand Central, An Inconvenient Truth, Planet Earth, and Blue Planet. In fiction DVDs I like Miss Potter, Sense and Sensibility, and While You Were Sleeping.

What are your favorite recommendations? Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg, Diabetes and Heart Healthy Meals For Two by the American Heart Association, Newman’s Own Cookbook by Paul Newman, Grow Vegetables by Alan Buckingham, Jeff Ball’s 60 Minute Garden by Jeff Ball, and Square Foot Garden by Mel Bartholomew.

Staff Selections - Kristin, Adult Services Librarian

2010-04-01T12:00:00.001-04:00

What is your favorite genre? I read almost everything! Historical fiction, romance, fantasy (especially young adult), mystery, suspense, chick lit, literary fiction….Any combination of those genres is GREAT! In non-fiction, I like travel writing, history, biography, and some poetry.

Who are your favorite authors? Bill Bryson, Tony Horwitz, Linda Howard, Olivia Goldsmith, Kathryn Reiss, Jane Green, Helen Fielding, and Philippa Gregory. Favorite poets : Nicki Giovanni, Langston Hughes, Anne Sexton, and Maya Angelou. I’m sure I missed some!

What are you reading now? I usually read three or four books a week, so this would be outdated before you read it! My current long-term read is Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy.

What have you read recently? Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton, The Innocent by Posie Graeme-Evans, The 13th Hour by Richard Doetsch, The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova, Saving Monticello by Marc Leepson, You Can Get Arrested for That by Rich Smith, the Harper Connelly mysteries by Charlaine Harris, This Book is Overdue! by Marilyn Johnson, The Dead Travel Fast by Deanna Raybourn, Julie and Julia by Julie Powell, Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, The Magicians by Lev Grossman, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson, A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson, The Postmistress by Sarah Blake, The Book of Spies by Gayle Lynds, Waiting on a Train by James McCommons, and dozens more!

What is your favorite classic? I read Gone with the Wind for the first time when I was 11 and have read it about 10 times since—it is my all time favorite book, classic or not! East of Eden by John Steinbeck, The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux, The Illustrated Man and Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury, The Princess Bride by William Goldman, Dracula by Bram Stoker, The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, and The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough are also favorites.

What is your all time favorite book/series? I love series because the story isn’t over when you finish one book! His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman has been my favorite series since middle school—I reread it frequently and love it more each time. Other great series are The Lord of the Rings (and The Hobbit) by J.R.R. Tolkien, the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, the Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer, the Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris, Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor, and Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.

What are your favorite recommendations? ANYTHING by Bill Bryson. Books by my other favorite authors, especially Confederates in the Attic and Blue Latitudes by Tony Horwitz. Atonement by Ian McEwan. The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger. Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination by Helen Fielding. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. I, Elizabeth by Rosalind Miles. The Case of the Missing Books by Ian Sansom. The Bedford Boys by Alex Kershaw. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. Jurassic Park and Timeline by Michael Crichton. Going Bovine by Libba Bray. The Princes of Ireland by Edward Rutherford. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. Specimen Days by Michael Cunningham. Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier.Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. Time Windows, The Glass House People, and Dreadful Sorry by Kathryn Reiss. Mr. Was by Pete Hautman. Home to Harmony by Philip Gulley. Nicholas Sparks books of the 1990s. Ask me for more... I could go on forever!

Staff Selections - Cheryl, IT Administrator

2010-03-01T12:00:00.000-05:00

What is your favorite genre? I like non-fiction books about athletes of all kinds. In fiction it has to be clever paranormal and romance. The more wit, the better!

What are you reading now? Purely Positive Training Companion to Competition by Sheila Booth, Ranger’s Apprentice: Erak’s Ransom by John Flanagan, That Winning Feeling by Jane Savoie, and Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs.

What have you read recently? Ranger’s Apprentice: The Siege of Macindaw by John Flanagan, Age is Just a Number: Achieve Your Dreams at Any Stage in Your Life by Dara Torres.

What is your favorite classic? Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. I also like all the Billy Blaze books by C.W. Anderson.

What is your all time favorite book/series? I really like to read series. My favorites are: The Dark Hunter series by Sherrilyn Kenyon, The Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs, The Werecat series by Rachel Vincent, and Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ The Chicago Stars series about a football team and much more!

What are your favorite recommendations? Hard to choose, but here goes: Once a Runner by John Parker, Swimming to Antarctica by Lynne Cox, Fried Twinkies, Buckle Bunnies, and Bull Riders: A Year Inside the Professional Bull Riders Tour by Josh Peter. Hey, everyone should try stepping out of their reading comfort zone! Gold in the Water: The True Story of Ordinary Men and their Extraordinary Dream of Olympic Glory by P.H. Mullen, That Others May Live: The True Story of a P.J., a Member of America’s Most Daring Rescue Force by Jack Brehm and Pete Nelson, This Heart of Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, and anything else she writes!