Still Life   Louise Penny

First in the Inspector Gamache Three Pines series. Well developed, believable characters, a carefully plotted mystery and a vivid sense of place (Quebec) are  evident in Penny's books. Think Agatha Christie and Donna Leon with deeper psychological overtones and a world that is enchanting and real. Great for a winter evening...

Shelter   Harlan Coben

Harlan Coben's first YA novel featuring Mickey Bolitar is fast-paced suspense with believable "odd ball" teen characters who become friends in order to solve the mystery of a classmate's disappearance.

The Cat's Table   Michael Ondaatje

An adult narrator tells of his adventures as an 11-year old boy traveling on an ocean liner from Sri Lanka to England in the 1950s. The child's perceptions of being abroad ship and the adult world around him are captivating. I enjoyed the reflections of the narrator as a child rather than as an adult.

Naomi's Gift: An Amish Christmas Story   Amy Clipston

Part of a family-oriented Amish community, 24-year-old Naomi King has given up her dreams of finding true love. But when a young widower stirs surprising feelings in her, Naomi cautiously opens her heart to him and receives an unexpected response.

Be Different: Adventures of a Free-Range Aspergian: With Practical Advice for Aspergians, Misfits, Families & Teachers (CD audiobook)   John Elder Robison

John Robison (Look Me in the Eye), diagnosed with Asperger's at the age of 40, narrates his book with an enjoyable,strong, engaging voice. His positive, matter-of-fact tone in relaying his life-experiences is inspiring and also reflective of his very analytical way of thinking. An eye-opening look at how aspergerians perceive social situations.

The House at Riverton   Kate Morton

Set at a great manor house in post WW I Britain, Morton's story is told primarily from the point of view of Grace, a servant who comes to the Great House at age 14.  It is now 1998, and Grace is recalling events that led to a death on the estate in 1924, and her role in it. Riverton is similar to PBS's Downton Abbey... same time frame, similar themes and settings.

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter   Tom Franklin

Set in rural Mississippi, with flashbacks to the 1970's, Larry Ott and Silas "32" Jones were boyhood friends back then. But Larry has been ostracized by the community ever since high school, when his date disappeared and was never found. Larry is still under suspicion 20 years later. Now another girl has disappeared, and Constable Silas is investigating Larry as a suspect... Layers of the past are gradually uncovered. A satisfying read but slow read.

Baking Cakes in Kigali>   Gaile Parkin

Parkin's book reminds me of McCall-Smith's No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. Angel Tungaraza is a Tanzanian immigrant living in a Ruwandan apartment complex with residents from many cultures. She has her own cake business and tries to match each special cake to a special occasion while also finding time to advise her clients, rear five grandchildren and cope with life in Kigali. Though descriptions are scant and discussion of social issues is not overbearing, the reader is presented with constant references to the aftermath of genocide, AIDS, corruption, and other complexities of daily life. Quick, enjoyable read.

The Swerve   Stephen Greenblatt

Professor Greenblatt's book reads like an expanded thesis on the birth of modernity and the Renaissance. The storyline is based upon the discovery of Lucretius's "On the Nature of Things" by15^th century Vatican humanist Poggio Bracciolini.The story line is both fascinating and confusing as Greenblatt often swerves from one topic to another. A worthwhile read for humanities majors and those willing to follow the author's somewhat plodding style.

The Memory Chalet   Tony Judt

The Memory Chalet is a metaphor for author/journalist Tony Judt's mind from which flows wonderful associations and remembrances throughout his enchanting book. A particular London bus route, the 1968 Paris student riots, road trips across America and rail journeys spill across the pages as the author arranges lifelong reflections for the reader's enrichment...don't miss it.

       

           

mary

 

 

President's Day falls on February 20 this year (side note: the Library will be closed for this legal holiday), and with the upcoming election on everyone's mind, we wanted to share a few books that explore three of our past presidents:

Mr. and Mrs. Madison's War: America's First Couple and the Second War of Independence  by Hugh Howard ( 973.52 HOW )

Historian Hugh Howard commemorates the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 with an illuminating assessment of America's first and least understood war. Americans and the British clashed on land and sea, and from these battles arose defining elements of U.S. independence (including "The Star-Spangled Banner"). In addressing the war, Howard creates a revealing portrait of President James Madison and his wife, the leading figures in a pivotal moment in American history. History fans will enjoy reading about this important, oft-forgotten war through the eyes of America's first couple.


The President and the Assassin: McKinley, Terror, and Empire at the Dawn of the American Century by Scott Miller (973.88 MIL)

In 1901, as America tallied its gains from a period of unprecedented imperial expansion, an assassin's bullet shattered the nation's confidence. The shocking murder of President William McKinley threw into stark relief the emerging new world order of what would come to be known as the American Century. The President and the Assassin is the story of the momentous years leading up to that event, and of the very different paths that brought together two of the most compelling figures of the era: President William McKinley and Leon Czolgosz, the anarchist who murdered him.  With a deft narrative hand, journalist Scott Miller chronicles how these two men, each pursuing what he considered the right and honorable path, collided in violence at the 1901 Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. Along the way, readers meet a veritable who's who of turn-of-the-century America.

Inventing George Washington: America's Founder in Myth and Memory by Edward G. Lengel (973.41 LEN)

An entertaining and erudite history that offers a fresh look at America's first founding father, the creation of his legend, and what it means for our nation and ourselves.


And let's not forget those nominees who never made it to the White House:

Almost President: The Men Who Lost the Race but Changed the Nation
Profiles 12 men who have run for the presidency and lost, but who, even in defeat, have had a greater impact on American history than many of those who have served as president.

marlise

Just got back from a fabulous tropical vacation. Blue waters, ocean breezes, white sandy beaches, palm trees.  Did you know that there are two speeds when you visit an island? Slow and slower!  This took a bit of time to get used to, but quickly became a wonderful adjustment to make.


One interesting surprise was to see the majority of the beach-goers reading.  Hardbacks, paperbacks, and now more than ever, eReaders.  LOTS of Kindles in the hands of many sunbathers.  I found myself sneaking peeks at book covers, curious about what others were choosing to spend their valuable downtime devouring--turns out I saw a lot of popular fiction by Patterson, Grisham, Clancy, and Stockett (The Help).  (Not sure what was on those Kindles, which is one downfall for the nosy, I guess.)



I sometimes found the librarian in me surfacing as I found myself singing the praises of free downloads from the library to those eReader owners.  Seeing the excitement on their faces was thrilling!

Just for fun:  The primary language spoken at my vacation destination is Papiamento, a mixture of several native languages.  Can you guess where I was?

Jill

I admit it: I'm not really that interested in who wins the Superbowl this year, but  I'll still watch the game!  Whether you can never get enough football, you're more of an occasional fan, or you are a "football widow" here are three books to check out:
America's Game: The Epic Story of How Pro Football Captured a Nation by Michael MacCambridge (796.33264 MAC)

Not as much a detailed history of football as a cultural look at how football became the most popular American sport - surpassing even baseball, which no one thought could ever happen.  The author frames the narrative around key episodes in the history of the game (it opens with the legendary game between the Colts and Giants in 1958) and many of the fascinating personalities (players, coaches & owners) who have dominated the sport.  A great read for anyone interested in gaining a "big picture" look at football's development.


Carlisle vs. Army: Jim Thorpe, Dwight Eisenhower, Pop Warner and the Forgotten Story of Football's Greatest Battle by Lars Anderson (796.33263 AND)


This account of one of college football's greatest contests was given a *Starred Review* by Booklist which called it, " A great sports story, told with propulsive narrative drive and offering a fascinating look at multiple layers of American popular culture."


When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi by David Maraniss

Written by a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, Sports Illustrated said this "may be the best sports biography ever published."


marlise